T H E V I L L AG E O F

MENANDS
C OM P R E H E N S I V E
PLAN
2 02 0
Prepared for the Village of Menands by the Chazen Companies
 AC K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMIT TEE

Mayor Meg Grenier
Maureen Long
Prepared with assistance from the Chazen Companies.
Bill Nevins

Aileen Nicoll With early assistance from the University at Albany

Masters in Regional Planning Program with funding
Nancy Ruppert
and technical support from the Hudson River Valley
Jerry Ruppert Greenway.
Brandon Stabler

Kerry Wroblewski
 Table of
CONTENTS

01 Introduction

02 Background

04 Future Vision

05 Planning Process

07 Plan Recommendations

09 Land Use and Zoning

18 Transportation

20 Business Retention and Attraction

22 Infrastructure

25 Education

27 Community Services

28 Sustainability and Resilencey

29 Parks and Open Space

31 Housing

32 Quality of Life

34 Plan Implementaion

APPENDICES

A Inventory and Analysis

B Public Engagement

C Presentations

D Maps
1 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

INTRODUCTION:
T H E U R B A N S U B U R B A N V I L L AG E
The Village of Menands is a small (3.4 square mile) bedroom community on the northern border of the City
of Albany bounded by Interstate 787 and the Hudson River to the east, the Town of Colonie to the west,
and the City of Watervliet to the north. In the middle of a growing urban region, the Village of Menands has
maintained a tight-knit, small-town character holding true to its official motto, “the Urban Suburban Village.”
For the last 40 years the Village’s population has hovered around 4,000. Please see appendix A “Inventory
and Analysis” for an in-depth demographic profile of the Village.

Visitors and travelers encounter Menands via Broadway (NYS Route 32) a north-south road paralleling
Interstate 787. This former industrial corridor, with large areas that are now underutilized, belies the fact
that Menands is primarily a series of well-kept neighborhoods on the hillsides above the Hudson River.

Over the past decade, the Capital District and the cities of Albany, Troy, and Schenectady have experienced
a modest, but hopeful, revitalization. There is a growing interest in transforming underutilized industrial
sites into residences and businesses, and the Village of Menands has ample opportunity in the Broadway
Corridor.

In an effort to reclaim the Broadway Corridor, the Village has taken part in a series of planning efforts over
the past two decades. These efforts have resulted in various ad hoc projects, including updated zoning
regulations, a series of roadway improvements along Broadway, a tree inventory, and design guidelines.
However, until recently, the Village hasn't taken a holistic look at the entire community or prepared a
Comprehensive Plan.

Without such a plan, the Village’s ability to strategically implement select goals and secure grant funding
has been stymied by the lack of a clearly articulated long range vision. Municipalities depend on the
NYS Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process and other grant opportunities to gain access to
funding from state agencies like Empire State Development, Department of State, and the Department
of Environmental Conservation. However, without a community plan, municipalities are at a serious
disadvantage. This document will serve as a policy document and also as a vehicle to capture grant funding
to implement the vision outlined within.
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2

B AC KG R O U N D

and the turnpike (which preceded

WHAT IS A
Interstate 787 as the main north-
COMPREHENSIVE south thoroughfare), combined with
PLAN? the availability of open land along
A comprehensive plan serves as what is now the Broadway Corridor,
an inventory of community assets, made the Village an attractive place
articulates residents’ vision for the for industry.
future, and provides a strategy
towards achieving goals and Before the construction of Interstate
recommendations. A comprehensive 787 in the early 1970s, the Village Community members volunteer-
plan also serves as a useful of Menands enjoyed access to ing at a tree planting event
benchmark of where the community the Hudson River, which has
is at the time of its adoption, historically served as an important
cataloguing assets, the makeup transportation route. Various entertainment venues,
of the population, employment including a baseball stadium and
patterns, critical infrastructure, While the hillsides above the amusement park, were found
transportation systems, and Broadway Corridor were settled as a along the Broadway Corridor, as
environmental conditions. A lower density bedroom community, well. However, like so many other
Comprehensive Plan is a living much like Loudonville and Colonie places across the northeast,
document, reflecting the issues and to the west, the Broadway Corridor changes in transportation
ambitions of a community at one prospered with manufacturing technology and manufacturing
point in time. To maintain relevancy, and light industrial businesses. processes have resulted in
a Comprehensive Plan should be a deindustrialization in the
revisited and revised on a regular community and the region.
basis and completely overhauled as
needed. The Broadway Corridor hit
a low point in the 1980s as
ABOUT MENANDS a result of the dual impacts
of suburbanization and
Menands was first settled in the deindustrialization. However,
1800s and incorporated in 1924. the Village has always managed
The cities of Watervliet to the north to retain its reputation as a
and Albany to the south were desireable bedroom community
developed intensively, but Menands with a high quality of life. For a
remained lightly populated and more complete history of the
was used primarily for horticultural Village, please see Appendix A.
and agricultural purposes. As
the region continued to develop,
Menands' location near major water
transportation routes (the Erie Canal
and Hudson River), the railway,

Louis Menand
3 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

MENANDS TODAY

The Village of Menands is at a critical point. How can ensure a high quality of life and small town feel while
allowing for new growth and revitalization? Menands retains a commercial presence along the Broadway
Corridor, but the Village primarily serves as a bedroom community for the City of Albany. The Menands public
school is top rated in the region, and the Village’s residents generally earn more and have above average
educational attainment levels. The Village’s population is nearly the same as it was in 1980, and much of
the upland areas in the western portion of the Village are developed, mature and desireable, single-family
suburban neighborhoods.

Over the past few decades, new residential growth in the Village has primarily been constrained to the portion
of the Village along Wards Lane that has been designated for multi-family development. Residents are attracted
to higher quality rentals in locations that offer a short commute to Albany, are safe, and have a quality school
district. One effort of this plan is to balance what residents cherish about Menands with the forces of change.
Recognizing that agents of change are internal (local laws and policies) and external (national economic
trends, state and federal transportation priorities, etc.), this plan intends to focus the Village’s efforts towards
maintaining and improving the Village’s high quality of life.
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 4

V I L L AG E V I S I O N
To move forward, a community must know where it wants to go. As part of the comprehensive
planning process, the Comprehensive Plan Committee (hereafter, 'Committee') developed a vision
statement, a forward looking, aspirational statement of intent. The vision statement reflects the
values and priorities of residents and what they would like the Village to look like in the next 10 to
20 years. It serves as the foundation upon which the Comprehensive Plan is built and organizes the
plan's recommendations.

A robust public participation process informed the

following future Vision for Menands:
• The Village of Menands has a recognizable center, or ‘downtown.’

• Civic institutions, like parks, the library, the school, and

recreational facilities, are well-maintained and important parts of
the community.

• Municipal policies and decisions are inclusive of views from

homeowners, renters, and business owners, regardless of where
they live in the Village.

• There is a strong sense of place reinforced by walkability, civic

pride, and well-maintained properties.

• In the middle of a growing region, the Village has maintained its

‘small town feel,’ while still being open for business.

• New development has resulted in increased availability of services

and amenities for residents, improving the Village’s quality of life.

This vision statement can serve to orient Village residents and leaders as they develop policies
and make decisions about the Village’s future. Checking actions against the vision statement
can help the Village stay on track to realizing their desired state. When confronted with difficult
or contentious decisions, the Village Board should ask themselves, “how does the proposed
action support or detract from our vision for the community?”
5 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

P L A N N I N G P R O C E SS
Planning is an iterative process. In strategies and recommendations of
order to reach a consensus on the this plan.
goals and vision of the community,
residents must be engaged in the PREVIOUS PLAN
planning process from start to
EVALUATION
finish. There also needs to be a
review of public input and analysis The Village of Menands has taken
in order to evaluate the eventual part in a variety of planning
recommendations of the plan. initiatives over the course of the past
The Village of Menands followed a two decades, most of which have
planning process that maintained focused on the Broadway Corridor.
public engagement over the course At the very beginning of the planning
of three years. Beginning in 2017, process, the Village’s existing
the Village began working with plans were reviewed for relevancy.
a resident Committee and the Recommendations from each of Resident and Studio Member at an
University at Albany Masters in the plans were placed in a scoring Open House
Regional Planning Program Studio matrix, and members of the Village
Board and the Committee evaluated and information. The Committee
Class (hereafter, "Studio") to develop
whether each recommendation was members also served as ambassa-
the foundations of a plan. In 2019,
relevant, completed, or incomplete. dors of the planning process.
the Village hired a planning firm and
transitioned from the preliminary This matrix provided valuable
inventory and analysis to more information about existing plans STAKEHOLDER
focused stakeholder outreach and and the Village’s attitude towards INTERVIEWS
strategy development. Using the each plan’s relevancy. Many of
Early in the planning process, the
information prepared by the Studio, the previous recommendations
Village nominated over 25 individual
the Committee continued their work regarding Broadway beautification
business owners, residents, and
over the course of an additional were deemed relevant by the
other engaged community members
year. Committee.
to participate in stakeholder
interviews. The Studio developed a
The following section outlines the See Appendix A for “Plan Assessment
series of open-ended questions to
key planning and public participation Matrix for the Village of Menands.”
ask during in-person, telephone, and
components that provided the basis email exchanges. The stakeholder
of the plans recommendations. COMMIT TEE MEETINGS interviews were useful for gathering
The Committee worked with plan-
candid insights from a cross-section
COMMUNITY PROFILE ning consultants and the Studio
of the community. The information
throughout the entire planning pro-
The Studio developed a robust gathered through this process
cess. The Committee included elect-
demographic and physical profile guided the early research and
ed officials, representatives from
for the Village using a combination analysis of the plan's development.
Menands School, business owners,
of state and federal data sources,
long-time residents, and engaged
GIS mapping, and site visits. The See Appendix A for “Inventory and
citizens. At each step of the planning
community profile provides the Analysis.”
process the Committee served as a
baseline data required to inform the
critical sounding board for new ideas
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 6

