Canton Grasse River Waterfront Revitalization Plan
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Canton Grasse River Waterfront Revitalization Plan Final January 2010 This Waterfront Revitalization Plan was prepared for the New York State Department of State Division of Coastal Resources with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environ- mental Protection Fund. Canton Grasse River Waterfront Revitalization Plan Waterfront Advisory Committee: David Button, Supervisor, Town of Canton Charlotte Ramsay, Mayor, Village of Canton Joseph Kennedy, President, State University of New York at Canton Baylor Johnson, Director, Outdoor Studies Department, St. Lawrence University Tom Cutter, Grasse River Heritage Corporation Jane Semple, Grasse River Heritage Corporation Staff Assistance: Linda McQuinn, Director, Town and Village of Canton Economic Development Office Special Thanks to: St. Lawrence University Faculty Member, Carol Cady, and GIS Students Adria Bregani, Jose Domingas, Johanna Palmer, for their assistance with GIS Mapping for this project. Linda McQuinn for the use of her photographs of Canton This Waterfront Revitalization Plan was prepared for the New York State Department of State Division of Coastal Resources with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund. TOWN & VILLAGE OF CANTON GRASSE RIVER WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................... 1 Process Used to Develop the Plan ..................................................................................... 1 What Is a Waterfront Revitalization Plan? ....................................................................... 2 Public Participation ............................................................................................................. 3 SECTION I: Waterfront Revitalization Area Boundary ................... 7 North and East of the River ................................................................................................ 7 South and West of the River .............................................................................................. 7 SECTION II: Inventory and Analysis .......................................... 9 A. Regional Settings And Community Characteristics ................................................... 9 B. Historical Background ................................................................................................... 11 C. Existing Water Bodies ................................................................................................... 13 D. Existing Land and Water Uses ..................................................................................... 16 E. Existing Planning Documents and Zoning .................................................................. 23 F. Recreational Resources ................................................................................................ 30 G. Infrastructure ................................................................................................................ 35 H. Historic Resources ........................................................................................................ 38 I. Scenic Resources ............................................................................................................ 42 J. Topography and Geology .............................................................................................. 44 K. Flooding and Erosion ..................................................................................................... 47 L. NYS Significant Fish and Wildlife Habitat ................................................................. 48 M. Important Agricultural Lands ...................................................................................... 51 N. Environmental Issues .................................................................................................... 53 O. Navigation and Dredging Issues .................................................................................. 57 SECTION III: Vision Statement and Planning Principles ................ 59 SECTION IV: Land & Water Goals, Initiatives & Projects .............. 61 SECTION V: Implementation Strategy ..................................... 79 Waterfront Access and Recreation ................................................................................. 79 Economic Development ..................................................................................................... 81 Land Management Techniques ......................................................................................... 82 Community Character and Historic Preservation ......................................................... 86 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS Implementation Matrix ...................................................................................................... 87 APPENDIX A: Sample Waterfront Overlay District ...................... 96 APPENDIX B: Sample Waterfront Development District ............. 102 APPENDIX C: Conservation Subdivision ................................. 108 APPENDIX D: Sample Building Improvement Guidelines ............. 121 APPENDIX E: Partners in Waterfront Revitalization .................. 141 REFERENCES .................................................................. 155 MAPS Hydrography Landuse Zoning Recreation Scenic Resources Infrastructure Steep Slopes Surface Geology Projects and Uses Proposed Zoning Techniques INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION The Grasse River corridor will remain a richly diverse and healthy ecosystem with visually attractive buildings, farms, wood lots and natural landscapes. Trails, parks, and boat launches will maximize public access to the river and help to create high- quality recreational opportunities. New development will emphasize uses that are enhanced by riverfront and consistent with local architecture and character. Within the Village of Canton, the riverfront will be attractive, accessible, walkable, and culturally vibrant, benefiting from and enhancing the quality of life inherent in a small college town. -Vision Statement from the Canton Grasse River Waterfront Revitalization Plan Process Used to Develop the Plan In 2005-06, the Town of Canton applied for and received a grant through the New York State Department of State Division of Coastal Resources Local Waterfront Revitalization Program through the Environmental Protection Fund to develop an inter-municipal Local Waterfront Revitalization Program for the Grasse River waterfront in the Town and Village of Canton. A waterfront advisory committee was established in 2007 to oversee the preparation of the Plan. With the Town of Canton as lead-agency, the six-member committee was appointed by the Town, Village and Grass River Heritage Corporation. The role of the committee was, and continues to be, to guide and lead the planning process, communicate with municipal leaders, and help facilitate community involvement in the development of the Plan. Along with the grant from the NYS Department of State, the project was funded with monetary and in- kind contributions from each of the participating communities and members of the Advisory Committee. In addition, a significant in-kind contribution of faculty and student resources from St. Lawrence University was used for the GIS mapping included in the Plan. The Town of Canton hired a consultant, River Street Planning & Development, LLC, to work with the advisory committee in developing the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. Over time, the approach to the project was modified and the project became the development of a Waterfront Revitalization Plan, rather than a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program as defined by New York State. The committee held approximately ten committee meetings to plan and publicize the public participation process, discuss critical issues, review research, findings and techniques prepared by the consultant, and work with the ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 TOWN & VILLAGE OF CANTON GRASSE RIVER WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION PLAN consultant on the development of a property owner survey, the vision statement, planning principles, goals and key projects and initiatives. What Is a Waterfront Revitalization Plan? A Waterfront Revitalization Plan is a locally prepared, comprehensive land and water use plan for a community's waterfront. It provides a comprehensive structure within which critical waterfront issues can be addressed. The Waterfront Revitalization Plan addresses the following issues: • Enhancing opportunities for public access to water-based recreation on the waterways; • Revitalizing Main street and Riverside Drive and underutilized waterfront commercial properties; • Developing efficient, pedestrian and bicycle friendly transportation access; • Protecting sensitive waterfront resources, open space and scenic resources; • Preservation of historic resources and enhanced opportunities for heritage tourism; and • Growth management and protection of community character and quality of life. This Waterfront Revitalization Plan is a voluntary, grass roots effort which brings together local and state governments, commerce and industry, environmental interests, private organizations, and community citizens to assess current opportunities and constraints and to build a consensus on the desired future of the community's waterfront. More importantly, this Waterfront Revitalization Plan