Smart Growth Projects
The following projects provide examples of how Smart Growth initiatives have brought communities together to support environmental sustainability, local character, economic activity and community planning.
Ongoing Projects
Town of Indian Lake
Indian Lake Theater
The downtown movie house is gone from most small towns across the country. Because of community spirit and volunteer initiative, the Indian Lake Theater is up and running with its executive director planning and organizing community events, arts programming and theater operations. (see Indian Lake Theater link in the right-hand column)
Completed Projects
Town of Saranac
Wireless Clearinghouse
Under the direction of SUNY Plattsburgh, this research project identified existing structures throughout the Adirondack Park with the potential to accommodate cell phone and wireless communications facilities. The project data was collected from local officials, reviewed by industry and presented in an online mapping application to be consulted by wireless communications providers. The application will help Adirondack wireless developers find environmentally sound sites that are also technically effective.
To view the completed project and use the online mapping application, see Wireless Clearinghouse link in the right-hand column.
The Wireless Clearinghouse Project - Final Report (PDF, 668 KB)
Essex County
Hamlets 3 Guidebook
The Adirondack Hamlets is a parkwide project, supported by Essex County and the Adirondack Community Housing Trust (ACHT), to create opportunities for economic development and physical improvement of the Adirondack region through smart expansion. This can be achieved through the use of mapping, analysis, and interaction with the public community. (see Hamlets 3 link in the right-hand column)
Town of Chester
Community Housing Plan
The Town of Chester has examined the state of affordable housing and is recommending techniques and strategies that will enhance the supply and quality of housing for residents of the community. The issue of affordable housing is examined on the town wide level; however, the study focus is on strengthening existing housing and providing strategies to grow housing opportunities in the Hamlet areas of Chestertown, Pottersville, North Creek and Riparius.
Town of Chester Community Housing Plan (PDF, 3.14 MB)
Town of Newcomb
Northern Forest Institute Market Assessment and Operating Plan
This project included a review of the market context and preparation of an operating plan for the proposed Northern Forest Institute (NFI), a research/educational facility to be developed on the campus of the Adirondack Ecological Center (AEC) at Huntington Wildlife Forest (HWF) in Newcomb, NY.
Northern Forest Institute Market Assessment and Operating Plan Summary Report (PDF, 60 KB)
Town of Brighton
Smart Growth Plan
This local planning process gathered input from the community and resulted in a smart growth action plan, environmental assessment and business development brochure.
Brighton Smart Growth Plan - whole document (PDF, 8.97 MB)
Part 1 - Intro and main body (PDF, 1.63 MB)
Part 2 - Appendices (PDF, 3.05 MB)
Part 3 - Appendices, cont. (PDF, 2.24 MB)
Brighton Connections Brochure (PDF, 2.73 MB)
Essex County
Destination Master Plan
The Essex County Tourism Destination Master Plan has begun the work of engineering future tourism to meet the desires of local communities and the tourism industry. (see Destination Master Plan link in the right-hand column)
St. Lawrence County
A User's Guide to the Adirondacks in St. Lawrence County
This guide is intended to help residents and visitors to the Adirondack public lands of St. Lawrence County. It provides a description of the permitted uses for all publicly-accessible lands and waters, notes the available food, fuel, lodging and emergency services and lists additional information resources for specific areas. (see User's Guide link in the right-hand column)
Town of Bolton
Hamlet Sustainability Plan
The Town of Bolton created detailed plans for the sustainable development of the hamlet of Bolton Landing, on Lake George.
Bolton Landing Hamlet Sustainability Plan - whole document (PDF, 28.2 MB)
This file is very large and may not download easily. Document parts are listed below.
Part 1 - Executive Summary, Introduction and Existing Conditions Analysis (PDF, 241 KB)
FIGURE 1 - Site Analysis Plan (PDF, 7.2 MB)
Part 2 - Description of Master Plan Elements and Preliminary Cost Estimates (PDF, 150 KB)
FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 - Rogers Memorial Park (PDF, 4.1 MB)
FIGURE 5 - Town Pier Reconstruction (PDF, 1.8 MB)
FIGURE 6 - Veteran's Memorial Park (PDF, 4.2 MB)
FIGURE 7 - Infill Development Potential (PDF, 3.0 MB)
FIGURES 8 and 9 - Lake Shore Drive Streetscape (PDF, 4.0 MB)
FIGURE 10 - Norowal Marina (PDF, 2.9 MB)
Part 3 - Other Sustainability Recommendations, Implementation Strategy and Appendices (PDF, 944 KB)
Town of Long Lake
Common Ground Meeting
The Town of Long Lake hosted an annual parkwide meeting by the Common Ground Alliance and supported an update to the Blueprint for the Blue Line document. (see Common Ground Meeting link in the right-hand column)
Town of Arietta
Comprehensive Plan
The Town of Arietta is in the process of reviewing and updating their Comprehensive Plan in order to reflect current conditions and to identify and prepare for future growth and development. (see Comprehensive Plan link in the right-hand column)
Town of AuSable
Comprehensive Plan
The Town of AuSable Comprehensive Plan, was completed in May 2009 to help the community evaluate current conditions, identify future conditions desired by the community and establish a range of tools that the community can use to build on its strengths and improve upon its weaknesses.
Town of AuSable Comprehensive Plan (PDF, 1.58 MB)
Lewis County
County-wide Comprehensive Plan
On October 6, 2009, the Lewis County Board of Legislators adopted the County-wide Comprehensive Plan to foster a regional and collaborative approach to addressing challenges. The Plan provides land use analysis, goals, objectives, action items, and a framework of County Character Areas to guide future growth. (see County-wide Comprehensive Plan link in the right-hand column)