FOCUS GROUP future. The buildout analysis helped

MEETINGS MEDIA OUTREACH the Comittee devleop a Future Land
The Village of Menands added Use Map (see "Land Use and Zoning
The public workshops, stakeholder
Recommendations") and redevel-
interviews, and community a Comprehensive Plan page to
opment concepts for the Broadway
survey conducted during the early their existing website to explain
Corridor.
stages of the planning process what a comprehensive plan is and
yielded valuable information to keep residents up to date on
about community issues. To dig all relevant materials that were PUBLIC WORKSHOP
deeper into the most pressing developed during the process. Following the development of a vision
topics identified by the community Relevant past plans were linked to statement, the buildout analysis,
through these various public the website as well. The website and focus group meetings, a public
engagement techniques, the served as a useful communication workshop was held to re-engage
Committee convened three tool and increased transparency in residents and provide updates on
focus groups: transportation, the planning process. The project the planning process. At this event
infrastructure, and developers. team also worked with local media some of the key findings from
A focus group is a collection of outlets to publicize events and the earlier stages of the planning
individuals that have a specialized explain the planning process to process were reiterated, and the
interest or knowledge of a topic the general public. vision statement was reviewed for
area. The meetings were used to consistency with residents' interests.
gain perspective, generate ideas, Upon the completion of the final
and start a dialogue between
OPEN HOUSES
public workshop, the Committee
participants. Information gathered To engage a wide range of
jumped into the final stage of
during the focus group meetings community members in an
the planning process- developing
was crucial to understanding some interactive manner, multiple
recommendations to achieve the
of the biggest influences impacting public open houses were held.
Village's vision.
the Village. Community members were invited
to various locations throughout
COMMUNITY SURVEY the Village to interact with
The appendices contained at the end
members of the Committee and
In 2018, a survey was distributed of this document provide a detailed
the Studio. These events provided
(in print and digitally) throughout accounting of the planning process
residents an opportunity to not
the community. This survey was and the public input that went into it.
only provide input, but to ask
used to solicit feedback from
questions about the process and
residents about their needs,
have open ended conversations.
priorities, and ideas. The survey
allowed planners to evaluate
responses by factors such as
BUILDOUT ANALYSIS
age and tenancy. The survey A buildout scenario was devel-
received a total of 330 responses, oped for the Village of Menands to
representing nearly 10% of identify the Village’s development
the population. The collected potential under existing zoning
information was invaluable to the and land use regulations, in con-
planning process. sideration of environmental and
regulatory constraints. The analy-
See Appendix B, Section 1 for the sis allowed the Committee to con-
“Report on Community Survey sider the consistency between the
Analysis for Comprehensive current regulatory environment
Plan.” and the community's vision for the
7 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

P L A N R E C OM M E N DAT I O N S

The following section outlines the recommended

programs, policies, and strategies that will further the
Village’s vision.
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 8

Over the course of a three-year planning process, hundreds of individuals contributed their ideas and knowledge to
develop the Comprehensive Plan. Review of demographic, economic, and land use data provided a solid base upon
which the Village was able to refine their vision and identify programs, policies, and strategies that will further the
vision.

The Comprehensive Plan recommendations are categorized into the following topic areas:

• Land Use and Zoning

• Transportation
• Business Retention and Attraction
• Infrastructure
• Education
• Community Services
• Sustainability and Resiliency
• Parks and Open Space
• Housing
• Quality of Life
9 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

Land Use and Zoning Recommendations

New York State is a “Home Rule” state, which means that
each municipality is empowered to regulate land use
Future Land Use Map Districts:
within its boundaries. It was the threat of annexation Village Center: This area surrounds the existing Village
by the City of Albany in the mid-20th century that Hall and includes the police station, the library, and
prompted the Village to incorporate as a municipality in the municipal gazebo. This area contains long-standing
order to maintain autonomy and a level of government neighborhoods and some businesses and is intended
that is appropriate for the small scale of the Village. for infill development, including mixed-use development
in a walkable, Village setting.
In the 1970s, the Village prepared zoning regulations
to control the type, size, location, and intensity of
residences and businesses. Today, the Village enforces Menands North: This area contains the site of the
the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, and a previous Price Chopper, as well as various light
building code. In 2013, the Village updated portions of industrial and office buildings. This section of the
the zoning ordinance to promote infill development in Village is divided from the remainder of the Village by
the Broadway corridor. the Route 378 interchange. Due to this district’s access
to transportation and its amount of developable land,
However, the Village did not reexamine their subdivision
there is a high potential for infill development.
regulations. When first written, the Village had more
available land for subdivision, and the regulations
allowed for minimal oversight by the Village Board of Menands South: This area contains the largest swaths
Trustees. Today, much of the upland portion of the of vacant and underutilized land in the Broadway
Village consists of mature neighborhoods, and the Corridor, including the site of the former Mid-City
existing conditions represent the resident's desired Plaza. There are opportunities to develop portions of
neighborhood character.
lots facing Broadway, leverage ongoing transportation
improvements, and take advantage of the district's
FUTURE LAND USE MAP proximity to the growing "Warehouse District" in north
A Future Lane Use map is a central element of the
Albany.
Comprehensive Plan, it outlines the types and locations
of land uses throughout the Village and serves as
Higher Density Housing: This area is where most
a roadmap for local boards as they consider new
multi-family housing has been developed over the
development. The following Future Land Use map
past 50 years. High population densities in this area
was developed with careful consideration of existing
could support additional amenities and transportation
conditions and residents’ input. While a future land use
improvements.
map can often serve as the basis for new zoning districts
and regulations, it is not a zoning map. Instead a Future
Medium Density Housing: These areas were developed
Land Use map outlines, in general terms, the different
before auto-oriented suburbanization was the dominant
areas of the Village and the density, type, and situation
form of development. These areas are walkable and
of development in each one. The following district
near services and amenities.
descriptions and map provide the overall intent for land
use in the Village. The policies and programs that the
Lower Density Housing: These areas host much of the
Village should pursue in order to realize the Future Land
single-family housing stock in the community.
Use plan follow.
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 10

The buildout analysis showed that if landowners BROADWAY CORRIDOR

desired, many of the existing parcels in these areas REDEVELOPMENT CONCEPTS
The three primary redevelopment areas of the
could be further subdivided for increased development.
Village are along the Broadway Corridor. To
It is recommended that the zoning in these areas be
further articulate the community vision outlined
updated to reflect the built densities. in the Future Lane Use map for the Broadway
Corridor, a series of concept drawings illustrating
Light Industrial: These areas of the Village have limited the street and building layouts were prepared.
on-street presence, but they are buffered from existing The Broadway Corridor Redevelopment Concepts
residential development and have relatively good access follow the Future Land Use map.

to truck and rail transport. Careful consideration of

wetlands and flood zones will be required.

Open and Natural Spaces: These portions of the

Village are prone to flooding and/or are in wetlands.
Due to their status as undevelopable, these areas are
valuable as natural flood control areas or areas for
recreation. The NYSDEC has conservatively projected
that the Hudson River will rise by about 60 inches by
the year 2100. This significant projected increae should
be monitored carefully and development decisions
should be weighed against such possibilities. Some
development potential may exist if there is access and
limited impacts on natural resources.
11 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

Future Land Use Map

 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 12

MENANDS SOUTH
DISTRICT
building typology, it is
The Menands South District
recommended that "Road Diet"
comprises the southern end of
measures be implemented
Broadway (from the Village's
along the Broadway Corridor.
southern terminus, north to its
To improve the pedestrian
railroad crossing) and contains
experience, it is recommended
the largest sections of vacant and
that the corridor be improved
underutilized land in the Broadway
with wide sidewalks and plazas/
Corridor.
public gathering spaces, planted
medians to provide pedestrian
The vision for this district is to allow
refuge, high visibility crosswalks,
mixed-use residential/commercial/
pedestrian lighting for improved
industrial development along
safety, and street trees to improve
Broadway, with buildings rising to
the streetscape aesthetic and
a maximum of three stories and
provide cooling. It is further
creating a consistent streetwall
recommended that the vehicle
fronting a plaza/public gathering
travel lanes be narrowed to
space along Broadway. This building
accommodate bike lanes in each
placement will provide a sense of
direction and slow down the
enclosure, frame the public space,
speed of travel.
and help offset the physical and
visual dominance of the roadway.
In conjunction with the proposed

