INTRODUCTION In 2012, the Town of Ephratah Town Board created a Comprehensive Plan Committee to prepare a Comprehensive Plan for the Town. The following persons were appointed by the Town Board to serve on this Special Committee: Todd Bradt Nancy Christman Ivan Duesler Bruce Frasier William J. Simpson Judy Townsend Rosalyn S. Wood The Town of Ephratah requested the services of the Fulton County Planning Department to assist the Comprehensive Plan Committee in the development of the Comprehensive Plan. The Committee began work on the Comprehensive Plan in October, 2012 and completed its work in 2013. The Town desires to have a plan for its future. This Comprehensive Plan represents that plan or vision. In addition, this Comprehensive Plan recommends a series of initiatives for which the Town may want to seek State or Federal funding to help pay for the cost of implementing these initiatives. Today, many State and Federal funding programs require communities to have Comprehensive Plans that include the initiative for which funding is being requested. The adopting of this Comprehensive Plan would allow the Town to seek desired State and federal funding for specific projects and initiatives identified herein. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page# VISION STATEMENT ....... ... ............ ....... ... ............................................................. .. EXECUTIVE SUI'viMARY.. .......... .. ... ... ... ......... ... ... .. ......... ... ... ............................................ 2 CHAPTER I ECONOMY.. ......... ........................ ..................... ......................... ......... .. ......... .. ....... 9 CHAPTER II HOUSING........................ .. ........................ .................................................. .......... 16 CHAPTER III RECRBA TIONAL RESOURCES.................................... ............. ........... ...................... 20 CHAPTER IV TRANSPORTATION.. ................................................................................................ 31 CHAPTER V COMMUNITY FACILITIES....... ...... ................................................................. ........... 35 CHAPTER VI MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEMS................................................................. ................ 42 CHAPTER VII TOWN PROFILE... ... .... ................... .......................................................................... 44 CHAPTER VIII PUBLIC INPUT... ....... .................. ... ........... 62 CHAPTER IX HISTORY...... ........................................................... ... ............................... .............. 68 CHAPTER X LAND USE PLAN ................... .................................................................... ........ ........ 134 CHAPTER XI PERIODIC REVIEW OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN................ ..................................... ........ 136 LIST OF TABLES AND MAPS Page# TABLES: HOUSING OCCUPANCY 2010....... ........ .................................................................... 16 TOTAL HOUSING UNITS IN FULTON COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES 1970-2010..................... 16 OWNER OCCUPIED VS RENTAL UNITS IN FULTON COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES 2010....... 17 INVENTORY OF RESERVOIRS........................................... ....................................... 24 INVENTORY OF PRIMARY CREEKS......................................... ............................ ..... 24 CREEKS THAT RECEIVE fiSH STOCKING (20 I 1-SPRlNG 20 12).................................... ... 24 INVENTORY OF NYSD£C TRAILS................................................................ ............. 25 INVENTORY OF SNOWMOBILE TRAILS.............................................. ....................... 26 INVENTORY OF ROADS........................................................................................................... 31 NYSDOT TRAFFIC COUNTS......................................................................... ............. 32 POPULATION TRENDS IN FULTON COUNTY......................................................... ...... 44 POPULATION TRENDS IN CITIES/TOWNS........................................ ...... ........................... ........... 44 POPULATION TRENDS 1900-2010.......................................... ... .... .............. ................. 46 MEDIAN AGE IN FULTON COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES 1980-2010.................................. ... 47 TOWN OF EPHRATAH POPULATJON TRENDS 1980-2010 ............................................. .... 47 TRENDS IN 65+ POPULATION IN FULTON COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES. ............ ................. 48 TOWN OF EPHRATAH POPULATION BY AGE 2000-2010.. ..... .................... ............ ...... ..... 48 TOTAL HOUSING UNITS IN FULTON COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES 1970-2010.... ................ ... 49 TOTAL YEAR ROUND HOUSING UNITS IN FULTON COUNTY MUNICJPALITIES 1970-2010... 