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1.0 The Vision for the Village of Pittsford

1.1 Introduction

Historically, villages have existed to provide individuals with a sense of community. The physical design of a village fosters social interaction and provides a humane living environment. In the United States the evolution of villages was interrupted by suburbanization, and the accompanying shifts in economic, development and social patterns that occurred in the second-half of the twentieth century. As these changes reorganized American society, many of the traditional functions were removed from cities and villages. Over the last fifty years many villages have decayed, shrunk or disappeared.

Before 1950, the streetscape in most cities and villages was shaped by general design standards, which were unofficially accepted and widely applied. At its best, the pre-automobile street consisted of a walkable comfortable civic space lined with a regular arrangement of building facades designed to express each building's function and the owner's pride. After 1950, the emphasis in both planning and architectural design increasingly emphasized efficiency and the accommodation of vehicular transportation. As the pre-auto planning principles were abandoned, the quality of the civic and pedestrian environment found in most communities declined.

National trends have brought about profound changes in the Village of Pittsford. The formerly rural surrounding Town has become a prosperous suburban community of 27,000 people. The Village is now part of the urbanized area of metropolitan Rochester; its streets have become arteries accommodating thousands of vehicles every day. Service retail has migrated to chain locations in nearby shopping centers while specialty stores and restaurants thrive in the business district.

In the last few years, new challenges have emerged. The growth of traffic volumes funneling through Village streets threatens residents' quality of life as well as the vitality of the commercial core. In particular, the widening of North Main Street and the Four Corners to accommodate greater traffic volume has adversely affected the pedestrian character and general safety of the center of the Village. Changing programmatic needs have prompted the Pittsford Central School District and the Town of Pittsford to consider relocating important community facilities out of the Village. The evolution of regional malls and commercial development of surrounding areas threatens the vibrancy of traditional commercial centers like Pittsford's downtown.

Despite the changes, much remains the same and by most standards Pittsford remains a very successful Village. Real estate values have appreciated at a rate higher than most other local communities; the Village is widely admired for the success of the community's historic preservation efforts; the commercial areas remain vibrant, and the community's important institutional anchors remain located close to the Village core. Historic homes line tree-shaded streets with sidewalks, kids still meet at the Four Corners, a working farm remains on Main Street, people walk to the Community Library and churches, and the Memorial Day Parade marches down Main Street to the cemetery every year. Village residents enjoy a unique quality of life and Town residents share a community anchored by a real downtown. The Comprehensive Plan will guide planning policy to retain and enhance the distinctive identity and character of the Village.

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