In our rapidly changing world it becomes increasingly important that the people understand their potential and their responsibility for the future of their community. It is equally important that local government leaders understand the growing social responsibility needed in public actions and the need for furnishing guidance and direction to community planning. It is needed to guide and support county actions. It can carry out initiatives that other agencies cannot handle, such as creating and starting projects like the Onoville Marina Park, and the Cattaraugus Economic Development Zone. County Planning can save money for the county and its municipalities in the long run by reviewing actions, thereby preventing problems and finding optimal solutions and ways to reduce costs in advance of irrevocable choices being made.
Problems usually become apparent only after decisions have been made.
Planning seeks to influence, guide or redesign such decisions before they are made, not after. A planning process does not deny anyone constitutional rights to the use of their land. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that land use controls through zoning is constitutional. It is based on the police power vested in state governments. In New York State, this type of police power has been granted to local government in the form of procedurally complicated zoning powers which must be based on a continuing, local planning process, which balances local interests impartially.