The Planning Department continued its assistance to the Genesee County Water Resources Agency and County Legislature with the County Water System.  Two Department staff members serve on the Administrative Review Committee for the purposes of reviewing requests for water hook-ups outside of the Smart Growth Development Areas.

The Department prepared the fourth review/revision of the Smart Growth Plan for consideration by the County Legislature.

Planning staff served on several County committees and boards including the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, Geographic Information System (GIS) Focus Team, Traffic Safety Board, Criminal Justice Advisory Council (CJAC), County Chamber of Commerce’s Business Development Committee and Local Development Corporation, Genesee Transportation Council Regional Trails Steering Committee, Emergency Relocation Planning Committee, Tonawanda Creek Watershed Committee, Oatka and Black Creek Watersheds Project Advisory Committees, Genesee-Orleans Rural Environmental Health GIS Initiative Committee, Records Advisory Board, Special Needs Sheltering Committee, Medical Coverage Committee and the Cost Per Copy Committee.

Staff prepared GIS and Pictometry mapping for: the GLOW Region Solid Waste Management Committee, the Genesee County Economic Development Center, Sheriff’s Office, Health Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Highway and Parks Department, Information Technology Department, Emergency Management Services, Elections, Department of Social Services, Probation Department, Youth Bureau, District Attorney, Public Defender, Facilities Management, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tonawanda Creek Watershed Committee, Batavia City School District, Batavia Business Improvement District, Genesee/ Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council (G/FLRPC), LeRoy Volunteer Ambulance Service, Holland Land Office Museum (HLOM), City of Batavia, Towns of Alabama, Batavia, Bergen, Darien, Elba, LeRoy, Oakfield, Pembroke, Pavilion, Stafford, and the Villages of Bergen, LeRoy and Oakfield.  Planning staff assisted Real Property Tax Services in the Treasurer’s Office with the printing of all tax maps.

The Department continued working cooperatively with the Department of Information Technology, including the deployment of Electronic Field Study (Pictometry) software to local governments, and local volunteer fire departments.  The software enables users to view high resolution aerial photos of the County for zoning or other land use related inquiries.  Staff also participated in the maintenance of the County’s Web Mapping Application. The application allows 24-hour access to zoning maps, agricultural district maps, development area maps, property information, flood zone and wetlands information and several other key geographic resources needed during the land development process.  The Department also prepared GIS data for local governments engaging in capital projects, Federal Stimulus funds or comprehensive planning projects.

Staff aided the Health Department in the development of the Genesee-Orleans Rural Environmental Health GIS Initiative, a GIS system to detail and maintain well and septic records in the County.

In 2010, the Planning Department published its newsletter in digital form, “Genesee County Planning News”.  The newsletter reaches approximately 500 elected officials, zoning and planning officials, and interested citizens.

The Department continued to participate in the Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council's programs, including the review of 24 projects under the Intergovernmental Review Process.

During 2010, the Genesee County Planning Board and Department reviewed 163 zoning and subdivision referrals under New York State General Municipal Law Sections 239 l, m, and n.

The Department continued to be a clearinghouse for GIS, housing, census, land use, wetlands and floodplain information and fielded numerous requests.

Planning staff continued its involvement with administrative activities associated with the Genesee County Comprehensive Plan including the development of monitoring reports and meetings of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee and individual focus groups.  Staff developed a PowerPoint presentation outlining the Comprehensive Planning Process for the County Legislature.

The staff, along with the County Manager and County Treasurer, assisted in the development of a draft six-year capital and asset acquisition program and capital and asset acquisition budget, which were submitted to the County Legislature for their consideration.

Planning staff assisted the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) with ongoing processing of various proposals and attended a number of coordination meetings related to specific projects, including the possible STAMP (Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Project) Project.

The staff assisted the Sheriff’s Office in the GIS implementation of Computer Aided Dispatch, and in updates to streets, common names and address location data.  Staff also assisted the Sheriff’s Office with securing the necessary local approvals for installation of the new security fence at the County Jail facility located at 14 West Main St. in Batavia.

Working with the U.S. Census Bureau, local municipalities, and G/FLRPC, the Department promoted and publicized the 2010 Census, to ensure a complete count of all residents of the County on April 1, 2010.

Planning Department staff continued to assist the Genesee County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board with implementation of the County’s Farmland Protection Plan. 

The Genesee County Agricultural Districts Consolidation Plan is being implemented.  This plan calls for the consolidation of Genesee County’s Agricultural Districts as they come up for their eight-year review into four Districts by the year 2015.  This consolidation will lead to a more efficient and streamlined renewal process for the farmers involved, for the Legislature, and for the Planning Department.

The Department also assisted the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board and the Legislature publicize the 30-day annual Agricultural District enrollment period that resulted in the enrollment of over 140 acres in the Town of LeRoy.