Public Realm T5 T4 T3
complete streets mixed use residential multifamily residential single family homes
Multi modal transit commercial/industrial apartments
corridor beautification townhouses

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space SHARED ROADWAY space
13 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

VILLAGE CENTER

The Village Center district surrounds Along this segment of

the existing Village Hall and includes the Broadway Corridor,
the police station, library, and which is narrower than the
municipal gazebo. It extends along segment that traverses the
Broadway, from the thoroughfare's Menands South District, it is
railroad crossing to the south to the recommended that the vehicle
Route 378 interchange to the north. travel lanes be narrowed and
that they served as shared
The vision for this district is to bike lanes, as well. On-street
establish a recognizable Village parking should be allowed
Center around the existing Village along this portion of Broadway
offices. In terms of buildings, to serve the needs of existing
mixed-use residential/commercial and future uses, including the
development should be pursued Village offices. The pedestrain
along the corridor, with buildings realm should be improved
rising two to three stories, creating with wide sidewalks, bike
a consistent streetwall along racks, street trees to improve
Broadway. At the interface of the the streetscape aesthetic and
building facades and the public provide cooling, pedestrian
sidewalk, it is envisioned that ground lighting for improved safety,
floor retailers and restaurants and high visibility crosswalks at
would provide seating and gathering all intersections.
spaces.
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 14

MENANDS NORTH
DISTRICT

The Menands North District contains gathering spaces in side yards,

the site of the previous Price bringing much needed green
Chopper, in addition to various light space to the district.
industrial and office buildings. This
portion of Broadway is divided from Similar to the Menands South
the remainder of the Village by the District, it is recommended
Route 378 interchange, which forms that on-street parking be
the southern border of the district. prohibited on this segment
of the Broadway Corridor
The vision for the Menands North and that the following
District is to allow three-story Complete Streets measures
mixed-use residential/commercial/ be implemented: narrow
industrial development along vehicle travel lanes, provide
Broadway, with buildings set back high visibility crosswalks
from the street. It is envisioned that at all intersections, create
the front yards be improved with separataed bike lanes in
landscaping, and parking be located each direction, and provide
in the rear of the lots to promote pedestrian refuge areas and
walkability. Along this segment planted medians, where space
of the Broadway Corridor, it is permits.
envisioned that new buildings would
be detached, allowing opportunites
to provide plazas and public
15 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

In addition to the Future Land Use map and

Broadway Redevelopment Concepts, the following III. Establish a Planning Board
recommendations outline the land use and zoning • Currently, development in the Village is overseen
policies and projects that the Village should pursue. by the Board of Trustees and the Zoning
Board of Appeals. Forming a Planning Board
I. Update zoning regulations for consistency appointed by the Board of Trustees would allow
with the Comprehensive Plan for a dedicated group of citizens to evaluate
• The Comprehensive Plan represents the Village’s development proposals for consistency with the
vision for the future. Land use regulations are Comprehensive Plan and long-range community
the most powerful tool the Village can wield goals. In municipalities with more developed land
to implement that vision. In 2013, the Village use regulations, the Planning Board is responsible
incorporated a hybrid Form Based Code (FBC) in for reviewing special use permits and site plans. An
select portions of the Village, but the new districts additional benefit of a Planning Board independent
were not properly integrated into the zoning from the Board of Trustees is that many long-range
ordinance as a whole. The existing FBC is difficult planning decisions would be isolated from the
to administer and confuses local officials and the day to day politics of governance. Unlike the
potential developers. The Village should overhaul Board of Trustees, a Planning Board consists of
their zoning regulations and consider including appointed members who take their positions on a
provisions for transit supportive development and staggered basis. This prevents elected officials from
adaptive reuse. A major element of the zoning having undue immediate impact on the Planning
update should be to work with Village staff and Board and affords the Planning Board an air of
boards to ensure that any new regulation is able to impartiality.
be easily administered.
IV. Update residential zoning in western
II. Increase efficiency of the development review portions of Village to reflect established
process development patterms
• Establish a “one-stop-shop” for applicants at Village • The results of the buildout analysis (included as
Hall to ensure that, from the first point of contact, Appendix A) show the potential for considerable
potential developers are guided through the development in the upland areas of the Village.
planning process by a Village representative. While there is certainly some room for expansion
• Develop a step-by-step outline of the development and additional housing units, if all available lots
review process and publish it on the Village were developed to their maximum potential, the
website. This will help applicants understand the neighborhoods would be dramatically different
development review process even before they from the Village’s vision for the future. The Village
submit an application. should consider increasing the minimum lot size
• Implement online permitting where applicants can in this western portion of the Village to limit the
submit materials online and community members redevelopment potential.
can view pending applications.
• When applications are submitted, notify all
V. As zoning is updated, host a roundtable with
departments that will at some point be involved
with the approval process (i.e. emergency services,
community leaders so that they understand how
school district, Department of Public Works, their institutions interact with the development
neighborhood groups, etc.) so that all issues are process
considered from early stages of application review, • Residents of Menands desire more retail, dining,
thereby expediting the overall project approval and services in the Village. However, these types of
process. establishments favor areas with larger populations.
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 16

Achieving that population in the Village has impacts alternatives to minimum parking requirements,
on a variety of community services, including, including techniques like shared parking or the
but not limited to, the Fire Department, Police total elimination of parking minimums in areas
Department, and the school district. Opening targeted for infill development.
a dialogue with these groups will help build
an understanding of the dynamics between
VIII. Update subdivision regulations
development and community services holistically. • Subdivision regulations provide a set of rules
for how properties in the Village can be divided
VI. Prepare updated design guidelines for for development. Subdivision regulations
select areas in conjunction with new zoning and attempt to ensure that new development will be
ensure that applicants and reviewing boards are accompanied by adequate services and facilities
familiar with the criteria for developments (i.e. infrastructure, emergency access, and open
• The Village of Menands developed design space). Currently, development projects that
guidelines to improve the quality of projects in the subdivide a lot into fewer than four parcels are
Broadway Corridor. The existing design guidelines not subject to subdivision regulations. This is
offer instructions on lighting, pedestrian circulation, problematic because there are fewer large lots
parking placement, signage, materials, etc. The available to develop, and new development
Village should update the design guidelines in is occurring on a one or two lot basis. As the
tandem with the zoning regulation updates and buildout analysis revealed, if existing lots were
ensure that the guidelines have a well-defined to be divided and sold, a significant amount of
place in project review. This could mean officially development could occur. However, these smaller
adopting updated design guidelines and integrating subdivisions would not be required to consider
them in the zoning, as opposed to their current whether adequate facilities are in place as they
would not be required to go through official
place in a standalone document.
subdivision review. The Village should revisit their
existing subdivision regulations, particularly with
VII. Evaluate minimum parking requirements regards to the minimum number of parcels that
• Menands zoning regulations mandate a minimum trigger official review.
number of parking spaces for each particular use.
In many instances, this results in the overprovision
IX. Evaluate existing Village of Menands Code
of parking. From a user perspective this is not
an issue. For developers, surface parking drives
for extraneous laws and regulations
• Menands was incorporated as a municipality
up the cost of a project considerably. Other
almost 100 years ago. Over the past century, the
municipalities have successfully developed
17 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

Village has adopted local laws as new situations with National Grid to find a creative solution to
arose. There are many laws on the books that are screening this unsightly infrastructure. This may
no longer relevant or are contradictory to newer include solutions such as vegetative screening,
laws. For example, Menands current code contains berms, public art, or attractive fencing.
things like “Chapter 150 Sunday Activities,” which
regulates the time at which baseball games can XI. Coordinate with the City of Albany to moni-
be played, and “Chapter 88 Fire Limits,” a 1934 tor development trends along North Pearl Street
law prohibiting wooden structures within 150
and Broadway
feet of roadways. Over the past decade, many
• Menands' small town feel belies the fact that it is
municipalities have digitized their local laws and,
surrounded by a dynamic and growing region. The
in doing so, they have revealed that old laws are
Village should maintain dialogue with the City of
often layered on top of old ones instead of being
Albany, the Town of Colonie, the City of Watervliet,
neatly integrated into the body of local laws.
and Albany County to stay abreast of development
The Village should recodify all their local laws to
trends.
eliminate redundant, outdated, and contradictory
• Just 10 years ago, North Albany’s “Warehouse
rules. This work could involve the Village Council,
District” was a collection of underutilized factories
the Government Law Center, New York State
and warehouses. Now, there is a critical mass of
Department of State (NYSDOS), and E-Code.
dining and entertainment options that have turned
the district into a destination. This has occurred
X. Work with National Grid to improve the just over the border from Menands and could
present opportunities or challenges for the Village.
aesthetics of the substation located at the Exit 6
The Village should open a dialogue with the City of
offramp with increased buffering and screening Albany’s Planning Department, beyond the 239m
• Over 14,000 cars pass by the power substation
referral process.
at Exit 6 every day. For many, this is the first
impression of the Village. The Village should work
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 18

