Planning and Development

Duties

The Department of Planning and Development is a dynamic and interdisciplinary office of professionals that apply progressive urban planning practices to preserve and protect neighborhoods, manage and promote adaptive land use, and guide sustainable growth in our community.

In Our Neighborhoods

Planning and Development manages millions of dollars each year in federal, state and private grants-dedicated to community development, historic preservation, and long-range neighborhood stabilization, meeting goals established in Albany 2030, the City's adopted Comprehensive Plan.

Unified Sustainable Development

The City's Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance (USDO), consolidates development-related regulations into a single unified code document for a more consistent, logical, integrated and efficient means to review and encourage development. Click the link here to learn how to use the USDO and zoning related information.

The USDO is administered by the Planning Department in conjunction with the Board of Zoning Appeals, Planning Board, and Historic Resources Commission, which play an essential role in approving development projects, upholding historic preservation, and maintaining land use compliance in our City. Project review is coordinated with other City Departments to ensure site designs and practices are consistent with local, state and federal laws, includes sustainable measures, and creates a positive and compatible reflection of our community form.

Historic Preservation Planning

The City’s new Historic Preservation Plan was coordinated with local stakeholders and residents concerned with the future preservation and maintenance of significant historic and cultural landmarks that contribute to Albany’s sense of place and economic vitality.

The Historic Preservation Plan builds on previous successes and advances a new vision for continuing economic growth and adaptive reuse - integrating Neighborhood character and civic pride with Albany’s historic past. This Historic Preservation Plan also seeks to inspire and motivate existing stakeholder groups and the next generation of preservation advocates in the implementation of future preservation programming.

Read the Historic Preservation Plan (PDF).

Albany 2030 - The City of Albany Comprehensive Plan

Planning and Development is charged with the authority and implementation of Albany 2030, the City’s first Comprehensive Plan.

Thanks to our dedicated residents, businesses, and area stakeholders, this Citywide guidance document is a Vision for the City's future, and a reflection of our community values and priorities.

The final plan was adopted on April 2, 2012.