West Seneca's Master Plan

[Spirit of Ebenezer]

About two years ago, the town, through a grant of around $50,000 I believe, paid consultants to devise a "Master Plan". Does anyone know anything about it ? Did it serve any real purpose ?

Was it simply recommendations ? Was anything from it ever implemented ? Will it ever be utilized ?

Was it a $50,000 bone thrown to someone as a favor ?

Will this thread sink like a lead balloon ?

[erlyrizr1]

What's a Master plan?

[Spirit of Ebenezer]

What's a Master plan?

Exactly my point. Sounds almost sinister. With what has been exposed just through the news about the outgoing Supervisor maybe it is. I've been accused in here of being a naysayer and offering nothing of substance. Rather than boast in here about what I think I know, I thought I pose something to initiate a debate relative to the town with out too much malice. Probably too tall of an order for in here. Maybe I should stick with what's most fun.

Where's Lucky Larry ?

[CSense]

From what I remember (Buffalo News), the plan was to make recommendations on setting planning requirements for Union (Seneca to Center) so that it could be more like Smalltown Main Street USA.

I can't remember when it was touted, I want to say a couple of years at most, but have heard nothing of it since.

[yokes]

http://www.wd-ae.com/westseneca/wscp2.html

[erlyrizr1]

Still lost.

[erlyrizr1]

Thanks Yokes.

[Spirit of Ebenezer]

Thank you yokes. This looks like good reading.

[Mona]

What is a growth pressure area? If you look on the map for vision 1, there is a pink area where Princeton Estates would be marked as growth pressure area.

To me that means that if we had an influx of people coming into the town looking to live here and there were no homes/lots available, the town would be "pressured" to build here?

Anybody?

[erlyrizr1]

This thing reads like a book. I thought I was lost before but now I'm sure I am. How about leading me to the good parts. Have to go to work in a bit. Csense, I must be thick and or stupid but what are they gonna do, demolish their town hall and put up shops and such? Is that what is in this? And Mona, what the heck is a growth pressure area? Did I miss something in the beginning? I admit I've just scanned it so help me out if you can. And furthermore.....oh never mind.

[The Jokester]

Here's what to ask, what have they done with the Comprehensive Plan thus far (since 2006)? What has been omplemented, what were the concerns, if any, during the public hearing, did the public hearing take place, when and where if it did, how many attended, how was it promoted/advertised (hearing)?

In other words, was this just a way to spend $50,000 or did we get somehting out of it - also who performed the study? What are their certifications? How was it bid out?

[Psycho1]

This thing reads like a book. I thought I was lost before but now I'm sure I am. How about leading me to the good parts. Have to go to work in a bit. Csense, I must be thick and or stupid but what are they gonna do, demolish their town hall and put up shops and such? Is that what is in this? And Mona, what the heck is a growth pressure area? Did I miss something in the beginning? I admit I've just scanned it so help me out if you can. And furthermore.....oh never mind.

I'm sorry, I thought I was somewhat intelligent, but this looks like someone spent $50,000 on a new box of crayons. Once again, we got something that looks good in print, but no instructions on how to make it happen. That's like packing the car for vacation, without having a map to Disney World.

[yokes]

I'm sorry, I thought I was somewhat intelligent, but this looks like someone spent $50,000 on a new box of crayons. Once again, we got something that looks good in print, but no instructions on how to make it happen. That's like packing the car for vacation, without having a map to Disney World.

Isnt that the point of a master plan? It serves as a guide for where you want to be, and its used to guide your decision making for the town govt.

I don't recll ever seeing a master plan for any town that says step one do this step 2 do this. Its always a "ultimate goal" type document

[Niagara]

Isnt that the point of a master plan? It serves as a guide for where you want to be, and its used to guide your decision making for the town govt.

I don't recll ever seeing a master plan for any town that says step one do this step 2 do this. Its always a "ultimate goal" type document
And mistakes are made. In Williamsville, on Main St. they went from two lane to four lane, and now they want to go back to two lane.