Transportation Recommendations
Easy access to transportation is an important Village areas of higher population density. Residents of
asset and has served to attract businesses and the multiple apartments along Wards Lane are
residents. Connections to the interstate and railways underserved by pedestrian facilities to connect
support business, and easy access to downtown Albany them to the public transportation available along
allows residents to enjoy a small-town feel while having Broadway. Once the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is
access to big city benefits like entertainment and operational, there will be an increased need to
jobs. For decades, the Village has pursued the goal of provide a safe passage between residences and
increasing the visual appeal of the Broadway Corridor. these transit facilities.
As the most prominent transportation route in the • Develop a sidewalk improvement plan on a three-
Village, it is what most people experience of Menands. to five-year basis. The CDTC developed a sidewalk
The corridor’s current state may result in negative inventory for the Village. Using this digital data
perceptions of the Village that misrepresent the true as a foundation, the Village can develop a more
character of the Village, including its quaint, well-kept robust inventory of needed improvements and
residential neighborhoods that transition to leafy Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance
suburbs as one heads west from Broadway. measures. In other municipalities across the
country, there have been instances of activist
I. Leverage state and federal investments in the lawsuits targeting crumbling sidewalks. Menands
transportation system & work with NYSDOT should take a proactive approach to managing their
• The Broadway Corridor is undergoing a series of sidewalk network to avoid any potential lawsuits
transportation improvements that will increase while simultaneously improving mobility options
residents transportation options and potentially for residents of all ages and abilities. Planning for
beautify the Village and attract businesses. The enhanced ADA accessibility is also referred to a an
Village should explore the zoning techniques of "ADA Transition Plan."
Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and Transit
Supportive Development to spur complementary III. Develop complementary connections to the
commercial and residential development when
Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail along munici-
considering rezoning. TOD and Transit Supportive
Development seek to exploit factors like increased
pal roadways that provide neighborhoods with
densities resulting from a reduction of surface safe and convenient access to the regional trail
parking, increased concentrations of commuters, network
and the attractiveness of transit sites for housing • As the New York State Department of
residents of all ages and abilities, to name but a Transportation (NYSDOT) and CDTC work to
few. The Village should explore participation in improve the regional multi-use trail network, the
the Capital District Transportation Committee Village should seek ways to develop complementary
(CDTC) Linkage program, which specifically local connections to the network. The Mohawk-
targets innovative projects linking land use and Hudson Hike-Bike Trail will be part of the Empire
transportation. State Trail that, once completed, will stretch from
New York City to Canada. By allowing access to and
II. Upgrade and expand sidewalk and pedestri- from this trail throughout the Village, residents will
an network have new and improved recreational opportunities,
• Access to safe and comfortable walking routes is of and the Village can tap into additional economic
great importance to Menands residents. As such, potential generated by out-of-town trail users who
the Village should prioritize sidewalk installation will have more direct access to Village businesses.
along Wards Lane and Broadway, particularly in
19 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

IV. Engage with CDTC, Capital District Transpor- DPW and potentially require an increase in their
tation Authority (CDTA), and Office of General budget. They should be consulted throughout the
adoption process.
Services (OGS) about integrating existing park
and ride facilities into existing CDTA system, as
opposed to current practice of contracting with VII. Develop a comprehensive and detailed
independent transit operators concept plan for the Broadway Corridor, and
• Large areas of surface parking in the southern pursue funding from NYSDOT
portion of the Village are used for park and ride • NYSDOT developed a Road Diet plan for the
facilities, primarily for state workers bound for southern portion of the Broadway Corridor, which
Empire State Plaza. The park and ride facilities are continues south into the City of Albany. To the
not operated by CDTA, which results in redundant north, the Village has implemented additional Road
service and even competition between bus lines. Diet measures. The Village should work to extend
Since these facilities occupy such a large portion these Road Diet plans to the north through the
of the Village, the Village should work with OGS Village Center and the Menands North Districts.
and the CDTA to make sure that the space is used
effectivly and all transit operations are minimally
VIII. Work with CDTA and CDTC to relocate a
disruptive.
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stop closer to the area
around the municipal offices
V. Reconfigure the intersection in front of the • The two BRT stops in the Village are intended
Capital District Regional Market so that there is a to be park and ride facilities located away from
convenient, safe, and obvious entrance the Village Center. As the Village establishes a
• The current roadway configuration leading into discernable center, they should work with the CDTA
the Capital District Regional Market is confusing. to consider relocating a BRT stop to this area. This
Improving this intersection with signage, pedestrian will be a service to residents and could support the
facilities, and possibly an alternative entrance could creation of additional businesses in this portion of
make the Farmers Market a more attractive place the Village.
to shop and do business.

VI. Officially adopt a Complete Streets policy

so that transportation projects include consider-
ation for all users (i.e. pedestrians, cyclists, mass
transit), in addition to automobiles
• The Village Board should adopt a Complete Streets
ordinance to ensure that, during the municipal
decision-making process, the needs of all types
of transportation are at least considered. Beyond
simply adopting an ordinance that requires this
consideration, the next step is to incorporate
Complete Streets concepts into the Village roadway
design standards. Roadway design standards
determine how Village roads are built and
maintained. Local roadway design standards can
also apply to Planned Development Districts and
BusPlus Bus Rapid Transit Stop in the City of Albany
subdivisions. Full commitment to Complete Streets
will most likely increase the responsibilities of the
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 20

Business Retention and Attraction

Recommendations
Residents have expressed a strong desire for new shops, Chamber of Commerce. However, developing a
services, and amenities in the Village. Menands’ central Menands Chamber of Commerce will allow local
location and the availability of space along the Broadway business owners to tackle issues that relate directly
Corridor are marketable assets. “Retail follows rooftops,” to the Village. A Business Association may be able
so to entice retailers like grocery stores, the Village will to fulfil this role, as well. If politically feasible,
need a larger population. Menands touts itself as a consider working with local businesses to establish
“business friendly government” and has a Department a Business Improvement District (BID).
of Economic Partnerships. The Village should continue to • Work with existing businesses to understand
work with the development community to communicate their issues. This is particularly important in the
its vision to investors and the development community. Menands South District, where existing industrial
The following recommendations are intended to help businesses could potentially conflict with residential
the Village achieve their vision to retain and attract development.
businesses.
III. Diligently document, track, and review all
I. Continue to promote Menands as a good place properties receiving 425-a and 425-b tax ex-
to do business emptions
• Develop a portfolio of available properties and • Local tax exemption programs are helpful tools for
distribute them to the development community, achieving economic development goals, but they
including information on zoning, leasable can increase the tax bills of non-exempt taxpayers
square footage, nearby amenities, and available and reduce the ability of the Village to raise enough
infrastructure. This list of “shovel ready” sites revenue for services. Careful and transparent
should be readily available on the Village website. administration of tax exemption programs will
• This may include identifying preferred locations help ensure that these tools are used responsibly.
for cafes, restaurants, and bars. When marketing This includes ensuring proper documentation and
to potential businesses, highlight the number of periodically reviewing tax exemption decisions to
workers that are commuting into the Village daily to ensure that the properties are still eligible.
better attract dining options.
• Menands holds semi-annual “Business Breakfasts,” IV. Develop a façade improvement program to
which have been effective at communicating assist business owners in cosmetic improvements
the Village’s progress and development trends. to their storefronts
The Village should continue holding Business • Façade improvement programs are incentive
Breakfasts, and explore complementary events that programs created to encourage property owners
will expand attendance. and businesses to improve the exterior appearance
• The Village should host periodic "Developers of their buildings and storefronts. The City of
Forums" by inviting a select group of developers to Albany instituted such a program along with the
the Village for an informational session about the Capitalize Albany Corporation and the Albany
Comprehensive Plan and guided tour of targeted Community Development Agency. The Village
redevelopment sites. should pursue the creation of a similar program
for the Broadway Corridor, to improve this corridor
II. Encourage the establishment of Village of that is often visitor's first and/or only impression of
Menands Chamber of Commerce Menands.
• The Village of Menands is a member of the Albany-
Colonie Chamber of Commerce and the Colonie
21 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

V. Engage with the New York State Department of bring the properties back into productive use.
State (NYSDOS) to participate in the Brownfield Since many sites along the Broadway Corridor
Opportunity Area (BOA) program were used for industrial purposes nearly
• The Village of Menands contains various underutilized 100 years ago, potential investors may have
properties, particularly along the Broadway the perception that such sites could contain
Corridor. Brownfields are properties that are environmental issues (e.g. toxic chemicals, fuel
vacant or underutilized because of real or perceived storage tanks, asbestos, etc,). Participating in the
environmental contamination. The BOA process BOA process would allow the Village to take the
allows local governments and other stakeholders to first step in exploring how to make potentially
work together to better understand the condition of contaminated sites redevelopable.
brownfield properties and to develop a strategy to
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 22

Infrastructure Recommendations

Infrastructure is a critical community asset. The Village

of Menand's infrastructure serves primarily residential
uses west of Broadway and more intensive commercial
and industrial uses along the Broadway Corridor. Most
of the Village is still using the original underground
infrastructure installed over 75 years ago. Recent
breaks in the Village’s water and sanitary sewer system,
especially in the southern portion of the Village, indicate
that the systems are approaching the end of their
useful lives. It is likely that the Village will increasingly
need to respond to emergency repairs until the aging
infrastructure is comprehensively repaired or replaced.
If the Village is to achieve its vision for infill development
and the adaptive reuse of underutilized buildings and
vacant sites, there must be adequate infrastructure
in place to support this growth. The interrelationship
between the community’s vision for sustainable
growth and investment in requisite infrastructure
improvements cannot be overemphasized.

