Planning Board |
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January 30, 2022 update
The Planning Board completed its update of the Town's Comprehensive Plan in 2020 after seven years of diligent work. In 2021 the Planning Board researched and drafted The Caroline Solar Energy Siting Law to guide large-scale solar energy projects. Planning Board members have now been assigned to the Town's Zoning Commission, along with four community volunteers (Jean McPheeters, Ernie Bayles, Bruce Murray, and Evie Weinstein - Evie has recently stepped down for personal reasons). The Zoning Commission is now working to craft zoning regulations appropriate for Caroline. More information is at the Zoning Commission Page. The Comprehensive Plan Update Process The original Comprehensive Plan was passed in 2006. In 2013, the Planning Board began the revision by meeting with the Town Supervisor, former Planning Board members, and members of the committee who were involved in drafting the original 2006 Plan in order to review the existing Plan and identify the areas needing the most attention. The Planning Board met with professional planners from the area and hired a former planner from the Town of Ithaca to provide formal planning guidance. In 2015, a series of three informal "Community Cafés" were held to learn what residents felt have been and should be the primary goals, ambitions, and weaknesses of the plan. In 2016, a town-wide survey was conducted; the selection of questions and topics in the survey was informed by feedback from the community cafes. Public meetings held in 2016 developed an outline for moving ahead with revising the Plan. That outline evolved into three overarching areas that are the organizing framework for the revised Plan: Livability in Caroline, Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, and Rural Character. In 2018 and 2019, three public workshops were organized, each one focussed on one of the above areas and with the goal of generating concrete ideas for actions advancing town goals in that area. A Public Hearing was held by the Planning Board on September 24th, 2020. After revisions based on feedback from that meeting, the Planning Board adopted the revised plan and forwarded it to the Town Board. The Town Board then held a Public Hearing on December 10th, 2020 and adopted the updated Comprehensive Plan on January 13th, 2021. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many good ideas were generated at the workshops held on the three main plan areas. These ideas can provide impetus for individuals, community groups, businesses and town government and are a community resource that will remain on this website for future reference. Please return and review these lists from time to time. Workshop #1: Making Caroline a More Livable Community Recommended Actions from Livability Workshop Workshop #2: Protecting Caroline's Environment and Natural Resources Recommended Actions from Environment Workshop Workshop #3: Preserving Caroline's Rural Character Recommended Actions from Rural Character Workshop --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Town of Caroline Planning Board
Local Law #1-2002 to Establish the Town of Caroline Planning Board Local Law #2-2022 to Increase Planning Board Membership to Seven Members (adopted by Resolution #63 of 2021). Purpose:
Board Members (Terms): Bill Podulka, Chair (2021-2025) Val Warke (2020-2024) Michelle Brown (2022-2025) Barbara Knuth (2020-2025) Wil Lawrence (2020-2025) Vacant - Town Board Liaison Contact: Planning_Board@townofcaroline.org |
Key DocumentsMeeting
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