Smart Growth Comprehensive Plan
What is a Comprehensive Plan?
According to the NYS Department of State,
“The comprehensive plan is the culmination of a planning process that establishes the official land use policy of a community and presents goals and a vision for the future that guides official decisionmaking. The comprehensive plan invariably includes a thorough analysis of current data showing land development trends and issues, community resources, and public needs for transportation, recreation, and housing. Zoning is merely one method – albeit an important one – for implementing the goals of the plan. Having a comprehensive or well-considered plan ensures that forethought and planning precede zoning and zoning amendments.”
The current plan utilized by the Village of Johnson City is the 2010 Unified Comprehensive Plan generated through a collaboration of the Town of Union, Village of Johnson City and Village of Endicott. Typically, comprehensive plans are updated every ten years. With the separation of services between the Town of Union and Village of Johnson City, as well as exponential growth in the Village, now is a vital time to update the comprehensive plan and evaluate next steps in achieving local goals and the overall vision of the community.
In 2022, through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA), the Village was awarded a Smart Growth Comprehensive Plan grant by the NYS Department of State. The Village published a Request for Proposals (RFP) and awarded the project to Colliers Engineering & Design. As part of the project, a Comprehensive Plan Committee was established by the Board of Trustees, and the group began meeting to engage the community in the planning process.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Martin Meaney, Mayor, Village of Johnson City
- Marcia Ward, Vice Chair, Village of Johnson City Planning Board
- Leonard Sas, Vice Chair, Village of Johnson City Zoning Board of Appeals
- Stephanie Yezzi, Director of Planning, Village of Johnson City
- Joshua Holland, Director of Public Services, Village of Johnson City
- Randy Shear, Code Enforcement Officer, Village of Johnson City
- Allison Button, Community Development Administrator, Village of Johnson City
- Janet Ottman, Historian, Village of Johnson City
- Tina Dolan, Director of Public Policy & Program Development, United Health Services
- Mary Beth Curtin, Associate Vice President for Research, Binghamton University
- David Whalen, Owner of 214 and 265 Main Street
- Rob Jacyna, Resident & Retired Fire Chief for the Village of Johnson City
- Richard (Rocky) Martinez, Board Member, Johnson City School District, and Executive Secretary/Director, Johnson City Rotary
Smart Growth focuses on a community’s sustainable development in the areas of the “three Es”. These areas include environmental protection, economic development and equity. A fourth E would include the emerging focus on energy. According to NYS Department of State,
“Smart Growth encourages community planning and development in priority development areas where water and sewer infrastructure are available; encourages redevelopment of existing community and municipal centers; protects important historic and natural resources, including water quality and historic structures; promotes development around transit stations in the form of transit-oriented development; supports equity principles, such as affordable housing and environmental justice; and promotes the siting and development of community clean energy sources. Comprehensive plans and area plans should incorporate these Smart Growth principles to make the most efficient use of community resources, reduce the property tax burden and promote sustainable economic development, equity and quality of life for people and households of all incomes, backgrounds, ages and abilities.”
- Promote mixed land uses in focus areas.
- Create an adequate range of housing opportunities and choices.
- Promote development and redevelopment where infrastructure is adequate and sustainable.
- Build on traits that make a distinctive and attractive community with a strong sense of place.
- Promote well-planned and well-placed public spaces.
- Promote sustainable compact neighborhoods.
- Increase mobility and circulation within jurisdictional lines and improve connectivity with areas outside jurisdictional lines.
- Promote sustainable mass transit that reduces the local levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Promote walkable/bikeable neighborhood designs.
- Promote and integrate clean energy resources and related incentives.
- Improve green infrastructure and resident’s participation to this effort.
- Increase resiliency to extreme weather events.
- Encourage social diversity and integration.
- Expand planning and implementation efforts across jurisdictional lines.
- Promote community and stakeholder collaboration in planning.
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