I. Develop a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)

• A CIP is a tool that is used to coordinate the
location, timing, and financing of capital
improvements over a multi-year period. A CIP
will provide the Village with a well-considered
approach to investing in infrastructure and other
capital improvements, like land acquisition, major
equipment purchases, and municipal construction.
Generally, a CIP includes a listing of the capital
projects, equipment, and major studies, a ranking
of projects, a financing plan, a timetable for the
construction or completion of the project, a project
justification, and a classification, itemization, and
explanation for the project expenditures . A CIP
will be very important for the Village to attract
development in the Broadway Corridor and to
make informed decisions about what type of
infrastructure to invest in.
• To assist in the development of a CIP, the Village
should continue to utilize Geographic Information
System (GIS) technology to inventory existing
infrastructure and necessary repairs. The Village
has successfully deployed this technology for
inventorying manholes and street trees.
23 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

Quality Report for 2018 shows that 44.3% of

II. Identify sources of Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) all water from the source in Troy is lost in the
and make necessary repairs and replacements transmission and distribution system. This
of existing aging sewer system. inefficiency burdens Village ratepayers and
• Sanitary sewer metering data suggests significant taxpayers. There are water main breaks on a
I&I intrusion in the Village’s sanitary sewer system. regular basis. These emergency (as opposed
I&I is groundwater or surface water that enters to scheduled) repairs cost a significant amount
a sanitary sewer system through pipe cracks, of money. In addition to being inconvenient
breaks, and faulty manhole joints. The I&I results and expensive, they can pose a serious risk to
in increased treatment costs to the Village as the firefighting operations. Recent pipe breaks in the
Village pays Albany County for every gallon of water water and sanitary sewer system throughout the
sent to the wastewater treatment plant, regardless Village, especially in the southern portion of the
if it is stormwater or wastewater. Replacing or Village, indicate that the systems are approaching
repairing aging sanitary sewer infrastructure is a the end of their useful lives. The Village will
priority for the Village. continue to need to respond to emergency
repairs until the aging infrastructure is repaired or
III. Consider expanding the capacity of the trunk replaced.
line to the Albany County Wastewater Treatment
Plant VI. Install water meters at beginning of private
• The Village of Menands transmits wastewater roads and modern meters at residences and
via a trunk line to the Albany County Wastewater business to help evaluate system performance
Treatment Plant. The trunk line could reach • The Village has had a difficult time identifying
capacity if new development occurs and I&I issues the most problematic areas of the water system.
are not addressed. The recommendation to Additional meters would help evaluate the system.
address I&I to the sewer system may reduce the
flow to Albany County’s facility and eliminate the VII. Continue to explore alternative or additional
need for additional trunk line capacity. However, municipal water supply
as the Broadway Corridor is redeveloped and • The Village provides water to users via a
more users are added, the condition of the trunk transmission line that crosses the Hudson River
line will need to be evaluated (condition and from the City of Troy’s Tomhannock Reservoir.
capacity) to ensure that there are no unanticipated The waterline is buried under the bed of the
interruptions in service. river, but this way of transmission is vulnerable
to interruptions and offers no redundancy should
IV. Carefully track the rates and number of users interruptions occur. While there have been no
that are connected to the Village’s sanitary sew- problems with the water source to date, there is
er system significant risk associated with depending on a
• The Village of Menands allows some residential single water source on the other side of the Hudson
areas in the Town of Colonie to utilize Village River. The Village is currently in the process of
maintained sewer lines to send sewage to the determining an alternative source of water that
Albany County Wastewater Treatment Plant on would improve system reliability. One potential
Broadway. The Village of Menands needs to review solution would be to source water from the City of
the terms of this arraignment and track the number Watervliet.
of users on the system to ensure that the costs of
operating and maintaining the sewer system are VIII. Upgrade and repair the Village’s existing
not disproportionately borne by Village taxpayers. pump stations and holding tanks
• The Village of Menands is in the Hudson River
V. Increase water system efficiency and upgrade Valley, and the land of the Village generally slopes
distribution throughout the Village downwards from east to west losing about 250’
• The Village's most recent Annual Drinking Water of elevation along the way. This physical layout
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 24

requires that the Village use a series of pump of various physical elements of the stormwater
stations to push water uphill and holding tanks to management system. The Village should apply
store the water. The pump stations and concrete for grant funding to study how stormwater moves
holding tanks need repair and will need to be through the Village and to assess the condition of
upgraded soon. This includes a concrete water tank existing stormwater infrastructure. Additionally,
at the top of the system that has had a series of the Village should continue to explore ways to
slow leaks. encourage public and private development projects
to incorporate enhanced stormwater management
IX. Reevaluate municipal water rate schedule techniques like green infrastructure.
• Menands residents pay a semi-annual water fee
that assumes a minimum usage. Most users do not XII. Work with NYSDOT and energy providers to
use the minimum amount of water that they are bury overhead wires along Broadway Corridor
paying for. The Village should evaluate the billing • Overhead utility wires are dually problematic in
structure to ensure that all users are paying a fee the Broadway Corridor: low wires impede mobility
that is proportionate to their usage but also large and access for construction vehicles needed to
enough to cover the costs of maintenance and redevelop the vacant sites along the corridor
repairs. and also detract from the visual appeal of the
corridor. Coordination between utility providers
X. Begin strategic full depth repaving of local and the Village will be required if overhead wires
roads are to be buried in an expeditious manner. The
• The Village of Menands is responsible for nearly 24 process for burying underground utilities is lengthy
miles of local roads. Many roads (or their subbase) and expensive, which is why the Village should
were built using old techniques and are not as long start conversations with utility providers sooner
lasting as modern roadway designs. As such, there rather than later. This is particularly important
are many roads that would benefit from full-depth for development projects that require a short
reconstruction. Budget constraints have limited the interval between beginning construction and tenant
Village to asphalt surface treatments. The downside occupancy. The time required by a protracted
of only addressing the top layer of asphalt is that negotiation with utility providers is often far longer
despite the low initial cost, additional repairs will be than a developer will bear. The cost of burying
required at a shorter interval than if a full repaving wires it typically borne by the adjacent property
was performed. As part of the CIP the Village owners in the form of additional fees.
should start identifying the roadways that would
benefit the most from complete overhauls. This will XIII. Explore techniques to reduce redundant
also be an opportunity for the Village to incorporate infrastructure in the south end of the Village
Complete Streets improvements. • In the southern portion of the Village, some of
the roadways were constructed using concrete
XI. Evaluate, repair, and upgrade the Stormwa- slabs as a base. Concrete slab provided durable
ter Management System roadways surface, however as opposed to asphalt
• Stormwater management systems are used to (which is generally used in modern applications)
contain surface water generated by heavy rains concrete complicates the alteration or repair of
and snowmelt that would otherwise run across buried infrastructure. In the southern portion of the
roadways, into storm drains, and potentially Village, there are water and sewer pipes on both
damage sewer systems and natural waterways. The sides of the road, which results in redundancies
Village of Menands encounters frequent flooding and inefficiencies. Modern infrastructure layout
caused by excess stormwater. Flooding in the would allow for one main line, as opposed to the
Broadway Corridor disrupts road transportation two necessitated by a concrete road sub-base.
and threatens businesses and homes. There is
limited knowledge of how stormwater moves
throughout the Village, as well as the condition
25 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

Education Recommendations

The Menands School is an important community move into the district the school will be faced with 50
institution and source of great local pride. Schools are new students. Some residents have expressed concern
also valuable means of attracting potential residents. that new development in the community could result in
The Village should work closely with the school district overcapacity at the school, the need to bus local pupils
to ensure that the district maintains its excellent to adjacent schools, or even trigger district consolidation
reputation. and that this important community institution will be
lost.
The Menands School recently embarked on a major
capital improvement initiative, which resulted in Preventing growth for the sake of maintaining the school
expanded facilities at the existing Menands School. district is not feasible, especially if residents’ desire for
Stakeholders noted that, during the planning increased amenities and services (e.g., a grocery store,
process a discrepancy was discovered between restaurants, and retail) are to be realized. New services
the population projection methods followed by the will generally require new residents.
New York State Education Department (NYSED)
and the actual population dynamics in Menands. Careful coordination between the Village government
NYSED's dated population growth formula does not and Menands School will be required to prevent
take into account the subtleties of growth inducing population growth from outpacing school capacity. The
forces like zoning changes. Because more than timeframe of the school’s capital improvement planning
60% of Menands’ population lives in rental housing, is on a multi-year horizon, while residential development
there is a high degree of population turnover as can occur much faster (hence the need for careful
annual rental leases are renewed. This can result in coordination). The Village will need to communicate
uncertainty about class sizes, which can complicate about pending residential developments so that the
staffing decisions and educational space utilization. school’s capital improvement planning can account for
For example, if 25 families with two children each new growth.
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 26

