(PLATTSBURGH - September 24th, 2024) - The City of Plattsburgh is pleased to announce its official designation as a Pro Housing Community, a major milestone in our efforts to support sustainable, inclusive, and affordable housing for all residents. This designation reflects the City's commitment to policies that promote housing availability and equitable access while creating a thriving community for everyone.
Obtaining this designation involved a collaboration between the City’s Planning and Code teams to compile existing data for the City’s Building Permits and Planning review showing that their permitting has increased over the last three years. Detailed zoning code information was also examined to understand the CIty’s support for building additional housing. While the City has charted housing growth of 1% over the last three years, its vacancy rental vacancy rates are approximately 3.3%, while its owner occupied rates are 2.9% signaling that more housing is still needed to bring the City’s vacancy rates into the healthier range of 5-8%. As part of the City’s pro-housing application, it explained the additional steps it is taking to increase housing opportunities with Smart Code Plattsburgh, city-wide Zoning Update that will align with its newly adopted Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan demonstrates the City’s forward-thinking approach, outlining practices and policies that align with the goals of the Pro Housing initiative, ensuring that Plattsburgh remains a welcoming place for people of all income levels.
What the Designation Means for Plattsburgh:
The Pro Housing designation brings with it numerous benefits, positioning the City to:
- Access Additional Funding: The designation opens up opportunities for state and federal funding specifically for housing projects, infrastructure development, and sustainability initiatives. These resources will help further the City’s work in expanding affordable housing options.
- Promote Sustainable Growth: As a Pro Housing Community, Plattsburgh can prioritize responsible and sustainable development practices, aligning with environmental goals to create resilient housing that supports long-term community vitality.
- Encourage Economic Development: This designation is a critical step in fostering economic growth by attracting new residents and supporting a diverse workforce.
“From the development of the City’s Comprehensive Master Plan, finalizing and expanding the rental registry, implementing the vacant property and short term rental regulations, and the extensive efforts to redevelop our zoning codes are all of the tangible and effective programs this administration has pushed to secure and expand housing in the City of Plattsburgh,” says City of Plattsburgh Mayor, Christopher Rosenquest. “Our designation as a pro-housing community allows us to have a much broader reach in our effectiveness and attractiveness to accomplish the goals of housing development in the City and region. We’ve set the foundation for growth and development in the City for the next several decades.”
Zoning Update
Central to achieving the Pro Housing designation is the City’s Zoning Update, which involves modernizing the current Euclidean-based zoning code. The current code, which emphasizes land use separation and density control, is being re-evaluated to align with the goals of the City’s updated Comprehensive Plan. The update includes an in-depth analysis of the existing code, aiming to create a land use planning and regulatory framework that welcomes new residents and businesses while maintaining and enhancing quality of life.
Key objectives of the SmartCode Plattsburgh - Zoning Update include:
- Placemaking and Public Space Improvement: Enhancing the aesthetic and functional qualities of public spaces to foster community engagement.
- Sustainably Increased Density: Promoting higher density developments in a way that maintains livability and supports community needs.
- Flexible Housing Regulations: Increasing flexibility in housing regulations to accommodate diverse housing options and encourage affordable developments.
- Diverse Transportation Models: Improving walkability, biking infrastructure, and other transportation options to create a more connected and accessible city.
- Neighborhood-Scale Mixed-Use Developments: Supporting developments that blend residential, commercial, and public spaces, providing a more integrated living experience.
“It is exciting when state, regional, and community level priorities align, and even more exciting when the community is recognized and rewarded for their efforts,” says City of Plattsburgh Senior Planner, Elisha Bartlett. “It will be a great day when there are more safe, accessible, durable housing options within each person’s affordability range in the City.”
The City of Plattsburgh remains dedicated to its vision of creating housing opportunities that strengthen our community and build a more sustainable future for all.
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