CASSADAGA — The village has taken another step toward improving its business district. The Village Board has approved the allocation of $5,000 of village funds to contribute to a Master Plan for the development of Main Street in the village.

In early July, Rebecca Wurster and Emma Cook of the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development discussed the benefits of a Master Plan at a Village Board meeting. They were joined by Architect Chris Cooke and Landscape Architect Joseph Rollman, who presented the Board with a proposal for a total cost of $30,000, with Chautauqua County contributing $25,000. The Village was asked to contribute the remaining $5,000.

The Master Plan would provide “a roadmap for the future” so that any future projects could refer back to it and the vision the village has for Main Street. A sample Main Street Master Plan from Rogers, Minn., was brought in for the Village Board to review.

Additionally, the Master Plan would also contain smaller projects that the village could apply for smaller grants to complete. Doing so would demonstrate that grant funds can be implemented to projects and successfully completed.

The Village Board previously sent a letter to the State Department of Transportation (DOT) asking for a speed reduction on Route 60 as it enters the village to become Main Street. Several other changes were recommended, as well. Wurster said that by having a Master Plan in place, it would help the DOT implement exactly what the village is seeking.

Having a Master Plan in place also increases the village’s chances in obtaining grant funding for large projects, such as the NY Forward Grant the village applied for last year, but was turned down. Before re-submitting an application, the village’s NY Forward Grant Committee decided to focus on attracting businesses to the area and improving the aesthetics of Main Street.

Nancy Wickmark, a member of the Committee, said, “We felt like if we’re going to go out there and try to convince new businesses to come to Cassadaga, one of the biggest things that we have to improve is our streetscape on North and South Main.”

Among the Committee’s main targets for the community are a senior living facility and an early childhood center. The village has maintained its status as a Pro-Housing Community through the State’s Homes and Community Renewal program, which makes the village eligible for grant funding from the State’s $650 million of discretionary funds. Wickmark has assisted the Village Clerk’s Office with yearly submissions to remain eligible.

Trustee Cindy Flaherty, a member of the NY Forward Grant Committee, stressed the importance of moving forward with a Master Plan for Main Street. Flaherty highlighted that having a plan will not only get local businesses engaged, but it could also draw new businesses to the area. Trustee Danna Dubois also noted that while it is just a plan, the existing businesses on Main Street could benefit from its implementation.

Trustee Cathy Cruver made the motion to allocate $5,000 of funds from the village’s landscape maintenance budget line toward the Main Street Master Plan proposal. Flaherty seconded the motion. With Mayor Bill Dorman absent, the remaining members of the Village Board voted unanimously in favor of the resolution.