Town of Greenville

The Town of Greenville was awarded a Hudson River Valley Greenway Grant to complete the Town’s Comprehensive Plan Update Project: Phase One. This community-wide planning project will engage all residents to identify priorities and evaluate the relevance of the current Comprehensive Plan. The Project will help the Town proactively plan for the future by reviewing best practices for resilient development and creating an informed vision. During this phase, the Town will focus on gathering the necessary data and feedback to develop an informed vision for the future of Greenville that incorporates the priorities and hopes of the Town’s residents.

A Comprehensive Plan is a document that sets forth municipal land use, zoning, and other priorities over an approximately 10-year timeframe.
It tries to respond to the following questions for a community:

• Where are we now?
• Where do we want to go?
• How do we get there?

Section 272-A of New York State Town Law provides the regulations of the Comprehensive Plan adoption process and a guiding framework for the resulting document. In essence, a Comprehensive Plan is a document that identifies the goals, objectives, and recommendations (principles, guidelines, policies, standards) to guide immediate and long-range growth, protection, enhancement, and development in a Town. It is meant to be proactive instead of reactive. The Comprehensive Plan can also be used as a tool to attract investment and support future funding opportunities.

A Comprehensive Plan does NOT, however, mandate action by the Town Board or Town departments.

Has this happened before?

Yes! Greenville undertook a similar initiative in the 2000s with the “Town of Greenville, New York Community Comprehensive plan – Final Action Plan” which was adopted in December 2008 and reaffirmed on July 19, 2021.

Town of Greenville Community Comprehensive Plan – Final Action Plan – 2008

Why is it important?

According to §272-A (11) of New York State Town law, once a Comprehensive Plan is adopted, “all town land use regulations must be in accordance with a comprehensive plan,” and “all plans for capital projects of another governmental agency on land included in the town comprehensive plan adopted pursuant to this section shall take such plan into consideration.” The Comprehensive Plan will be followed by updates to the town Code to make it consistent with the Plan and to facilitate the goals of the Plan.

Is there a committee to oversee the process?

A diverse committee of engaged residents and local business owners have been appointed by the Town Board to move this process forward. Members include past and present members of the Planning Board, Town Board, 2008 Comprehensive Plan Committee, Community Partners of Greenville, business owners, historians, and students.

How does a Comprehensive Plan get adopted?

Ultimately, the Plan must be adopted by the Town Board of Trustees. Section 7-722(6)(b) requires that a Comprehensive Plan committee “shall hold one or more public hearings and such other meetings as it deems necessary to assure full opportunity for citizen participation in the preparation of such proposed plan or amendment.” Within ninety days of receiving the recommendation, the Town Board of Trustees shall “hold a public hearing on such proposed plan or amendment.” Adoption also requires a State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) to be undertaken.

Will there be an opportunity for public input?

Yes, public input and feedback is critical to the Comprehensive Plan process! Look for our flyers around Town and check back here for updates. Phase 1 public input will include:

1. An online survey (out now!) ***can link***
2. A public workshop (time and date TBD)
3. Tabling and direct outreach at public events throughout the Summer 2025