50 TOTAL SEASONAL UNITS IN FULTON COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES 1970-2010 ..................... 51 TOTAL NUMBER OF OWNER-OCCUPl£0 HOUSING UNITS IN FULTON COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES 1970-2010 ....................................................................................... 52 TOWN OF EPI-:IRATAH HOUSING UNITS 1990-2010 ... .................................. ..................... 52 TRENDS IN NUMBER OF RENTER-OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS IN FUJ ,TON COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES 1970-20 I 0....................................... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 53 TOWN OF EPHRATAH INCOMES 1980-2000... .......................... .............................. ........ 53 TOWN OF EPHRJ\TAH FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD INCOME RANGES 2000....................... 54 %OF TOWN OF EPHRATAH'S WORKFORCE WORKING IN FULTON COUNTY 1980 AND 2000................................................................................................................... .... 54 COMMUTATION PATTERNS IN FULTON COUNTY MUNICIPLAITIES.... .. ........................ 55 #OF INDIVIDUALS BELOW POVERTY LEVEL IN FULTON COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES.... .. 56 %POPULATION IN FULTON COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES LIVING IN POVERTY.......... .... .... 56 TOWN OF EPHRATAH EXISTING LAND USES 2012........................................................ 57 TOWN OF EPHRATAH EXISTING LAND USES WITHIN ADIRONDACK PARK 2012...... .. ... ... 57 TRENDS IN TOWN OF EPHRATAH'S TOTAL ASSESSED VALUATION AND TOWN TAX LEVY....... ................................. .... ................ ... ........................... ........................... 58 2012 TOWN TAX RATES IN FULTON COUNTY.. ............................................................ 58 TOWN OF EPHRATAH'S APPORTIONMENT OF FULTON COUNTY'S TAX LEVY....... ........ 59 TAX LEVY FOR FIRE DISTRICTS.......................................................................... ...... 59 SCHOOL TAX RATES....... ........................................................................................................... 60 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SURVEY RESULTS .................................... .... ................... ..... 62 MAPS: MAP NO. I: EPHRATAH TOWN CENTER ILLUSTRATION INTERSECTION OF NYS ROUTES 10 AND 29 ............................................... 15a MAP NO.2: PARCELS IN FULTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT NO. 1. ............. ... I 5b MAP NO.3: RECREATIONAL RESOURCES.. .............................. .................... .... ..... .... 30a MAP NO.4: INTERSECTION Of NYS ROUTE 29 & FICAL ROAD..................... ................ 34a MAP NO. 5: INTERSECTION OF TILLBORO AND WOHLGEMUTH ROADS... ..................... 34b MAP NO.6: INTERSECTION OF NYS ROUTE 29 & OLD STATE ROAD. ................ ............. 34c MAP NO. 7: TOWN OF EPHRAT AH MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY......... .. .... .................... 43a VISION STATEMENT We, the residents of Ephratah, envision that, in 2033, the Town of Ephratab will be a small, vibrant rural residential-based community. The Town will feature a Town Center located at the intersection of New York State R oute 29 and NYS Route 10 heading south. Town Center will be the focal point of activity in the Town and will feature a mixture and variety of uses for residents and visitors alike including: 1. Gas Station 2. Convenience Store 3. Sandwich/Coffee Shop 4. Farmers Market 5. Boutique shops 6. Town Hall 7. Post Office 8. Senior Housing 9. Townhouses 10. Walking Trail 11. Other Towu Center will be a small, concentrated area of development that features buildings designed to provide Town Center with a unique and distinctive character and theme. The commercial development in Town Center has expanded the Town's tax base and increased sales tax revenues which stabilized tax 1·ates for property owners. A new Town HaU will be located in Town Center and provide space for: 1. Town Offices 2. Meeting Room 3. Community Room 4. Records Storage 5. Senior Center 6. Town Museum 7. Primary Care Facility 8. Book Exchange The Town will feature a diversity of housing types that has both attracted young adults into the Town and helped retain senior citizens. The variety of housing types has strengthened the Town's reputation as a desirable place to Jive and raise a family. The Town's high quality of life bas produced an influx of young residents that l1as increased enrollment at and strengthened the St. Johnsville~Oppenhein Ephratah School District. The Town's annual marketing and promotional program has been successful in "getting the word out" that the Town of Ephratah is a great place to live and do business. Even though tbe Town's population will have grown and gotten younger from an influx of younger families, the Town will have been very succes.sful in retaining its senior citizens through the