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As we work together to keep Fairport on the rise, we have opportunities to define our vision for what we want Fairport to look like “when it grows up.” Below are some of the tools and methods that I have learned through experience that can continue to deliver a village that people seek out, and where people feel informed and empowered to work with their government. These are just a few ideas and I know that we will find more worth investigating as I talk with you.

  • This is of high importance for our success as a village. By establishing a master plan with the community, we get to say what we want to look like in the future, where we want our public spaces, and what kind of public spaces we want. When we have this in place, we can prioritize what opportunities we want to pursue, where they should go, who the right business partners are, while minimizing surprises. Without a master plan, we run the risk of painting ourselves into a corner and spending more time and/or money to get out of it. My experience in producing documents such as these has shown me their importance, what a good one looks like, and how to follow it. I will make this a priority as part of my service.

  • Often the main reason people do not like what is being built is because of the zoning code. A bad zoning code discourages the very type of buildings that people want to see. My experience engaging with communities to update or, in some cases, rewrite their zoning codes shown me how important listening to a community is and what a well-written code looks like. I will work to ensure that a zoning update that helps us achieve economic resiliency while also bringing us what we want to see happen.

  • Everybody, from the young to the elderly should be able to have easy access to the fantastic things that we have to offer in our village. This means not having to depend on the car if you don’t want to. There are a growing number of studies that show that businesses perform better and people are happier when a place is more walkable and bikeable. Our location along the canal and our Main Street has us primed to make use of what we already have and help us achieve even more. I will advocate for protected bike lanes on our Main Street so that families feel comfortable walking and biking to our businesses and parks along the canal, while also working to address the concerns of our businesses and community. I will work to expand our crosswalk locations and improve their designs so that they are safer and more comfortable for walking and biking.

  • All great places have a range of great public spaces - from parklets where families can easily take their children to play, to main plazas for events and the hub of life. It is also important to know where these should be, because it is very difficult and expensive to get space back that has been given or sold. Our village already has great spaces, but there are still folks who don’t have easy access to public spaces to relax or play. I will work with our neighborhoods to listen and help determine the types of spaces that they need, where they should be, and how we can get started making it a reality