The Department of Planning and Sustainability is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. Please call 607-274-5560 or email the department if you would prefer to schedule an appointment. Thank you!
Welcome!
This is the official website for the Tompkins County Department of Planning and Sustainability. On this site you will find valuable information about planning for Tompkins County’s future, as well as ongoing programs administered by the Department. The menu to the right will help you learn about the Department and our activities. You can find a brief Snapshot of the County.
What We Do
The Department of Planning and Sustainability primarily works to implement the Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan, which presents a long-term vision for the future of the community. Please follow the Comprehensive Plan link on the right for more information.
Many of the Department’s specific work activities have been identified in a series of short-term strategies for working toward achieving the Comprehensive Plan’s vision. These strategies have been prepared to address housing, land conservation, energy, tourism, and development. More about these strategies can be found by following the links on the right.
How We Do It
The Department informs and involves the general public, key stakeholders, and other organizations in the development of planning programs. We also strive to collaborate with others on projects and programs and apply the highest standards of professional planning practices and techniques.
Who We Are
The Department is led by Katherine Borgella, AICP, Commissioner of Planning and Sustainability, who oversees the 14-person department and all of its activities. Follow the Staff link on the right to learn more about our team.
Snapshot of Tompkins County
Tompkins County is located in Upstate New York. It is a largely rural county of forest and agriculture, with the largest of the Finger Lakes, Cayuga Lake, dominating the landscape. The county seat is Ithaca with its world-renowned Cornell University and Ithaca College and there are several vibrant villages and hamlets located within the 315,000 acres that is Tompkins County.
In 2010, we had a population of 101,564 with about 59% living in the Ithaca urbanized area, which includes the City of Ithaca, much of the town of Ithaca, and parts of the towns of Lansing and Dryden. Population growth in the county has been slow but steady, averaging 0.5% annually for the last 30 years.
As a college town, Tompkins County’s economy, housing market, and population are closely tied to the three institutions of higher education: Cornell University, Ithaca College, and Tompkins Cortland Community College. Total enrollment at all three colleges is nearly 30,000 students. Students account for 30% of the county’s total population and 60% of the City of Ithaca’s population.
The County offers a diverse living environment – with a mixture of urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. The City of Ithaca has a population of 30,000 persons. The Villages of Lansing and Cayuga Heights are also located within the urbanized portion of the County. Four other villages and numerous hamlets are located within the rural portions off the county. About 30% of the county is considered agricultural, with about 80,000 acres of actively farmed lands.
Tompkins County contains spectacular natural features. There are approximately 26 miles of shoreline on Cayuga Lake punctuated by many picturesque gorges and numerous waterfalls. The southern portion of the County is dominated by rugged hills and the northern portion is flatter with excellent agricultural soils. With its varied topography and landforms, the county contains a number of interesting ecological communities, including streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, meadows, fens, forests, swamps, and cliffs.