COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE TOWN OF DARIEN, GENESEE COUNTY, NEW YORK Town Of Darien Comprehensive Plan Adopted: November 25, 2005 Town Of Darien Comprehensive Plan - 2005 FOREWARD The Town of Darien Planning Board prepared this amended Comprehensive Plan. We were also assisted by the Genesee County Planning Board and Wendel Duchscherer Architects & Engineers; who prepared the Town of Darien’s Strategic Plan, much of which is reflected in this Comprehensive Plan. This Comprehensive Plan is intended to offer a concise description of the Town of Darien and its needs as of 2005, updating the 1970 Town of Darien Comprehensive Plan. This update is designed to provide a policy framework for the Township as it moves into and through the twenty-first century. The Township is a relatively small and maturing community but also situated in the middle of a great deal of activity with major consequences for the County and the region. Town Of Darien Comprehensive Plan - 2005 ACKNOWLEDGMENT The Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Darien was made possible through the efforts of: PLANNING BOARD David Allen, Chairman Sandi Wawrzynek, Co-Chairwoman Elmer Bittlinger Jay Blatchley Donna Ferry Stephen Slawinski Larry Stabell TOWN BOARD David Hagelberger, Supervisor Stephen Ferry Linda Graber Sam Williams Douglas Cummings TOWN CLERK Teresa Burkhardt HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT Neil Marzolf ZONING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER Charlie Reid ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Lisa Massara (2004 Chairwoman) James Burkhardt (2005 Chairman) Dawn Mark TOWN HISTORIAN Elmer Heiman Donya Vaughn – Secretary to the Planning Board and Zoning Board Of Appeals Genesee County Planning Board New York State Department of Parks and Recreation Town of Darien Business Owners…And the Citizens of the Town of Darien Table Of Contents INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 1 BRIEF HISTORY OF DARIEN .............................................................................. 7 DARIEN TODAY .......................................................................................................... 9 LOCATION.................................................................................................... 9 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS .......................................................... 10 1. Topography ............................................................................................ 10 2. Geology and Soils .................................................................................. 10 3. Streams & Lakes .................................................................................... 10 4. Wetlands................................................................................................. 10 5. Flood Plains ........................................................................................... 10 6. Storm Water ........................................................................................... 11 7. Vegetation and Wildlife ......................................................................... 11 INFRASTRUCTURE ......................................................... 12 1. Water .......................................................................... 12 2. Sewer ................................................................................................... 12 3. Private Utilities....................................................................................... 13 4. Solid Waste ............................................................................................ 13 5. Transportation ....................................................................................... 13 6. Police, Fire, and Ambulance Facilities .................................................. 14 REGIONAL RELATIONSHIPS................................................................ 14 1. Genesee County Smart Growth Plan ..................................................... 14 2. Route 63 Corridor Study ........................................................................ 15 LAND USE..................................................................................................... 17 1. Agricultural ............................................................................................ 17 2. Residential.............................................................................................. 18 3. Parks and Recreation.............................................................................. 18 4. Commercial and Industrial..................................................................... 18 5. Community Facilities, Utilities and Infrastructure................................. 19 6. Underdeveloped and Vacant Lands ....................................................... 19 POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS ...................................................... 20 1. Population .............................................................................................. 20 2. Population Changes and Projections...................................................... 20 3. Age ......................................................................................................... 20 i Table Of Contents 4. Education ............................................................................................... 20 5. Housing Characteristics ......................................................................... 21 6. Employment and Income ....................................................................... 21 TOWN RESIDENTS INPUT.................................................................... 23 1. Public Kick-off Meeting......................................................................... 23 2. Opinion Survey....................................................................................... 23 3. Charrette ................................................................................................. 25 4. Vision Statement..................................................................................... 25 5. Planning Board Final Public Hearing to Solicit Final Preparation comments ............................................................................................... 26 6. Final Public Hearing, Comment Period and Adoption of the Comprehensive Plan .............................................................................. 27 DEVELOPMENT GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................................................... 27 LAND USE PLAN...................................................................................... 28 HOUSING PLAN....................................................................................... 34 RESOURCE PROTECTION PLAN........................................................ 36 SAFETY AND TRAFFIC PLAN.............................................................. 38 RECREATION PLAN............................................................................... 40 ADMINISTRATION PLAN ..................................................................... 42 HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL PLAN .............................. 46 APPENDIX A - MAPS Vision Map........................................................................................ A-1 Zoning District Map (Current).......................................................... A-2 General Transportation and Utilities Map......................................... A-3 Sanitary Sewer Lines and Districts ................................................... A-4 Waterlines and Water Districts ......................................................... A-5 Land Use Map................................................................................... A-6 Soils................................................................................................... A-7 Smart Growth Map............................................................................ A-8 Environmental Features; Wetlands and Floodplains Map ................ A-9 Grasslands Managed for Wildlife Map........................................... A-10 Agricultural Districts Map .............................................................. A-11 School Districts............................................................................... A-12 Darien Fire District Map ................................................................. A-13 Historical and Archaeological Map (Map Key precedes Map) ...... A-14 ii APPENDIX B - LIST OF FIGURES Public Opinion Survey Results ......................................................... B-1 Charrette (Focused Workshop) meeting minutes.............................. B-2 Table Of Contents Demographic Profile ......................................................................... B-3 Population Trends (1960-2000) ........................................................ B-4 Age Distribution (2000) .................................................................... B-5 Age Distribution (1990-2000)........................................................... B-6 Households (1990-2000)................................................................... B-7 Household Units by Type (2000)...................................................... B-8 Household Units – Year Built........................................................... B-9 APPENDIX C - DRAFT GENERIC ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (DGEIS) ........................................................................................................................ C-1 iii Town Of Darien