(Madison County, NY – Dec. 2014) To recognize the service and dedication of local planning and zoning boards, Madison County held the second annual Planning and Zoning Appreciation Banquet Dec. 2. The event was held at the Kallet Civic Center in Oneida and was well-attended with nearly 100 board members from municipalities across the county.
“These planning and zoning board members are responsible for making many of the planning and land-use decisions in our communities, but what many may not know is that these boards are made up almost entirely with volunteers,” said Madison County Planning Department Director Scott Ingmire. “This banquet is not only a thank you to them, but also an opportunity for them to come together, network and share best practices and resources with each other.”
The highlight of the evening is the Smart Growth Awards segment, which honors accomplishments in planning and land use. This year, Smart Growth Awards were presented to:
* Lebanon Comprehensive Planning Committee – for efforts to create the town’s first comprehensive plan
* Canastota – for place making and revitalization efforts to its downtown
As sharing experiences is a key focus of the banquet, both groups awarded made presentations on key aspects of their projects including takeaways and recommendations to help inspire other groups that might be interested in taking on something similar in their own communities.
“This evening is much appreciated by all of us, and I hope our talk was meaningful for the attendees,” said Gary Will, an award recipient as a committee member of Lebanon’s Comprehensive Planning Committee.
“The evening is a great chance to learn and share with our neighboring communities,” said Canastota Mayor Carla DeShaw. “We are honored to be a recipient of this award and delighted to share some of our experiences with revitalizing downtown.”
In addition to a banquet, the evening also serves as a chance for participants to attain hours needed for their annual four hour training requirement. The evening’s training topics included the use of conservation subdivisions and how to implement the state-wide unified solar permit.