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Potsdam planning director seeks support for $10 million grant; public input to be sought Saturday, Tuesday

Posted 5/11/18

By CRAIG FREILICH POTSDAM -- Village Planning and Development Director Fred Hanss appeared briefly at the Town Council meeting May 8 to ask for statements of support to include in the village’s …

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Potsdam planning director seeks support for $10 million grant; public input to be sought Saturday, Tuesday

Posted

By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM -- Village Planning and Development Director Fred Hanss appeared briefly at the Town Council meeting May 8 to ask for statements of support to include in the village’s application for a $10 million grant in state Downtown Revitalization Initiative funds.

Village officials will seek support from the local business community and the general public at a morning meeting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 12 at the Clarkson Inn, 1 Main St.

Another public information meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 in the board room at the Civic Center.

Hanss requested letters from town board members and specifically from department heads who support the application, addressed to Mayor Ron Tischler, that will go in the grant application package, which is due June 1.

And a resolution of support from the board was adopted by the council on a 3-0 vote.

Hanss spoke of one aspect of the revitalization project, “a pretty dramatic streetscape” plan, that would include a traffic circle at the intersection of Market, Main and Maple streets, that he believes would “increase the flow of traffic” there.

It would include a “mountable curb” at the center which would allow larger vehicles to navigate the circle.

The plan also includes new lighting for the downtown Historic Preservation District and development of a whitewater park just below the East Dam.

Hanss said he is continuing to meet with interested groups to be certain the application includes the desires of as many people as possible.

The DRI application is for the $10 million award destined for a municipality in each of the 10 Economic Development Council regions. In the North Country Region, Plattsburgh won the award two years ago, and Watertown last year, with Potsdam finishing second.

Hanss wants very much for Potsdam to win this year.