Rockland County has established a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) to help guide the update of its Countywide Comprehensive Plan. The plan will be overseen by the County Planning Department and shaped by both the CAC and a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), ensuring a balance of community input and technical expertise.
The first meeting of the CAC is scheduled for Wednesday, March 19, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, at the New City Library’s High Tor Meeting Room, located at 220 North Main Street in New City, NY. While this is a working meeting for committee members, the public is welcome to attend and will have an opportunity to address the committee.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day emphasized the importance of community participation in shaping the plan, calling it one of the county’s top priorities. He noted that the update will play a crucial role in maintaining and improving the quality of life for both current residents and future generations.
“The preparation, adoption, and use of an updated Comprehensive Plan is one of the highest priorities for this County,” said Day. “This update is essential to shaping a unified vision for Rockland County as a whole, and we thank all those who have stepped up to serve on this important committee.”
The CAC consists of a diverse group of community members who will help facilitate engagement and outreach efforts. Acting Commissioner of Planning Doug Schuetz stressed the importance of public input in the planning process.
“This committee is crucial to the creation and implementation of the community and stakeholder engagement strategy for this project,” Schuetz said. “We are excited and look forward to working with County residents on this important effort in shaping the future of Rockland.”
The Comprehensive Plan update will define long-term goals and policies for land use, zoning, and infrastructure development, as well as update the county’s official maps related to drainage, highways, and environmental resources.
Since the adoption of the previous plan, Rockland Tomorrow, in 2011, the county has experienced significant shifts in development trends, demographics, and policies. The update will also align with ongoing county initiatives focused on economic growth, housing, sustainability, climate change, hazard mitigation, and resiliency.
The 18-month project will be conducted in partnership with BFJ Planning (Buckhurst, Fish & Jacquemart, Inc.) of New York, NY, Urbanomics of New York, NY, Arch Street Communications of Tarrytown, NY, and McLaren Engineering of Woodcliff Lake, NJ (formerly West Nyack, NY).
For more information about the Comprehensive Plan update and upcoming meetings, residents are encouraged to visit the Rockland County Planning Department website.