Measurement

Evaluation

Town Master Plan is current; it should be thoroughly examined, revised, and amended at least every 6 years

Town Master Plan incorporates State Plan concepts such as planning areas and centers

Town has a designated center (a defined area intended to accommodate growth) or endorsed plan as granted by the State Planning Commission

Town actively engages the public in its planning activities

Town has an affordable housing plan that is in accordance with the findings of the Long Island Regional Planning Board and other respected entities.

New Development does NOT require the extension of new roads and sewer lines into previously undeveloped lands

New development is occurring within ½ mile (walking distance) of existing development in a town center ( Town centers are compact, walkable places intended to accommodate growth and include a variety of community services, employment, shopping, housing and public spaces )

Public facilities (schools, libraries, etc.) are located centrally, within walking distance for most users

Town has looked into the capacity of its infrastructure and environment to accept new growth (carrying capacity analysis, build-out analysis)

Town has redeveloped, or has plans to redevelop vacant, under-utilized, and/or brownfields properties

Zoning allows for a mix of housing types, including single-family homes, affordable housing, multi-family housing, apartments and senior housing

Town encourages affordable housing as a fixed percent (at least 15 percent) of new development

Town has an affordable housing strategy that includes inclusionary zoning, new construction and rehabilitation programs for low- and moderate-income households. ( Inclusionary zoning refers to the allowance of lot sizes, usually greater than 8 dwelling units per acre, that make to provision of affordable units by private developers feasible)

Affordable housing opportunities are distributed throughout the community, integrated into market-rate communities

Most daily shopping and service needs can be met in a central location or business district, without the use of oa car to get between shops and services

Zoning code encourages mixed-use development (commercial and residential uses in the same building and/or district), especially in a town center

Local parking regulations support smart growth by allowing shared parking, credit for parking provided off-sire, reduced parking requirements for mixed-use development and credit for on-street parking

Town has specific zoning and/or economic development plan to attract new businesses and housing options to a town center

Town encourages multiple mosed of transportation, as evidenced by on-street parking, bike lanes, sidewalks and frequent crosswalks in the town

Town has convenient access to public transit (bus, rail, jitney)

Town has a recent circulation plan element as part of its Master Plan

Zoning encourages more complact, higher-density development within ½ mile of transit stops

Streets within the town are interconnected, in a clear pattern for getting around, with few cul-de-sacs or dead end streets that encumber traffic flow

Town has a good network of sidewalks and safe pedestrian/bike paths, interconnecting the town

Zoning requires buildings to be close enough to each other to encourage walking and pedestrian activity ( Average residential density greater than 8 dwelling units per acre; commercial floor area ratio (FAR) exceeding 1.0)

Town is designed with the pedestrian in mind: curb cuts favoring vehicular access are minimized, parking lots in the front of buildings are avoided, there are many crosswalks

Zoning regulations limit growth in critical environmental areas, including prime watersheds, unbroken forest and grassland areas and critical wildlife areas/wildlife habitat. ( Low densities should be in place in these areas with provisions for small, clustered lots in order to protect farmland and forest land. The more environmentally sensitive the plans, the lower the density should be)

Town has regulations that steer development away from unsuitable land, including steep slopes greater than 20 percent, floodplains, stream corridors, aquifers and aquifer recharge areas

Town has adopted an open space plan to strategically identify and preserve open lands, including public parks and recreation areas, farms, natural habitats and forests

Town has plans to clean up brownfield and unused industrial sites

Towns provide strong incentives for new development to meets or exceed the criteria of the New York State Green Building Tax Credit, EnergyStar, or the LEED standards advanced by the US Green Building Council

Town has an active environmental commission and/or action plan focused on key issues including pollution and energy concerns

Zoning has specific design guidelines, including graphic images, to ensure new development is in keeping with community character, especially in historic districts

Town has an historic district and/or historic preservation commission to protect important structures

Town has pedestrian-friendly amenities such as benches, lighting, street trees and trash cans, as well as windows at street level

Town has clean, well-lit community spaces such as public plazas, squares, parks, etc.