BAINBRIDGE – The Town of Bainbridge is taking preliminary measures that stakeholders hope will build vision for the township, rebuild its economic base, and provide a roadmap to guide it through the next ten years.
But with fiscal restraints, the Bainbridge Town Board is reaching out for help. Last week, town board member Kelly Hromada-Johnson made a case before the county’s Planning and Economic Development Committee, requesting that the county consider a sizable contribution to help Bainbridge defray costs of modernizing its outdated comprehensive plan.
“The comprehensive plan we have now no longer reflects the Town of Bainbridge,” Hromada-Johnson told committee members. “We really need to update it because that's what helps us to form our public policy and set goals and aspirations.”
The town’s existing comprehensive plan was adopted in 1998 and last updated in 2003. With changes seen within the Town and Village of Bainbridge over the years, primarily in the areas of industry and infrastructure, Hromada-Johnson said there’s a need to bring the plan up to speed.
It is recommended by the New York State Department of State that municipalities update a comprehensive plan every three to five years.
Bainbridge taxpayers footed $5,000 to have their comprehensive plan completed in the late 1990’s. That price is expected to range between $5,000 and $7,000 this time around, estimates Bainbridge Town Supervisor Dolores Nabinger.
“Right now our only plan is to have a new plan, and we’re hoping to get some funding to help us out,” Nabinger said. “Our first goal is to see if we can secure funding before focusing on what we want to see in a comprehensive plan.”
Nabinger cited a loss of business in Bainbridge since the town’s comprehensive plan was last updated 11 years ago. In spite of lost industry, she said the town still has promise for development with its railroad access, interstate access, and potential opportunity for natural gas via the Constitution Pipeline proposed to run through the south-eastern portion of the township.
“The possibility of natural gas supply to the village would have a great impact,” Nabinger added.
The need for a comprehensive plan is also drawing attention of the Bainbridge Development Corporation. According to BDC President David DeClue, who also serves on the Bainbridge Town Board, the plan serves a three-fold purpose: attract industry, become eligible for state and federal grants, and address the issue of natural gas development.
“The Bainbridge Development Council may be involved as a way to defray some of the cost of the comprehensive plan and expedite information to the general population,” DeClue said, adding that the absence of a comprehensive plan is unnerving to private developers. “Right now, the BDC is looking for grants for economic development wherever possible, but to get those grants we need a comprehensive plan in place.”
As for the issue of natural gas development, DeClue said the township and BDC currently refers to a site plan review. Municipalities must have a comprehensive plan to enact zoning regulations, per New York State town law.
Said DeClue, “We are in the real early stages of a long process. As a town board member, I know we have a responsibility to have a comprehensive plan and keep it updated ... At the moment, we’re just looking for help.”
Though no promise of funding was made by the Chenango County Planning and Economic Development Committee, the county department of planning is providing Bainbridge with a list of potential planning consultants and may revisit the request in the future.