I. Develop a plan for eventual school expansion II. Open a dialogue with property management
• The Village of Menands’ population is anticipated companies and apartment complexes to track
increase if state and regional trends continue. The the types and numbers units being rented and
school and the Village should maintain a close
developed
dialogue so that the school district is prepared for
• There are several large apartment complexes along
school enrollment increases associated with new
Wards Lane that have hundreds of units each. The
development.
Village and the school should open a dialogue with
• Menands School has more than enough land at the
the property management companies to track the
existing campus to expand their facilities. If planned
appropriately, school expansions can come on line number and mix of tenants. This could help the
just as the population of students and tax-payers school plan for fluctuations in enrollment numbers.
reaches a critical mass so that existing residents
are not unduly burdened by the costs of school III. Market Menands School and the various high
improvements. school options available to Menands residents to
attract and retain residents
• Menands School is top rated by the Albany
Business Review year after year. Schools are a
"A small public school major determining factor in a family’s decision to

district that never locate somewhere, and Menands can leverage the
excellence of their school to attract residents.
centralized with other
schools, Menands Union
Free School District has
been in existence for over
140 years and continues
to be a focal point of our
village community."
~ Menands School District
27 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

Community Services Recommendations

Menands small size allows the Village to provide neighboring municipalities for training or the use of
services (e.g. fire and police) to its residents in a specialized equipment can help the Village retain its
responsive manner. But, as a small community with own emergency services while saving money.
a limited budget, the Village of Menands needs to
continuously explore ways to deliver services effectively II. Consider Mitigation Fees for the purchase of
and efficiently. Ensuring that the Fire and Police new fire equipment as new and larger buildings
Departments remain viable is a matter or public saftey are redeveloped or built
and community pride. • The Village will need to ensure that the existing
emergency service providers have the appropriate
I. The Village will need to continue to work with equipment to service any new developments,
surrounding municipalities and County govern- particularly in areas of the Broadway Corridor
ment to explore joint training opportunities, bulk where large existing buildings may be repurposed
procurement options, etc. for residential use. For example, if a large five story
• As a small municipality, Menands will need to building is proposed, the Village will need a ladder
work with neighboring communities to identify truck capable of reaching the upper floors.
partnerships. Purchasing cooperatives provide
a mechanism to achieve cost reduction for
equipment procurement. Strategic alliances with
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 28

Sustatinability and Resiliency Recommendations

Menands faces challenges from flooding caused (NYSDEC), and the Capital District Regional Planning
by stormwater runoff and potentially the Hudson Commission (CDRPC) can be tapped to provide
River. The Village of Menands has miles of shoreline information about best practices and funding
along the Hudson and, with the river anticipated opportunities. Green infrastructure can result in
to rise significantly by the year 2100, flooding risks considerable cost savings over conventional 'gray'
are also expected to increase. The Village should infrastructure.
strive to ensure that the residences, transportation
systems, infrastructure, and businesses are designed III. Secure funding from NYSDEC Climate Smart
to withstand future flooding events caused by either Community (CSC) Program to implement adap-
increasingly intense storm events or a rising Hudson
tation measures that will make the Village less
River.
flood prone
• The Village should explore utilizing existing
I. Carefully evaluate the preferred types of
wetlands and flood prone areas along the eastern
development in the flood prone areas along the side of Menands as massive green infrastructure
eastern portion of the Village elements. This can include actions like rightsizing
• Large areas of the Village are in areas highly likely culverts to facilitate the flow of water and finding
to flood, and the Village has a Flood Damage ways to increase the natural resiliency of wetland
Prevention Law to ensure that new development areas. The CSC program has specific funding
in flood zones is less damage prone. These streams to undertake these projects. The Village
regulations should continue to be developed and should partner with the CDRPC, which is tasked
enhanced to improve resiliency and stay abreast with connecting communities with this program.
of innovative best practices. As zoning regulations
are updated, the Village should work to smoothly IV. Participate in CSC program to leverage grant
integrate flood resiliency considerations, as
funding for efficiency projects that limit green-
opposed to having a standalone document.
house gas emissions and result in municipal cost
II. Explore green infrastructure options to miti- savings
• In addition to the above-mentioned adaptation
gate flooding risks along the Broadway Corridor
initiative, the CSC program provides resources to
• Flooding is a persistent problem in the Broadway
municipalities seeking to explore ways to reduce
Corridor, and the Village will need to continue to
greenhouse gas emissions. Menands does not
explore innovative green infrastructure techniques
need to participate in this project purely for
to prevent disruptions caused by flooding. The
altruistic reasons. Municipalities participating in
Albany Stormwater Coalition, the New York State
the CSC program realize considerable cost savings
Department of Environmental Conservation
via municipal energy audits, energy efficiency
upgrades, and municipal fleet upgrades. Other
municipalities have realized considerable savings
by actions as simple as converting street lights
from incandescent bulbs to LED. In other cases,
municipalities have tackled larger issues, like
municipal composting and biogas projects.

On right, green infrastructure in planted median to cap-

ture stormwater runoff
29 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

Parks and Open Space Recommendations

Parks and open space are huge amenities for existing II. Explore ongoing support for regional trails
residents and can serve to attract new residents and (maintenance of connections to Mohawk-Hud-
are crucial to the quality of life in the Village. The Village son Bike-Hike Trail)
should continue to improve existing facilities and • State and federal funding is being utilized to
develop new parks. Community input shows strong connect Menands to the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-
support for community amenities like a dog park, Hike Trail, but there is not a dedicated funding
community garden, and additional picnic areas. stream for routine maintenance (plowing, removing
obstructions, etc.). The Village should develop the
in-house capacity and equipment to maintain multi-
use trails. Staff and leadership should consider
coordinating with other municipalities that have
existing multi-use trail maintenance programs to
learn about their techniques.

III. Utilize new access point to Mohawk-Hudson

Bike-Hike Trail to establish picnic area/passive
recreation space along bike trail
• Residents of Menands have limited access to the
Ganser-Smith Memorial Park Hudson River, despite having over two miles of
river shoreline. While Menands will have improved
riverfront connections via the planned multi-use
I. Ensure that all neighborhoods have sufficient trail from the Riverview Center area, the Village
access to parks and open space should advocate to NYSDOT to establish a trailside
• The Village should continue to improve Ganser- park where residents could relax and enjoy views of
Smith Memorial Park, Polk Switzer Park, Sage the Hudson River.
Estates, and the portion of the Mohawk-Hudson
Bike-Hike Trail that traverses the Village.
IV. Evaluate feasibility of a community pool or
Improvements to park entrances and wayfinding
ice rink
will encourage residents to utilize these
• Residents indicated a strong desire for additional
greenspaces.
community recreation facilities. The Village should
• With the exception of the Mohawk-Hudson
explore the feasibility of establishing a facility that
Bike-Hike Trail, existing community parks are
could meet both recreational and community
all on the western side of Broadway, but if new
needs.
residents and developers are to be attracted to
Broadway, an adequate amount of green space
V. Utilize space between Broadway and the
will need to be provided to make the corridor
Hudson River as potential recreation/outdoor
more appealing. Pocket parks, as well as larger
recreation area. Leverage the existing undevel-
green spaces, will need to be introduced along
opable wetlands as community amenity (See
the predominantly industrial corridor. The Village
also “Sustainability & Resiliency Recommenda-
should start exploring where potential parks
could be established, and, as new development
tions”)
• The “Menands Nature Area Feasibility Study” (2008),
occurs, recreation fees could be used to offset the
prepared with funding from the NYSDOT Quality
acquisition and improvement of parkland.
Communities Program, outlines a plan to utilize
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 30

wetlands and natural areas between Broadway the City of Watervliet is actively improving their
and Interstate 787 for recreation and education. on-street portion of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-
The plan calls for a series of trails and educational Hike Trail. The Village of Menands should explore
amenities in the 150-acre area behind the Capital ways to connect to surrounding municipalities’ trail
District Regional Market. networks so that Menands residents have access
to a wider range of recreational and practical
VI. Continue to integrate trails and parks plan- transportation options.
ning • Schuyler Flatts Cultural Park, while not in the Village
• The Village should take a comprehensive approach of Menands, it still an amenity for Village residents.
to parks planning and perform an overall The Village should explore opportunities to support
examination of needs, much like the recommended improvements to this park, even if only as simple
CIP for municipal infrastructure. Additionally, when as a letter of support for grant applications or
considering park improvements, access to the assistance with upkeep on the southern edge of the
parks from the surrounding neighborhoods should facility.
also be considered. This could include bike and
pedestrian facilities. X. Continue to develop a robust tree inventory
and urban forestry management plan
VII. Legitimize trail connection by Village One • Trees provide environmental, social and even
Apartments and Schuyler Flatts Park economic benefits to a community. Recognizing
• Village One Apartments (on the northern edge this, the Village of Menands has used mobile GIS
of the Village) is a densely populated multi- devices to create a robust tree inventory. With the
family residential development, with a greater right management plan, this inventory will allow
proportion of residents that do not have access the Village to determine planting cycles, address
to private automobiles, instead relying on public invasive species, and perform routine maintenence
transportation, walking, and biking to get around. in a strategic manner. The Village should continue
While Village One is adjacent to Schuyler Flatts Park to participate in the NYSDEC's Urban and
and the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail, which are Community Forestry program.
a huge amenity to residents, currently the spur trail
leading to the apartments is unpaved and not fully
connected. The Village should consider facilitating
an arrangement so that there is a safe connection
between the apartments and the parks.

