Upstate APA Conference Winners September 15, 2023

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The New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) has announced the recipients of the 2023 Professional Awards.  Thirteen projects have been selected and were recognized at the 2023 Chapter Conference, held in Syracuse on September 15, 2023. These projects were deemed to represent excellence in planning throughout Upstate New York. 

Awards were made in seven categories, three of which were the works of students at either the University at Albany or University at Buffalo.

Best Practice

  • City of Watertown Zoning Ordinance Update

  • Plan Onondaga

  • Smart Growth in the Steel City: Utilizing Form-Based Zoning to Foster Resiliency, Sustainability, and Placemaking in Lackawanna, NY

  • Town of Ballston Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) and Green Energy Program

Comprehensive Plan

  • Town of Dryden Comprehensive Plan

  • Mitigating Vacancy in Arbor Hill & West Hill: An Asset-Based Approach

Grassroots Initiative

  • Re-Envision Albany

Great Places in Upstate NY

  • Cattaraugus Creek Access Amphitheaters

Implementation

  • Elevating Erie

Public Outreach

  • Erie County Community Climate Action Plan

  • Citizen Planning School

Distinguished Leadership 

  • Mayor Megan Grenier

  • Stephen Iachetta

Details about each award winner can be found in the section below. 

ABOUT THE AWARDEES 

City of Watertown Zoning Ordinance Update

Following a comprehensive plan update, the City of Watertown began implementation by updating their 1950s-era zoning ordinance. The code was transformed into a form-based code that included parking maximums, allowances for urban agriculture, and support for multi-modal transportation. The update was informed by extensive public comment and is helping to energize Watertown’s neighborhoods, waterfront, and downtown. 

Plan ONondaga

Plan Onondaga defines a vision and goals for community success that includes the shared needs, goals, and challenges of the County and its municipalities, and facilitates a pathway to implement positive growth and change. Five themes give structure to the Plan including: strong centers, housing and neighborhoods, community mobility, greenways and blueways, and agriculture. Extensive public participation was a cornerstone of this Project, which was adopted in July 2023. With the adoption of PLAN ONondaga, the County has a framework for making investments in local planning and capital projects that work toward the county vision.

Smart Growth in the Steel City: Utilizing Form-Based Zoning to Foster Resiliency, Sustainability, and Placemaking in Lackawanna, NY

This project examined the City of Lackawanna’s existing zoning code and presented an alternative solution - the Lackawanna Regenerative Code (LRC). The LRC is a form-based code inspired by contemporary trends in land use regulation that can ultimately restore opportunity and growth within the city by utilizing smart growth principles and the transect theory to encourage walkable mixed-use development. This is a student project. 

Town of Ballston Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) and Green Energy Program

Following a comprehensive plan update, the Town began implementation by developing a purchase of development (PDR) and green energy program. The Town is located within one of the fastest growing counties in NYS and is experiencing significant residential and commercial development pressure. The program is a voluntary incentive program that allows for greater residential density or greater commercial square footage for new development or redevelopment projects when PDR credits are purchased by the applicant. The program is intended to promote the protection of important agricultural and open spaces, and to encourage green energy initiatives. 

Town of Dryden Comprehensive Plan

Dryden2045 presents an inclusive vision focused on addressing sustainability and climate change and developing new mixed-use walkable development patterns within the Town. The plan recommends innovative solutions, such as accessory dwelling units, affordable housing, increased and improved recreational amenities, improved stormwater management systems, and other measures that improve the quality of life and work towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Public engagement was a top priority of the comprehensive plan, and despite the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, the process successfully facilitated a diverse and engaged level of participation. The end result is a truly comprehensive plan that provides a clear roadmap for upcoming decision-making. 

Mitigating Vacancy in Arbor Hill & West Hill: An Asset-Based Approach

The project highlights potential strategies for preventing and mitigating vacancy in the Arbor Hill, West Hill, and Sheridan Hollow neighborhoods of Albany, New York. The project team applied the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model and prioritized an equity and social justice centered approach to repurpose vacant lots and structures. Implementation has begun with project partners taking subsequent steps to secure funding and vacant land for redevelopment. This is a student project. 

