GREEN GARDEN TOWNSHIP — The Green Garden Township Board voted 3-2 to approve a $24,885 contract for updating the township’s comprehensive plan during a contentious January meeting, despite requests from newly elected officials to delay the decision until they take office.

The board approved hiring Houseal Lavigne, a planning firm that recently completed Manhattan’s comprehensive plan, to update Green Garden’s plan over the next five months. Supervisor John Murday, along with Trustees Wagner and Newton, voted in favor while Trustees Dietz and Kovar opposed the measure.

“The comprehensive plan is so important. It is needed, and the community will have input,” said Trustee Newton in support of the decision.

During public comments, Dean Christofilos read a statement from the newly elected Republican board nominees asking the current board to put the plan on hold, along with the township renovation project and any new contracts.

“They are asking the current board to table tonight’s vote on the land use proposal and all plans until the newly elected board takes office and they have opportunity to include Green Garden resident participation,” Christofilos said.

Nik Davis from Houseal Lavigne presented the firm’s process for updating the plan, which will include analyzing current data, mapping, and extensive community engagement through an open house and other feedback mechanisms.

“Although not law or regulation, the first step is to implement policy, work with the County, townships, and municipalities with boundary agreements,” Davis explained.

Trustee Dietz, who voted against the proposal, clarified that he supports updating the comprehensive plan but objected to the process. “I support the plan but voted no because I didn’t like the way it transpired and should have gone through the plan commission first,” he said.

Davis responded that typically the board approves the contract first, then the planning commission helps implement the community process. The plan commission members present at the meeting, including Mark Sarkisian, Lauren Piecuch, and Nancy, expressed support for the update.

Sarkisian, who participated in vetting planning firms, said he was “very impressed with Nik’s rural background” and added that Davis is “just what we need.” He also volunteered to host a town hall with Q&A to gather resident input.

Supervisor Murday emphasized the urgency of updating the plan due to development pressures. “With solar farms and other competing interests coming, the importance of the pace of the comprehensive plan [is clear],” he said, also noting a data company has expressed interest in coming to Green Garden.

Several residents voiced concerns about transparency and community involvement. Don Bushong read a letter stating, “There are concerns on the proposal, and the need for community involvement in its revision.”

Trustee Wagner addressed misinformation about the plan and emphasized that the update will undergo public review. “The attendance tonight stems from inaccurate things on Facebook and with streaming coming soon, hopes it will make things clearer,” he said.

The comprehensive plan update is scheduled to be completed within five months.