Welcome!
Welcome to the Town of Black Brook’s Comprehensive Plan project website. We are excited that you are here and interested in the future of the Town. This website is intended to provide information regarding the development of the Comprehensive Plan update and keep the community informed of opportunities to participate in the process.
The CPC is holding the first Public Hearing on the Draft Plan:
April 26, 2026, 6:00pm
Town Hall
18 N. Main Street, Ausable, NY
You are welcome to attend or email comments to: sroth@labergegroup.com.
Why create a new Comprehensive Plan now?
Per NYS Town Law, a Town’s Comprehensive Plan should be periodically reviewed and updated, and Town Zoning updates must conform to the Comprehensive Plan. The Town of Black Brook 1978 Comprehensive Plan intended to guide the community for 10 to 20 years after its adoption. Now, 45 years later, it is crucial to revisit the Comprehensive Plan to ensure it addresses critical short/long-term land use, economic, infrastructure, housing, recreation, and resiliency/sustainability issues.
A Comprehensive Plan seeks to respond to the following questions about a community:
- Where are we now?
- Where do we want to go?
- How do we get there?
As a smart growth plan, there will be an exploration of how to direct growth and prepare for and mitigate climate change. Extreme weather influences awareness of a need to continue with an ongoing assessment of risks the community faces and to plan for long-term resiliency and emergency preparedness. At the same time, we will explore how to advance a distinctive, attractive community with a sense of place.
Smart Growth Principles
Smart Growth promotes several land use planning principles that create livable, sustainable and equitable communities, including:
- Develop plans and land use regulations that allow for and encourage mixed-use neighborhoods.
- Enable a diverse mix of housing types, providing opportunity and choice for all.
- Prioritize infill and redevelopment of existing buildings to revitalize neighborhoods and downtowns, including areas around public transit.
- Provide well-planned, equitable, and accessible public spaces.
- Encourage compact neighborhood design and concentrated development around existing infrastructure.
- Preserve open space, agricultural resources, and natural resources.
- Prioritize transportation options such as walking, cycling, and public transportation.
- Promote climate resiliency and adaptation, preferably through nature-based solutions, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Build on unique traits to create an attractive and welcoming community with a strong sense of place.
- Engage in an inclusive, collaborative public planning process that considers the needs and character of the community.
More information about the Smart Growth Program can be found at the New York State Website: https://dos.ny.gov/nys-smart-growth-program
This website will provides information about opportunities for public input, meeting updates, relevant documents, and additional information as it becomes available.
This website was prepared with funding from the New York State, Department of State. Contract: C1002053