Director of Planning and Economic Development for the Town of Greece.“We’re a waterfront community, which is of importance, especially when you mentioned resiliency, that definitely has been a key thing for the town in the last five years. Lake Ontario flooding created major events in terms of being responsive and becoming more resilient.” The geographic diversity of Greece provides unique planning challenges and opportunities. From Eastman Business Park’s heavy industrial sectors to rural residential areas and agriculture, the town encompasses the full spectrum of land uses. Founded in 1822 and named during a period of sympathy toward Greeks fighting for independence from Turkish rule, the town has evolved from its agricultural roots into a modern suburban community. Recent census data confirms Greece’s position as a mature suburban community with a median age of 41.9 years and a predominantly white population (75-82%), though with growing diversity among Black/African American (8-10%) and Hispanic (78%) residents. Nearly 30% of residents are over 55, influencing community planning priorities and recreational offerings. ZONING INNOVATIONS AND BUSINESS GROWTH The 2020 Comprehensive Plan marked a turning point in Greece’s economic development strategy, focusing on four key areas: local economy, housing, infrastructure and technology, and waterfront development. This forward-looking approach has already yielded impressive results with commercial occupancy rates rising from 93.5% to 96.7%, representing over 16.5 million square feet of occupied commercial space. “Prior to 2020, we didn’t have an economic development office per se. We deferred to Monroe County to handle economic development incentives,” Copey explains.“Following the adoption of that comprehensive plan, we broke economic development into two pieces—retail, commercial and industrial aspects. We’ve focused on commercial occupancy, tracking it through a robust database, and we play a more active role now.” 31 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 06 GREECE, NY
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