JACKSON TWP — Township officials are planning five neighborhood workshops to listen to what residents want in the township’s updated comprehensive plan.

The township staff and planning commission will lead the workshops.

The program will consist of an informal discussion, but officials will provide specific questions and topics of discussion, township manager Chris Rearick said.

The comprehensive plan, which is adopted by a vote of the board of supervisors, provides a basis for many of the township’s ordinances and policies.

“The comprehensive plan is required to cover planning for housing, economic development and transportation improvements. It’s basically a business plan and a policy plan for the township,” Rearick said.

The township’s current comprehensive plan was adopted in 2000.

The workshops will also serve as a way for township officials to find volunteers from the community who would be interested in serving on a committee to advise the planning commission.

The planning commission will do the bulk of the work on the revisions, though the township also budgeted $25,000 from its capital reserve this year for engineering and technical support for that process.

They hope to have the revisions completed by late this year or early next year, Rearick said.

Each workshop is intended for residents of a specific neighborhood, road or area, but they are all open to the general public.

The meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday nights and will be held at the municipal building, 140 Magill Road, except where noted below.

The schedule is:

April 14, Abbey Woods/Briar Hill

April 21, Jackson Manor/Harmony Highlands

April 28, Gristmill/Hartzell

May 5, Rock Lake, will be held at Rock Lake Community Center

May 12, Tollgate School neighborhoods.