GUILDERLAND — Six different groups working to update Guilderland’s two-decades-old comprehensive plan have submitted reports on areas ranging from economic growth to transportation.

The reports, posted on the town’s website, dovetail in many instances.

For example, the subcommittee on agriculture recommends smaller lots to leave more space for farming while the subcommittee on open space suggests clustered developments. At the same time, the housing subcommittee wants to strengthen the distinction between the town’s developed and rural areas.

The town board is considering a moratorium on development as the appointed comprehensive plan update committee works with a consultant to knit together the various recommendations.

Following is a summary of the committee reports.

Agriculture

The agriculture subcommittee would like to see light retail or farm service businesses on the western end of Route 20, reducing traffic elsewhere, and would like to reduce the footprint of new homes by placing them on smaller lots to save open space and property for farming.

While it encourages the town to continue with conservation easements and enlist school districts in the program, it also recommends the purchase of development rights. However, it says the town should not buy farmland “for the benefits of residences”; agricultural land should continue to generate taxes.

Solar facilities, it says, should not be placed on prime agricultural soils or in viewsheds identified as important. The subcommittee wants to preserve the town’s “numerous valuable woodlots,” which would protect wildlife and help with honey and maple syrup production.

It recommends forming an agriculture committee to incentivize farmers to use open space that the town owns or suitable private property.

The rural character of the western part of town should be evaluated before municipal water and sewer services are built there because development will inevitably follow, the subcommittee says, also noting the Watervliet Reservoir and surrounding property as valuable open space. It says the area could be used for educational and recreational activities.

Economic growth

The economic-growth subcommittee lists 10 objectives to “establish and promote a diverse and strategic economic base that provides income, employment, and fiscal resources to the community in a manner that is compatible with the future land use plan and unique identity of Guilderland.”

Objectives include expanding incentives that support businesses; identifying centers for economic development and marketing them; establishing businesses compatible with neighborhoods including support of home-based businesses; and promoting the growth of local businesses.

Other objectives include supporting agriculture; attracting well-paying and job-creating employers; encouraging partnerships with higher-learning institutions; exploring the development of a new village-like “planned community,” perhaps an all-green community, in the northwest corner of town; and periodically reviewing the comprehensive plan to report on progress towards its goals.

Environment

The subcommittee on environment, climate change, and resiliency lists two goals, each with two objectives.

The first is to protect the quality of life and town character by reducing climate impacts. This would involve, by 2030, completing the 10 actions set out by the state to become certified as a Climate Smart community and, second, encouraging resiliency through town practices, procedures and rules.

Examples of this are improving stormwater infrastructure, protecting wetlands, planting trees, and creating plans for handling extreme weather.

The second goal is to have Guilderland contribute less to climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Just like achieving the first goal, this would mean Guilderland would proceed with the state’s Climate Smart program, becoming certified by 2030.

Second, alternative, clean energy would be incentivized for town facilities, vehicles, and lights while agricultural practices that sequester carbon would be encouraged.

Housing

The neighborhoods and housing subcommittee submitted by far the longest report, divided into two sections. The first section, on housing, lists three goals along with four objectives, each with recommended actions.

The first goal is to “provide a balanced blend of quality housing opportunities,” including a range of prices and housing types. The second goal is to have apartment buildings near transportation centers and sized to meet actual demand. The third is to create sustainable developments “that truly focus on diverse housing, environmental improvements and economic growth.”

Among the housing objectives are strengthening the character of established neighborhoods; ensuring the town’s zoning meets the need for housing diversity and that supply matches need and demand. Also, the subcommittee wants to encourage affordable housing for seniors and people with special needs and to identify sites needed housing or provided for in the marketplace.

The report gives the example of houses between 1,000 and 1,500 square feet that are highly desirable but missing in the marketplace.

The report’s second section, on town character, lists five goals and 10 objectives, each with recommendations.

The first goal is to preserve Guilderland’s identity, strengthening the distinction between the town’s developed and rural areas as well as between the town’s neighborhoods and commercial areas.

Second is to prevent Guilderland from looking like a city or large commercial town by thoughtfully spreading out businesses. Third is to prioritize residents’ quality of life while encouraging small businesses to flourish.

Fourth is to recognize the abundance of ethnic groups in town and promote diversity. The fifth goal is to set up strategies for resilience so that Guilderland is not vulnerable to natural hazards and events.

Open space

The subcommittee on parks, recreation, open space, and historic resources begins its report by saying “Almost two decades later, the Rural Guilderland” document is more relevant than ever. “Rural Guilderland: Open Space and Farmland Protection” was presented in 2005.

The current subcommittee recommends connecting the town’s recreational assets in one long arcing corridor. Historic sites along the imagined corridor would be noted.

It also recommends maintaining the unique character of the town’s traditional settlements and quotes the 2005 report: “The compact settlement pattern of the town’s rural historic hamlets would be maintained and a countryside greenbelt around the hamlets should be preserved.”

The subcommittee advises allowing limited development and favors clustering although the report says no one in the group could think of a clustered residential development in Guilderland. The report also recommends minimizing the intensity of new development and recommends “a radical re-zoning of the entire ‘valley’” and also recommends that mature trees be maintained when possible.

For historic sites, the subcommittee recommends the repair and maintenance of the Frederick-Mynderse House, the Schoolcraft House, and The Ballet Barn, suggesting they could be more widely used for public events.

Transportation 

The transportation and mobility report starts with this goal: “Provide safe, convenient, and efficient transportation options for people and goods within, through and around the Town of Guilderland, which are supportive of the Town’s future land use plan and which minimize the impact of traffic on the Town’s character and quality of life.”

The report goes on to list eight different strategies towards reaching the overall goal.

The first is to promote an efficient network that integrates walkers, cyclists, cars, and public transit. The second is to expand sidewalks and multi-use trails “to better link community centers, shopping and employment areas, recreation areas, and neighborhoods.”

The third is to use traffic-calming devices, speed limits, and landscaping “to improve the pedestrian experience.”

The fourth is to create a town-wide network of trails and bike routes not just for recreation but to encourage running errands.The fifth is to reduce traffic on arterial roads, single-occupancy vehicle use in particular. The sixth is to meet the needs of the town’s retail, commercial and service businesses so they prosper.

The seventh is to have the state Thruway put in more exit and remove tolls to draw traffic off arterial roads and the eighth is to make plans with adjoining municipalities and regional groups.