General News: Town Reviews Comprehensive Plan Proposals
June 17, 2011
By Charlie B. Scirbona
The Cornwall Town Board and Comprehensive Plan Review Committee met Wednesday to iron out any issues with the draft of proposed changes to the comprehensive plan before they go to a public hearing.
The new draft updates to the comprehensive plan follow the same framework of the previous plan from 2005, but take into account several factors including downturns in the economic climate and new statistics from the 2010 census, according to Leslie Dotson, Cornwall town planner. The comprehensive plan is used by the town board as a list of possible goals.
The Comprehensive Plan Review Committee first met in October to review the former plan and make suggestions for changes.
Much of the conversation Wednesday focused on including a section in the plan about creating a business improvement district. Town councilwoman Mary Beth Greene Kraft noted that in writing grants for Sand Ring Homesteads she’s found that grants often ask if the place is in a business district.
The conversation also focused on how to implement a historic district and incorporate some form of architectural review board, as well as discussion of a Main Street revitalization plan. Councilman Randy Clark brought up a complaint he’s heard that anytime a building owner on Main Street renovates a building the town reassesses the building’s property value right away.
The plan directly calls for considering an update to the town’s parking situation. It also includes a new section dealing with public accommodations and municipal facilities, areas like the town hall or town pool that need to be part of long-range planning.
The new draft comprehensive plan updates will be available to the public for review, even though a public hearing has not been announced, following a vote by the town board to release it.