[Niagara]

I'm sorry, I thought I was somewhat intelligent, but this looks like someone spent $50,000 on a new box of crayons. Once again, we got something that looks good in print, but no instructions on how to make it happen. That's like packing the car for vacation, without having a map to Disney World.
You are correct to complain of waste if someone spent 50,000 on a document, but no one read it, or it had nothing to offer, which is more likely the case. What I don't like is in WS, there is a heritage as strong as Orchard Park's, but there all new commercial development just looks more upscale. The new Rite Aid store is another big box, in OP it would be a disguised big box.

[yokes]

And mistakes are made. In Williamsville, on Main St. they went from two lane to four lane, and now they want to go back to two lane.

Mistakes are made by bad decisions not by a plan on paper.

Are you saying we should allow some person or company to be the planner for every community? Does this peron/company write a step by step plan?

I'm not sayng master plans are perfect, but using them as a guide when deciding where the next bowling alley, housing development, or corner store goes keeps like development together thus getting an industrial zone, housing zone, commercial zone etc. It also give residents a guide to where to buy, if they know an area will ultimately be commercial or industrial why move there?

All that being said it needs to be used as a guide by the elected officials, or it is a waste of money.

[dtwarren]

About two years ago, the town, through a grant of around $50,000 I believe, paid consultants to devise a "Master Plan". Does anyone know anything about it ? Did it serve any real purpose ?

Was it simply recommendations ? Was anything from it ever implemented ? Will it ever be utilized ?

Was it a $50,000 bone thrown to someone as a favor ?

Will this thread sink like a lead balloon ?

As part of this Master Plan it was recommended that certain changes be made to the Town's Zoning Code. However, to date, I have not seen even the preliminary steps taken to implement it.

[Roberta]

I am with the Environmental Commission and we support the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan. The Plan was adopted in October 2006 and since then, the Town enacted Site Plan Approval regulation as recommended in the Plan.

I would like to direct readers to a source where you can get more information on the importance of Comprehensive Planning and Zoning to our community. The Department of State website has instructional publications for local governments. A discussion of zoning and comprehensive planning can be found at: www.dos.state.ny.us/lgss/pdfs/zncompplan.pdf

A list of other publications is found at:
www.dos.state.ny.us/lgss/publist.htm

A Comprehensive Plan should be reviewed periodically and updated when necessary; to that end, public input is very important. It is my understanding that significant efforts were made to gather as much public input as possible for inclusion in the Plan. There was a public hearing prior to adopting the Plan and it was well-attended. It is my personal opinion that the consultant did the best job possible given the budgetary constraints. I would also like to give credit to Councilman Osmanski who championed the Comprehensive Plan through its development and adoption.

Although it is not clear what formal role the Commission will have in further Comprehensive Planning efforts, we are looking forward to working with the new Town Board on carrying out the priorities of the Plan.

[Spirit of Ebenezer]

www.dos.state.ny.us/lgss/pdfs/zncompplan.pdf

www.dos.state.ny.us/lgss/publist.htm

Thank you. Lots to download though, hope the commision has their own copies.

we are looking forward to working with the new Town Board

As are so many others. I'm hoping it will be refreshing for all. Best Wishes.

[dtwarren]

I am cautiously optimistic that the new administration will be more proactive and implement needed changes including fully implementing the comprehensive plan.

[Niagara]

I am cautiously optimistic that the new administration will be more proactive and implement needed changes including fully implementing the comprehensive plan.
You seem to have seen the comprehensive plan. Roberta points to links which talk about the need for a comprehensive plan, but where is the comprehensive plan. Is it on the internet? If not, why not. What 'needed changes' are you talking about? It all sounds like alot of jibberish to me.

[Niagara]

I am with the Environmental Commission and we support the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan. I would also like to give credit to Councilman Osmanski who championed the Comprehensive Plan through its development and adoption.

