This
page summarizes the goals and recommendations that result
from a three-year planning process. The process included three
community surveys, five public forums, and too many committee
member hours to count.
We have presented our recommendations in this summary as ‘next
steps.’ We do so hoping that this format will move the
plan from a collection of concepts to a guiding force for
how our community approaches the challenges the future brings.
We shared this vision as we worked:
Honor and preserve the best of Hurley – its beauty,
its history, its agricultural roots and respect for landowners’
rights. Treasure its friendliness. Appreciate and protect
the ease of living that comes with our location. Acknowledge
and prepare for the inevitable economic and demographic
changes that come with time.
Our Long Term Goals
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: Identify and plan for
long term financial requirements to meet the costs of capital
improvements.
COORDINATION
OF PLANNING: Ensure an efficient,
effective planning process including all internal and external
stakeholders. Maintain a useful, up-to-date Comprehensive
Plan as a context for decision-making. Establish clear development
goals so that developers understand the Town's agenda and
the Planning Committee can take a proactive role in negotiating
with developers to accomplish town objectives
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT: Insure and encourage future business
development that is in keeping with the character of the respective
neighborhood and the town. Foster commercial development in
those few areas already designated for that purpose. Encourage
reuse of the vacant light industrial sites. MAIN STREET Develop
historic Main Street as a lively, attractive destination.
Support those organizing and publicizing events and destinations
of interest. HOME BUSINESS: Respect the residential nature
of neighborhoods while supporting the entrepreneurial spirit
of home-based businesses. Ensure that the anticipated growth
of home businesses doesn’t negatively affect neighbors.
Facilitate appropriate business use of homes in the historic
district
ENVIRONMENT: Protect sensitive components
of our environment. Maintain the rural character of the community.
Improve air quality to protect the health and welfare of residents.
WATER To protect the quality and quantity of water available
for generations to come. Heighten public awareness of the
homeowner’s role in maintaining water quality. Avoid
pollution of wells and ground water. Protect the aquifers
Ensure the long-term availability of potable water. STORM
WATER Comply with Federal regulations. Prevent additional
problems due to new development site design. Alleviate current
problems
HISTORIC
PRESERVATION: Value our history. Identify, protect,
and enhance our landmarks and historic districts. Promote
and protect our cultural and historic roots while balancing
the rights of the landowner
LAND
USE: Develop a clear, effective, assertive planning
process and zoning codes that support the community’s
intentions of maintaining Hurley’s character and livability
for an age- and income-diverse community, while protecting
and sustaining the environment. Clear up the ambiguities and
conflicts in the current codes. Maintain the character of
the community by protecting open space and agricultural uses.
Protect our water supply and other sensitive environmental
features including scenic, agricultural, and roads features.
See Environment
OPEN
SPACE Maintain the rural character of the town. Protect
open space and encourage agricultural use of land. Protect
scenic views and roads.
HOUSING
GOALS: Maintain Hurley's rural character while addressing
the need for more variety in housing stock and protecting
water quality and quantity. Ensure that the code allows for
alternatives to single family dwellings like condo’s,
townhouses, senior citizen housing, cluster development Ensure
a full spectrum of housing addressing the economic and design
needs of our residents. Senior Housing Goal Enable Hurley
residents to stay in the community as their housing needs
and incomes change
ZONING
AND BUILDING CODES: Ensure clear, effective building
and zoning codes that support community intentions for maintaining
and enhancing the community's rural character. Utilize smart
growth tools for open space management, encouraging a diversity
of housing opportunities. Implement design standards for commercial,
industrial, and multi-residential development, and support
for continued agricultural land use. Ensure that Planned Residential
Development (PRD) regulations support Town goals for housing
diversity, conservation of open space, and smart development.
Ensure that the overlay zones accomplish our objectives for
special districts
RECREATION
Provide residents and visitors with recreational facilities
that take advantage of our natural resources, encourage
health
and well being, and provide opportunities to play together.
Make Hurley a Pedestrian and Bicycle Friendly Town Extend
the Rail Trail Ensure adequate parkland to support the
growing
population and encourage healthy lifestyles
SENIOR
CITIZEN SERVICES: Support ‘aging in place’
for town senior citizens
PUBLIC
SAFETY: Ensure the safety and well being
of our residents
PUBLIC
EDUCATION & COMMUNICATION Enhance our collective
quality of life by increasing public knowledge of individual
responsibilities, public information and resources, and the
process of local governing. Encourage citizen participation
in local government by utilizing multiple methods of communication
about town issues Encourage meaningful dialogue and feedback
on issues. Make information readily available
TRAFFIC
AND TRANSPORTATION Assume the leadership to mitigate
traffic safety issues within the Town’s boundaries.
Minimize damage to the roads and environment.
INFRASTRUCTURE:
Operate an efficient, effective, low-cost town government
that maintains and enhances our facilities and services
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