DRAFT | SEPTEMBER 2026 New York State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) Act Environmental Assessment Narrative In Support of Town of Webster Comprehensive Plan Adoption Introduction The Town of Webster has prepared a Smart Growth Comprehensive Plan titled the Webster 2040 – The Bicentennial Plan: Rooted in History, Growing with Purpose. This plan will guide community planning and decision-making over approximately the next fifteen years through 2040. The Comprehensive Plan will serve as the Town's primary policy document for land use planning, economic development, housing, transportation, environmental protection, and community services. The proposed action under SEQR is the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan by the Webster Town Board. Adoption of a municipal comprehensive plan is classified as a Type I Action under SEQR regulations (6 NYCRR §617.4(b)(1)). The purpose of this narrative is to summarize the environmental review of the proposed action and support the determination that adoption of the Town of Webster Comprehensive Plan will not result in significant adverse environmental impacts. Description of the Action The Comprehensive Plan establishes a long-term vision and framework for balanced growth and development within the Town of Webster, while protecting and preserving the Town’s unique character. The Plan documents existing conditions within the community, identifies goals and objectives for the future, and recommends strategies to guide public investment and private development. Key themes in the Plan include: •
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Fostering a connected, safe, and accessible transportation network through active transportation planning, multi-modal infrastructure improvements, and enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Enhancing parks, recreation facilities, and community services. Building a vibrant local economy by supporting existing industries, attracting new investment, and leveraging major economic development projects. Celebrating and expanding neighborhood living options through housing diversity, infill development, and mixed residential strategies. Protecting natural resources and open space, including the Lake Ontario shoreline, Irondequoit Bay, agricultural lands, and nature preserves. Supporting climate resiliency, sustainability, and green infrastructure strategies.
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DRAFT | SEPTEMBER 2026 The Plan incorporates Smart Growth principles to promote livable, sustainable, and equitable communities that emphasize compact development patterns, efficient infrastructure use, environmental stewardship, and preservation of community character. The Comprehensive Plan updates the Town’s 2008 Comprehensive Plan and reflects more than fifteen years of community change. As a key implementation component of the Comprehensive Plan, the Community Development Strategy establishes a long-term framework to guide the general location, character, and form of future growth throughout the Town. The Strategy identifies broad character areas intended to preserve established neighborhoods, agricultural lands, waterfront resources, parks and open space, while directing future mixed-use, housing, and economic development opportunities to locations with existing infrastructure and services. The Community Development Strategy Map is conceptual in nature and is not a zoning map or regulatory document. It does not authorize development, establish development rights, or approve sitespecific projects. Rather, it provides policy guidance for future municipal decisions and helps ensure that future land use changes are consistent with Smart Growth principles, environmental stewardship, efficient infrastructure utilization, and protection of Webster's natural and community resources. This framework further supports the conclusion that adoption of the Comprehensive Plan is a legislative policy action that, in itself, will not result in significant adverse environmental impacts. Environmental Review Adoption of a comprehensive plan is a legislative policy action and does not itself authorize development or physical alterations of the environment. Instead, it establishes a framework to guide future land use decisions and municipal policies and plans. The Comprehensive Plan does not approve any specific construction projects, infrastructure improvements, or land development activities. Therefore, the adoption of the Plan will not directly result in impacts such as land disturbance, changes to water resources, increased traffic, air emissions, or infrastructure demand. Future projects that may result from implementation of the Plan, including zoning amendments, capital improvement projects, or private development proposals, will be subject to separate, site-specific environmental reviews under SEQR as required. Relationship to Existing Plans The Comprehensive Plan builds on and coordinates with existing local and regional planning initiatives. These include the West Webster Hamlet Revitalization Plan, Reimagine Webster Brownfield Opportunity Area Plan, Monroe County Hazard Mitigation Plan, Parks and TOWN OF WEBSTER | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
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DRAFT | SEPTEMBER 2026 Recreation Master Plan, Irondequoit Bay Harbor Management Plan, the Town of Webster Greenprint and the Town of Webster Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. By considering and integrating these planning efforts, the Comprehensive Plan promotes coordinated growth and investment and encourages the conservation of Webster’s valued natural, agricultural, and community assets. Environmental Benefits In addition to avoiding direct environmental impacts, the Comprehensive Plan includes several policies that balance environmental protection and economic development goals to support sustainable growth: • •
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Protecting the Lake Ontario shoreline, Irondequoit Bay, steep slopes, and water quality through context-sensitive land use policies in waterfront and rural residential areas. Preserving open space and agricultural lands through conservation subdivision design, coordination with County agricultural programs, and support for conservation easements. Protecting mature trees, hedgerows, stream corridors, and ecological resources through site plan review and tree preservation standards. Promoting compact development, infill, and mixed-use patterns that reduce sprawl and leverage investments in existing infrastructure to increase the local tax base. Improving pedestrian, bicycle, and active transportation networks to reduce vehicle dependency and support healthy, accessible communities. Supporting climate resiliency strategies, including green infrastructure for stormwater management, energy efficiency, and preservation of natural systems. Building upon the Town’s established open space preservation efforts, which has preserved hundreds of acres.
These policies are intended to improve the Town of Webster’s environmental quality and support long-term sustainability within the community. Conclusion Based on review of the Comprehensive Plan and the information provided in the Full Environmental Assessment Form, the Town of Webster has determined that adoption of the Comprehensive Plan will not result in significant adverse environmental impacts. The Comprehensive Plan represents a policy framework to guide future decision-making and does not authorize site-specific development. Any future actions that may result in environmental impacts will be subject to additional environmental review under SEQR.
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DRAFT | SEPTEMBER 2026 Therefore, the Webster Town Board has determined that the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment and has issued a Negative Declaration under SEQR.
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