Comprehensive town plan discussed at monthly board meeting

The Newfield Planning Board sat down Wednesday night, July 3, at their monthly meeting to discuss updates to the reorganized town website, the 2023 comprehensive plan, the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) community forest grant and revisions to application forms for subdivisions and site plans. 

The planning board is looking to start pitching Newfield residents to get more support in subcommittees to update the comprehensive plan, according to Brenda Lapp, planning board chair.

“We’re going to develop an elevator pitch where we can talk to people and try to invite them to come and help us update the comprehensive plan,” Lapp said. 

Planning board members are looking for ways to get residents involved, possibly via email, Lapp said, and are attending communications meetings to figure out how to involve community members without violating spam laws that prevent automatic email signups. There is currently no time frame for sending out the email.

“My understanding is they’re supposed to be developing a quick document with those emails, not only to invite people to the comprehensive plan if they want to help but also to let them know about other things in town,” Lapp said. “We hope we have the invitation to invite people.”

One question raised at the meeting was why residents should get involved with the revisions to the comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan was created to analyze what the Newfield currently has and its plans for the future. The basis of that plan is what plans will be made, according to Newfield’s website.

Lapp stated that the comprehensive plan will have an impact on the future of Newfield and its residents.

“That is going to impact somebody. They should really participate so they can express their opinions on how they would like to see things developed.” Lapp said. “There needs to be a healthy balance of people’s voices being heard.” 

The planning board is looking for community members and small businesses within the town to create subcommittees to help update and revise the comprehensive plan. Community members who want to get involved should check out  the town website or contact the planning board.

Another topic discussed at the meeting was the DEC community forest conservation grant. According to the DEC, the grant funds municipal land acquisitions for community forests that offer benefits to local wildlife and people surrounding the land, such as water quality, air quality and recreational opportunities.

Concern arose due to a policy that requires the town to spend money first in order to apply for the grant, which, if successful,  reimburses the town for money spent to purchase the parcels of land for conservation.

“The town municipality would have to go through with the purchase so they can go through with the grant proposal,” Lapp said. “It’s one of those things where you’ve got to spend the money and then hope your proposal gets selected for reimbursement.”

An Oct. 11 deadline for grant proposals leaves a short window in which the planning board must apply for the grant while operating with a small budget.

“Because of the time frame being so short, I was concerned we wouldn’t be able to pull something off that quickly.” Lapp said, “We have a small budget to operate, to buy supplies as we need them. We don’t have the budget that the town has.”

The planning board also discussed revisions to subdivision and site plan application forms. According to the town’s subdivision control regulation, the subdivision plan is used to provide the organization with future growth and development by ensuring safe and adequate facilities for the housing, transportation, comfort, convenience, safety, health and welfare of the subdivision population.

The site plan review law is intended to protect land value, creating beneficial development and useful maintenance to protect the well-being of the people of Newfield, according to the town’s site plan law.

Updates and corrections were needed to make the application forms easier to understand.

“When I noticed there were errors that needed to be fixed anyway, I just figured it wouldn’t be a bad time to review the whole thing anyway and make sure we all understand what’s in there. So, if someone has a question we can explain to them why,” Lapp said

The planning board has also reorganized the town website, condensing some of the pages  and adding easier and more accessible links to beneficial information. 

For more information about the comprehensive plan, DEC grant or subdivision and site plan law, visit the Town of Newfield’s website.

Newfield Notes appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In Brief:

Mill Park Music Series

J.P. Payton will perform at Mill Park on Aug. 9. The event will take place on Wednesday from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Town board to meet

The Newfield Town Board will hold its monthly meeting  Thursday, Aug. 10, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the town hall.

Newfield History and Activity Center open

The Newfield History and Activity Center will be open on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Coming up at the library

Yoga For Beginners will be held at Newfield Public Library Saturday, Aug. 12, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. The event will be hosted by Phyllis KuanYin Chi and is suitable for beginners and those with mobility issues.

Teen Takeover at the Newfield Public Library is on Monday, Aug. 14, from 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Family Trivia Night: All of Us will take place at Newfield Public Library on Monday, August 14, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. 

Family Story Time will be held at Newfield Public Library Tuesday, Aug. 15, from 10:30-11:15 a.m. The event includes stories, songs and more for infants through age 5.