Bethlehem seeks insights into future

The issue: What should town do as it heads to 2035?

Bethlehem’s blueprint for the future needs an update, so it’s looking for residents who will volunteer their insights to guide the town from 2020-2035.

Bethlehem crafted and adopted its current Comprehensive Plan in 2005. The plan was used as a guide for development and official decision-making for the ensuing 15 years — a span that ends in 2020.

To prepare Bethlehem for the next 15 years — from 2020 to 2035 — new ideas and fresh points of view are needed.

The town held forums in Slingerlands, Selkirk, South Bethlehem, Delmar, Glenmont, North Bethlehem and Elsmere to gather what concerns residents had and opportunities they saw for their hamlets.

Responses from forum attendees ranged from the general, (Bethlehem’s concerns about preserving historic farms and bucolic landscapes) to the specific (Slingerlands residents’ suggestion that Vista Tech Park might be used for a hotel-conference center or online schooling).

A summary of forum responses is on the town’s website and includes a breakdown by hamlet: responses into broad categories of neighborhoods, transportation, aging and housing, economic development, parks and recreation, environment and government.

Now, Robin Nagengast of the town supervisor’s office says the town wants to select an advisory panel from residents interested in drafting the updated Comprehensive Plan.

“The town is soliciting (Update Advisory Committee) members to serve on an advisory committee to help with ongoing community engagement in the process,” wrote Nagengast in an email to the Times Union.

“Committee members will be expected to actively participate in meetings and read all materials beforehand, actively serve as community ambassadors to engage as many residents as possible in the process, and help get information out to residents and businesses.”

Applicants should send a cover letter describing their interests, backgrounds, and special skills or expertise they can bring to the Committee to Rnagengast@townofbethlehem.org.

The deadline is Friday, Aug. 9.

After that, the Town Board and town staff will hold interviews with applicants in late August and choose the advisory committee members. The board’s goal is to appoint the committee at its Sept. 11 meeting.