Community Resources

Anna Reynolds, Director
(518) 873-3895

areynolds@co.essex.ny.us

The Office of Community Resources assists the local Municipalities plan, prioritize, develop, fund and manage capital and community development projects. By providing a comprehensive planning & administration approach, we help address and fund the critical infrastructure projects that shape the growth, sustainability & resiliency of the communities.

Our core competencies are municipal & financial planning, public funding acquisition, financial & public funding administration, project and management within the areas of water and sewer treatment works, public utilities, public environmental protection & improvement, public recreation, and historic preservation, as possible.

Meet the Staff

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE ^*
(meets the 2nd Monday of each month)  

Chairman: Merrihew
Vice-Chair: Politi
Supervisor: Depo
Supervisor: Harrington
Supervisor: Marnell
Supervisor: Miga
Supervisor: Moore
Supervisor: Morrow
Supervisor: Tyler

^* includes:
1. IDA
2. Community Resources
3. R.O.O.S.T.
4. Publicity
5. Historian
6. Cooperative Extension

Planning, a Sub-Division of the Community Resource Department

7533 Court Street, P.O. Box 217
Elizabethtown, New York 12932
Fax: (518) 873-3751

If you are inquiring about a town land use class, building permit or zoning regulation, please visit the specific TOWN code enforcement officer.

Our mission is to provide tools and services required to implement community development goals for Essex County municipalities. Technical assistance is provided by researching, writing, and administering grants for upgrades, implementation, and expansion of community facilities, such as water and wastewater, parks and recreation areas, and habitat restoration. Assistance also includes issues of historic preservation, housing rehabilitation, Smart Growth implementation, energy efficiency, zoning, and comprehensive planning.

American Planning Association’s What is Planning? website.

Essex County Fairgrounds – the marketing and rental of the Essex County Fairgrounds in Westport.

Purpose and procedure for municipalities to refer zoning actions to the Essex County Planning Board (fillable)

General staff activities – office staff serve as the county representatives for several local and regional organizations, including:

• Lakes-to-Locks Passage Scenic Byway
• Champlain Valley Heritage Network
• Champlain Watershed Improvement Coalition of New York (CWICNY)
• Greater Adirondack Resource Conservation & Development Council (RC&D)

Environmental permitting & review – office staff evaluate proposed projects, determine what permits may be needed, and submit permit applications as required. The staff conducts environmental assessments of proposed projects for grant applications, and to fulfill grant program requirements in accordance with New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rules and regulations. There is an NRCS/USDA soil survey of Essex County available for public viewing; digital copies may be requested.

General Municipal Law 239M, N Review – under NYS General Municipal Law Section 239, municipal planning actions specified by these sections are subject to review by the Essex County Planning Board, which has been designated as the County Planning & Economic Development Committee. All Essex County municipalities entered into an agreement stating that only the following proposed actions shall be subject to referral by the towns to the County:

• adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance or local law affecting property within 500′ of a County road or County property;
• issuance of a special use permit affecting property within 500′ of a County road or County property;
• approval of site plans affecting property within 500′ of a County road or property;
• granting of use or area variances affecting property within 500 of a County road or property;
• approval of preliminary and/or final subdivision plat, or a proposal to develop an undeveloped plat already filed in the Essex County Clerk’s office, affecting property within 500′ of a County road or property.

All other proposed actions under consideration by the town shall be deemed to be of a local nature and therefore exempt from referral to the County, despite provisions of General Municipal Law 239M and/or 239N.

• Adk Climate and Energy Action Plan
• Champlain Watershed Improvement
• Essex County IDA
• Essex County Soil & Water
• Greater Adk Resource Conserv & Dev
• Housing Assistance Program
• Lake Champlain Basin Program
• Lake George Regional Planning
• L.P./Essex County Visitor’s Bureau

• Adk Economic Dev Corp (AEDC)
• Adk North Country Assoc (ANCA)
• Adk Park Agency (APA)
• Env Protection Agency (EPA)
• NYS Office of Community Renewal
• NYS Dept of Env Conserv (DEC)
• NYS Div of Local Govt Services
• NYS Dept of Health
• NYS Dept of Transportation (DOT)
• NYS Energy Research and Dev Auth
• NYS Ofc Parks, Rec & Historic Preserv

• American Planning Association
• NY Planning Federation
• NYS Smart Growth