Original 2005 Comprehensive Plan
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TOWN OF COLONIE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Town of Colonie, New York August 2005 Landscape Architects, Architects, ©Copyright All Rights Reserved Saratoga Associates #04039 Engineers and Planners, P.C. Town of Colonie Comprehensive Plan Adopted by the Town Board on August 25, 2005 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Richard Sleasman, Chair Christopher Einstein Bill Herman Brian Hogan Ellen Pemrick Maggie Vinciguerra Colonie Town Board Mary Brizzell, Supervisor Ulderic Boisvert Kevin Bronner Brian Hogan Nicole Criscione-Szesnat Frank Mauriello Thomas With Town of Colonie Planning and Economic Development Department Philip Pearson, Director Kelly Brown-Mateja Kevin Delaughter Michael Lyons A special thank you to the New York State Hudson River Valley Greenway for grant funding assistance for the development of this comprehensive plan. Town of Colonie Comprehensive Plan Executive Summary Table of Contents SECTION 1 – Introduction 1.1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................1 1.2 Public Involvement Process ..............................................................................................2 SECTION 2 – Vision and Goals 2.1 Vision ...........................................................................................................................5 2.2 Goals ...........................................................................................................................5 SECTION 3 – Plan Recommendations 3.1 Neighborhoods...............................................................................................................14 3.2 Neighborhood Commercial Centers..................................................................................17 3.3 Industrial Revitalization Areas...........................................................................................19 3.4 Primary Transportation Corridors .....................................................................................24 3.5 Mixed Use Nodes............................................................................................................33 3.6 Office Mixed Use Areas ...................................................................................................33 3.7 Commercial Retail Areas .................................................................................................34 3.8 Airport Business Area......................................................................................................35 3.9 Mohawk River Revitalization Area .....................................................................................36 3.10 Pine Bush Area ...............................................................................................................38 3.11 Colonie Gateways ...........................................................................................................40 3.12 Town-wide Recommendations ..........................................................................................41 Connections and Pathways..................................................................................41 Transportation ...................................................................................................42 Economic Development ......................................................................................44 Stormwater Management....................................................................................46 Infrastructure .....................................................................................................46 Historic and Cultural Resources...........................................................................49 SECTION 4 – Plan Recommendations Map SECTION 5 – Town-wide Open Space and Recreation Plan 5.1 Overview........................................................................................................................52 5.2 Existing Open Space and Recreation Resources................................................................53 5.3 Opportunities for Open Space and Recreation ...................................................................57 5.4 Recommended Actions for Open Space and Recreation ....................................................60 SECTION 6 – Open Space and Recreation Plan Map SECTION 7 – Implementation and Action Plan 7.1 Immediate Actions..........................................................................................................68 7.2 Short-Term Actions .........................................................................................................70 7.3 Mid-Term Actions............................................................................................................74 7.4 On-going Actions.............................................................................................................75 7.5 Long-Term Actions..........................................................................................................76 Appendices (under separate cover) Appendix A – Inventory and Analysis* Appendix B – Initial Neighborhood Meeting Results* Appendix C – Community Survey Results* Appendix D – Public Meeting Notes Appendix E – CPAC Public Hearing Minutes Appendix F – Table of Planning Resources and Documents **Appendix G – Town Board Public Hearing Documents including the following: Transcripts Related Correspondence Supporting Documentation *Prepared by the Town of Colonie Planning & Economic Development Department **Town Board Public Hearing Documents are available in the Town of Colonie Town Clerk’s Office. Executive Summary Executive Summary The Town of Colonie is one of Capital Region’s oldest suburban communities. As with inner suburbs across the nation, Colonie is beginning to see the impacts of regional growth beyond its borders. Some of its once vibrant commercial areas are showing signs of age, as are some of the older residential neighborhoods in Town. The Town’s industrial areas are in need of a breath of new life. However, while some areas are in need of attention and revitalization, the Town of Colonie continues to be successful in many important ways. It is recognized as a very safe community, it has good public and private schools, and it is located very conveniently in the region. The Town provides excellent basic services, and has an extensive parks system. Taxes remain low due to good fiscal management and a diverse tax base. The Town has decided to take a comprehensive look at issues related to its continued growth and development. The Town’s primary concerns looking forward include ensuring the community remains a great place to live, work, and visit, attracting new industry and employment opportunities, and conserving the area’s natural resources and remaining open spaces. PROCESS The Town of Colonie began the comprehensive planning process in 2003. A full discussion of the comprehensive planning process can be found in Section 1.2. Several neighborhood meetings and a community survey were among the first public outreach activities to take place as part of the comprehensive planning process. A meeting was also held at the Beltrone Living Center to discuss issues related to seniors in the Town and another meeting was held with the business community to discuss their specific needs. Results from these meetings, as well as additional public workshops and focus groups, can be found in the appendix and on the Town website at www.colonie.org. In 2004, the Town hired Saratoga Associates to assist in completing the comprehensive plan, and the Town Board established the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC). The CPAC included a cross-section of residents who have been involved in community activities as well as Town staff. The CPAC held over twenty-two committee meetings throughout the comprehensive planning process. All committee meetings were open to the public and a portion of the agenda at each meeting was devoted to public comment. In addition to the previously mentioned meetings and community survey, the CPAC reached out to the public on several other occasions including: > Issues Identification and Visioning > Townwide Meeting 1 Workshop > Townwide Meeting 2 > Focus Group Meetings > Comprehensive Plan Advisory > Business Workshop Committee (CPAC) Public Hearing > Youth Workshop > Town Board Public Hearing Town of Colonie Comprehensive Plan August 2005 Executive Summary i VISION The Town of Colonie established a Vision Statement and set of goals to guide the development of the Comprehensive Plan. The Vision Statement is found below and the Town-wide Goals are found in Section 2.2. In the Year 2020… The Town of Colonie is among the oldest, largest, and most well-established suburban communities in the Capital Region. Conveniently located at the heart of the region, it is home to a broad spectrum of residents, businesses, and institutions. It has succeeded in stabilizing and enhancing existing neighborhoods, regenerating and reinventing its historic commercial corridors and industrial areas, conserving a network of significant open spaces, and maintaining its exceptional quality of life. As a result, Colonie is among the most affordable and desirable places to live, learn, and do business in the region. RECOMMENDATIONS Section 3 of the Comprehensive Plan identifies dozens of recommendations for neighborhoods, neighborhood commercial centers, industrial revitalization areas, primary transportation corridors, mixed use nodes, office mixed use areas,