Hunter and Tannersville holding community visioning workshop

HUNTER—The town of Hunter and the villages of Hunter and Tannersville will hold a community visioning workshop Wednesday, August 26, as part of their joint Smart Growth Comprehensive Plan.

The workshop will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Hunter Elementary School, 7794 Main Street. Residents, business owners, property owners, workers, students and seasonal community members are encouraged to attend.

Participants will learn about the comprehensive planning process, complete a community survey and offer input on priorities for the town and villages. Additional information is available at https://plan.townofhunterny.gov/.

The municipalities are developing the plan with funding from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Adirondack and Catskill Parks Community Smart Growth Grant Program and the state Department of State’s Environmental Protection Fund. The plan will identify projects, programs and policies that could be implemented during the next decade.

“The town and villages are developing a new comprehensive plan that will balance sustainable development with resilient growth,” Hunter Town Supervisor Sean Mahoney said. “Engaging the public, both full-time and seasonal residents, is a critical element of the comprehensive plan review process.”

Marc Czermerys, chairman of the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, said the workshop will be the first of several opportunities for the public to help shape the plan.

“Everyone who is committed to Hunter’s future is encouraged to attend and identify essential projects to preserve and improve our town and villages,” Czermerys said.

Committee members represent all three municipalities. They include Czermerys, David Kukle, Charles Randles, Sarah Slutzky, Ismael Villafane, Daryl Mercer, Neal Chernin, Alexsandra Smith, Robert Johnson, Paul Slutzky, Harout Dermenjian, Kevin McArdle, George Kelly, Kody Leach and Serhiy Yevtushkenko.

The committee meets at Tannersville Village Hall on the third Tuesday of each month. Meetings are open to the public.

Community and business surveys are also available through the project website at https://townofhunterny.gov/comprehensive-plan. The community survey asks participants about issues affecting the future of the town and villages, while the business survey is intended for people who operate businesses in the Hunter area. Paper copies may be picked up and returned at Hunter Town Hall, the Hunter and Tannersville village halls and the Mountain Top Library.

The surveys address smart-growth principles related to the economy, environmental protection, energy use, climate resilience and equity. Smart-growth planning encourages sustainable downtown development, open-space protection, walkable communities, varied housing options and economic opportunities for people of different incomes, ages and abilities.

“We are enthusiastic about the possibilities that lie ahead,” said Kukle, the committee’s co-chairman. “We encourage the entire community to participate as much as possible in the planning process.”