Chenango County Board of Supervisors Chairman, Lawrence N. Wilcox – Oxford John H. Lawrence – Afton David C. Law – Norwich (town) Dolores Nabinger – Bainbridge James J. McNeil – Norwich (city) Thomas P. Grace – Columbus Robert M. Jeffrey – Norwich (city) Marion L. Ireland – Coventry Evan T. Williams – Otselic Daniel S. Jack – German Dennis O. Brown – Pharsalia George G. Raymond, III – Greene Jeffrey B. Blanchard – Pitcher George J. Seneck – Guilford Grace A. Nucero-Alger – Plymouth Wayne C. Outwater – Lincklaen Peter C. Flanagan – Preston Arrington J. Canor – McDonough Charles A. Mastro – Sherburne Robert Starr – New Berlin Fred J. Heisler, Jr. – Smithville Robert E. Wansor – North Norwich Michael R. Khoury – Smyrna Former Supervisors In Office During Adoption Process George L. Westcott – Coventry Richard C. Schlag – German Jack T. Cook – Greene Jerry L Kreiner – Plymouth 2 | P a g e Chenango County Planning and Economic Development Committee David C. Law, Chairperson Dolores Nabinger Peter C. Flanagan Thomas P. Grace James J. McNeil Fred J. Heisler, Jr. Chenango County Department of Planning and Development Donna M. Jones, M.U.R.P. & M.L.Arch., County Planning Director Rena M. Doing, Planner Shane H. Butler, Planner Chenango County Planning and Development Board C. Paul Thomsen, Chair George J. Seneck, Supervisor Paul Romahn, Vice-Chair Thomas P. Grace, Supervisor Perry Owen, Secretary Alex Larsen Theodore Guinn, 239 Review Committee Chair Robert Davis Bruce O. Beadle, 239 Review Committee Vice-Chair Christopher Lyons Sally C. Chirlin Michael Flanagan Mission: To improve the quality of life of all residents of Chenango County in harmony with the rural character of its environs through a constancy of purpose. “Land of the Bullthistle” 3 | P a g e The Chenango County Department of Planning and Development prepared this plan with the assistance of various agencies and organizations: Chenango County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board Chenango County Agriculture Development Council Chenango County Area Agency on Aging Chenango County Clerk – Mary C. Weidman Chenango County Department of Information Technology Chenango County Department of Public Health Chenango County Department of Public Works Chenango County Emergency Management – Matthew Beckwith Chenango County Fire & Building Code Enforcement Chenango County Historian – Patricia Evans Chenango County Natural Gas Advisor – Steven Palmatier Chenango County Planning and Development Board Chenango County Real Property Tax Services City of Norwich Emergency Management – A. Wesley Jones City of Norwich Planning and Community Development – Todd Dreyer Commerce Chenango Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County Opportunities for Chenango – Wayne Viera For information, including copies of this Plan, contact: Chenango County Department of Planning and Development 5 Court Street, Norwich, New York 13815 (607) 337-1640 / (607) 336-6551 (fax) [email protected] A downloadable copy of this Plan is available at; www.co.chenango.ny.us/Planning 4 | P a g e GUIDING CHENANGO A County Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents Acknowledgements Chapter 1 – Introduction……………………………………………………..…………. Page 7 Chapter 2 – Historical and Cultural Resources…………………………………….…. Page 11 Chapter 3 – Chenango County Overview…………………………………………….... Page 20 Chapter 4 – Land Use…………………………………………………………………… Page 51 Chapter 5 – Demographic Profile……………………………………………………… Page 60 Chapter 6 – Economic Base…………………………………………………………….. Page 67 Chapter 7 – Energy Resources…………………………………………………………. Page 69 Chapter 8 – Infrastructure……………………………………………………………... Page 88 Chapter 9 – Community Facilities…………………………………………………….. Page 106 Chapter 10 – Arts and Recreation…………………………………………………….. Page 145 Chapter 11 – Goals and Strategies for the Future….……………………………….... Page 150 Maps: Archeological Sensitivity……………………………………….…..…………...………… Page 19 Topography….……………………………………………………..………...…………… Page 24 Interpretation of Slopes……………………………………………..………...…………… Page 25 General Soil Map………………………………………………………………………….. Page 27 Soils…………..……………………………………………………..………...…………… Page 28 Susquehanna River Basin………………………………………………………………….. Page 33 Water Resources...…………………………………………………..………...…………… Page 36 Primary and Principal Aquifers……………………………………..………...…………… Page 39 NYSDEC Fresh Water Wetlands.…………………………………..………...…………… Page 42 FEMA Flood Zones..………………………………………………..………...…………… Page 46 Chenango County Trout Stocking…………………………………………………………. Page 49 Land Use…………………………………………………………………………………… Page 52 Marcellus Shale Fairway..………………………………………………………………….. Page 72 Utica Shale Fairway.……………………………………………………………………...... Page 73 5 | P a g e Geological Layers………………………………………………………………………….. Page 74 Marcellus Shale Thermal Maturity…..