Creating a Comprehensive Plan for Nichols, New York

1
Creating a Comprehensive Plan for Nichols, New
York

• Village and Town Planning Boards Study Session
• Monday, April 12, 2004

2
Cornell Presentation

• Introductions
• What is a comprehensive plan?
• Rationale
• Essential elements
• Traditional steps in the planning process?
• Final product
• Proposed work plan and schedule
• Residents, official, and student roles
• Questions and answer segment

3
Team Introductions

• Leiko Toyoda, Second Year, Master in Regional
  Planning Student, Cornell University, Hometown
  Tokyo, Japan
• Yimmui Chan, First Year, Master in Regional
  Planning, Cornell University, Hong Kong, PRC
• Kenneth M. Reardon, Associate Professor in City
  and Regional Planning, Cornell University, The
  Bronx, New York

4
What is a comprehensive plan?

• A comprehensive plan is an official document
  adopted by a local government as a policy guide
  to decisions regarding the desired physical and
  social development of the community.
• (Principles and Practice of Urban Planning-
  Gedzels and So)

5
Why create a comprehensive plan?

• Preserve that is special about your community
• Anticipate the future needs of current residents,
  businesses and institutions
• Protect your land use (zoning) ordinance and
  decisions from legal challenge
• Improve your chances of securing competitive
  public and private awards
• Strengthen the sense of ownership residents have
  over the public policies and decisions affecting
  their lives

6
What are the typical elements of a comprehensive
plan?

• Land use
• Circulation (Transportation)
• Community and social services and facilities
• Parks and recreation
• Infrastructure (Water, sewer, solid waste)
• Housing resources
• Environmental protection
• Urban design/historic preservation
• Economic development

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Basic Steps in the Comprehensive Planning Process

• Form a sponsoring committee representing major
  stakeholder groups
• Analyze historical plans, reports, and studies
• Prepare existing conditions report (environment,
  economy, physical conditions, community service
  needs)
• Interview residents regarding their current
  perceptions and future hopes/aspirations
• Establish overall development goals and
  objectives
• Formulate action plan and implementation strategy
• Secure Village and Town Approval

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Description of the Final Product

• 40-50 page document (Photos, Maps, Tables and
  Narrative)
• Tentative Table of Contents
• I. Historical Background
• II. Community Profile
• III. Vision Statement
• Future development goal and
• objective
• IV. Action Plan
• V. Implementation Strategy
• VI. Evaluation
• References

9
Tentative Work Plan

• June- Organize Planning Committee
• Review Historic Documents
• Analyze Population and Economic
  Trends (U.S. Census)
• Survey Physical Conditions (Land
  Use, Building Conditions,
  Infrastructure)
• July- Conduct Resident Interviews
• Organize Visioning Meeting to set
• goals and objective
• Formulate Action Plan
• Design Implementation Strategy
• Present Draft Plan to Local Boards

10
Partnership Roles

• Local Residents/Government
• Serve as spokespersons for the project
• Promote participation
• Assist in collection and analysis of data
• Determine planning goals and objectives
• Provide input for action plan and implementation
  strategy
• Provide feedback of process and substance

• Cornell Team
• Collect and analyze data
• Coordinate with regional and state planning
  agencies
• Investigate principles of good practice in
  specific program areas
• Research model programs
• Facilitate citizen participation forums
• Prepare basic planning documents

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For Further Information

• Professor Kenneth M. Reardon
• Associate Professor in City and Regional Planning
• 201 W. Sibley Hall
• Cornell University
• Ithaca, NY 14853
• 607-254-5378 (V)
• 607-255-1971 (F)
• kmr22_at_cornell.edu