Welcome to Seneca County’s Planning and Community Development Department website. The Department promotes the sound and orderly economic and physical growth of Seneca County and its constituent municipalities. It is responsible for comprehensive countywide planning, economic development coordination, tourism promotion, community development program implementation, review of local land use referrals, and environmental reviews. Additionally, the Department is responsible for administering the overall development of the Finger Lakes Regional Airport, providing planning and grant writing assistance to local governments, and managing the Agricultural District Program.
The Department also provides staff assistance to the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and is involved in a number of IDA economic development initiatives. Examples include administration of the NYS Empire Zone Program in Seneca County, redevelopment of the former Seneca Army Depot, and assisting business and industry with the site location and development process.
Clean Energy Community Benchmarking
Reporting Requirement
Seneca County Comprehensive Planning
The Seneca County Comprehensive Plan was last updated in the late 1970s. The Seneca County Department of Planning and Community Development has been in the process of updating this Plan in a “notebook” format. As each individual plan was adopted, it was ready to become a “chapter” within the overall Seneca County Comprehensive Plan. Final Drafts of the remaining “chapters” have been completed and it is anticipated that the Full Comprehensive Plan will be adopted in the Spring of 2014.
| Plan/Chapter | Link to Plan | Adopted | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Seneca County Comprehensive Plan Introduction | ||
| Overview | Seneca County Comprehensive Plan Overview | ||
| Housing | Seneca County Housing Plan | 11 Jan 2011 | Housing Data |
| Agriculture | Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan – Adopted | 27 Dec 2011 | Environmental Assessment Form |
| Environment | Seneca County Environmental Conservation Plan | ||
| Economic Development | Seneca County Economic Development Plan |
- EAF 2014 Comprehensive Plan
- Cayuga Lake Blueway Trail Plan –[43mb file]
- Cayuga Lake Blueway Trail Environmental Assessment Form
September 17, 2014 Training:
Planned Unit Development, Sign Regulation & Aging in Place
Finger Lakes Regional Airport
The 2014 Airport Improvement Project involves the fee-simple acquisition of 16.3 acres of land adjacent to Finger Lakes Regional Airport and located within the Town of Seneca Falls for the expansion of the Airport’s existing stormwater management system and terminal area. Terminal area projects include the construction of a terminal access road, a 10,000 sq. ft. t-hangar, an 8,000 square foot conventional/corporate hangar, and apron modifications. The action will also involve the acquisition of an easement over approximately 27 acres of land within Runway Protection Zone (RPZ) to Runway 1, and within the Towns of Fayette and Seneca Falls, to protect navigable airspace in accordance with FAA requirements.
- 2014 Airport Improvement Project EAF Part 1
- 2014 Airport Improvement Project EAF Part 2
- 2014 Airport Improvement Project EAF Part 3
- DRAFT PROPOSED – Finger Lakes Regional Airport DBE Plan for 10/13 to 09/15
Finger Lakes Regional Airport page
Grant Writing and Grant Management
Grant writing, consultations, research, and management services are available to Seneca County Departments, municipalities, and local governments. Services may also be to local Seneca County non-profits, as time and workload permits.
In general, grants to individuals, for profit companies, and grants to help new homeowners repair or refurbish their homes are very rare, restrictive, or require the individual to perform all work to the grantor’s satisfaction before reimbursement.
Learn about Seneca County Industrial Development
Seneca County Agriculture Enhancement Board
The Board meets the 1st Wednesday of the month when there are matters they need to discuss or action needs to be taken. Contact Seneca County/Cornell Cooperative Extension (315)539-9251 for further information.
Maps of Seneca County
Seneca County Maps may be obtained through the Department of Planning and Community Development. Please contact our department at:
Seneca County Dept. of Planning and Community Development
One DiPronio Drive
Waterloo, NY 13165
(315) 539-1730
Census Information
The most recent Federal Census was done in 2000, and census data for Seneca County is available at The Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council, a New York State Data Center Affiliate.
Federal Flood Plain Maps
Federal Flood Plain Maps may be viewed here.
Zoning Referrals
Under General Municipal Law (GML) Section 239, whenever a village or town located in Seneca County grants an application for:
- Use Variance
- Area Variance
- Subdivision Review
- Special/Conditional Use Permit or
- Site Plan Review
the Seneca County Planning Board must review and make recommendations on the application if any portion of the property in question is:
- within 500′ of a State or County road
- within 500′ of a State or County facility
- within 500′ of a municipal boundary or
- within 500′ of a New York State Agricultural District.
The dates of the Seneca County Planning Board meetings, and dates when items must be received to be placed on the agenda are as follows:
| Meeting Dates | Agenda Items Due by Noon |
Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/10/2011 | 11/02/2011 | ||
| 12/08/2011 | 12/01/2011 | ||
| 01/12/2012 | 01/04/2012 | 01/12/2012 | |
| 02/09/2012 | 02/01/2012 | 02/09/2012 | 02/09/2012 |
| 03/08/2012 | 02/29/2012 | 03/08/2012 | 03/08/2012 |
| 04/12/2012 | 04/04/2012 | 04/12/2012 | 04/12/2012 |
| 05/10/2012 | 05/02/2012 | 05/10/2012 | 05/10/2012 |
| 06/14/2012 | 06/06/2012 | 06/14/2012 | 06/14/2012 |
| 07/12/2012 | 07/04/2012 | 07/12/2012 | 06/14/2012 |
| Meeting Dates | Agenda Items Due by Noon |
Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes |
| 08/09/2012 | 08/01/2012 | 08/09/2012 | 08/09/2012 |
| 09/13/2012 | 09/05/2012 | 09/13/2012 | 09/13/2012 |
| 10/11/2012 | 10/03/2012 | 10/11/2012 | 10/11/2012 |
| 11/08/2012 | 10/31/2012 | 11/08/2012 | 11/08/2012 |
| 12/13/2012 | 12/05/2012 | 12/13/2012 | 12/13/2012 |
| 01/10/2013 | 01/02/2013 | 01/10/2013 | 01/10/2013 |
| 02/14/2013 | 02/06/2013 | 02/14/2013 | 02/14/2013 |
| 03/14/2013 | 03/06/2013 | 03/14/2013 | 03/14/2013 |
| 04/11/2013 | 04/03/2013 | 04/11/2013 | 04/11/2013 |
| 05/09/2013 | 05/01/2013 | 05/09/2013 | 05/09/2013 |
| 06/13/2013 | 06/05/2013 | 06/13/2013 | 06/13/2013 |
| 07/11/2013 | 07/03/2013 | 07/11/2013 | 07/11/2013 |
| Meeting Dates | Agenda Items Due by Noon | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes |
| 08/08/2013 | 07/31/2013 | 08/08/2013 | 08/08/2013 |
| 09/12/2013 | 09/04/2013 | 09/12/2013 | 09/12/2013 |
| 10/10/2013 | 10/02/2013 | cancelled | cancelled |
| 11/14/2013 | 11/06/2013 | 11/14/2013 | 11/14/2013 |
| 12/12/2013 | 12/04/2013 | 12/12/2013 | cancelled |
For further Agendas and Minutes 01/09/2014 to present
AND
Additional Documents for Planning Board Meetings
Click Here
The Seneca County Planning Board meetings are at 7:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the Seneca County Office Building located at One DiPronio Drive, Waterloo, NY.
