NORWICH – The city’s Planning Commission met early this week to hear a preliminary report on the housing issues as it prepares to update the 2003 Comprehensive Plan over the course of the next year.

Housing is just one of several topics that will be addressed in the coming months, according to Planning and Community Development Specialist Todd Dreyer, whose presentation covered the city’s general housing characteristics; rental housing; housing issues facing the elderly, college students and those with special needs and housing assistance programs.

Dreyer stressed these preliminary reports would require no action by the Planning Commission, as the 2010 city-level census data is not yet available. Definitive changes to the Comprehensive Plan – including those regarding housing – will require extensive revision once that information is released in June, he added.

“That will make all the difference in the world and make the necessary revisions that much easier. Housing, especially, is one of those areas that really depends on the census,” said Dreyer. “It will be interesting to see how the 2010 census data will compare and what new trends will be established.”

According to Dreyer’s report, the quality of the city’s housing stock has deteriorated significantly and – on any given street – people will find wonderfully maintained properties, yet they will also see at least one that’s poorly maintained.