Gloucester County has launched a new digital community engagement site to inform and engage residents about current and upcoming plans and initiatives. Through a partnership with Zencity, Gloucester County will create engagement sites for local projects, upload supporting information, and invite residents to give input using interactive participatory tools. The site will enable the County government to better incorporate more resident voices in the planning and execution of priority initiatives to improve local services and the overall quality of life in our community.
Just today, the County launched an engagement form to receive citizen input regarding potential changes to the County’s zoning ordinance. County staff, in partnership with the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors, have completed a comprehensive rewrite of Articles 1-9 of the County’s Zoning Ordinance. Articles 1-9 include regulations for all the zoning districts, permitted uses, supplemental regulations for those uses, and general development standards related to other items such as screening and buffering, common open space, etc. A summary of the comments received will be presented to the Planning Commission. At that time, commissioners will decide if further revisions are needed, or if they are ready to move forward with formal public hearings in early 2023.
Gloucester is also currently using the engagement site to receive feedback from the community on how to improve and enhance existing opioid recovery programs. This comes as Gloucester, along with localities across the nation, are beneficiaries of a class action lawsuit that was formed against large pharmaceutical companies. Citizen input received through the platform will help inform the County on how to utilize the available settlement funds.
In another month or so, the County plans to use the tool to receive public input to inform the strategic planning process for the Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department.
“We cannot always physically reach our citizens to receive their input on various matters,” said Steve Wright, Gloucester’s Deputy County Administrator. “However, we value citizen input immensely, and are always looking for new and user-friendly ways to get our citizens engaged. We feel like our new relationship with Zencity will help us to go that extra mile to achieve that goal.”
To participate in the current surveys regarding Zoning or the Opioid Crisis, visit Gloucester County’s homepage, www.gloucesterva.info. For more information regarding the citizen engagement tool, contact Gloucester’s Community Engagement & Public Information Department, at qsheppard@gloucesterva.info or 804-693-5730, or Deputy County Administrator Steve Wright, at swright@gloucesterva.info or 804-693-4042.