Community Waterfront Revitalization Program (CWRP) for the

Town of Wilmington , New York

 Community Participation and Communications Plan

Purpose: The community participation and communications plan identifies a variety of forums and outreach tools to ensure that the voices and views of all interested persons in the Town of Wilmington are heard and reflected in the development and preparation of the CWRP. 

Overview of methods of gathering comments from, and distributing information to, the public (details on each below):
        ·         Citizen’s Advisory Committee Meetings and Workshops
      ·         Community Wide Visioning and Consultation Workshops and Meetings
        ·         Topic-specific Outreach and Meetings, such as: 
        o        hamlet revitalization and protecting scenic resources and community character;
                o        enhancing water-based recreation and tourism;
                o        an assessment of the accelerated sedimentation which is impacting the depth of Lake Everest; and protecting
                      sensitive waterfront resources; identifying and reducing sources of nonpoint pollution; and
                o        growth management.
        ·         Ongoing consultation with the Town of Wilmington , interested agencies and nearby jurisdictions
        ·         Ongoing coordination with NYSDOS
        ·         Ongoing one-on-one communications to ensure that Wilmington residents and other interested parties know how to be
            involved and get updates about the process
        ·         Survey series to solicit input and educate community about waterfront issues

 Partners:

·         The Town of Wilmington

·         Adirondack Sustainable Communities, Inc. ( ASCI ) (project consultant)

·         The Au Sable River Association

·         The Whiteface Mountain Regional Visitors’ Bureau

·         Wilmington Historical Society

·         Essex County

·         The New York State Department of State Division of Coastal Resources

·         ORDA/Whiteface

·         DEC

·         APA

·         DOT

I.          CITIZEN’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Purpose:                       Advise the community on the elements and content of the CWRP and related documents. The Advisory Committee is the primary group guiding the preparation of the CWRP.

Membership:                 Identified by the Town.

Community Participation:  All meetings are open to the community to attend, and to provide comments during a comment period.

Notification:            E-mail/Phone call from ASCI or other committee member, as the group decides

Schedule:                     Monthly, 3^rd Tuesday at 6:30 pm , at the Wilmington Community Center . 

II.         IDENTIFIED AGENCIES/OTHER INTEREST GROUPS

Purpose:                       Ensure broad understanding of the purpose of the CWRP and solicit diverse input from affected stakeholders.

Membership:                 Identified by the participating municipalities, Advisory Committee, NYSDOS and appropriate others.

Community Participation:  Members of this list are invited to attend all community meetings.

Notification:                  E-Mail List Serve, Meetings as needed

Preliminary Contact List:  

1.                   Local Town and Village Municipal Boards and Supervisors

2.                   Local Planning Board and Zoning Board

3.                   Essex County Planning, Economic Development, and Recreation Agencies

4.                   Visitor’s Bureaus, Tourism Organizations, and related business associations

5.                   Regional recreation and trail groups (Northern Forests Canoe Trail – Dyslin)     

6.                   Heritage Areas/Historic Preservation Organizations: community and private

7.                   Environmental Organizations: community and nonprofit.  AfPA, Adk Council

8.                   Local Farming and agriculture organizations (Adk Harvest, Marjorie Swift)

9.                   Regional offices of NYS agencies (DEC, DOT, APA, etc.)

10.                Fire Dept., Library Board, Seniors group, Visitor’s Bureau list, Jim McKenna, IDA (Essex Cty.), Lake George Planning Cmsn.

11.                Paul Smith’s College, SUNY-ESF, Watershed Institute

III.        COMMUNITY OUTREACH, WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS

Purpose:                      Consult closely with Wilmington residents regarding the elements and content of the CWRP and related documents. This input will be gained through community meetings and workshops and periodic update reports.  This input will be shared with the Advisory Committee members.   Three public meetings will be facilitated by the consultant and committee members.  Smaller focused discussions on the topics mentioned above will be conducted if desired. 

Participants:                All members of the community, including interest groups identified above and individuals, neighborhood associations, other community groups.

Notification:                 Announcements on local community Web sites

Press releases to local print / radio media

E-mail

Telephone calls as needed

Survey at library, town hall, Post Office and store if possible

Photo board in P.O.

Announcement at the Town Board Meetings

Schedule:                    A.  Three public meetings (beginning – mid/late January, middle – May estimated and end of process – summer/fall 2006 estimated).  The first would encompass some visioning (what does the waterfront mean to you?, etc.; report on boundary and inventory). 

B.  Up to four focused discussions January – March/April

C.      Other communications ongoing throughout the planning process as necessary to ensure broad community involvement and awareness. 

IV.        CONSULTATIONS, DISCUSSIONS AND REPORTING  

Purpose:                      Regular ongoing formal and informal communication between the project sponsor, funders and consultant for monitoring and smooth flow of all planning tasks related to the CWRP and related documents.

Participants:                Local Municipal officials, NYSDOS and representatives from ASCI .

Notification:                 E-mail among participants, presentation at Town Board Meetings

Schedule:                    Monthly progress reports