planning and community development

Planning and Community

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

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.

Finger Lakes Regional Airport page

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.