Crystal Welsh, a consultant with Avon Marsh, presented a directed land‑use study of the 1300 North corridor — roughly the area between Syracuse and Milford — that identifies locations for potential industrial and residential growth and recommends how the county and towns might guide future development.

The study, commissioned by the county’s redevelopment commission, followed an iterative process that included four to five steering‑committee meetings, interviews with local businesses and real‑estate professionals, and a public engagement meeting on Oct. 31 attended by about 13 people, Welsh said. The consultant said the study seeks a middle ground between no development and full build‑out and emphasizes practical constraints such as road infrastructure, wetlands and flood plains.

Key recommendations included:
- Reserving about 1,000 acres for industrial development, with industrial sites chosen to be on paved roads and to avoid wetlands and flood‑prone areas;
- Identifying additional residential capacity, including single‑family and higher‑intensity residential near Syracuse town limits and mixed‑use opportunities in targeted locations;
- Avoiding recommending industrial use on unpaved roads to limit the need for major roadway upgrades.

Welsh said the redevelopment commission is the adopting body for the study; she expects the commission to consider the plan at its Nov. 14 meeting and said county planning staff may later consider whether the study should be adopted as an amendment to the county comprehensive plan next year. "We think we've done a pretty good job in going through a very, thoughtful process of identifying development areas for this section of the county," Welsh said.

Why it matters: The study provides a focused blueprint for potential industrial expansion and higher‑density residential growth in areas the county and nearby towns have identified as potential growth zones. The emphasis on paved access and environmental constraints is intended to limit unplanned infrastructure costs for the county.

Next steps: The redevelopment commission is scheduled to consider the study on Nov. 14; the county planning commission and county council will be briefed as the redevelopment commission and planning staff decide whether to pursue a formal amendment to the county’s comprehensive plan.