Committee flags need to align Zoning Code with Richmond Comprehensive Plan

Committee members reviewed the relationship between Richmond’s Comprehensive Plan and the Town Zoning Code and concluded that some zoning provisions should be updated to match the Comprehensive Plan’s goals.

Dorraine Kirkmeier reviewed the connections and noted some elements of the Comprehensive Plan may also require revisiting. Ed Jackson and others said modernizing zoning and development regulations will be an important long-term strategy for implementing NY Forward projects. The committee discussed assistance options, including General Code Publishers for codification (not substantive code writing) and Ontario County planning resources, and noted that a county proposal might not cover every needed component.

Melody Kuzniar and County planning representatives were cited as resources to help the town understand code change implications. The committee also noted that Pro-Housing Community Certification and documenting permit history are application prerequisites and that the status of zoning/code changes could affect application readiness.

Next steps: gather quotes for code services, confirm what elements town board must approve, and document whether code status could affect specific project eligibility in the NY Forward application.