Hartford has received grant funding from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to develop an Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan. Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plans are intended to:

• Locate farmlands that should be protected/remain in agriculture if farming is to remain viable in the community
• Examine the value of farmland and the agricultural economy to the municipality
• Evaluate consequences of possible conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses, and
• Describe activities, programs and strategies to promote continued agricultural use

Barre City has begun a two-phase project to revise its Municipal Plan. The first phase will focus on engaging citizens in a public process to develop guiding principles and/or overall goals for the city. Additionally, the Planning Commission will be working to update five plan chapters - economic development, energy, preservation of resources and the environment, transportation, and utilities and facilities.

The Town of Benson is assessing its long-term need for highway department and fire department facilities. Both departments are currently operating from facilities that are at capacity and/or do not adequately meet their needs. This project will evaluate the existing condition of Benson's highway and fire department facilities, identify the departments' long-term facility needs, explore feasible options for meeting those needs, and seek public input on options being considered.

The Essex County Public Health Department in partnership with the Town of Elizabethtown is seeking to identify existing assets, opportunities, and possible constraints for pedestrian and bicycle road and multi-use paths/trails within the town. An Active Living Strategy will be drafted to guide planning, development, and operations of existing and future pedestrian, bicycle and multi-use and multi-modal transportation infrastructure in Elizabethtown. It may be adopted as a supplement and/or used as a part of the Elizabethtown Comprehensive Plan.

In advance of the planned sewer expansion, the Town of Enfield has recognized the need to plan for anticipated growth along Route 4 to ensure that the form and pattern of new development is consistent with community goals. Landowners, businessowners, community leaders, residents and others will be invited to participate in a design charrette to develop a shared vision for the future of the study area. The results of the charrette will be used to draft recommended revisions to the town's Master Plan and implementing land use regulations.

implementing SCENIC and OPEN SPACE resource projection in the rural areas of essex

In 2011, with adoption of a revised town plan incorporating much of the 2008 Open Space Plan and with completion of a new scenic resource assessment (Views to the Mountain), the Town of Essex's next step with regard to protection of scenic and open space resources was evident. It was time to address the shortcomings of the land use regulations for the rural areas of town as had been repeatedly recommended by planning studies for more than 20 years. Prior planning activities have provided a wealth of ideas and options, which are currently being considered for implementation in this joint effort by the Planning Commission and Conservation Committee.

Town of Lewis Comprehensive Plan

The Town of Lewis received a 2010 Adirondack Smart Growth Grant to prepare the community's first Comprehensive Plan. A committee has just been appointed to oversee the development of the plan.