Neighbors Building Neighborhoods Sector 1 Chair: Steve Marone For planning or resident information: 2008 NBN-Sector 1 “Embrace the potential of Charlotte” Sector 1 NBN Conference attendees attempted to do just that on Saturday, May 31st at the Port of Rochester terminal building. Glenn Gardner stated the objectives for the day’s events. He then introduced Sector Chair Steve Marone, CCA President Brian Labigan and Harbor Merchants President Bill Briggs. Opening remarks were made by Christopher Zeltmann (from Louise Slaughter’s office), Senator Joe Robach and Deputy Mayor Patricia Malgieri. Tom Riley from the Charlotte Community Development Corporation spoke about the numerous vacancies on Lake Avenue and the need to encourage new businesses based on what the community would like to see here. Steve Gibbs of Gibbs Marina spoke about plans to construct 60 waterfront condominiums with the adjacent marina having both public and private access. Craig Ristuccia is restoring the Stutson St. firehouse and will open Hose 22 Café by the end of 2008. After the presentations, the nearly 100 attendees selected one of four Community Building Break-out sessions: Port Development, Economic Development, Inter-governmental Collaboration and Public Safety. Each of the groups shared ideas, aired concerns and came up with scenarios for the future. The groups took a break to dine on lunch provided by Mr. Dominic's and then returned to hear Mark Hare from the Democratic and Chronicle. Business opportunities for the area were presented by Dean LoBrutto and John Marino. The speaker agenda concluded with Lt. John Prewasnicak from the Lake Avenue Net Office. After an afternoon treat of Abbotts custard, speakers and guests boarded the HarborTown Belle for a cruise up the Genesee and had the opportunity to hear Dr. Joseph Makarewicz from SUNY Brockport talk about the proposed Maritime Research Center proposed for the terminal link building. The day afforded Charlotte residents the opportunity to participate in development planning and to get excited about the future of Charlotte! The results of this conference will be assimilated into Sector 1 plans and discussed at the June 11th NBN meeting. Download Conference Agenda Here (DOC)
We hope you will consider becoming involved in NBN Sector 1. The public is always welcome to attend our meetings. The NBN Sector 1 committee interacts with the City of Rochester’s Department of Community Development. It is a sub-committee of the Charlotte Community Association and focuses primarily on quality of life and land-use planning decisions. A yearly sector Action Plan determines goals and issues to be addressed and how the neighborhood can achieve its goals through interaction with community partners. Citizens can make a difference…Your voice can be heard NBN Sector 1- History and overview Over the past 14 years, the City of Rochester has been engaged in a citizen planning process called Neighbors Building Neighborhoods (NBN). The city of Rochester was divided into ten “sectors” that were empowered to facilitate communication with City Hall departments and act as a voice for the community. This process allows residents and stakeholders to establish priorities, formulate solutions and share in the responsibility of shaping the neighborhood’s future. Charlotte is Sector 1 and has been fortunate in the fact that its geographic boundaries are the same as its neighborhood. While other city sectors might include four, five, even six distinct neighborhoods under one sector umbrella, Charlotte’s NBN Sector 1 committee acts as a “sub-committee” of the Charlotte Community Association. By actively establishing neighborhood priorities, NBN Sector 1 has been able to work with the CCA, other neighborhood organizations and community partners to implement strategies and achieve the goals set up in its Action Plan. What this has meant is that Charlotte residents have been able to establish its own “vision” of what its problems and solutions are. By empowering the neighborhood, we all share in the responsibility of what happens in Charlotte. In December of 2007, Sector 1 adopted written By-Laws to establish guidelines for its function as the planning committee for the Charlotte Community Association. The Sector committee is constantly seeking input from YOU, its residents and stakeholders, to determine the direction for our community. By accessing the tools available through the NBN process, NBN can accomplish significant community projects through the involvement of its residents and make decisions that affect our future. The NBN committee has access to technology tools in the form of a NeighborLink Network that is installed on the computer at the Charlotte branch library. While that may not seem to be too significant to sometime who has recently moved to Charlotte or an outsider looking at NBN for the first time, Sector 1 has been highly regarded as one of the most cohesive and vocal of city sectors over the years. And that is a good thing! When city planners from across the country visited the city of Rochester and took part in a citywide showcase, Charlotte and Sector 1 was chosen as one of four site visits because it was a model for the participatory citizen planning process. Sector 1 NBN committee members have attended and participated in a multitude of public meetings since 1999, when Charlotte became the focus of huge city investment in capital improvement projects for Lake Avenue for the Port and the Genesee Riverway Trail. Take a look at what we, as a community, have been able to accomplish through the “Charlotte Action Plan” and also through targeted funding projects of NBN: “Design Guidelines” drafted to guide future construction in the 4 strategic areas of Charlotte. These have been submitted to both Community Development and Zoning Departments. NBN Sector 1 PROJECTS for 2007-2008 NBN Sector 1 sponsors three ongoing yearly projects each year: In addition to the above projects, NBN has budgeted 2008 funds for the Charlotte Community Association to support a new community website In March of 2007, City Council approved the last of our targeted funding projects from the $100,000 allowed for permanent neighborhood improvement projects. Sector 1 had already spent $20,000 for the CYAA ball fields at the park and $25,000 for signage at the Bill Davis Overlook, leaving a balance of $55,000 to be spent. The new projects that have been approved and will be installed in 2008 are: Planters and benches for the Bill Davis Overlook
|
|
a site created by Creative Designs Rochester, NY
©2008 Charlotte Community Association