Welcome to the Village of Hancock

Economic & Community Development Plan Webpage

 Village of Hancock Economic & Community Development Plan:  ADOPTED December 30, 2008

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-5

Chapters 6-7

Chapter 8 & Appendices

DESIGN GUIDELINES

GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT - 4/2/09

TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

HANCOCK FITNESS TRAIL & OVERLOOK  - $564,000.00

The Plan and On-Going Implementation:

The Economic & Community Development Plan focuses on strengthening the integrity of Hancock's neighborhoods; stimulating reinvestment in the historic Downtown business district; improving the image of gateways leading into the Village; and identifying programs and policies needed to stimulate new investment within the community. The creation of the Economic and Community Development Plan included a strong public participation process and provided an opportunity for the entire community to come together to create a vision for our future in order to guide public improvements in a manner that attracts private investment and enhances our quality of life. The proposal to create the Hancock Fitness Trail and Scenic Overlook grew out of this process.

On April 2, 2009, the Village's Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP) grant application requesting funding for the creation of the Hancock Fitness Trail and Scenic Overlook was funded by the NYSDOT in the amount of $564,000.  Planit Main Street, Inc. prepared the grant application that was recently chosen as an ARRA TEP Grant Recipient - meaning the Village of Hancock will receive 100% grant funding for this exciting project.

Background:

In November of 2007, the Village of Hancock, in conjunction with the Hancock Partners Inc., joined forces to fund the creation of an Economic and Community Development Plan for the Village of Hancock. The Economic and Community Development Plan was used to answer a variety of questions about Hancock. These include:

• What should our community look like in the future?

• How can we work together to improve the appearance of our community's gateways?

• Where business and industrial land uses should be permitted?

• What do we need to do to stimulate new investment within our historic Downtown?

• How can we work with the Town/County to attract new industries to our community?

• What are some of our deficiencies and what can we do to turn them into strengths?

• What programs can be put in place to encourage historic preservation?

• How can we protect our natural resources?

• What programs are needed for our senior citizens and area youth?

• What programs can we create to help residents with housing rehabilitation efforts?

• What measure can we take to make our community more attractive to investors?

• How do we maximize the benefits of our Upper Delaware Scenic Byway designation?

• How we take advantage of the I-86 conversion?

Economic and Community Development Plan Committee:

The Village/Hancock Partner's Inc. appointed an eleven (11) member Economic and Community Development Plan Committee in mid-November of 2007 to prepare the Plan and lead the public participation process.

The Process:

The first public workshop included a Community Character Survey™ conducted by Planit Main Street, Inc., was held on November 14, 2007. The Economic and Community Development Plan Committee will be meeting monthly during the process of completing the Plan. The final draft Economic & Community Development Plan was completed on November 1, 2008.  Two (2) public hearings will be held on the draft Economic and Community Development Plan. Following the public hearings, the final Plan will be completed along with the State Environmental Quality Review Act environmental review documents. The Village Board will then make a decision regarding the adoption of the Plan.

How Do I Get Involved?

The Committee met monthly at the Hancock Central School Cafeteria and/or Museum to work on the creation of the Economic and Community Development Plan. These meetings were open to the public. The public was invited to contribute to the effort by attending public workshops that were held periodically by the Committee. We were fortunate to have a number of interested residents who contributed their ideas throughout the process.   Public participation is a vital component of a successful Plan and your input on the draft Economic & Community Development Plan is welcome.

Meeting Dates:

January 16, 2008 at 7:00 PM - Hancock Central School Cafeteria

February 25, 2008 at 7:00 PM - Hancock Central School Cafeteria

March 13, 2008 at 7:00 PM - Cancelled

April 10, 2008 at 7:00 PM - Hancock Central School Cafeteria

May 8, 2008 at 7:00 PM - Hancock Central School Cafeteria

June 12, 2008 at 7:00 PM - Museum

July 17, 2008 at 7:00 PM - Museum

August 13, 2008 - SubCommittee Meeting on Economic Development

September 18, 2008 - Museum

October 30, 2008 - Presentation of Draft Plan to Village Board

November 13, 2008 - Public Hearing on Draft Economic  & Community Development Plan 

December 8, 2008 - Public Hearing on Draft Economic & Community Development Plan

For More Information:

If you have any questions about the process or have issues you think should be explored in the process of developing the Economic and Community Development Plan, please (click here) and forward your comments to us.