The Big Questions

a quick note

Though no one has said so, I realized that my comment about "now that things are moving again" might seem dismissive of all the hard work that went into interviewing and selecting comp plan board members--or of how important those choices were.

So, for the record, that's not what I meant. It's just that I and I think many others are eager to get into talking about content. On we go!

Neighborhood Associations...

If you want your voice heard in the planning process, one way will be to participate in your neighborhood association. Given that CANA (Council of Albany Neighborhood Associations) was instrumental in pushing for a comp plan in the first place, the NAs are likely to have the skinny on the process no matter how well or poorly general outreach goes. So if you haven't joined your neighborhood association before, now might be the time.

Here's a recent map. It's also interesting to see how these overlap with your own sense of where neighborhood boundaries are.

This shouldn't be news, but it's worth repeating

From the new report from CEOs for Cities on how "the gas price spike popped the housing bubble":

The new landscape of housing prices and high fuel costs has important implications for public policy.  Cities that offer attractive urban living opportunities in close-in neighborhoods, enabling people to drive shorter distances and make convenient use of alternatives to car travel, are likely to be more affordable and economically successful than places that continue to follow sprawling development patterns.

Something to keep well in mind as we commence to plan.

We have a comp plan board! (belated post)

As Richard Conti so helpfully posted in the comments, the Comp Plan Board was selected on 4/21/08 (text of the resolution below), right in the midst of a number of things that kept me from finding out about or being at the meeting. Alas. But now that this means the process is moving forward again, I shall get back in the saddle and try to keep on top of it.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 40.42.08R
RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL APPOINTING ADDITIONAL MEMBERS TO THE CITY OF ALBANY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BOARD

WHEREAS, on May 7, 2007 the Common Council adopted Resolution 25.31.07R (as amended) establishing the “City of Albany Comprehensive Plan Board” with the charge of developing a comprehensive plan in accordance with section 28-a of the NYS General City Law; and,
WHEREAS, such Board is to be comprised of 30 members to be appointed by the Common Council; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 25.31.07R (as amended) designated 10 ex-officio members, one of whom shall be a member of the Planning Board; and
WHEREAS, upwards of 100 individuals expressed interest in appointment to one of the remaining 20 openings and a joint committee representative of the Executive and Legislative branches of government interviewed nearly 50 applicants; and
WHEREAS, such committee through consensus has identified a diverse and representative slate of nominees for appointment to the 20 openings on the Comprehensive Plan Board.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the following named individuals are hereby appointed members of the “City of Albany Comprehensive Plan Board” as established by and in accordance with Resolution 25.31.07R (as amended):
Matthew Baumgartner
Samantha Bosshart
Kathleen Cloutier
Elizabeth Doran
Maxine Fantroy-Ford
Jeffery Gritsavage
Christopher Hawver
Helen Klaeysen
Herbert McLaughlin
Louise McNeilly
Jeffery Mirel
Sandra Misiewicz
Dennis Mosley
Brenda Motley
Robert Schofield
Gene Solan
Joseph Stellato
Karen Strong
Scott Townsend
Arlene Way
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Ryan Hancox is appointed a member of the “City of Albany Comprehensive Plan Board” representing the Planning Board.