…………………………………………………...... Page 75 Total Organic Carbon of Marcellus Shale…………………………………………………. Page 76 Marcellus Shale Thickness...……………………………………………………….……..... Page 77 Thickness of High Organic Utica Shale...………………………………………….………. Page 78 Gas Transportation Information System..………………………………………….……..... Page 82 Annual Solar Insolation…..………………………………………………………………... Page 86 Annual Average Wind Speed.……………………………………………………………... Page 87 Existing Highway System………………………………………………………………….. Page 90 2000 Rural Functional Classification (Roads)……………………………………………... Page 91 Public Use Airports.…………………………………………………………………….….. Page 96 Railroads in New York State.………………………………………………………….…… Page 98 School Districts………………………………………………………………………….... Page 137 Snowmobile Trails………………………………………………………………………... Page 149 Photo 1: Sunset over Cook Pond 6 | P a g e GUIDING CHENANGO A County Comprehensive Plan Comprehensive Plan (also known as a “Master Plan”) A comprehensive plan consists of the materials, written and/or graphic, including but not limited to maps, charts, studies, resolutions, reports, and other descriptive material that identify the goals, objectives, principles, guidelines, policies, standards, devices and instruments for the immediate and long-range protection, enhancement, growth and development of the municipality. New York State Chapter 418 of the Laws of the 1995 amending Town Law §272-a Purpose and Value of the Plan Chenango County prepared its first and only comprehensive plan in 1976, titled The Chenango County Comprehensive Plan – A Summary Report.1 In 2001, it became obvious the County needed to take a broad look at all of the issues affecting the County and to devise a plan to respond to the rapidly changing global and regional economy. A comprehensive view of the County was necessary; it was time to evaluate the County’s assets and trends and prepare a collective vision for the future of the County’s economy, facilities, and services. As a basis for this vision, the County wanted a plan that identified current needs and values of residents, businesses, and institutions as well as an evaluation of its heritage and cultural background. Comprehensive planning provides a community with the opportunity to guide future growth and development through the identification of key policies and goals of its residents with respect to public health, safety and general welfare. The purpose of a comprehensive plan is to provide a guide for all major decisions in pursuit of what the County wants to become in the future. The implementation of this plan, starting with its adoption and proceeding with recommendations, will provide the legal authority to direct development in a prescribed manner. The Chenango County Comprehensive Plan should be viewed as a guidance document. It is not meant to be rigid, dictating how and when actions are to be taken. Because it has been so long since the County has had a comprehensive plan to guide its future, it is important to view this plan as a starting point to modern day planning. One of the primary goals in preparing this particular plan was to be as comprehensive as possible. 1 Chenango County Planning and Development Board, and The Bailey Association. The Chenango County Comprehensive Plan, 1976. 7 | P a g e In other words, capture as many of the issues the community feels is important as possible. Consequently, the depth of discussion of specific topics is limited. Many issues and recommendations are going to warrant further study and more input from the public to provide the necessary detail to move forward. This plan provides the framework for the County to make reasonable, informed decisions on how to address the issues and concerns that presently face public officials. Like many communities, Chenango County does not have the necessary resources, financial, or otherwise, to accomplish all of the recommended actions to address every problem. However, with a plan in place, a proactive mindset, and community consensus on the issues and actions, the County can begin to realize beneficial change and progress towards the future in a well thought out and orderly fashion. The purpose of the Chenango County Comprehensive Plan is: . To be a statement of policy and a guide to future development patterns for Chenango County. To serve each municipality in its individual planning process. To guide growth to prevent haphazard and costly sprawl and protect valuable farmland. To encourage development of a sustainable economic base. To aid in obtaining state and federal assistance by establishing the prerequisites for such aid. To report key issues facing county residents. To promote political and technical coordination in community development. To inject long-range considerations into the determination of short-range actions.