Village of Milford Comprehensive Plan

The Village of Milford received a grant from the Governor's Office for Small Cities in 2004 to undertake a planning project . The Village is located in the leatherstocking region of New York, about midway between the Village of Cooperstown and the City of Oneonta. Thoma was selected to assist in the development of the Village's first-ever comprehensive plan. Thoma worked closely with a cohesive steering committee, the Otsego County Planning Department, and the general public to develop a consensus-based comprehensive plan. The focus of the project was to generate a vision and action plan for the future of the Village, with particular emphasis on Milford's Main Street.

Thoma developed a tailored approach to meeting the needs of the Village's comprehensive planning process. Citizen participation was a crucial element in developing a community vision and the subsequent goals in their Plan. Various strategies were used to stimulate participation within the community. Resident and business surveys were conducted to gather public sentiment on community issues. Additionally, a Village-wide building conditions survey was conducted to inventory substandard structures, especially residential uses. A visioning session and goal development meeting provided opportunity to explore community values, concerns, opinions, and beliefs. The final plan includes a detailed, action-oriented implementation strategy. Each task is focused, which leads to the successful fulfillment of achieving each goal.

The Village of Milford Comprehensive Plan is now the foundation for future municipal action. The document will provide guidance to elected officials, Village departments, and the general community, so that informed decisions can be made to realize their vision. The Village intends to implement the Plan by carrying out goals that address community infrastructure, historic resources, transportation, local economy, emergency services, land use, natural resources, parks, housing, tourism, and intergovernmental cooperation.

Since the adoption of the Plan in 2005, the Village has had much success in furthering various projects in the community. The Comprehensive Plan was used to leverage $198,000 in Restore New York grant funds to rehabilitate Main Street's former hardware store.

The Village is also using the new plan for the basis of creating their first zoning local law that will help manage land use in the community.

The Greater Milford Historical Association in Milford also recently received $15,000 in State funding for facility upgrades.