City Comprehensive Plan Update Committee Holding First Meeting January 22

The City of Cortland is embarking on a collaborative effort to refresh its vision for the future.

CITY OF CORTLAND – The City of Cortland is preparing to update and revise its vision for the future. The City has assembled a team of community members who will guide future land use decisions through an updated comprehensive plan.

Last year the City of Cortland received a $90,000 Smart Growth Community Planning Grant from the NYS Department of State to modernize the City’s 2012 comprehensive plan.

The City issued a request for proposals for consultants to facilitate the project. The City retained Syracuse-based Environmental Design & Research (EDR).

Updating the comprehensive plan is comparable to updating a business plan; the final document will establish objectives and strategies to guide collaborative and predictable decision-making in areas of land use, housing, open spaces, development, community revitalization, and sustainability.

To facilitate the planning process, the City has assembled a committee representing diverse community interests and having an understanding of current conditions and needs. The steering committee includes individuals representing housing, planning, public transportation, the environment, arts and culture, underserved and special needs populations, seniors, minorities, education, business, tourism, and economic development.

The comprehensive planning committee will develop a public participation plan to get direct input from community members.

The planning process will take about 18 months to complete. The completed document will be subject to a public hearing before the City Council prior to approval and final adoption.

The comprehensive planning committee will hold its kick-off meeting on January 22 from 3-4:30pm in the first-floor conference room of the County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 42 Main Street.