FEBRUARY 11, 2009

COUNTY ONE STEP CLOSER TO REGIONAL PLANNING BOARD

The Erie County Legislature has taken the next step in a process that will lead to the establishment of an Erie County Planning Board. The process started in 2007, when the previous county administration drafted two sample local laws for consideration by the Legislature.

Real work on this concept was initiated by the Legislature's Energy and Environment Committee in June 2008, with the introduction of a draft Local Law which was presented to that committee for consideration. Since then, input has been solicited from other departments in the administration, concerned citizens and organizations in the public and private sector, and the Association of Erie County Governments.

Since then, a revised and improved law now called the "Strategic Development Act" has been developed for consideration, which establishes the rules, membership and parameters for the creation and functioning of the new Planning Board.

The Legislature voted February 5 to support the concepts presented in the Strategic Development Act, and now has set a 60-day timetable for the public and all interested parties to offer comment on the proposal.

"Establishing a countywide Planning Board will be invaluable in helping our municipalities on decisions related to land use, air and water quality, the environment, transportation and more," Legislator Thomas A. Loughran (Amherst, Tonawanda, Buffalo) said. "Right now we are dealing with the issue of an expanding infrastructure to provide for the needs of the same population, and managing that growth from a county wide perspective will be one of the missions of this new body."

Following the 60-day comment period, the County Legislature will go to the next step in the implementation of the Strategic Development Act.

Back to District 14 Homepage