Finding Ulysses

The following news has been sent out about the Comprehensive Planning board by Town Board member Liz Thomas:

What will the Town of Ulysses look like in 20 years? What can you do to help ensure it is an attractive and vibrant place to live? A public input meeting with the Ulysses Comprehensive Plan Committee and consultant Bergmann Associates will be held:

Thursday, July 10th

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Franziska Racker Centers, 3226 Wilkins Road

Join us for a lively and informed discussion of planning issues. Learn about the results of the Community Character Survey that summarizes the way that Ulysses residents feel about development.

Review the Draft Future Land Use Plan that was developed from input at public workshops held in the spring. Talk about what the plan means and how it could help guide future development regulations.

Comprehensive Plan documents in draft form are available at the Town Hall, the Ulysses Philomathic Library, and on the Town’s web site at www.ulysses.ny.us (under “document downloads”). Can’t make the meeting? E-mail your comments to ulyssesCP2008@gmail.com.

Transparency Concerns

Concerns about the transparency of the Comprehensive Planning (CP) process were raised at the last Town Board meeting by one member of the board. The Comprehensive Planning Committee (CPC) is a dedicated and diverse community group of volunteers who have been working for nearly 2 years to update the existing CP to guide the development of our community for the next 20 years. The CPC has been very busy. Working with Bergmann Associates, a professional planning firm, they have created a community-based plan with input from residents who have chosen to participate in the process. This past fall, the CPC surveyed residents to determine their wants and needs. In February, Bergmann Associates presented the results of the survey to the public along with other statistics of our town (see them at http://www.ulysses.ny.us/tou-existing-condrefiitions.pdf). In April, the CPC and Bergmann Associates hosted two public workshops to refine the types of development residents felt would be an asset to the community and those that would be inappropriate. Also at these 3-hour workshops, residents were asked to help create a map of Ulysses outlining potential future land use. This map very broadly identifies the kinds of development that would be appropriate and desirable in various areas of the Town. It will serve as a blueprint to guide future land use planning decisions and could inform zoning changes. The draft policy areas can be seen at http://www.ulysses.ny.us/cp-policies2008.pdf and the potential future land use map at http://www.ulysses.ny.us/ulysses_flp07-01-08.pdf.

This has been an incredibly productive group thanks to the dedication of the volunteers who have donated hundreds of volunteer hours and to Bergmann Associates’ expertise. As you can see, the CPC has bent over backward to be inclusive and open in the process of creating this draft plan. Please be a part of the future and come to the upcoming meeting on July 10th or contribute comments. The regular meetings of the CPC are held the 3rd Tuesday each month as is stated on the web and are always open to the public.

If you would like to speak to a CPC member, they are Sue Poelvoorde, Rod Hawkes, David Tyler, Bob Brown, Bob Weatherby, Sue Ritter, Heather Filiberto, John Wertis, Roxanne Marino, Deirdre Cunningham and I am the liaison to the Town Board.