Here's your chance to determine the village's future

Few community responses so far on village of Chester's first-ever comprehensive plan now in the works

Published Oct 19, 2017 at 6:01 am (Updated Oct 19, 2017)

Photos

Chester's future was discussed in a near-empty meeting hall (Photo by Ginny Privitar)

By Ginny Privitar

CHESTER — Do you plan to stay in the village of Chester for the next five years? Ten? For the rest of your life?

Do you want a say in the village's future?

There were quite a few empty seats at the last village meeting to get public input for a new comprehensive plan, which lays out the vision of what the village should look like in the future. Only a handful of residents have so far submitted their ideas.

What kind of businesses do you want to see downtown? Maybe more taverns are needed. Perhaps a tattoo parlor would be nice.

Should every downtown store should be permitted its own flashing L.E.D. sign?

Do you want to see more development, or less? Should the village preserve its farmland? Or would it be better to allow an amusement park or a new housing development in the village's open space?

What kinds of recreation do you want? How about public transportation? Sidewalks?

Should historic buildings be razed to make room for box stores?

The comprehensive plan will determine all these issues. And while it is a planning document without the force of law, it provides essential guidance to the village's zoning code.

Village residents who respond will have a voice, says the village board. To make your views known, email them to voccomments@frontier.com, or send them by regular mail to the Chester Village Board, 47 Main St. Chester, NY 10918, Attn: Comprehensive Plan Committee.

One more input/information session for the public will be held on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 9:30 a.m. at the Chester Village Hall, 47 Main Street. Areas of interest include economic development, agriculture, recreation, housing, historic preservation, and public transportation.