We, the undersigned residents of Clifton Park, NY are asking for the opportunity to provide direct input at all phases of the planning process to ensure a more transparent and effective planning review process.

The Town of Clifton Park Planning Board recently recognized the value of public input by adding the opportunity for the public to comment on active development applications at the end of each Planning Board meeting. While this is a step forward, it is not the most effective approach to receiving comments on projects before the board.

In order to be most impactful, the public needs the opportunity to comment during the meeting at the time each proposal is presented – not at the end of the meeting. Public comments left to the end of the Planning Board meeting may not be heard by the applicant, as they usually leave as soon as they have made their presentations. Likewise, the Planning Board needs to hear the public’s comments immediately following each proposal while the details are fresh, in order to best consider all the information that the public and the applicant provide.  The citizens and taxpayers of the Town of Clifton Park are the third partner in planning decisions that affect the quality of life in our town, along with project applicants and the Planning Board. 

We are asking that the public be allowed to speak at the time an applicant is presenting their plan to the Planning Board as had been the Board’s prior practice. This approach can only increase transparency in the planning process, improve decision making and foster the public’s trust and confidence in our local government.