Churchville vision plan presented March 13

Churchville vision plan presented March 13

What does the future hold for the Central Business District, Black Creek and other areas of the Village of Churchville?

On March 13, the village will hold a public meeting to present its vision plan for the village's future.

The process of creating a vision plan began last year with the assistance of the Rochester Regional Community Design Center (RRCDC), a not-for-profit organization with which the village contracted to provide guidance on design issues.

As part of the process, a Charrette was held in May 2006 in which residents were able to directly participate by offering suggestions for the economic development of vacant land, the creation of a trail system and athletic fields along Black Creek, improving the aesthetics of the village, and forming uniform guidelines for street and store signs.

There have been many good ideas that have come out of this Charrette process, Deputy Mayor Nancy Steedman said. Six key areas were looked at: the Central Business District, Northeast Village Growth, South Main Street, Southwest Land Use and Development, Black Creek and Recreational Land Use and Village Outlay Strategies.

Since the Charrette, the village's Steering Committee has met every month and has incorporated many of the ideas from the Charrette into the vision plan.

In addition, some of the ideas are in the process of being implemented. Steedman said more than 50 trees have been planted along village streets, and that village attorneys will begin working on updating the code for the Central Business District. She also reported that funding has been included in the upcoming budget for gateways that will act as formal entrances to the village. The village board is also looking at a proposal to continue the decorative street lights out from the village center on East and West Buffalo Street and along South and North Main Street.

These ideas and the full vision plan will be discussed in more detail at the March 13 meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. at the Union Congregational United Church of Christ, 14 North Main Street.

The meeting will begin with a presentation by the RRCDC which will provide an overview of the planning process and highlight certain focus areas. After RRCDCs presentation, residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and view detailed drawings and maps of the vision plan.

Residents will also be able to speak with Steering Committee members regarding opportunities to participate in the implementation phase of the vision plan.

Steedman welcomes all residents to attend the presentation." We have a wealth of knowledgeable and dedicated residents in our community. I know that in a combined effort, we can bring many of these visions to reality," she said.