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ANNOUNCEMENTS

	Spring Clean-Up, May 7-9, 2009
	MS4 Draft Annual Report - This draft is now in a required 30 public review period (April 23 - May22). The final report will include public comments and will be submitted by June 1, 2007 to the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation
	CHAPTER 150 ZONING
	Zoning Map
	NEW YORK STATE REGISTER - Free Copy Online
	Food Pantry Low on Food Items - Drop box located here at the Town Hall

State Disaster Assistance

	Empire Zone
	Town of Ontario Preliminary 2008 Budget

Ontario Vision Plan

http://news10now.com/content/features/going_green/116799/revitalizing-ontario/Default.aspx

DOWNTOWN ONTARIO

Vision P lan and Des ign Pr inc iples

Town of Ontario, Wayne County, New York

Introduction

The Town of Ontario is one of the fastest growing

communities in Wayne County. Despite an

increase in population, however, there has been a

steady decline in the function and utilization of the

Downtown Ontario business district, once a thriving

center of commerce and community social life.

While the downtown still retains much of its older

building fabric and many attractive human-scale

characteristics, vehicular traffic has been drawn to

nearby Route 104 and other commercial areas.

Concern about the appearance and economic

vitality led to the formation of a Business

Improvement District (BID) to provide the

mechanism and support for downtown revitalization.

Working in collaboration with the Town of Ontario

and the Wayne County Planning Department,

the BID steering committee determined that a

vision plan would help refine and focus their list of

opportunities, needs, ideas and potential projects

into a revitalization strategy.

The Vision Planning Process

Vision planning is an interactive participatory process that is open to all community members. Through dialogue

and collaboration, participants uncover or create common values upon which to develop a shared vision for the

future of their community. An advisory committee composed of local merchants, residents, and Town officials

helped develop and guide the vision planning process for Downtown Ontario.

The vision planning process in Ontario occurred through a series of three workshops held in the fall of 2007

and winter of 2008, each designed to progressively build upon and confirm information and ideas expressed by

community members. Faculty and students from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNYESF)

Center for Community Design Research (CCDR) collaborated with the advisory committee to facilitate the

workshops, prepare summaries and analysis of each session and to document the final vision plan.

The Vision Plan and Design Principles

The Downtown Ontario Vision Plan and Design Principles are the result of this community-based planning effort

and will help guide decisions for the downtown business district. The Vision Plan is composed of a vision statement,

which describes the community’s desired future for the downtown business district, and a series of goals and

action strategies that when implemented will contribute to achievement of the vision. The Design Principles define

characteristics to create a physically cohesive, lively, and pedestrian-friendly downtown. Since there is no one way

to accomplish a vision, additional strategies may emerge through continued community dialogue and experience

working on projects. This document should be shared broadly throughout the community to help community

members understand and visualize their shared goals.The detailed development of the vision plan, including

workshop activities, community assessments, mapping and analyses, is documented in a separate Downtown

Ontario Vision Planning Notebook.

STATEMENT

VISION

Downtown Ontario will be a welcoming and thriving mixed-use business district that is

well connected and integral to the Town of Ontario’s community life. Its carefully designed

and well-maintained buildings and outdoor spaces will be filled with a complimentary mix

of businesses and gathering places that encourage regular patronage by residents and

frequent stops by visitors. Its small town character and unique details will contribute to the

community’s identity and support walking, window-shopping and friendly interaction.

GOALS

1. Provide opportunities for the entire community to participate in the revitalization of Downtown Ontario.

2. Encourage the establishment and viability of small businesses and land uses appropriate to the scale of

Downtown Ontario that contribute to the mix of uses that community residents will want to patronize on a

regular basis.

3. Reestablish downtown as a place of community gathering, socializing, and celebrating where people feelwelcome and engaged.

4. Respect and utilize the history, and historic structures and features of Ontario to establish the character

and image of the downtown district.

5. Continue efforts to promote the care and maintenance of public and private property in downtown.

6. Provide clear, safe vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle access to downtown and create a pedestrian

oriented environment to encourage walking and strolling within the downtown district.

& STRATEGIES

GOAL 1. Provide opportunities for the entire community to participate in

the revitalization of Downtown Ontario.

Strategies:

• Encourage the Town Board to adopt the Downtown Vision Plan and to follow-up with necessary regulatory

enforcement and changes to support its implementation.

• Establish a vision steering committee to oversee and guide implementation of the Vision Plan.

• Promote effective and regular communication between the BID, community organizations and the town

government to share news, ideas and initiatives related to the downtown.

• Publicize and distribute the Vision Plan broadly throughout the town.

Vision, Goals, and Action Strategies

GOAL 2. Encourage the establishment and viability

of small businesses and land uses appropriate to

the scale of Downtown Ontario that contribute to the

mix of uses that community residents will want to

patronize on a regular basis.

Strategies:

• Prepare a feasibility study to relocate a key

municipal building, such as a library, town court or

town offices into the downtown district, to better

understand space needs, benefits and costs, and

possible locations.

• Prepare a coordinated marketing campaign geared

primarily to town residents to promote existing

downtown businesses and Downtown Ontario,

highlighting the importance of a thriving Downtown

Ontario to the town’s economy and quality of life.

• Prepare a market analysis to determine appropriate

businesses and uses, starting with those shared

and described by community members during the

vision planning process.

• Research and document the challenges that

start-up businesses have faced in starting up in

downtown, prepare strategies and implement

changes to address those challenges.

GOAL 3. Reestablish downtown as a place of