Our Mission
To keep and promote the town of Guilderland as a desirable place to live, by preserving green space and using best practices to preserve the quality of existing neighborhoods, while encouraging responsible growth.
Our Goals
Providing a variety of transportation choices- safe and convenient biking and walking infrastructure, high quality public transportation, well maintained roads, sidewalks and bridges. This takes planning and prioritization on the part of transportation agencies and town government.
Development within existing communities rather than building on previously undeveloped land. This makes the most of investments already made with roads, bridges, water, sewer and other infrastructure and strengthens local tax bases while protecting open space. We should be encouraging development within existing neighborhoods.
Preservation of open spaces such as wetlands, parks, farms, Pine Bush is both an environmental and economic issue. We want to ensure that there is access to natural recreation areas (numerous trails in Guilderland), which would enhance tourism and housing. This may also attract employers to develop their businesses here. Support of agricultural industries, that is still in the area (Western part of Guilderland)
Keeping and expanding the Pine Bush Preserve, rather than allowing it to be built upon helps to preserve these open spaces to make us more resilient, protection from natural disasters, combating air pollution, controlling wind, providing erosion control, moderating temperatures, protecting water quality, and protecting animal and plant habitats.
Preservation of unique, interesting places that reflect the diverse clause, culture, and heritage of people who live here (Rapp Road Historic District)that has staying power. Developing neighborhoods that incorporate natural features, historic structures, public art and placemaking which helps to distinguish a place from its neighbors to attract new residents and visitors (McKownville Historic designation)
Neighborhoods that are walkable are in high demand. Walking offers many benefits including affordability, health benefits, develops a sense of community. It must be safe and convenient. This is accomplished by mixing land uses properly and with the appropriate supports that encourage the activities.
Building quality housing for all— for all stages of life from young families, to senior citizens, to veterans and handicapped individuals; making housing affordable for all and not just high end, market rate housing that is limited to one particular group. This is discriminatory. Housing options need to be diversified.
Compact design in appropriate areas that do not infringe on existing neighborhoods. Building on underutilized lots is another way to encourage housing to grow up and not out.
Mixed uses including homes, offices, schools, parks, shopping, recreations, restaurants and other types of development close to one another is a step in the right direction, however there needs to be attention paid to incorporating ALL uses and especially incorporating enough open space to accommodate this type of design.