Town of Seneca Falls

TOWN, VILLAGE GET TOGETHER FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT:

The village and town are getting ready to implement a joint comprehensive plan that has been more than two years in the making.

A draft copy of the plan was presented to the village board Monday by Village Planner Fran Caraccilo, and the board voted unanimously to declare itself lead agency for the State Environmental Quality Review process.

Caraccilo, who chaired the 18-member Joint Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, said the draft will be online in a few days at www.seneca falls.com.

The plan is a blueprint to govern future development, particularly economic development. To that the end, the Village Board agreed to appoint Camoin Associates of Saratoga Springs to develop a strategic economic development plan, focusing on downtown revitalization, which will be added to the final comprehensive plan.

The board agreed to have their grant consultant, Jean O’Connell of J. O’Connell & Associates Grants Consultants of Clarence, Erie County, enter into a contract based on Camoin’s bid of $44,986.

Two grants nearly cover the cost of the contract. The town and village have been awarded a $20,000 Quality Communities grant for the strategic economic plan and $24,900 from the Governor’s Office for Small Cities for the Seneca Falls Commercial Revitalization plan.