NORWICH – The city’s Planning Commission met Monday night to hear a second preliminary report – focused on recreation, culture and tourism – as it continues its update of the 2003 Comprehensive Plan.
Planning and Community Development Specialist Todd Dreyer’s hour-long presentation addressed the city’s achievements since the 2003 Comprehensive Plan went into effect, as well as the continuing issues, opportunities and challenges it faces looking forward.
While Dreyer said he didn’t anticipate any major changes to the updated plan in regards to recreation, he proposed a new section focused solely on culture and tourism within the city. Both have a significant impact, he added, and it’s important to have a collective community vision in place before moving ahead.
“As we receive more community input, we will be able to refine the Comprehensive Plan prior to its submission to the city’s Common Council,” said Dreyer. “Public participation is an important part of this process and we want to stress public involvement. We’re encouraging people to attend these meetings and it’s an opportunity for them to have some influence on the future of the city.”
The city had some major recreational achievements since drafting the 2003 Comprehensive Plan, reported Dreyer, including the installation of the Borden Avenue Skateboard Park; new playground apparatus at the Weiler and South Broad Street Parks; expansion of the city’s Youth Bureau programs; renovation of the tennis courts at the Perry Browne Elementary School; incorporation of the Chenango Greenway Conservancy into trail licenses with the city and the Norwich City School District and the extensive redesign and renovations planned for East and West Parks this spring and summer.
Scott Sutton of the Parks Commission commented that it’s apparent the city’s parks are a huge part of the updated Comprehensive Plan and that nice, well-kept parks will attract tourism and are important to the community. The establishment of a capital reserve specifically for parks would also be of great benefit, he added.
Looking ahead, Dreyer said the restrooms at Weiler Park – often a target for vandalism and misuse – and the resurfacing of its tennis courts must be addressed. In addition, the city must consider ways to integrate the recreational needs of Morrisville State College Norwich Campus students into the community and a future use of the NYS&W railway. While no decision on the rail corridor has officially been made, it’s likely that – over the course of the Comprehensive Plan’s update – a recreational or utility corridor may be under consideration.
