Goals and Objectives

Top Previous Next

Pages 5 - 8.

III. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Through the analysis of existing conditions and the public input process, Goals and Objectives have been developed to provide an overall focus for the future of the Town of Evans. Comprehensive planning uses goals and objectives as a tool to guide future land use decisions. In short, goals and objectives provide a basis for what is considered important to the future growth and development of the Town, and they should contain information of "value" to direct future planning and decisions. The following Goals and Objectives were developed through the use of input from the Comprehensive Plan Committee, public opinion surveys, local residents and interested involved parties.

1.	The Town of Evans possesses excellent open space, conservation, and agricultural areas that should be preserved and protected as a part of future development:

- identify important general open space areas in the Town and protect them from growth and development;

- preserve prime open space/conservation lands in designated districts;

- identify agricultural resources/land in the Town, and direct growth away from them; and

- review conventional and non-conventional planning techniques and concepts to assist in the protection of valuable agricultural lands.

2.	The Town will encourage a balance between economic and residential growth to provide for a diverse living environment for its people along with a stabilized tax base for the future:

- protect existing residential neighborhoods from encroachment by incompatible uses;

- provide for adequate buffering of future development;

- accommodate a variety of residential housing types in the community;

- identify appropriate areas for prime commercial and industrial uses that serve the local residential, community wide, and regional needs of the area and encourage the same; and - encourage the consolidation of future commercial development for safety and
convenience.

3.	The Town will promote raising the quality of life for its residents by developing a positive image:

- promote tourism and waterfront features;

- encourage new festivals, summer events and winter events; and

- develop community block groups for community issues.

4.	The Town will promote better use of the waterfront to enhance increased tourism and preserve the residential character of the surrounding area:

- plan for increased expansion of waterfront facilities;

- enforce public safety at beaches, public waterfront access points, parks, etc.; and

- provide zoning and other regulations that promote appropriate uses for the waterfront.

5.	The Town will promote the full utilization of public facilities and services through the orderly development of future growth:

- encourage the "in-filling" of appropriate vacant, developable areas by directing future growth lands with adequate public services;

- limit development in areas without utilities (sanitary sewer);

- promote the fiscal viability of land development based on the costs of service provisions and the revenues generated from new growth;

- upgrade public sewer/water availability in existing service areas and provide new facilities consistent with orderly growth and development; and - limit utility extensions into prime open space and environmentally sensitive areas.

6.	Identify environmentally sensitive areas of the Town and implement development restrictions to protect these natural resources and preserve their integrity:

- identify major natural resources (creeks and streams, woodlands, wildlife habitats, beach areas and waterfront features) to protect them from unnecessary development;

- identify areas with poor soil and drainage characteristics in order to manage growth and development;

- limit utility extensions in agricultural and environmentally sensitive areas;

- streams and flood plains act as natural drainage channels for stormwater and should be restricted from development; and

- restrict development in designated wetland areas in accordance with State and Federal regulations.

7.	The open character of the Town will be encouraged to ensure the conservation of community resources for future generations:

- develop a plan for open space and recreation as a guide for future preservation and conservation;

- coordinate planning policies and techniques between legislative and community boards (i.e, Planning Board, Town Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Advisory Board, Recreation Advisory Board);

- preserve existing open space, recreation and conservation areas and identify appropriate areas for potential future use;

- assess and provide for local and community needs in the development of future public and semi- public uses.

8.	The Town will ensure an integrated transportation system to provide for the movement of residents, workers, visitors, and goods in a safe and efficient manner:

- promote the adequate design of the roadway system to assure efficient access to existing development and adequate movement of traffic;

- encourage the expansion of public transportation to adequately serve the Town's needs;

- support the retention of rail rights-of-way for the movement of goods and passengers in the Town;

- encourage the future development of land in accordance with the availability of adequate access, consistent with the objectives of the transportation system;

- coordinate multi-modal (auto, transit, pedestrian) conditions and future plans between Town, County, Regional and State agencies; and

- monitor and coordinate road and highway infrastructure conditions and improvements with Town Highway Department, County Highway Department and New York State Department of Transportation.