PLAINFIELD — The top priorities in town are local control of energy sources and bringing down property taxes, according to the latest round of public comment on the town’s comprehensive plan.

During a public input session last week at Town Hall with 30 residents, signs were placed on the wall with various priorities residents have voiced since the comprehensive plan process began in 2024. The plan will steer the future of the town for the next 10 or 20 years.

Those present had the opportunity to place post-it notes with additional priorities they had, and dot stickers over the issues they considered most pressing to address.

Local control of energy products was the primary concern with 24 dots. Plainfield has the second highest property tax rate in the state, second only to Westhampton, making it hardly surprising that 20 residents pegged lowering property taxes a primary concern.

The third highest priority, with 18 dots, was a desire for a community center or indoor recreation space.

Most issues received approximately 10 votes. These included supporting new and existing farms, sustainability and resiliency planning, and exploring uses for public town assets, such as the Plainfield Congregational Church, Earthdance arts studio and the Shaw Hudson House.

Others include maintaining and promoting trails in town, supporting local farms and zoning to preserve farmlands. On housing topics, residents primarily voiced support for the development of senior housing, and expanding opportunities for accessory dwelling units (ADU’s).

Of the post-it notes residents placed on the wall, one calling for access to education had the most, with 9 dots, followed by one saying, “Fix town hall — all of it,” which received eight dots. A post-it calling for an electric vehicle (EV) charging station received two dots. “Protect homeowners from noise, stink and increased traffic from farms, small businesses,” received three dots.

Issues that received little to no interest included developing multifamily housing, three dots, promoting recreational activities, one dot, and connecting resources that support farming, zero dots.

Members of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee who put on the public forum, including Peg Keller and Peter Lapointe, told residents that when the comprehensive plan is completed, they do not want it to be a document that sits on the shelf. Rather, it should be something easy to read and a clear map of action to take.

Over the past two years, five public sessions have been held, and from November 2025 through January 2026 a survey of residents’ priorities was collected. Keller, who was pleased with the turnout Monday, encouraged residents to keep participating in the continuing process.