Re-Envision Albany

Re-Envision Albany is the result of a largely volunteer-based collaborative advocating for a more vibrant, just, and sustainable state capital.Re-Envision Albany has created broad support for a reconnected Albany, leading to multiple letters, over one hundred signatories, national recognition, and contributing toward the approval of a $5 million study to reexamine interstate 787. The result of progress made by Re-Envision Albany demonstrates that groups of volunteers can assemble compelling visions that spark interest and lead to progress in addressing the immediate needs of today, remedying the damage of the past, and build toward a more just, sustainable, and community-oriented future.

Cattaraugus Creek Access Amphitheaters

To realize its potential to contribute to economic and job development through eco-tourism and outdoor recreation, Gowanda developed two amphitheaters on Cattaraugus Creek. The Zoar Valley Gateway Amphitheater is strategically located at several well-known fishing spots and “Grand Finale'' whitewater rapids. The more intimate Creekside Amphitheater is in the heart of downtown. These amenities are well-loved by residents and attract new and returning visitors. Development of the amphitheaters was a crucial step in restoring community pride, participation, and confidence by creating unique destinations that reflect the community and its character. 

Elevating Erie

This project aimed to revitalize the Erie Boulevard East Corridor, which served as the historical route of the Erie Canal between the Town of DeWitt and the City of Syracuse. 

The project began with an international ideas competition, generating numerous submissions and public engagement. Through collaborations between the two communities and state programs, a strategy was developed to involve the public in re-envisioning the corridor. The project's effectiveness led to New York State allocating over $20 million for the implementation of the Empire State Trail along Erie Boulevard - the largest single Empire State Trail allocation. 

The completion of the Erie Boulevard East portion of the Empire State Trail in 2020 has already resulted in increased tourism and positive impacts on local businesses. 

Erie County Community Climate Action Plan

Erie County has worked over the past two years to draft an equity-centered Community Climate Action Plan. The planning process was overseen by the Department of Environment and Planning with guidance from the Community Climate Change Task Force. More than 100 volunteers from almost 70 stakeholder organizations participated in Working Groups to create the draft Plan. Each Working Group was co-led by a volunteer and a County staff member. Public outreach during the planning process was robust and diverse, resulting in almost 10,000 people signing up for email updates and hundreds of public comments being received before the draft Plan was released. 

Citizen Planning School

Community members, known as Champions, apply and present a project idea that aligns with one of the five overarching goals of One Region Forward. Students from disciplines across the University at Buffalo work alongside former Champions of the program or other professionals in the field, known as Community Coaches, to provide technical assistance for the various projects brought forth by current Champions. 

Champions then share their ideas at an Idea Summit. Each Champion can walk away better equipped to act on the ideas they have, forming an understanding of assets and allies and  who they can collaborate with to achieve a common goal in strengthening the region.

Mayor Megan Grenier

During her twelve years as the first female Mayor of Menands, and six prior years as a Village Trustee, Mayor Megan Grenier has guided the Village in coordinating, funding, adopting, and implementing several public planning and zoning initiatives, These efforts culminated in the completion of the first-ever Comprehensive Plan in the history of the Village in 2020, followed by the adoption of major revisions to the zoning, site plan review, and form-based codes.

Mayor Meg is one of those leaders who has balanced the day-to-day demands of being a village mayor, while guiding a long-term vision for her community that is shared by her constituents. Her work has placed her community is a strong position to face the challenges of the future.

Stephen Iachetta

Steve Iachetta retired at the end of 2022 after a 38+ year career in planning, 31 of which were with the Albany County Airport Authority as an Airport Planner. At the Airport, Steve oversaw the Albany International Airport Capital Improvement Plan, and managed grants related to the new terminal development and airport safety and security improvement projects. His planning interests included work in sustainability and historic preservation planning, areas that he continues to support in retirement. 

Steve was heavily involved with the NY Upstate Chapter of APA, serving as Capital District Section President for six years during which time he mentored, engaged with and encouraged young planners to participate in the organization. His influence on a generation of young planners continues to be felt today.