The Director of Planning and Development shall
undertake, commission and/or coordinate studies of the social, physical
and economic factors relevant to the well-being and future development
of the County. All such studies shall be available for public inspection
and shall be analyzed by the Director of Planning and Development
for their implications on County services and the general development
of the County. Such studies are intended to provide the information
necessary to help guide both public and private action related to
the development of the County, which may include information concerning:
A. The existing and future characteristics of the population.
B. The needs of the community in terms of housing, education,
recreation, commerce and industry, agriculture, transportation and
other public and private services and improvements.
C. The effect of existing and possible future land use
and development upon environmental conditions and natural resources,
including air, water, forests, soils, wetlands, floodplains, shorelines
and wildlife.
D. The methods by which the needs and anticipated problems
of the County can be met by private and public action, including regulatory,
service, fiscal and public works measures.
The Director of Planning and Development shall
compile, maintain and disseminate such other data as are appropriate
for the conduct of planning and land use development activities by
departments and other agencies, local governments and private interests
in the County. Such data shall include but not be limited to detailed
base maps of each town and village in the County showing new streets
and subdivisions therein; annual population estimates for the County;
land use data for the County; census reports; and municipal land use
regulations. The Director of Planning and Development shall maintain
a planning library for the use of County agencies, other governmental
agencies and the general public.