Committee puts county’s comp plan on hold
NORWICH – Considering arguments of some town supervisors that the county’s draft comprehensive plan does not provide the most up-to-date snapshot of the county’s current circumstances, the document was put on hold by the county’s Planning and Economic Development Committee this week.
The Chenango County Department of Planning and Development is nearing the final stages of a comprehensive plan that will help dictate future public policies in areas like transportation, land use, housing, and recreation. However, in order for the document to be officially adopted by the County Board of Supervisors, it needs the recommendation of the Planning and Economic Development Committee.
According to County Planning Director Donna Jones, the aim is to have the plan voted on by the Board of Supervisors after a public hearing this summer. But given the plan’s lack of detail regarding big changes in recent months – including a proposed project from the City of Norwich to install solar pannels on county-owned property north of the city, and New York State’s stonewalling the 124-mile long Constitution Pipeline project that would have transcended Chenango County borders – Columbus Town Supervisor Tom Grace said changes should be made to the plan before moving it forward.
“I don't think it’s ready to be reviewed until it has current information,” Grace said at a County Board meeting earlier this week. “What we’re saying is that after years and years of work, this (plan) has current information, but we know that it doesn’t.”
A finalized version of the draft plan was compiled just weeks before the decision to delay the Constitution Pipeline was made at the state level. Moreover, county officials knew nothing of the city’s intent to possibly lease county-owned land for a solar project before the comp plan was put in print.
While these are changes that would undoubtedly affect the plan, it poses the question: Should the plan be changed? Doing so would require the need to “start over,” according to County Planning Director Donna Jones, and that would mean going through a lengthy state required Environmental Quality Review (SEQRA) process again.
“It would set adoption of the plan back a lot,” Jones said. “And things could always change tomorrow.”
A recommendation to approve the comprehensive plan went before the county’s Planning and Economic Development Committee on Tuesday. Committee members Grace and Smithville Supervisor Fred Heisler said they won’t approve the plan until it’s updated, so a special meeting for the committee to revisit the issue was scheduled for later this month.
In the meantime, the plan has been approved by the County Planning Board. The Board additionally agreed that the comp plan ought to be reviewed on an annual basis to make necessary ammendments that give a more accurate reflection of the county’s current state.
The county’s draft plan is a 155-page document which gives the county proactive measures on how to address issues and problems as they relate to the local, regional and global economy. The document provides possible solutions on current issues that local residents, businesses and institutions feel are important.
Chenango County hasn’t overhauled its comprehensive plan in 40 years, although county officials picked up the idea of updating the old plan in 2001.
The document states: “Because it has been so long since the County has had a comprehensive plan to guide its future, it is important to view this plan as a starting point to modern day planning. One of the primary goals in preparing this particular plan was to be as comprehensive as possible ... Like many communities, Chenango County does not have the necessary resources, financial, or otherwise, to accomplish all of the recommended actions to address every problem. However, with a plan in place, a proactive mindset, and community consensus on the issues and actions, the County can begin to realize beneficial change and progress towards the future in a well thought out and orderly fashion.”
County supervisors must schedule a public hearing before voting on the plan.
For additional information on the county’s updated draft comprehensive plan, contact the Department of Planning and Development at 337-1640.
The Chenango County Department of Planning and Development is nearing the final stages of a comprehensive plan that will help dictate future public policies in areas like transportation, land use, housing, and recreation. However, in order for the document to be officially adopted by the County Board of Supervisors, it needs the recommendation of the Planning and Economic Development Committee.
According to County Planning Director Donna Jones, the aim is to have the plan voted on by the Board of Supervisors after a public hearing this summer. But given the plan’s lack of detail regarding big changes in recent months – including a proposed project from the City of Norwich to install solar pannels on county-owned property north of the city, and New York State’s stonewalling the 124-mile long Constitution Pipeline project that would have transcended Chenango County borders – Columbus Town Supervisor Tom Grace said changes should be made to the plan before moving it forward.
“I don't think it’s ready to be reviewed until it has current information,” Grace said at a County Board meeting earlier this week. “What we’re saying is that after years and years of work, this (plan) has current information, but we know that it doesn’t.”
A finalized version of the draft plan was compiled just weeks before the decision to delay the Constitution Pipeline was made at the state level. Moreover, county officials knew nothing of the city’s intent to possibly lease county-owned land for a solar project before the comp plan was put in print.
While these are changes that would undoubtedly affect the plan, it poses the question: Should the plan be changed? Doing so would require the need to “start over,” according to County Planning Director Donna Jones, and that would mean going through a lengthy state required Environmental Quality Review (SEQRA) process again.
“It would set adoption of the plan back a lot,” Jones said. “And things could always change tomorrow.”
A recommendation to approve the comprehensive plan went before the county’s Planning and Economic Development Committee on Tuesday. Committee members Grace and Smithville Supervisor Fred Heisler said they won’t approve the plan until it’s updated, so a special meeting for the committee to revisit the issue was scheduled for later this month.
In the meantime, the plan has been approved by the County Planning Board. The Board additionally agreed that the comp plan ought to be reviewed on an annual basis to make necessary ammendments that give a more accurate reflection of the county’s current state.
The county’s draft plan is a 155-page document which gives the county proactive measures on how to address issues and problems as they relate to the local, regional and global economy. The document provides possible solutions on current issues that local residents, businesses and institutions feel are important.
Chenango County hasn’t overhauled its comprehensive plan in 40 years, although county officials picked up the idea of updating the old plan in 2001.
The document states: “Because it has been so long since the County has had a comprehensive plan to guide its future, it is important to view this plan as a starting point to modern day planning. One of the primary goals in preparing this particular plan was to be as comprehensive as possible ... Like many communities, Chenango County does not have the necessary resources, financial, or otherwise, to accomplish all of the recommended actions to address every problem. However, with a plan in place, a proactive mindset, and community consensus on the issues and actions, the County can begin to realize beneficial change and progress towards the future in a well thought out and orderly fashion.”
County supervisors must schedule a public hearing before voting on the plan.
For additional information on the county’s updated draft comprehensive plan, contact the Department of Planning and Development at 337-1640.
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