Page 10 - Town of Newcomb Comprehensive Plan - 2010

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Inventory & Analysis

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The first step in the planning process was to conduct an inventory and analysis of the Town’s
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existing social, economic and environmental conditions. Using information and data from such
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sources as Geographic Information Systems (software), the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of
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Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Statistical Analysis, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NYS
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Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Department of Labor, NYS Office of Parks
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Recreation and Historic Preservation, NYS Department of Transportation, Essex County Real
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Property Tax Services, Essex County Department of Public Works, Town Tax Assessor, and local
residents, the Comprehensive Plan Committee examined social, economic and land use trends
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as well as the Town’s environmental and cultural resources . The Committee also examined the
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Town’s municipal innfrastructure and its community services such as roads and educational,
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health, emergency, fire protection, and sewer and water services. The results of the inventory
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and analysis are discussed at length in section 2.0 of this report.
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Public Participation
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Providing opportunities for Newcomb residents to take part in the planning process was a high
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priority for the Comprehensive Plan Committee. Committee meeting minutes and information
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were regularly posted on the Town’s website. Residents were encouraged to attend committee
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meetings and were also encouraged to contact the committee with their ideas, questions,
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comments, and concerns.
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More importantly, local stakeholders and residents provided
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significant guidance and input throughout the process through
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interviews, a community‐wide survey, and two (2) public
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hearings. The interview process included 22 stakeholders
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selected by the committee based upon their understanding of
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a particular issue oor overall local knowledge. Stakeholders
were asked what they did and did not like about Newcomb,
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and were also asked what they would like to see remain the P Pu ub bl li ic c M Me ee et t t ti in ng g P Pa ar rt ti ic ci ip pa an n nt ts s
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same and what they would like to see changed. The results of the interviews were compiled
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and reviewed by the Committee. The results of the stakeholder interviews are included in
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Appendix II.
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The results of the inventory and analysis and stakeholder interviews were used to develop a
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town‐wide community survey. The survey asked a wide range of questions including peoples’
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level of satisfaction with municipal services and their thoughts about the future of the Town.
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The survey was sent to all property owners within the town and the results were collated by
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seasonal, year‐round, and land owners. A survey must have a good response rate in order to
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Town of Newcomb Comprehensive Plan
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March 2010
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