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The Vision 2020 committee of Penn Yan wants to involve all the potential stakeholders in a planning forum or charrette, to advance the transformation of the area into the tourist industry hub they hope to make it. The committee believes that with the burgeoning winery and resort trade, and the imminent construction of the Finger Lakes Museum, Penn Yan as the center of the community must plan, prepare, and promote the changes that are coming to maximize the benefit to the community as a whole. The “charette process” is a proven method for involving that whole community, say members of the steering committee.
According to the Rochester Regional Community Design Center, this is a “planning process that involves all interested parties to address community design problems holistically and create collaborative solutions. The charrette is an opportunity for community members to gather with design professionals to dream and discuss ways to improve their communities and neighborhoods.”
Jennifer Leonard, President of the Rochester Area Community Foundation, warned of “a feeling of greyness. That there is never enough hope or opportunity or enthusiasm.”
She encouraged the public to see the potential of what can be done in Yates County by dispelling the myth of poverty. Highlighting the wealth that is here and encouraging the public to contribute to the philanthropic efforts her foundation will support, she sees the charette as a necessary step in building Penn Yan’s future and prosperity.
John Adamski, President of the Finger Lakes Museum, asserted that he believes the projected number of 129,000 potential visitors to the area drawn annually by the museum to be very conservative, and that the Penn Yan area must prepare for this influx.
Claudia Baldwin, of Flying Colors, a member of the charette steering committee, reminded everyone of naysayers who thought the Windmill Market would never work. The thousands who visit every week it is open have proven that negativity was wrong, she said.
She introduced Joni Mitchell and Roger Brown of the Rochester Regional Community Design Center to explain the purpose and process of a charette.
A charrette is used by public and private planners, designers, architects, developers and community activists for:
• Sustainable community and building design
• Regional and comprehensive planning
• Master planning
• Transportation/infrastructure planning
• Code/policy writing
• Development projects
On the day of the charrette, the community’s desires are sketched out. The design includes streets, parks, corridors, open spaces, sidewalks, and buildings which are part of the Public Realm. “These two words describe that part of the built environment that gives a community its life, defines its character, fosters its economic vitality, embodies its spirit, reflects its heritage, and creates its identity,” says Brown.
The Vision 2020 committee of Penn Yan wants to involve all the potential stakeholders in a planning forum or charrette, to advance the transformation of the area into the tourist industry hub they hope to make it. The committee believes that with the burgeoning winery and resort trade, and the imminent construction of the Finger Lakes Museum, Penn Yan as the center of the community must plan, prepare, and promote the changes that are coming to maximize the benefit to the community as a whole. The “charette process” is a proven method for involving that whole community, say members of the steering committee.
According to the Rochester Regional Community Design Center, this is a “planning process that involves all interested parties to address community design problems holistically and create collaborative solutions. The charrette is an opportunity for community members to gather with design professionals to dream and discuss ways to improve their communities and neighborhoods.”
Jennifer Leonard, President of the Rochester Area Community Foundation, warned of “a feeling of greyness. That there is never enough hope or opportunity or enthusiasm.”
She encouraged the public to see the potential of what can be done in Yates County by dispelling the myth of poverty. Highlighting the wealth that is here and encouraging the public to contribute to the philanthropic efforts her foundation will support, she sees the charette as a necessary step in building Penn Yan’s future and prosperity.
John Adamski, President of the Finger Lakes Museum, asserted that he believes the projected number of 129,000 potential visitors to the area drawn annually by the museum to be very conservative, and that the Penn Yan area must prepare for this influx.
Claudia Baldwin, of Flying Colors, a member of the charette steering committee, reminded everyone of naysayers who thought the Windmill Market would never work. The thousands who visit every week it is open have proven that negativity was wrong, she said.
She introduced Joni Mitchell and Roger Brown of the Rochester Regional Community Design Center to explain the purpose and process of a charette.
A charrette is used by public and private planners, designers, architects, developers and community activists for:
• Sustainable community and building design
• Regional and comprehensive planning
• Master planning
• Transportation/infrastructure planning
• Code/policy writing
• Development projects
On the day of the charrette, the community’s desires are sketched out. The design includes streets, parks, corridors, open spaces, sidewalks, and buildings which are part of the Public Realm. “These two words describe that part of the built environment that gives a community its life, defines its character, fosters its economic vitality, embodies its spirit, reflects its heritage, and creates its identity,” says Brown.
The charrette Steering Committee meets for follow-up and summary after a charrette. The RRCDC Design Team will review the charrette results and translate them into a vision plan that details the results and ideas, drawings, and maps from a charrette. During the months it takes to translate the drawings produced at a charrette event into the vision plan, there will be meetings with the charrette steering committee and the public to review the progress of the plan and to incorporate feedback. Finally, the charrette results for the physical transformation are presented to the public.
According to The RRCDC website, they “organize the vision plan in an easily accessible format for the town to hold and use. A vision plan is the basis for strategic planning so that government, businesses, and residents can collectively make their dreams reality.”
They advocate the charrette process as a better alternative to government-based planning practices, “which commonly result in controversy and delay. The charrette process builds public trust and support for transformative community change.”
A walk through Penn Yan will be held in November.