VIII. Upgrade and repair the infrastructure in

Ganser-Smith Memorial Park so that it can con-
tine to facilitate community activities
• Ganser-Smith Memorial Park is in need of serious
septic repairs. The Village should pursue grant
funding or allocate budget to make these necessary
repairs.

IX. Coordinate with City of Watervliet and Town

of Colonie to develop trail connections and en-
hance open space
• The Town of Colonie and City of Watervliet are each Schulyer Flatts Park
pursuing bike and pedestrian plans. The Town of
Colonie launched the “Pathways Plan” in 2019, and
31 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

Housing Recommendations
As a bedroom community, quality housing is a defining single-family neighborhoods. Diligent enforcement
characteristic of the Village. There is a larger quantity of building and property codes and communication
multi-family units in the Village, but the primary housing with neighborhood groups will help the Village
type by land use is detached single-family dwellings. retain their single-family neighborhoods.
The highest concentration of multi-family housing is
clustered in the area around Wards Lane. II. Develop multi-family housing (including mar-
ket rate housing for young professionals and
Regionally there has been an explosion of one-bedroom
downsizing Baby Boomers) in the Broadway
and studio apartments catering to young professionals
and downsizing Baby Boomers. According to developers, Corridor in such a way that preserves communi-
the demand for larger, multi-bedroom apartments has ty character
been lackluster. Most new single-family housing in the • Most new apartments in the Capital District are
region is being developed elsewhere in the region where studios or one-bedrooms. As indicated by the
easy highway access and greenfield sites allow for large Committee, this type of housing is less likely to
subdivisions. have an impact on the school district and should
be encouraged until the Village establishes a long-
The adaptive reuse of existing urban structures like term plan for synchronizing population growth with
warehouses and factories has been a successful model school expansion.
for many regional housing developers. On the southern
edge of the Village, a vacant brick structure was III. Work with not-for-profit housing providers to
converted into The Lofts at Albany International, a multi- develop housing for mixed-age and mixed-in-
family development with over 100 luxury apartments come populations in walkable locations with
this is an excellent example of an adaptive reuse project.
access to transit and adequate public facilities
• Providing housing for a wide range of lifestyles
Throughout the planning process, the Committee
and incomes will allow the Village of Menands to
has debated the need to balance the regional trend
support a diverse population. As the population
towards larger apartment buildings with the desire to
ages and housing becomes more expensive overall,
maintain a small-town feel. Reuse of sites along the
there will be a need for housing that is physically
Broadway Corridor is attractive to the Village because it
and economically accessible. National and regional
would reactivate the area, but even a few hundred new
trends indicate that the market, if left alone, will
residents can feel like a lot in a Village with a population
not necessarily provide housing products for the
of approximately 4,000.
entire population. Fortunately, there are many
not-for-profit organizations that can navigate the
I. Encourage development and retention of sin- complexities of federal and state tax benefits to
gle-family homes provide quality housing for people of all incomes
• While there is limited space for single-family and abilities. If the Village takes a proactive
housing, residents have indicated a desire to approach to identifying local housing needs
develop more single-family homes. This type of and connecting preferred not-for-profit housing
housing should be encouraged in existing single- developers with available sites, it is more likely that
family neighborhoods where it will not be out of the Village will be able to provide for residents at all
character with some of the larger commercial and life stages. This includes housing that is affordable
industrial properties found along the Broadway to young families, as well as seniors on fixed
Corridor. incomes. The Broadway Corridor is an excellent
• The Village should monitor the stability of existing location for this type of housing.
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 32

Quality of Life Recommendations

The Village should strive to provide a high quality of work is ongoing, but the need for a grocery store
life to all residents regardless of age, ability, or income. persists. The Village should continue to develop an
This includes access to open space, fresh healthy food, attraction strategy. This includes identifying and
arts and cultural programming, services for an aging marketing potential sites, offering incentives, and
population, and community-building activities. Residents continuing to engage with community stakeholders.
are proud of the ‘small town feel’ of the Village, and
Menands should continue to foster that feeling as the III. Establish a long-term location for a farmers
community grows. Included in these Quality of Life market
recommendations are strategies to improve food access • Farmers markets provide access to healthy food,
in the Village, in addition to these recommendations the attract visitors, and offer a place for residents to
Village should also pursue the options outlined in the gather and socialize. As opposed to a conventional
"Improving Local Food Accessibility within the Village of grocery store, a farmers market can be far easier
Menands," a technical assistiance report prepared by for a municipality help establish.
the Captial District Regional Planning Commission. • The Village should re-establish dialogue with the
Capital District Regional Market and explore the
I. Establish a recognizable Village Center around possibility of a public-private partnership that
the existing Village offices and Fire Department would allow the Village and Capital District Regional
or at the location of the Mid-City Shopping Cen- Market to leverage grant opportunities for facility
ter. Each location presents opportunities improvements.
• The residents of Menands have a strong desire • The Village should identify preferred sites in the
for an identifiable community center. In the past, Village for an indoor-outdoor farmers market
Menands drew residents from the surrounding that could also include space for educational and
region with the Al-Tro Park, then the Mid-City Park community programming. This could include a
and Hawkins Stadium. Today, the Village lacks an vacant storefront, a municipally owned plot of land,
identifiable center. By utilizing time honored urban or even a parking lot.
design techniques, the Village can foster a ‘sense
of place.’ Continuing to develop attractive signage, IV. Work with Capital Roots to identify appropri-
establishing gateways to define separate districts, ate locations for community gardens
fostering walkability, and providing community • Capital Roots provides technical assistance to
spaces will contribute to Menands’ Village identity. communities interested in establishing community
gardens. Generally, these areas need to be vacant
II. Continue to explore opportunities to attract a and municipally owned and have access to a
grocery store to the Village water source. Community gardens are also an
• Due to recent grocery store closures, residents of excellent way to bring diverse populations together.
Menands do not have any local grocery shopping Engaging existing neighborhood groups and
options in the Village. Residents are required to members of the rental community will be crucial
travel to a different municipality to buy food. In to the success of this effort. In the City of Hudson,
2019, a resident committee was formed to address NY, a community garden established on a cast off
the issue of a lack of a grocery store. The group piece of land has blossomed into a melting pot for
quickly realized that attracting a conventional residents who come from all over the world.
grocery store to the Village is a complicated and
challenging effort requiring sustained effort. The V. Maintain the integrity of the Village’s existing
Village enlisted the help of the CDRPC to study and historic districts (Menand Park Historic District,
bring attention to the issue in 2019. The CDRPC's
33 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

Sage Estates, Albany Rural/St. Agnes Cemetery) Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation all have
and evaluate other neighborhoods for inclusion grant programs that the Village could utilize to
• The Village could become a Certified Local celebrate the Village's unique history.
Government and take better advantage of state VII. Establish community space for education,
grant funding programs targeting historic sites events, or other programming
and districts. The Village can also work directly • Programming community spaces with art displays,
with neighborhood associations and facilitate events, markets, etc. is an excellent way to build
historic preservation workshops so that owners community. The Village has various outdoor parks
of historic homes can gain a greater appreciation that allow for public gathering in warmer weather,
of their properties and connect with other historic but there are fewer places to gather in bad weather
homeowners. or in the winter months. The Village should explore
locations for a community space that can be
VI. Celebrate the Village’s history with interpre- programmed for a variety of purposes.
tative signage along walking and bike routes • The newly located Town Hall provides excellent
and in the Village Center, and improved linkages space for housing various offices and departments,
but it lacks a space suitable for a larger public
to Albany Rural Cemetery to help build a “sense
meeting. Establishing a multi-purpose community
of place”
space would address this need.
• Signage can both orient and inform. The Village
recently launched a signage program that highlights
residents who have served in the armed forces.
VIII. Consider the needs of an aging population,
This project has been well received, and the Village especially accessibility within the physical envi-
should continue to develop additional signage ronment and medical facilities
programs. Digital imaging and printing technologies • Demographers are forecasting a “Silver Tsunami”
are becoming more affordable, requiring only a as Baby Boomers shift from late working age to
modest budget for such efforts. full retirement. There will be a massive demand for
• There are various state programs and agencies age-friendly services and facilities that the Village
that can provide technical and financial support will need to cater to in order to ensure that long-
for things like heritage tourism and interpretation. term residents can remain productive members of
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, the the community into old age.
Hudson River Valley Greenway, and the Office of
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 34

P L A N I M P L E M E N TAT I O N

The purpose of a Comprehensive Plan is to establish a community vision and identify the
actions necessary to pursue that vision.

