WURTSBORO – Officials from the Village of Wurtsboro and the Town of Mamakating came together on Thursday, December 19, in order to hear a presentation by Heather Jacksy, of the Sullivan County Division of Planning, regarding the development of Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro. Jacksy's presentation outlined ideas other communities have adopted when it comes to making their respective downtown areas attractive and welcoming places for both residents and visitors to enjoy.

Some of the suggestions Jacksy outlined highlighted what not to do. For example, many downtown areas have changed zoning laws so that the second floors of buildings containing storefronts also must be used as commercial space. The result, she said, is a downtown area that is vibrant during the day, but at night becomes a ghost town. Instead, Jacksy suggests, municipalities should look to integrate retail and residential spaces, so that the residents who live there also patronize the shops on the ground floor. This type of design has a tendency to increase foot traffic, as well as make the downtown area a bit more warm and inviting.

Another mistake many downtown areas make is an overabundance of parking. While it is important for visitors to be able to find parking, it is also very important that the integration of parking into a downtown area not destroy the charm of the community. As one example, she cited the large paved area in front of Danny's Restaurant as being a bit less than welcoming. If there were some way to create parking space behind the restaurant, she said, it would be possible to have an intersection that is more pleasing to the eye.

She also pointed to the Town of Eldred, where Jacksy currently resides, demonstrates the kind of poor planning that makes it difficult for people to utilize local businesses. While she praised the fact that retail shops have been placed near the post office and the bank, the lack of sidewalks make it impossible for a person to walk from one business to the next. Instead, people have to get back into their cars and drive to the next location. This lack of integration creates small, separate enclaves that have little contiguity with those businesses nearby, and it can hamper — or even destroy — the sense of community in a shopping district.

Jacksy also suggested that a number of minor aesthetic improvements can go a long way toward making a downtown area inviting. Having planted flower beds with an accompanying park bench, for example, adds an attractive feature which can boost local business through increased foot traffic. Planted areas also provide benefit in that they help to mitigate storm water runoff, as the water has somewhere to go other than the gutters.

Jacksy said that the best downtown areas attempt to incorporate a "sense of place [that is] unique and memorable," along with a "mix of goods and services [which] cater to both residents and tourists." Such integration should be "flexible and adaptive," however, and, perhaps most importantly, "connect to the greater community" as a whole. Jacksy also cited the importance of creating space that is sustainable both environmentally and physically.

Members of the newly reconstituted Town of Mamakating Master Plan Review Committee were on hand, including William Trimble and Andy Weil. It will be up to the committee to look for ways of integrating Jacksy's suggestions into the larger plans for development in Wurtsboro / Mamakating community.

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