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Coastal Lakeshore Economy and Resiliency initiative

The CLEAR initiative supports local communities along Lake Ontario, the lower Niagara River and the upper St. Lawrence River with the development of comprehensive resiliency strategies and plans to institute critical long-term protective measures and strengthen existing investments. Participation in the planning process reflected the socio-economic and geographic diversity of the regions, including vulnerable and under-served populations. Final CLEAR Plans include both regional strategies and recommendation for local actions. 

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Coastal communities are divided by county into five CLEAR regions:  

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  1. Niagara and Orleans

  2. Monroe

  3. Wayne

  4. Cayuga and Oswego

  5. Jefferson and St. Lawrence

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Each region produced its own CLEAR Plan through this initiative with the support of NYS agency partners and a team of professional planning consultants.  

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Niagara and Orleans CLEAR Study Area 

Niagara and Orleans shoreline study area encompassing flood risk areas including Towns of Kendall, Carlton, Yates, Somerset, Newfane, Porter, Wilson, Lewiston, Niagara; Villages of Wilson, Youngstown, Lewiston; City of Niagara Falls

Steering Committee

  • Jason Haremza, Senior Planner, Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council

  • James Bensley, Director, Orleans County Planning Department

  • Darlene Hartway, Director, Orleans County Chamber of Commerce

  • Katie Sommerfeldt, Manager, Orleans County Soil & Water Conservation District

  • Michael Casale, Commissioner, Niagara County Center for Economic Development

  • Mark Seider, District Engineer, Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District

  • Bruce Newell, Town Board, Town of Kendall

  • Doyle Phillips, Supervisor, Town of Wilson

  • Steve Broderick, Supervisor, Town of Lewiston

  • Jeffrey Dewart, Supervisor, Town of Somerset

  • Timothy Horanburg, Supervisor, Town of Newfane

  • John "Duffy" Johnston, Supervisor, Town of Porter

  • Eric Cooper, Director of Planning, City of Niagara Falls

  • Jerome Nagy, Chief Executive Officer, Neighbor Works Community Partners Niagara Falls

  • Kerrie Gallo, Deputy Executive Director, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper

  • Amanda Henning, Agricultural Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara Co. Farm & Home Center

  • Andy Sharp, Director, Olcott Yacht Club

CLEAR planning process milestones

CLEAR schedule and milestones: Spring - community profile, asset inventory. Summer - public event #1, risk assessment, needs and opportunities assessment, public event #2. Fall - Long-term vision and strategies, long-term projects, programs, and actions. Winter - Public event #3, project profile development, draft clear plan & presentation, Final CLEAR plan. 2022 - Adopt and implement

CLEAR resources

Meeting Documents 

see events page

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Planning Documents

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News & Announcements

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Steering Committee
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