Many of the recommendations outlined in the Comprehensive Plan will take years to
fully realize. They will also require grant funding. Pursuing regional, state, and federal
grants requires patience and a keen awareness of timing. The grant cycle can work on
a semi-annual, yearly, or even decade long cycle. There are also sequencing issues to
consider. For example, there are many grants that require municipalities to take part
in the initial program in order to apply for funding in subsequent years. In addition,
new Village Board members and volunteers replace old ones. Maintaining a realistic
expectation for how much work can be done over time is critical to the plan’s success.
35 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

STEP 1: priorities according to changing • Hudson River Valley Greenway

conditions or the availability of grant (HRVG)
ORGANIZE
The first step of implementing funding. • Capital Region Chamber of
the plan involves reconvening Commerce
STEP 3: DEVELOP AND
the Comprehensive Plan Committee • Capital Region Economic
to assist with the development of an LEVERAGE PARTNER- Development Council (CREDC)
Implementation Committee. The Vil- SHIPS • University at Albany's Masters
lage Board should officially appoint Compared to the surrounding in Regional Planning program
the Implementation Committee
municipalities of Colonie (pop. • The Capital District Regional
and task them with developing an
organizational strategy and meet- 83,591), Albany (pop. 98,251), Market
ing schedule. It is recommended and Watervliet (10,131), Menands
is a small community. As such,
that the proposed Implementation STEP 4:
Committee be composed of citizens, there is limited budget for full-
time professional staff to address
PURSUE FUNDING
business representatives, communi- As a smaller community, the Village
ty organizations, and elected offi- municipal issues. Partnering with
as a limited amount of funding to
cials that can stay engaged with the other municipalities and regional
pursue all of the recommendations
Village’s future beyond the routine entities could help Menands take
of this plan. However, certain grant
functions of government. Holding advantage of grant programs, share
programs require smaller cash
Implementation Committee meet- technical expertise, and exchange
matches, while some grants can
ings as a separate function from the ideas. The Village will need to ensure
be matched using local volunteer
Village Board of Trustees meetings their representation at meetings of
efforts or even funding from a
will allow for a more open dialogue regional groups and stay abreast of
different source (i.e. matching a
in a format more suited to tackling opportunities to partner on projects
state grant with a federal grant). See
community development issues. An and grant applications.
"Funding Sources" for a detailed
additional benefit of an appointed The following organizations have
overview of some of the grant
Implementation Committee is that objectives and missions that may
dovetail with the Village’s vision for opportuniteis available to the Village.
members do not necessarily turn-
over with every election cycle, which the future:
allows for the continuity required to FUNDING SOURCES
pursue long range plans and proj- • Capital District Transportation Grant funding from state agencies
Committee (CDTC) is the most reliable source of
ects.
• Capital District Regional funding available to New York State
STEP 2: Planning Commission (CDRPC) municipalities. The CFA process
PRIORITIZE • Capital Roots opens every spring, and applications
The Implementation Committee will • Albany County are due at the end of July. To take
need to work with the Village Board • Town of Colonie
(and possibly the proposed Planning
Board) to evaluate the recommen-
dations of the Comprehenisve Plan
and assign a priority level to each.
Recommendations can be assigned
priority on the basis of feasibility (i.e.
low cost and within local capacity
vs. high cost and highly technical
knowledge required) and timing (i.e.
short, medium, or long term). The
Implementation Committee should
also periodically revisit and adjust
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 36

advantage of grant opportunities via

the CFA process, the Village will need
to be appropriately prepared to
start drafting applications, reaching
out to elected officials for letters of
support, and passing resolutions in
support of projects.

The following section provides

an overview of some of the grant
programs that the Village could
pursue.

• Priority Project Funding

with the CREDC: With a Component, including a or planning for such projects.
Comprehensive Plan, Menands watershed management plan; The Historic Preservation
will be well-positioned to take a updating an LWRP to mitigate grant is for the acquisition,
more active role in petitioning future physical climate risks; improvement, protection,
for their projects on a regional implementing an LWRP or a preservation, rehabilitation,
scale. As part of the CFA completed LWRP Component; or restoration of properties
process, Regional Economic and improving public listed on the State or National
Development Councils (REDCs) waterfront access for canal Register of Historic Places and
may identify priority projects communities. This program for structural assessments and/
that align with their respective helps communities breathe or planning for such projects.
economic development plan. If new life into their waterfronts • Empire State Development
the REDC identifies a project as and underused assets in ways (ESD): ESD has several grant
a priority for the region, there is that ensure successful and programs that together make
a greater likelihood of receiving sustainable revitalization. available $150 million of capital
funding. There is a separate • New York State Office grant funding for the Regional
priority project application that of Parks, Recreation and Economic Development
is included in the CFA process. Historic Preservation Council Initiative. Capital grant
• NYSDOS Local Waterfront (OPRHP): The EPF Grants funding is available for capital-
Revitalization Program Program provides matching based economic development
(LWRP): NYSDOS’s LWRP, grants on a competitive basis projects intended to create or
funded under Title 11 of the for the acquisition, planning, retain jobs; prevent, reduce,
Environmental Protection and development of parks, or eliminate unemployment
Fund (EPF), provides matching historic properties, and and underemployment; and/or
grants on a competitive basis heritage areas located within increase business or economic
to eligible villages, towns, the physical boundaries of the activity in a community or
cities, and counties located State of New York. The Parks region.
along New York’s coasts or grant is for the acquisition, • NYSDOS BOA: NYSDOS’s BOA
designated inland waterways development, and planning of Program provides communities
for planning, design, and parks and recreational facilities with guidance, expertise, and
construction projects to to preserve, rehabilitate, financial assistance (up to 90
revitalize communities and or restore lands, waters, or percent of the total eligible
waterfronts. Grant categories structures for park, recreation, project costs) to complete
include preparing or updating or conservation purposes and BOA Nomination Plans, which
an LWRP; preparing an LWRP for structural assessments and/ are revitalization strategies
37 VILLAGE OF MENANDS

Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, tradition of home rule for land

for neighborhoods or areas and Saratoga. The program use decision making. HRVG
affected by brownfields or implements the planning grant programs are released
economic distress. principles of CDTC’s New Visions at various times throughout
• NYSDOS Local Government 2040 regional transportation the year, independent from
Efficiency (LGE) Grants: The plan, which states that the the CFA process. These grants
LGE Grant program assists region’s quality of life, mobility, are less competitive than
local leaders in identifying best and economic vitality are CFA grant programs due
practices and implementation dependent upon improved local to eligibility requirements
actions focused on reducing land use planning and better based on proximity to
municipal expenditures, integration of land use and the Hudson River and key
limiting the growth in transportation decisions. cultural and historic sites.
property taxes, and increasing • Dormitory Authority (DASNY) The Village of Menands could
efficiencies in service delivery. State and Municipal (SAM) explore funding through
Projects can include local Capital Program: DASNY the Conservancy Trail
government reorganization, administers SAM Grants Grants program in order to
functional or service delivery awarded by the Senate Finance strengthen connections to
consolidation, cooperative Committee, the Assembly Ways Mohawk-Hudson Hike Bike
service agreements, and the and Means Committee, and the Trail and between existing
establishment of regional Executive. This flexible funding community assets like
service delivery mechanisms. is used for a variety of capital parks, schools, and cultural
• New York Main Street projects. attractions (e.g. Albany Rural
(NYMS) Program: The NYMS • Environmental Facilities Cemetery).
program is administered Corporation (EFC) Green • New York State Department
by the Office of Community Innovation Grant Program of Agriculture and Markets
Renewal (OCR) under the (GIGP): GIGP provides grants on (NYSDAM): NYSDAM
direction of the Housing a competitive basis to projects provides a variety of grants
Trust Fund Corporation that improve water quality and and technical assistance to
(HTFC). NYMS funds are implement green stormwater municipalities, not-for-profits,
awarded to units of local infrastructure in New York State. farmers, and food markets to
government and not-for- GIGP is administered by the New support and encourage the
profit organizations that are York State EFC. Grants cover a viability of agriculture in New
committed to revitalizing minimum of 40% and up to a York State. Many of their grant
historic downtowns, mixed- maximum of 90% of the eligible programs focus on connecting
use neighborhood commercial project costs, as estimated in the producers to consumers
districts, and village centers. application. A match from state and supporting educational
NYMS grants are available for or local sources for the balance is outreach. The Village should
technical assistance projects or required. consider pursuing funding
targeted improvements, such • Hudson River Valley Greenway from NYSDAM programs to
as facade renovations, interior (HRVG) Community Grants, support the CDRPC report,
commercial and residential Conservancy Trail Grants, "Improving Local Food
building renovations, and and National Heritage Area Accessibility within the Village
streetscape enhancement Grants: HRVG is a state agency of Menands." Grants are
projects. that assistswith the development accessed via the "Grants
• CDTC Linkage Program: of voluntary regional strategies Gateway" as opposed to the
CDTC’s Linkage Program for preserving scenic, historic, CFA portal and have different
provides integrated land use cultural and recreational application cycles.
and transportation planning resources while encouraging
assistance to communities compatible economic
within the four counties of development and maintaining a
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 38
VILLAGE OF MENANDS