Roefaro to release Master Plan

UTICA, July 12, 2010 -- Utica Mayor David Roefaro will unveil the city's draft master plan on at 2 p.m. today at City Hall.

The plan, which Roefaro first announced during his 2007 campaign for mayor, has been in the works for roughly a year-and-a-half. 

The plan has cost $325,000 project that has taken nearly a year. City officials say it's the first master plan the city has had in a year, and it could help the city secure federal and state money in the future. 

Utica Urban and Economic Development Commissioner, Robert Sullivan, has called the plan the city's Bible, and he said that all city efforts will be directed toward seeing it come to fruition. 

Once it is unveiled, it will have to be adopted by the Common Council to be become a city referendum, but officials have stressed that it can still change and adapt to the future. 

The private companies hired to work on the plan have organized meetings and set up committees that have been largely directed by public input and ideas. It's release date has been pushed-back several times, because officials have said that the public input has been greater than originally expected. 

During a February meeting, officials highlighted some findings and ideas that may be incorporated in the plan. 

Some of the concerns included: 

• Crime issues
• Need for housing stabilization
• Infrastructure repair
• Re-branding the city 

Identifiable opportunities, included but  were not limited to: 

• Historic character
• Ethnic diversity 
• Good food and restaurants
• Arts and cultural opportunities

Officials laid-out goals to make the city more vibrant and accessible and to improve its housing stock. They unveiled ideas in seven areas: Housing and Neighborhood Development, Downtown Development, Infrastructure and Waterfront Development and Parks, Recreation, Arts Culture and Historic Preservation. 

In each of the areas a committee member that worked on the plan revealed ideas and goals. Some of the goals and ideas expressed were: 

• Developing incentive for housing ownership and renovation.
• Increase in downtown population.
• A more connective transportation system. 
• Shortening the bridge to North Genesee Street, to allow traffic to pass through Bagg's Square. 
• Create more sites for perspective businesses 
• Tailoring the workforce to the area's needs 
• Increase awareness and access to the Erie Canal and the Mohawk River
• Promote city's parks, golf course and ski hill
• Extend a walkway and street decor along the Memorial Parkway to stretch to West Utica
• Coordinate and promote different forms of art and entertainment
• Holtzman said a signature project has yet to be identified, but one could develop before the plan is drafted.