Village of Port Dickinson Comprehensive Plan DRAFT NOVEMBER 2020 Village of Port Dickinson Comprehensive Plan 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Numerous individuals participated in the development of the 2020 Village of Port Dickinson Comprehensive Plan. We wish to recognize the following people who devoted their time and effort during the process. We also wish to thank the many citizens of Port Dickinson for their enthusiasm and contributions to the community survey and public meeting. Village of Port Dickinson Comprehensive Plan Committee Kevin M. Burke, Mayor Trustees: Robert Aagre James DeGennaro Michael Cashman Charles Harding Planning & Zoning Board Eric Backlund, Zoning Board Chair Gary Campbell, Planning Board Chair Special thanks to: Sue Fox, Village Clerk Nathan VanWhy, Village Attorney Broome County Department of Planning and Economic Development Frank Evangelisti, former Director Beth Lucas, Acting Director Stephanie Brewer, Planner Lora Zier, Senior Planner Douglas English, GIS Administrator Leigh McCullen, Binghamton Metropolitan Transportation Study Contents 2 CHAPTERS 1 Introduction 3 2 Setting & History 7 3 Public Input 14 4 People 25 5 Housing 32 6 Workforce 37 7 Environment 40 8 Transportation 49 9 Public Services & Facilities 54 10 Land Use 59 11 Local Law Review Summary 62 12 COVID-19 Impact 68 13 Recommendations 74 APPENDICES A Data Tables 89 B Public Survey Results 101 C Public Survey Comments 109 D Local Law Review 114 E Maps Village of Port Dickinson Comprehensive Plan 3 Chapter 1: Introduction Introduction 4 OVERVIEW Port Dickinson is a small community that lies within the town of Dickinson and is located in the central part of Broome County. The village is home to approximately 1,600 residents and encompasses 0.63 square miles. It is situated along the eastern shore of the Chenango River and shares its borders with the town of Dickinson, the city of Binghamton, and the town of Fenton. The village is located in the Binghamton Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Southern Tier region of New York State. The village largely consists of residential neighborhoods and tree-lined streets. For many residents, Port Dickinson is an excellent place to live and raise a family. However, that does not mean there aren’t any issues that could be addressed to improve the health, safety, and welfare of the community. The Village of Port Dickinson recognizes the challenges and opportunities it faces and developed this comprehensive plan to guide the future of the community. Photo: Mari Giurastante PURPOSE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN A comprehensive plan is a powerful document. In a court of law, an up-to-date comprehensive plan gives validity to local land use decisions. Where an adopted comprehensive plan exists, other governmental agencies must consider the impact of capital projects on the adopted plan. By preparing a comprehensive plan, a community outlines its shared vision and builds consensus for projects and policies. A comprehensive plan is often used to protect resources and guide development. The 2020 Village of Port Dickinson Comprehensive Plan is the first comprehensive plan for the Village since zoning was first adopted in 1958. It will become an officially adopted document that assists the decision-making process and fosters a more certain future. The plan considers factors that could potentially impact the village’s land use, infrastructure, community character, natural resources, and other community assets and provides goals and strategies for Port Dickinson. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS In 2018, the Village of Port Dickinson initiated the process to develop its first ever comprehensive plan. It is important to note, during the development of the Village of Port Dickinson Comprehensive Plan, the COVID-19 pandemic forced non-essential shutdowns and stay-at-home orders at the local and national scale. These restrictions, along with other COVID- 19 impacts, required the Village to adjust the plan’s timeline, meeting schedule, and plans for public outreach. Additional information about the specific community impacts of COVID-19 are included in Chapter 11, COVID-19 Impacts. The steps below outline the process the Village followed to develop the 2020 Village of Port Dickinson Comprehensive Plan. Village of Port Dickinson Comprehensive Plan 5 Comprehensive Plan Committee: The process began when the Village formed a seven-member committee to oversee the development of the Comprehensive Plan. This committee included the Mayor, Village Trustees, and the Planning Board and the Zoning Board Chairs. The committee worked closely with the Broome County Planning Department and met regularly to discuss the plan and ensure it reflects the needs and issues of Port Dickinson. Data Gathering: Using a variety of data sources, this plan examines the existing conditions for a range of physical, social, and economic matters. Specific topics reviewed in the assessment include demographics, economic base, housing, transportation, environment and natural resources, public services/facilities, local laws, and land use. Understanding the current conditions in the village is an important part of the comprehensive planning process and this information is used to inform the recommendations set forth in the plan. Public Survey: Public awareness and involvement is another important component of the comprehensive planning process. A public survey was conducted early on to identify residents’ priorities, concerns, and opinions related to the village. The survey was completed by 124 households and the results were used to help shape the recommendations of the plan. Recommendations: Information from previous chapters and public input were applied to establish a set of goal, objectives, and strategies for the Comprehensive Plan. These ideas were developed by asking questions such as what do we want the future of Port Dickinson to look like and how do we get there? The recommendations chapter is one of the most critical elements of the comprehensive plan as it provides direction and guidance for future decision making in the village. Public Meeting: Residents were invited to participate in a virtual public meeting to discuss the proposed recommendations of the Plan. More information will be added to this section following the December 9th public meeting. Review & Adoption: A full draft of the plan was available online for public review and residents were encouraged to share their feedback. This section will be updated at the end of the public review period. Implementation: Efforts to implement the comprehensive plan will be led by the Village and other community partners. Actions may include developing/updating regulations, identifying capital projects, and establishing other initiatives/programs. To effectively respond to community changes, the plan should be regularly reviewed, and progress towards implementation should be monitored and documented. Introduction 6 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CHAPTERS The rest of the Village of Port Dickinson is divided into twelve chapters, each focusing on a specific topic area. The plan’s appendices include additional data, information, and maps. • Setting & History • Public Input • People • Housing • Economic Base • Environment • Transportation • Public Services & Facilities • Land Use • Local Law Review Summary • COVID-19 Impacts • Recommendations Village of Port Dickinson Comprehensive Plan 7 Chapter 2: Setting & History Setting & History 8 SETTING Port Dickinson is an incorporated village in central Broome County within the town of Dickinson. It is an established residential community with many historic homes. It borders the town of Fenton to the north, the town of Dickinson to the east, the city of Binghamton to the south, and the Chenango River to the west. The Brandywine Highway (NYS Route 7) runs through the entire length of the village, providing residents with direct access to Interstate 88 and ultimately the northeastern part of the state. Chenango Street also runs the entire length of the village and connects the village to Fenton and downtown Binghamton. EARLY HISTORY The Village of Port Dickinson is the only village in the town of Dickinson and is one of the oldest incorporated municipalities in Broome County. Its location in the Chenango River valley make it a feasible settlement location for early settlers. According to the NYS Cultural Resources Information System, the entire village is within an archeological sensitive area (ASA) buffer zone, meaning there could be evidence of past human activities in the village. Further archaeological studies would need to be completed to confirm this. Being in an ASA does not preclude development from occurring, but indicates a potential need for archeological consultation and/or surveys. Excavations completed in the 1980s, during an environmental assessment for the I-88/I-81 Connector project, produced numerous prehistoric artifacts in the village including a Levanna projectile point and Owasco pottery fragments which indicates the village was likely a site of a prehistoric Owascan Indian settlement. At the time of the environmental assessment, the area of the Port Dickinson Jeanne Examples of artifacts similar to those cited in the and John D. Wilfley Community Park was NYSDOT I-88/I-81 Connector EIS (1983) acknowledged for its potential National Register of Left: LeVanna point found in Massachusetts Historic Places eligibility. This site was left Right: Owasco Pottery found in Oswego County unevaluated at the time of the study and it is not clear if the area is still