Northeast Industrial Development and Reuse Strategy A Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 2: Nomination Study Fort Edward, New York July 2014 This document was prepared for The Town of Ft. Edward and the New York State Department of State with state funds provided through the Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program. Fort Edward Northeast Industrial Development and Reuse Strategy Acknowledgements This Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Nomination Study was developed in partnership with the Town of Fort Edward, the Village of Fort Edward, the NYS Department of State, Community Stakeholders, Residents and Property Owners. The dedicated members of the Advisory Committee provided invaluable guidance and input through this process. Advisory Committee (alphabetical by name) Name Affiliation Darlene DeVoe Town of Fort Edward Matt Hulbert Fort Edward Fire Company David King US Environmental Protection Agency David MacLeod NYS Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources Bob Manz D.A. Collins Companies Tori Riley Washington County IDA Mitchell Suprenant Supervisor, Town of Fort Edward Matthew Traver Mayor, Village of Fort Edward Fort Edward Northeast Industrial Development and Reuse Strategy Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 THE STUDY AREA .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 16 COMMUNITY VISION & GOALS ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20 ENGAGING PARTNERS & STAKEHOLDERS ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 ASSETS, CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 PRIORITY SITES & REDEVELOPMENT CONCEPTS .............................................................................................................................................................................. 42 RECOMMENDED ACTION ITEMS ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 59 Figures FIGURE 1 REGIONAL CONTEXT MAP ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 10 FIGURE 2 COMMUNITY CONTEXT MAP ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 FIGURE 3 STUDY AREA BOUNDARY MAP ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 FIGURE 4 PRIORITY SITES MAP ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 50 FIGURE 5 NYS ROUTE 4 REDEVELOPMENT SCENARIO MAP ............................................................................................................................................................ 55 FIGURE 6 FORT EDWARD INDUSTRIAL PARK REDEVELOPMENT SCENARIO MAP ........................................................................................................................... 57 Fort Edward Northeast Industrial Development and Reuse Strategy Tables TABLE 1 FORT EDWARD BOA INDUSTRY TARGETING MATRIX ........................................................................................................................................................ 32 TABLE 2 PRIORITY SITES ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 43 TABLE 3 GOALS AND RECOMMENDED ACTION ITEMS .................................................................................................................................................................... 60 TABLE 4 IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 68 Appendices TECHNICAL APPENDIX 1 BROWNFIELD OPPORTUNITY AREA PROGRAM ......................................................................................................................................... 1 TECHNICAL APPENDIX 2 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION .............................................................................................................................................................................. 4 TECHNICAL APPENDIX 3 ANALYSIS OF THE BROWNFIELD OPOPRTUNITY AREA ............................................................................................................................ 10 TECHNICAL APPENDIX 4 FACILITY PLAN AND PLAN FOR FUTURE GROWTH WASHINGTON COUNTY SEWER DISTRICT NO.2 ....................................................... 69 TECHNICAL APPENDIX 5 SITE PROFILE FORMS ............................................................................................................................................................................... 70 Fort Edward Northeast Industrial Development and Reuse Strategy Executive Summary . Page | 1 Executive Summary Northeast Industrial Development and Reuse Strategy November 2012 Fort Edward, New York Fort Edward is ready for growth. With nearly 800 acres ripe for manufacturing and high-skill industries, access to passenger and freight rail, a modern 700 foot wharf on the Champlain Canal, and located within 15 minutes of the I-87 corridor, the Fort Edward Industrial Park and Dewatering Facility (used for the Hudson River Dredging Project) offer tremendous potential for smart industrial investment. The adjacent State Route 4 “Uptown Corridor” which bisects the community, offers unique opportunities for retail, medical, and commercial development near schools, recreation trails, and hundreds of affordable homes within close-knit neighborhoods. Prepare... Attract... Grow... Fort Edward Fort Edward is Ready for Growth Community Assets Location within New York’s Tech Valley To prepare the North East Industrial Area and the Route 4 Established clusters in manufacturing, paper “Uptown Corridor” for growth, the Town of Fort Edward has specialized trades, measuring equipment, agriculture, received funding assistance through the New York State soil and water clean-up, and transformer production Department of State Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) Program Skilled workforce and strong work ethic to prepare a comprehensive, neighborhood-based brownfield Interagency cooperation among federal, state and revitalization plan. local agencies Transportation and utility infrastructure Through the partnership between the Town and Village of Fort Proactive community planning initiatives Edward, the BOA funding and the community’s commitment to Economic incentives and assistance to businesses local planning has produced a plan for growth and job creation, Quality of life for all ages with a small town feel based on the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites, upgrades to infrastructure to promote homes and businesses and Top 5 Industry Targets support new companies, and enhancement of recreational Nanotechnology Supply Chain Manufacturing facilities to connect people with their jobs and encourage healthy Measuring Equipment lifestyles for residents and visitors. Specialty Recycling Photovoltaic Manufacturing Intermodal Transportation (Rail, Water, Road) Prepare... Attract... Grow... Fort Edward The Vision Goals Located at the confluence of New York’s Tech Valley, the 1. Economic Development and Job Growth: Southern Adirondack Park/Lake George Region, eastern Vermont, Strengthen economic development opportunities and the heart of rural Washington County, the Fort Edward Northeast Industrial Brownfield Opportunity Area is an important within the study area to support job growth, economic engine for the Town and Village of Fort Edward. redevelopment of underutilized parcels, and expansion of existing businesses. The area’s unique access to the Adirondack Northway, NYS 2. Access & Infrastructure: Capitalize on existing Routes 4, 196, and 197, an active rail line and the Champlain infrastructure and transportation access and improve Canal System provides high quality multi-modal transportation future access to the industrial park. access servicing