You mean the guy who got fired in the last election.
And the plan which deserves so much public input has already been adopted?

[dtwarren]

You seem to have seen the comprehensive plan. Roberta points to links which talk about the need for a comprehensive plan, but where is the comprehensive plan. Is it on the internet? If not, why not. What 'needed changes' are you talking about? It all sounds like alot of jibberish to me.

It is available at: http://www.wd-ae.com/westseneca/wscp2.html

[CSense]

I am with the Environmental Commission and we support the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan. The Plan was adopted in October 2006 and since then, the Town enacted Site Plan Approval regulation as recommended in the Plan.

Shouldn't you have stated supported (past tense)? But beyond that, did the town prepare a full SEQR? What am I saying if they did, they had to (State Law), so please direct me to the document, thank you.

[CSense]

Csense, I must be thick and or stupid but what are they gonna do, demolish their town hall and put up shops and such? Is that what is in this?

A comprehensive plan (aka Master Plan), is the overarching framework that directs and guides a municipality. We take a snap shot of West Seneca today but we want to make West Seneca look like this in the future. The plan gives you the tools (zoning, Historic preservation, building guidelines, wetland protection, etc) and policy guidance (capital budget, departmental review/changes, etc) to get there.

It would not tell you to knock any buildings down or do anything really specific Those would be included within an annual plan or possibly 5 year strategic plan do to actual budgeting.

[Roberta]

Reply to Niagara: The link to the Comprehensive Plan is on the Town of West Seneca website, on the "front page" at www.westseneca.net. For several months, I would guess in excess of 6 months, there was a solicitation for public comment with an email address, again on the "front page" of the Town website. Notices were sent out via the Town email list serv. The consultant spoke at several meetings in the Town and asked for people to review the draft and submit comments. There was a public hearing, and there were articles in the West Seneca Bee. Development of the Plan took place over at least a couple of years. I don't know what the Town could have done to increase public participation - it is very difficult to get residents to attend meetings when there are so many other things that people have to do when they get home from work.

Reply to CSense: The Comprehensive Plan included a Generic Environmental Impact Statement within the document itself. SEQRA allows for the preparation of a "generic" EIS for general plans, adoption of zoning codes and the like. Once a specific action is taken pursuant to that general plan, then a Supplemental environmental review may be required. I say that we "support" in the present tense because the Comprehensive Plan is a living document that sets out a course of action. The Commission may have a responsibility or a role in that course of action.

Again to Niagara: The public continually has the opportunity for input as incremental steps are taken to implement the Plan. The Plan should also be periodically reviewed and updated. Some states, like Virginia for example, actually require the municipal governments to update their Comprehensive Plans every 5 years. NY does not have that mandate.

[CSense]

Reply to CSense: The Comprehensive Plan included a Generic Environmental Impact Statement within the document itself. SEQRA allows for the preparation of a "generic" EIS for general plans, adoption of zoning codes and the like. Once a specific action is taken pursuant to that general plan, then a Supplemental environmental review may be required. I say that we "support" in the present tense because the Comprehensive Plan is a living document that sets out a course of action. The Commission may have a responsibility or a role in that course of action.

I concur, but then that means that nothing has changed (zoning, wetland protection, building guidleines, etc). Nobody has moved forward on implementing the comprehensive plan, other than say replace sidewalks or fix streets.

[Niagara]

I like no sidewalks, no curbs, open ditches. It makes WS different.
I think West Seneca's no plan in particular approach seems to have worked ok in the past. Why change now?

[CSense]

I like no sidewalks, no curbs, open ditches. It makes WS different.
I think West Seneca's no plan in particular approach seems to have worked ok in the past. Why change now?

I don't necessarily agree with that statement. WS has been historically fortunate that supervisors have run rough shot with development. Who's to say that in the future some a-hole wants to sell out the town?

That's why you put out a comprehensive plan, to ensure that zoning and other restrictions are in place. For you it would be to keep it in the "no plan approach'.