Town/Village of Greenwich Comprehensive Plan
Shared Objectives Propel Improvements Forward in the Capital Region
The Town and Village of Greenwich, located in New York’s Capital Region and bordered by the Hudson River to the west and the Battenkill to the south, are small communities defined by their continued agricultural uses and historic Village center. They also serve as the southern hub of Washington County, with a strong commercial corridor that runs through both. In recent years, the two communities have collaborated on a series of planning and infrastructure projects, recognizing their shared challenges and opportunities, such as growing housing demand, preserving local character, and concentrated economic growth.
The Town of Greenwich last updated its Comprehensive Plan in 2004, while the Village of Greenwich had never had one. When work began on the 2023 Comprehensive Plan, it was clear that a tailored approach was necessary—one that not only built on past planning efforts but also focused on turning the plan into action.
This plan prioritized key projects rather than an encyclopedia of potential strategies or projects, setting a clear path for success. As the plan progressed, the Town and Village worked with LaBella to identify and apply for funding, rather than waiting until the end of the process.
The Town/Village of Greenwich Comprehensive Plan serves as a model of how planning can drive action. Over $5 million in grant funding is currently being utilized to advance critical housing, infrastructure, parks and recreation, and zoning projects outlined in the plan.
Infrastructure improvements are underway to expand water service along the Town’s primary commercial corridor. Sewer service is also being extended to a key underutilized brownfield site in the Village, which will boost economic development. Enhancements to parks and recreational facilities are in progress, and updates to the Town and Village zoning codes are being implemented to further support the goals of the joint Comprehensive Plan.
Through this ongoing collaboration, the Town and Village are ensuring that the shared vision of the Comprehensive Plan continues to strengthen the connection between these communities for years to come.
Implementation
The Town and Village of Greenwich proactively seized opportunities to advance key recommendations from the Comprehensive Plan, including seeking grant funding for various activities. Initiatives that advanced in 2024 include:Zoning
The Comprehensive Plan included a future land use map that outlined recommendations to further community goals. The Town and Village successfully secured two grants—Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Pre-Development and Hudson River Valley Greenway—to jointly update their zoning. A committee was formed to lead this process, which has been meeting since November 2023, one month after the plan’s adoption.
Infrastructure
The Comprehensive Plan acknowledged the important role of infrastructure in driving economic development. While the Village has full public water and partial public sewer service, the Town lacks municipal water and sewer systems. The plan suggested focusing on growth opportunities along the Route 29 corridor. The Town and Village secured BOA Pre-Development funding and are preparing a Map Plan Report to expand water service in the Town, which will be vital for securing construction funding. Additionally, the Village is also using this funding to extend sewer services to a key waterfront development site.
Parks & Recreation
Although the Town and Village offer a diverse range of recreational facilities, public feedback collected during the Comprehensive Plan process indicated a general lack of awareness about these spaces, highlighting opportunities to better promote and enhance them. The plan identified a series of recommendations currently being implemented to address this issue.
In the Village, a Parks and Recreation Task Force was established and has been meeting bi-monthly over the past year to further refine its focus on improvements to Village-owned parks. The Task Force has recommended expanding events at the Village’s small pocket parks and clearing and enhancing trails at a larger Village-owned park located in the Town.
In 2024, the Town successfully secured a canals infrastructure grant to improve Greenwich Riverside Park, building on the public feedback collected during a Comprehensive Plan event held there.
Additionally, the Town and Village secured funding from the Adirondack/Glens Falls Transportation Council to prepare a Town/Village Bike and Pedestrian Connectivity Plan, aimed at improving access to these recreational resources. The project kicked off in 2024 and is being led by a project advisory committee.
Housing
The need for more housing, including a greater diversity of housing types, was a recurring theme during the Comprehensive Plan process. Acknowledging the importance of expanding the local housing stock, the Town and Village became two of the first 60 communities statewide designated as Pro-Housing communities. They have also supported private housing development and rehabilitation projects through two successful Restore NY grants awarded since the Comprehensive Plan’s initiation (Round 6 and Round 7).
An Award-Winning Project
2024 APA New York Upstate Award—Comprehensive Planning Category
Each year, the New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) recognizes outstanding planning efforts across the region. At this year’s Annual Conference, held in October 2024, LaBella was honored to receive a 2024 APA New York Upstate Chapter Award for the Town/Village of Greenwich project in the Comprehensive Planning category.
