Parklands have been designated and developed. Although threatened by development from all its surrounding communities, the Pine Bush remains an important and unique ecological feature. Many of the Town s historic structures remain and the views from the Helderberg Escarpment are still spectacular. But, most importantly, people still care about their community and have been willing to devote their time and resources to identify the issues and develop a vision for the future. The process by which a community establishes the programs and actions that lead to their desired vision is called comprehensive planning.
Comprehensive planning is the first step in an on-going process.
Quite simply, the comprehensive plan is the information organizer. Although specific recommendations are provided that can be immediately translated into action, other means of achieving certain goals will require further detailed study. The authority to conduct comprehensive planning and to adopt a comprehensive plan is granted to towns by the State Legislature. Adoption of a comprehensive plan by a town board requires that all town land use be in accordance with the plan. Furthermore, other governmental agencies must take the plan into consideration whenever their capital projects occur on land included in the town comprehensive plan.