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A Healthy Design for Madison County: Primer for Smart Growth

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A Healthy Design for Madison County: Primer for Smart Growth M ADISON COUNTY A Healthy Design for Madison County: Primer for Smart Growth Developed through a partnership with: Madison County Planning Department and Madison County Public Health Department September 2011 Community Economic Development Committee Members: Eileen Augustyn Sue Berger Christine Coe Theresa Davis Eric Faisst Jamie Hart Scott Ingmire Richard Mitchell Joan Nicholson How do the specific characteristics of our commu- Cassie Rose Joe Wicks nity affect our quality of life? What steps can we in- Virginia Zombek tentionally take to ensure welcoming, safe, efficient, healthy and accessible communities while maintain- ing our agricultural, cultural and historic heritage? Can we embrace progress and still retain a place of natural beauty where families and individuals thrive? We have a vision of such a place. It’s not a Document Prepared by : Jamie Hart dream, it’s a strategy... Madison County Planning Department - This page intentionally left blank - TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ……………………………………………….. Pages 1-12 Section 1: Challenges to Smart Growth in Madison County Pages 13-26 Section 2: Goals to Accomplish Smart Growth …………. Pages 27-28 Goal 1: Help Existing Places Thrive ……………………. Pages 29-46 Goal 2: Support the Rural Landscape ……………………. Pages 47-58 Goal 3: Create Great New Places ………………………. Pages 59-78 Goal 4: Make Livable Communities for All Ages ……… Pages 79-92 Conclusion ……………………………………………….. Page 93 - This page intentionally left blank - AA HealthyHealthy DesignDesign forfor MadisonMadison County:County Primer for Smart Growth Introduction This vision, established during the The layout, type, and development pattern of development of the 2009 Health growth in a village, town or city directly Improvement Plan for Madison County, impacts its economic vitality, livability, reflects a desire to retain the rural nature health, and environmental and cultural while also recognizing the need for growth, resources. Development decisions influence but doing so in a manner that is smart and where people choose to live, how they can healthy. move around, what activities are available to them, and how they interact and connect A quick scan of the landscape in Madison with the people and places around them. County reveals where policies have been The quality of life impact of these decisions successful in fostering this concept and necessitates that communities be designed where they have fallen short. Communities with intention: in a way that reflects what in Madison County deserve to retain unique the community values and supports the local character and preserve rural landscape lifestyle people want. while also attracting new growth and development. They deserve to be vibrant In 2009, the residents of Madison County places that are designed to accommodate made clear their vision for a healthy people of all ages and that promote healthy Madison County: places to live, work, shop, and enjoy. “A place of natural A Healthy Design for Madison County, beauty where families developed through a partnership with the and individuals thrive.” Madison County Planning Department and the Public Health Department, is intended to Madison County’s vision - a blueprint for the specifically demonstrate how smart growth future - will be achieved by an engaged can be incorporated to accomplish the vision community of all ages, cultures and talents and for a healthy Madison County. This its dedicated leaders. This vision characterizes our community by: document closely follows the 2010 smart Welcoming neighborhoods and a sense of growth publication developed by the individual belonging International City/County Management Values that protect its agricultural traditions, Association (ICMA) for rural communities rich history and natural scenic beauty entitled Putting Smart Growth to Work in Maintenance of its clean environment through Rural Communities but was tailored planning and preservation specifically to fit and highlight the Safe, affordable housing for all ages Access to affordable health care, education communities of Madison County. and recreation, promoting health and wellness for all Section 1 uses recent trends to explain Opportunities for ample employment and challenges the communities in Madison business prospects for all County are facing in the context of smart A dynamic partnership of citizens, government agencies, employers, faith based, growth. Understanding the threats to smart educational, community, and service growth in our communities also helps to organizations further demonstrate its necessity. 1 Introduction A Healthy Design for Madison County: Primer for Smart Growth Section 2 is framed around four goals that show how the principles of smart growth New York State is making smart growth can be used to achieve more effective place a priority: making. Current local initiatives are identified throughout this section to In August 2010, New York Governor showcase what different communities are David Patterson signed into law the currently doing and where future Smart Growth Public Infrastructure opportunities may exist. Policy Act. The law requires New York state agencies to use smart growth criteria Finally, the conclusion summarizes the when deciding to spend infrastructure primer and explains how the effort to dollars for transportation, sewer and incorporate smart growth principles will waste water treatment, water, continue to move forward. education, housing and other publicly supported infrastructure. The law, which took effect September 29, 2010, targets What is Smart Growth? infrastructure investments toward Main The New York State Smart Growth Cabinet Streets, downtowns, brownfield areas, defines smart growth as “sensible, planned, central business districts and community efficient growth that integrates economic centers; advocates for mobility choices; development and job creation with promotes mixed use development; and community quality-of-life by preserving and the preservation of natural resources and enhancing the built and natural open spaces. environments and promoting social equity. Smart growth encourages growth in In August 2011, New York State developed areas with existing infrastructure Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into to sustain it, particularly municipal centers, law the NYS Complete Streets Bill - a downtowns, “Main Streets”, urban cores, policy that mandates roads be designed hamlets, environmental justice areas, and built for all users, including Brownfield Opportunity Areas, historic bicyclists, public transportation vehicles districts and older first-tier suburbs…”1 and passengers, motorists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. The Those not familiar with smart growth may legislation requires all state, county, and wrongfully perceive it as advocating “no local transportation agencies to consider growth” or “slow growth.” Instead, smart Complete Streets design principles on all growth is a holistic approach to community projects which receive both federal and planning and development because it does state funding. Image 1 2 Introduction A Healthy Design for Madison County: Primer for Smart Growth not refer merely to one component of Growth done without intent can cut up the planning and development but works to rural landscape, which threatens not only the integrate natural resources, energy scenic countryside that defines this area but conservation, historic preservation, the livelihood of agriculture, the number one transportation, housing, economic industry in the County. Historic main streets development, and public health together to and downtowns are also threatened if growth protect community assets, promote positive and development are allowed to casually growth, and enhance livability to attract and spread out. When this happens it is not just retain people and business. the community character and sense of place that are threatened but also the way of life Why is Smart Growth Important? that is possible only when growth is targeted to a center. Moreover, this area is Madison County is most easily identified as characterized by an interaction between land a place of historic main streets, beautiful and place, where people highly value the view sheds, and acres of farmland. It is a natural resources and recreational place where commerce and business once opportunities; how these are protected, grew along defining transportation corridors enhanced, and linked can have substantial such as the Erie Canal and rail. The fact that impacts on the desirability of living in a places here were transportation hubs long rural area. before the automobile, is also one of the most significant features of Madison County Today Madison County is at a crucial point. as it is a key reason for the historic According to the 2010 US Census, Madison downtowns still present today. Equally County had a 5.8 percent population gain to important to Madison County’s development 73,442 which ranked as the sixth-highest story is that overall the area has not seen as increase among New York counties. much growth as in many neighboring places. Development too has been increasing and in Put these qualities together and Madison many places expanding well beyond the County is a unique place, a place where “old original community centers. While this new growth” – front porch neighborhoods, corner growth and development brings many shops and restaurants, short blocks with advantages and opportunities, it also means pedestrian alley ways, architecturally that it is critical that the communities of distinctive
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