The Cattaraugus County Planning Board recently held its annual leadership conference at the Cattaraugus County Olean Airport in Ischua with 88 people attending.
Members of the Airport Support Group gave tours of the airport facilities and answered questions concerning its operation.
George R. Grasser, executive director for Partners for a Livable Western New York, spoke about "What Smart Growth and New Urbanism Can Do For Rural Communities." He presented smart growth principles and new urbanism land use practices to the county and municipal officials in attendance.
Smart growth principles Grasser presented are: locating new development near existing development and infrastructure; protecting open space, farmland and critical environmental areas; creating a vibrant mix of land uses; increasing the range of housing opportunities and choices; and designing places for personal interaction and walkability.
New urbanism land use practices Grasser presented are a finer grain of land uses, such as smaller areas of the same zoning classification; infill development and preservation and renovation of existing buildings; walkable and bikeable communities; streets of the minimum width necessary to accommodate traffic flow; connective street patterns; building to lot lines in higher density areas; neighborhoods with shopping, parks, squares, and varied housing types and sizes; and hidden garages that are set-back from the front or accessed from the rear of the lot.