BATH – A roadmap to the unified development of services in Steuben County during the next 15 years was adopted by the Steuben County Legislature Monday.
The roadmap – the Steuben County Comprehensive Plan -- was formed during 18 months with input from the public, stakeholders and a special legislative Comprehensive Plan Committee with the assistance of engineering, architecture, and municipal services consultant MRB Group of Rochester.
Under the direction of Steuben Planner Marie Myers Shearing and related county staff, the plan will be divided into five-year action plans of critical “to-do” items necessary to affect the initiatives.
The list of projects in the five-year plan assigned to the Steuben County Planning Department, either as a lead or support capacity is lengthy, Myers Shearing said.
“The implementation timeframe parameters and associated costs will be a very useful tool to us as we put the plan into place and get to work on the key initiatives,” she said. “The Department is very excited to take on this endeavor as it will give us a chance to connect with the county municipalities in many ways.”
The plan is a great tool that will help guide the county make well-informed planning decisions and help the county municipalities do the same, according to Myers Shearing.
“We strongly believe that better communities together make a better county as a whole,” she said. It will be used to shape future budgets, planning efforts, and to acquire state and federal funding to support priority projects.
The adopted document also will offer opportunities for the public to engage in the plans which will include initiatives and projects for the benefit of the county.
On behalf of the Steuben County Legislature and the residents of our county, I would like to thank our Committee, the MRB Group and the many other groups and individuals who spent countless hours developing this plan said County Legislature Chair Kelly Fitzpatrick, R-Bath Town. This plan was built by defining county strong traditions and values while it looks to a future of service and growth.
“We intend to use this as our roadmap for committee goals for the year.”
