Supervisor's Note: Overview of the Town of Penfield 2023 Comprehensive Plan Update

For the past several years, we have been working on updating the 2010 Comprehensive Plan. While our work was interrupted by the pandemic, we are moving to finalize the 2023 Comprehensive Plan Update which will provide the framework for future public and private investment within our community for the next decade-plus.

On Wednesday, July 5, we held a public hearing to receive comments from the public on the final draft of our 2023 Comprehensive Plan Update. I want to thank everyone who participated in the process, we really do appreciate the input, which will assist us as the Town Board finalizes the plan.

What’s a comprehensive plan?

In its most basic sense, think of the comprehensive plan as a road map for the Town of Penfield’s growth moving forward. The plan establishes policies and strategies to achieve the Town’s vision for our community: to remain an attractive place to grow up, receive an education, work, raise a family, and retire. Using the document as a guide for future planning and policy decisions will help ensure our community continues to flourish in a thoughtful, well-planned manner.

With any comprehensive plan, it’s important to remember that it’s a living and breathing document. By this I mean it’s not static. It can and will change over time as the needs of our community evolve. The plan provides a general framework for priorities but allows flexibility to address needs and issues not known at the time of the plan’s adoption.

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee

The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee consisting of residents and staff members has been the driving force behind the 2023 Comprehensive Plan Update since preliminary meetings began in 2019. This group represents various backgrounds and areas of our community and has spent countless hours ensuring the plan we put forth articulates Penfield's vision for the future and makes Penfield an even better place to live and work.

If you’re interested in looking back at how the process has taken place, I encourage you to review videos of previous steering committee meetings. You can also read the draft plan in full here.

Policy elements

Within the 2023 Comprehensive Plan Update, nine policy areas have been identified. Attention to each element will ensure we continue to move Penfield forward in line with the Town’s vision.

Policy areas include:
  • Residential Living
  • Community Resources
  • Economic Development
  • Agricultural Opportunities
  • Natural Resources
  • Sustainability
  • Transportation
  • Community Character and Design
  • Civic Engagement
Policy statements associated with each element are broad enough to allow for flexibility and evolution over the life of the plan. Strategies and action items identified for each policy area provide broad recommendations and specific tasks that support the Town’s policies. This type of adaptability is particularly important in areas like sustainability as we continue to learn more about emerging technologies and the potential impacts of climate change on our region.

Next update in 2035

Moving forward, to help make this process even better, our next update will take place in 2035. While this is a bit longer than the typical 10-year timeframe, the change will allow us to incorporate the full breadth of 2030 census data as we begin the 2035 update.

As always, we greatly appreciate the involvement of our community. If you have not yet had the chance to provide comments on the draft plan, we will continue to accept comments on this draft through Wednesday, July 19. You can send your comments to supervisor@penfield.org.

Together, I look forward to finalizing this plan and setting the stage for the continued success of Penfield.

Debbie Drawe, Town Supervisor