Town of Bethlehem Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Draft Adopted: Town of Bethlehem Town Board, **, 2020 Approved: NYS Secretary of State, **, 2021 Concurred: U.S. Office of Coastal Management, **, 2021 CONTENTS SECTION I – TOWN OF BETHLEHEM WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION AREA BOUNDARY............................. 1 EXISTING NEW YORK STATE COASTAL AREA WITHIN THE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM ............................................................................. 1 TOWN OF BETHLEHEM WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION AREA BOUNDARY ......................................................................................... 3 SECTION II – INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS OF EXISTING CONDITIONS WITHIN THE WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION AREA ............................................................................................................................. 1 EXISTING LAND USE AND ZONING DISTRICTS ............................................................................................................................................. 1 Land Use ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Agricultural Lands and Uses ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 Open Space .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Land Cover ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 10 Conservation Easement Exemption Program........................................................................................................................ 12 Existing Zoning Districts ................................................................................................................................................................. 13 LAND OWNERSHIP ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Public Land ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 15 Scenic Hudson ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 UNDERWATER LANDS ................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 ABANDONED, DETERIORATED AND UNDERUTILIZED SITES AND BUILDINGS ...................................................................................... 18 DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS AND PROGRESS ............................................................................................................................................... 21 TOWN-PROMOTED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ......................................................................................................................................... 22 Gateway Commerce ........................................................................................................................................................................... 23 126 Port Road South ......................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Air Products & Chemicals ............................................................................................................................................................... 23 Port of Albany Expansion ............................................................................................................................................................... 23 1273 River Road – Finke Enterprises, LLC. ............................................................................................................................ 25 Planned Economic Development Initiatives .......................................................................................................................... 25 COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL WATER DEPENDENT AND WATER ENHANCED USES ............................................................................. 26 Port of Albany ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Port of Coeymans ............................................................................................................................................................................... 27 RECREATIONAL WATER DEPENDENT AND ENHANCED USES AND RESOURCES .................................................................................. 28 Boat Launches and Boating............................................................................................................................................................ 29 Fishing and Hunting .......................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Swimming and Diving ...................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Hiking, Bicycling, and Trails .......................................................................................................................................................... 31 HARBOR MANAGEMENT AREA PLANNING ................................................................................................................................................. 32 Public Access to the Waterside .................................................................................................................................................... 32 Navigation on Hudson River ......................................................................................................................................................... 33 Surface Water Quality ...................................................................................................................................................................... 33 No-discharge Zone ............................................................................................................................................................................. 33 I Town of Bethlehem Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Port of Albany Impact ....................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Recreational Boaters Navigating Near Commercial Shipping Channel ...................................................................... 35 Docks and Marinas ............................................................................................................................................................................. 35 Dredging Hudson River ................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Speed and Wake Damage ................................................................................................................................................................ 36 Regulated Navigation Area and Ice Conditions ..................................................................................................................... 36 Hazards to Navigation ...................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Shipwrecks ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 39 Aquaculture .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Shoreline Erosion ............................................................................................................................................................................... 39 EXISTING AUTHORITIES AND JURISDICTIONS WITHIN THE WRA .......................................................................................................... 39 NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES .......................................................................................................................................... 45 Geology and Soils ................................................................................................................................................................................ 45 Agricultural Soils 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