Planning staff says comprehensive plan near final; issues public alert about application-fee scams

Maddie, the city’s director of planning and zoning, told the Glens Falls City Planning Board on April 1 that the comprehensive plan process is in its final stages and that staff will circulate a short summary for board review. She asked board members to send comments to staff so planning staff can compile memos for consultants. “If you want to get to the important part that we’ll use regarding the future of our city, skip to page 139,” Maddie said, identifying where the plan’s goals, vision and recommendations are located.

Maddie said the common council will hold public hearings on the plan on April 14 and April 28 and expects to adopt the plan at its first May meeting. Planning staff clarified that the planning board’s role is advisory; no planning-board vote on the plan was required at this meeting.

In the same update, staff warned of a Department of State alert about fraudsters contacting applicants and asking them to send application fees to parties other than the municipality. Maddie said an applicant had been scammed previously and that the city will update its website to instruct applicants that fees must be paid through city hall. Planning staff encouraged applicants to verify payment instructions with city hall before transferring any funds.

The planning board accepted the staff update; no formal action on the comprehensive plan was taken by the planning board at this meeting.