Meeting set for this week in Wayland, next week in Hornell
“This is a great opportunity to shape our county’s future for the next 15 years”
County Legislature Chairman Scott Van Etten, R-Caton urged all county residents to participate in opportunities to give input on the county’s Comprehensive Plan now under way.
“This is a great opportunity to shape our county’s future for the next 15 years,” he said. “On behalf of the county Legislature, we urge everyone to talk to your neighbors, your town leaders, your employers or employees. Come to the input sessions or go online and comment there.”
The sessions are the result of months of planning by a committee, composed of county legislators and other county leaders. The committee has worked with the MRB Group to develop the framework of the plan and keep the public informed on the county website, local media and through social media.
Van Etten noted the task of shaping the future is not simple for the committee or county residents. There are 42 municipalities spread out over 1,404 square miles with a wide variety of interests and needs.
“Think about what is important to you,” Van Etten said. “Talk to your older children and ask them for their thoughts, talk to your parents and grandparents and find out their needs. Please speak up and please listen to others’ ideas. If you don’t speak up, you can’t be heard.”
The public input sessions are scheduled for:
- Thursday (Jan. 26) 2-6pm
- Southeast Steuben County Library, 300 Nasser Civic Center Plaza Ste 101, Corning
- Wayland Free Library, 101 W Naples St, Wayland,
- Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 2-6pm
- Steuben County Annex Building, 20 E Morris St., Bath
- Hornell Community Arts Center, 58 Broadway, Hornell
The plan will create policy and investment recommendations around the nine critical areas of focus below.
- Broadband
- Infrastructure (Water, Sewer, Electric, Gas, Roads and Bridges)
- Workforce Development
- Economic Development
- Housing
- Agriculture, Farmland Preservation, and Food Systems
- Transportation (Air, Rail, and Public Transit)
- Recreation, Parks, Trails, and Tourism
- Sustainability and Resilience
More information on the process and an opportunity to comment is located at https://www.steubencountyny.gov/688/Comprehensive-Plan-Project