Planning group outlines Penn Yan details

Planning group outlines Penn Yan details

PENN YAN--The 2020 Vision Steering Committee has approved the final draft of their vision plan for the village of Penn Yan. The plan was developed by the committee and the Rochester Regional Community Design Center (RRCDC). The center gathered public input over the years to compile into one plan for the village. While it is not a binding document village officials must abide by, the plan outlines what village residents would like to see their community develop into in the future.

"Growth is imminent, and the timely execution of thoughtful planning and design strategies are essential if we are to preserve those qualities of our community that are so widely cherished and appreciated," 2020 Vision President Mary Zelazny said in the report.
The plan lists several "guiding principles" throughout the document, which include enhancing village aspects like the gateways in and out of town, increasing pedestrian use and improving waterfront development and access. Additional guiding principles include preserving the historic nature of downtown Penn Yan, supporting draws for tourists to visit the village and avoiding sprawl development within the community.
Specific elements proposed in the plan include a flowerbed and additional signage at the intersection of Lake and Main Streets in order to signal to visitors they are entering the village and direct them to points of interest. The plan also includes a proposed archway over Elm Street along with additional visual enhancements to establish the Elm and Main Street intersection as the downtown core. Alternative modes of transportation have also been proposed, which includes bike lanes through village roads along with additional pedestrian walking paths.
Specific proposed waterfront uses include a trail system circling the entire Keuka Lake outlet and are intended to begin to allow more public access to the waterfront. The plan also addresses Jacob's Creek, proposing the idea of a small park to the north of Elm Street which could include things like an amphitheater or a small dock.