HomeMy WebLinkAbout20241213-VCH-PB-DRAFT-Survey-and-Sustainability-ReferencesCayuga Heights Planning Board
DRAFT Sustainability Survey Outline and References
12/13/24
Local governments are responsible for planning in a number of areas, including housing,
transportation, natural resources, land use, waste management, energy use, and
infrastructure investment. In New York State, these planning efforts can be combined into a
comprehensive plan that steers decision-making by local governments and guides future
development through zoning regulations. A comprehensive plan provides communities
with a strong defense for regulations adopted in conformance with the plan. In 2023,
almost 70% of the cities, towns, and villages in New York State have a comprehensive plan,
according to New York State Department of State.
A comprehensive plan also provides a vision for how a community wants to grow over, on
average, a 10- to 20-year period and recommends steps for how to achieve that vision. As
part of that vision, the comprehensive planning process offers an opportunity for
communities to consider how to balance the three “Es” of sustainability: environment,
economy, and equity. Doing so encourages local governments to integrate sustainability
into the areas of their comprehensive plans. Sustainability elements are best included
throughout the comprehensive plan, though alternatively, they may be added in a
standalone chapter to the plan or as a separate plan incorporated by reference, though
integration is generally considered preferable.
When adopting or modifying a comprehensive plan, it is imperative to solicit and take into
consideration the opinions and priorities of community members. Collected data and
stakeholder input help inform a comprehensive plan’s content. The Village of Cayuga
Heights’s comprehensive plan was last updated in 2014 and now, in 2024, the plan’s
priorities are being revisited by its planning board, at the direction of the Village Trustees for
potential updates. By means of this survey, the Village seeking feedback from its residents
on the topics in its comprehensive plan, ensuring sustainability is a common thread woven
into the plan’s overall vision. We look forward to the feedback you’ll provide as a valued
member of the Village.
(next)
Please record answers in the space provided:
1. Economy/Character/Quality of Life: What defines a sustainable community, and
what are key characteristics that the Village can practically promote?
2. Public Services/Utilities: What could/How should the Village do to foster local
energy production, conservation, and efficiency, while increasing the use of
renewable power?
3. Ecology/Economy: What could/What should the Village do to promote access to
food production, sales, and consumption while reducing food-related waste?
4. Ecology/Scenic Assets: Could/Should the Village ensure healthy and vibrant
ecosystems that sustain all naturally occurring species, along with our human
population? If so, how might that be put to practice?
5. Public Services/Utilities/Ecology: How could/How should the Village provide
ongoing leadership for water efficiency and water quality efforts to ensure sufficient
clean water for current and future generations?
6. Ecology/Quality of Life: What could/What should the Village do to reduce our
contribution to climate change and minimize air pollution and carbon emissions?
7. Public Services/Utilities: What could/What should the Village promote consumer
product awareness, increase recycling rates, and reduce the amount of
substances/materials entering landfills?
8. Quality of Life/Public Health: How could/How should the Village continue to
promote healthy living, civic engagement, cultural and ethnic diversity, while
partnering with others to promote related activities?
9. Character/Development: How could/How should the Village guide and promote
development so that buildings and neighborhoods incorporate principles of
sustainable design such as long-life building materials and energy-efficient heating
and cooling systems?
10. Transportation: How can Village transportation infrastructure be designed
efficiently, safely, with the environment in mind, and be connected to other local
and regional networks?
11. Transportation: How could/How should the Village continue to recognize mobility
choices and support emerging technologies to encourage sustainable transport of
people and vehicles?
12. Environment/Economy: How could/How should the Village bolster the local
economy by attracting “green collar” jobs and encouraging businesses to become
more sustainable?
13. Governance: What could/What should the Village do to provide good government
and cost-effective services, meet the needs of our citizens, protect the
environment, and cooperate with other governments?
14. Housing: How could/How should promote land use and building types to ensure
that access to new and existing housing is attainable by all persons?
15. Character/Quality of Life: What could/What should the Village consider when
balancing historic character with shifting demographics and contemporary
development styles?
16. Economy/Governance: How could/How should the Village effectively ensure
community resilience and protection of assets in the face of a changing
environment where storm events are proving to be more extreme?
17. Ecology/Economy: What can/What should the Village additionally consider in
terms of both climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies?
References:
Sustaining Places: Best Practices for Comprehensive Plans. PAS Report 578. David R.
Godschalk, FAICP, and David C. Rouse, AICP, 2015.
https://www.planning.org/sustainingplaces/compplanstandards/
Climate Smart Communities: PE6 Action: Comprehensive Plan with Sustainability
Elements. New York State Department of State, 2024.
https://climatesmart.ny.gov/actions-
certification/actions/?type=1336777436&tx_sjcert_action%5BactionObject%5D=66&tx_sj
cert_action%5Baction%5D=getPDF&tx_sjcert_action%5Bcontroller%5D=Action&cHash=e
500d064138da4afc9f461426c736811
NYSERDA. Clean Energy and Your Comprehensive Plan: For Local Governments. New York
State Energy Research and Development Authority, 2021.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.ny
serda.ny.gov/-/media/Project/Nyserda/Files/Programs/Clean-Energy-
Siting/comprehensive-plan-guide.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjvr83x-
6qKAxUyhIkEHaV4G984ChAWegQIGBAB&usg=AOvVaw2bqRxoFyEL2K9M3gT62lGa
M. Johnston— DRAFT, 12/13/24