Sunday, May 22, 2022
Subscriber Login
My Profile
SpotlightNews
  • Home
  • News
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Food and Recipes
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Food and Recipes
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Spotlight News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Community

Town Board to field more comments tonight about draft Comprehensive Plan Update

Michael Hallisey by Michael Hallisey
May 11, 2022
in Bethlehem, Community, News, Towns
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Bethlehem Town Hall. Spotlight file photo

Bethlehem Town Hall. Spotlight file photo

DELMAR — The Town Board will host a public hearing to solicit comment on the Draft Comprehensive Plan Update when it meets on Wednesday, May 11, at 6 p.m.

The Town Board opened a public comment period nearly a month ago to provide input on the revised zoning plan. The draft document, provided by the Town Planning Department with the assistance of the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee, is more than two years in the making.

The project consultant, SWBR, provided an overview of the Draft Plan to the Town Board on April 13, after more than 25 committee meetings to craft the document, which started in November 2019.

Town Supervisor David VanLuven said he was “grateful” to the planning team, having produced the draft document all while working through “the worst pandemic in a century.”

“Our Planning Department and our incredible advisory committee did a great job pulling together hundreds of comments and recommendations from community members and crafting them into an ambitious and exciting vision for Bethlehem,” VanLuven said. “I am so grateful to our planning team, our advisory committee, and all the residents who participated so constructively for their great work on this vital plan. I look forward to using it as a template to guide our Town government’s activities over the next decade.”

The 216-page plan update directs investing in infrastructure improvements and public facilities, addresses housing needs, considers new zoning regulations, conserves ecologically sensitive areas, becomes more environmentally sustainable by addressing climate change and resiliency, and recommends issues for further study.

“Of all the different agencies putting out guidelines, we looked to the New York State Climate Action Council and their scoping plan, said SWBR Project Manager Bill Price in April. “That seems to be the one document that ought to be followed in regard to climate action.”

The committee established several value statements organized by themes to define the plan’s expectations for 2035, including community, public services, environment/sustainability, land use and transportation. Six overarching principles, based on the American Planning Association’s Sustaining Places: Best Practices for Comprehensive Plans (January 2015), were identified as interwoven equity, livable built environment, harmony with nature, resilient economy, healthy community, and responsible governance and regionalism.

The principles are summarized below:

Interwoven Equity – Ensure fairness and equity in providing for the housing, services, health, safety and livelihood needs of all citizens and groups.

Livable Built Environment – Ensure that all elements of the built environment, including land use, transportation, housing, energy and infrastructure work together to provide sustainable, green places for living, working and recreation, with a high quality of life. Recognize that historic buildings and structures provide character assets to the built environment.

Harmony with Nature – Ensure that the contributions of natural resources to human well-being are explicitly recognized and valued and that maintaining their health is a primary objective.

Resilient Economy – Ensure that the community is prepared to deal with both positive and negative changes in its economic health and to initiate sustainable urban development and redevelopment strategies that foster green business growth and build reliance on local assets.

Healthy Community – Ensure that public health needs are recognized and addressed through provisions for healthy foods, physical activity with access to recreation and social interaction, physical and emotional health care, environmental justice and safe neighborhoods.

Responsible Governance and Regionalism – Ensure continued efficiencies in the delivery of public services through collaborative governance and that all local proposals account for, connect with and support the mutually beneficial plans of adjacent jurisdictions and the surrounding Capital Region.

Approval of the plan update is expected by next month, following the conclusion of the public comment period, adoption of SEQR Resolution, and any additional adjustments.

Tags: bethlehemcommunityDelmartown board
ShareTweetShareShare
Previous Post

COVID cases continue to spike

Next Post

Local Boy Scouts earn the coveted Eagle Scout Badge

Leave Comment

Stay Connected with Us

Recent News

Bridging the gap between cities

May 21, 2022
Sen. Neil Breslin on Election Day, 2016. Jim Franco / Spotlight News

Breslin to run for 14th term in new 46th NY State Senate district

May 20, 2022

Albany woman charged with killing former employer’s fish with toilet bowl cleaner

May 20, 2022

Freedom Park Scotia announces their 2022 free concerts in the park

May 20, 2022

Hot Stories This Week

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

Albany woman charged with killing former employer’s fish with toilet bowl cleaner

May 20, 2022
Photo/Albany Diocese

Former St. Thomas Priest and National Boy Scout Chaplain Father Gregory Weider placed on Albany Diocese list of credibly accused

May 15, 2022

BCSD school board candidate: Douglas Lloyd

May 14, 2022

BCSD school board candidate: John Walston

May 14, 2022

Bridging the gap between cities

May 21, 2022
Sen. Neil Breslin on Election Day, 2016. Jim Franco / Spotlight News

Breslin to run for 14th term in new 46th NY State Senate district

May 20, 2022

Albany woman charged with killing former employer’s fish with toilet bowl cleaner

May 20, 2022

Freedom Park Scotia announces their 2022 free concerts in the park

May 20, 2022
Spotlight News

Spotlight News, The Spot 518 and Capital District Family Now are divisions of Community Media Group, LLC. Our local offices are located at 341 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054. You can contact us at 518.439.4949.

Browse

Follow Us

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact the Editor
  • Employment
  • Our Team
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2021 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Spotlight On Business
    • Spotlight on Finance
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
  • Hot Spots Calendar
  • Opinion
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Log In
  • Classifieds
    • Advertiser Login
  • Service Directory

© 2021 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949