Williamsville planning workshop set at South High School

The Village of Williamsville and Smaller groups of participants the Williamsville Community Plan Committee are hosting the second in a series of public workshops on developing the Williamsville Community Plan.

The purpose of the workshop is to present concepts to the public for review and comment. It will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 at Williamsville South High School

The following topics will be covered:

+ Ideas to make Main Street more attractive and safer for pedestrians and more business friendly.

+ Ideas for rehabilitating the mill and the role it could play in revitalizing the village core.

+ Opportunities for improving Long Street Park and the surrounding area.

+ Village-wide land use concepts. will be organized to study each topic and residents will be able to discuss the topics with the planning consultants and members of the village Community Plan Committee.

Afterwards, the meeting will reconvene and representatives of each group will summarize their ideas for all workshop participants.

Behan Planning Associates, LLC of Rochester and Saratoga Springs is the workshop facilitator. It is working closely with Environmental Design and Research on the project's design elements.

Doug Brackett, EDR's principal on the project, was raised in Williamsville.

"It is important to understand that we will be presenting concepts and opportunities that can serve to guide future decision -making and actions," said Lawrence Bice, Behan's project manager. "This plan is a community plan, and it will take community support and enthusiasm to translate ideas and concepts into reality."

Steve Ferranti from SRF Associates will discuss Main Street traffic management and street design. Also on hand will be David Versel of Devonomics, who has been working with the village Community Plan Committee and the business community to craft a strategic development plan for the Main Street business district.

"I hope we have a positive turnout for this meeting," said Walter Pacer Jr., chairman of the Community Plan Committee. "We've been working for many months getting the concepts and ideas developed. We are pleased with what we have developed so far, and we are looking for feedback from our neighbors. We all feel strongly that we need to work together to continue to make our village a special place," he said.