TOWN OF WES T FIELD AND TOWN OF RIPLEY WA T E R F R ON T OPPO rt UNI T Y PLAN Prepared for the Town of Westfield and Town of Ripley By: Behan Planning Associates, LLC and Chautauqua County Department of Planning August 2008 Town of Westfield and Town of Ripley Waterfront Opportunity Plan ACKNOWLEDGMENTS THE TOWN OF RIPLEY Pete Ryan, Supervisor Douglas A. Bowen, Councilperson Kirk Carris, Councilperson James H. Garfi eld, Councilperson Deborah Hunt, Councilperson THE TOWN OF WESTFIELD Martha R. Bills, Supervisor Raymond Schuster, Deputy Supervisor Dr. David S. Brown, Councilperson Donald Nash, Councilperson Carl Vilardo, Jr., Councilperson WATERFRONT OPPORTUNITY PLAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS Lew Barnes Martha Bills Doug Bowen Vi Irwin Joe Orton John Rawlinson Abram Rowe Mike Rowe Pete Ryan Richard Sauer Special thanks to: Westfi eld Central School District Ripley Central School District Meder’s Restaurant, Ripley, NY ZeBro’s Harbor House, Barcelona, Westfi eld, NY Chautauqua County Department of Planning Town of Wilson, NY Village of Westfi eld, NY Patterson Library, Westfi eld, NY Grower’s Cooperative Grape Juice Company, Inc. Welch’s New York State Department of State And all others who assisted with this project and participated in the Waterfront Opportunity Plan process. This plan was prepared for the New York Department of State with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund. Town of Westfield and Town of Ripley Waterfront Opportunity Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTioN & VISioN STATEMENT PAGE 1 VISION STATEMENT PAGE 7 CHAPTER TWO: VISioN MAP & OPPORTUNITY AREAS PAGE 8 ROUTE 5 PAGE 9 BARCELONA HArbOR PAGE 13 THE BEACHES PAGE 26 THE GORGES PAGE 30 MARKETING & TOURISM PAGE 36 CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSioN & IMPLEMENTATioN PAGE 39 APPENDIX: STUDY AREA INVENTORY FIGURES ON OR BEfoRE WATERFRONT OppORTUNITY AREA PAGE 4 VISION MAP PAGE 9 BARCELONA CONCEPT MAP PAGE 16 RIPLEY BEACH CONCEPT MAP PAGE 27 Waterfront Opportunity Plan CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION & VISION STATEMENT Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the adjoining Towns of Westfield and Ripley are situated in a uniquely beautiful region where vineyards roll down to a shoreline punctuated by steep cliffs, sandy beaches and a harbor; where farm fresh produce can be purchased at roadside markets; where historic villages and hamlets offer unique shopping and cultural experiences; and where lush gorges offer world-class fishing and dramatic landscapes. While many communities would be content enough to possess but one of the above attributes, in Westfield and Ripley they are all present and contribute to the high quality of life Barcelona Lighthouse -- a defining local icon enjoyed by residents of the towns. Indeed, it is hard to imagine life in Westfield and Ripley without them. At the same time, and as repeatedly voiced by community members during the planning process that led up to the creation of this plan, there is room for improvement. For example, public access to the waterfront is limited. Barcelona Harbor needs to be dredged to function properly and the area immediately surrounding the harbor neither takes full advantage of its waterfront location nor provides the critical mass of activity that could make it a more inviting and fun place to experience. Dramatic natural features and environments, such as 20-Mile and Chautauqua Creeks, are unknown to many, yet offer interesting and unique recreational possibilities. Lastly, the towns’ diverse array of waterfront resources and attractions could be better linked together. The Waterfront Opportunity Plan seeks to preserve and enhance the positive and in many cases irreplaceable attributes of Westfield and Ripley’s waterfront, Residents working together to identify while at the same time identifying opportunities the ways in which these resources can Introduction & Vision Statement Page Town of Westfield and Town of Ripley be improved upon and leveraged to better the quality of life for residents. A common concern voiced by residents of both towns during the course of this project was the lack of local economic opportunities, particularly for the communities’ young adults, many of whom must move away to find jobs. While the out-migration of jobs and young people is the result of a complex set of factors, many of which originate from outside the immediate boundaries of the towns, this plan looks at ways The cliffs of Ripley Beach that the towns can sensitively and sensibly leverage their waterfront resources to foster economic well-being and keep more dollars and jobs in the local economy. Ultimately, the plan is a community document that reflects the values, goals and objectives of both towns with respect to their waterfront resources. By working together, the Town of Westfield and Town of Ripley can take a more comprehensive approach to these shared resources, while acknowledging and planning for the unique opportunities and resources within each. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN The Waterfront Opportunity Plan functions at many levels. At its broadest level, it sets forth a shared community vision for the community’s waterfront resources – defining the aspects of the waterfront that are most important to the community and the overall approach to using and enjoying these resources moving into the future. The primary purpose of this plan is to establish broad community consensus that will serve to guide future decision making. In addition, the plan provides an implementation guide for government, civic groups, businesses, and resident stakeholders related to the waterfront. As part of this planning project, the community identified a number of “Opportunity Areas,” which are areas of the waterfront, or specific waterfront resources, that merit a more detailed level of attention. For these areas, working within the framework of the overall vision for the waterfront, the plan sets forth goals, strategies and guiding principals, as well as conceptual plans and projects that serve to illustrate them. The strength of the plan concepts lies in the fact that Page Chapter One Waterfront Opportunity Plan they are detailed enough to guide future decision making, while flexible enough to adapt to on-the-ground opportunities and new and creative ideas as they may arise in the process of turning concepts into reality. The plan recognizes the importance of both public and private investment. Private entrepreneurs and property owners already make significant contributions to the quality of life in the waterfront areas of Westfield and Ripley. Identifying ways to support entrepreneurs and positive “action takers”, whether they are running a harborside restaurant, an organic farm along Route 5, or are simply a homeowner making a positive contribution to the character of the neighborhood, is a central theme of this plan. A good plan has its ear to the ground and listens closely to the pulse of the community, understanding that long-term, meaningful improvement is not a “top-down” endeavor. Rather, it is the roots of the community, the people, on which the community’s health ultimately depends. Large, ambitious projects certainly have their place, but only insofar as they build on the aspirations of the individuals who make up the community, whose day-to-day actions, both great and small, are the community’s biggest asset. In the end, the plan’s success will be reflected in tangible outcomes that Westfield and Ripley residents can see and experience. By establishing a clear vision with this plan, the Towns of Westfield and Ripley are prepared to meet change and proactively shape the future of their waterfront resources. WHAT CONSTITUTES “THE WATERFRONT”? Certainly none could dispute that the Lake Erie shore is a defining characteristic of the Towns of Westfield and Ripley. However, early on in the project the importance of Chautauqua Creek and 20-Mile Creek became apparent. Thus, the plan’s study area -- the “Waterfront Opportunity Area” (WOA) -- consists of both the lakeshore and the gorges. It should be noted that the WOA is strictly conceptual in nature; it simply identifies an area, roughly corresponding to the lakeshore and the gorges, that constitutes “the waterfront” of Westfield and Ripley. The WOA is not parcel specific and there is no consequence of a parcel being located on one side or the other of the boundary. Introduction & Vision Statement Page Town of Westfield and Town of Ripley The Lakeshore The lakeshore roughly corresponds to land between the southern shore of Lake Erie, south to the northern boundary of the New York State Thruway (I-90) right of way. Interstate 90 was chosen as an approximate boundary for the lakeshore area because it acts as both a physical and psychological boundary between the lakeshore and inland areas. Running through the heart of the lakeshore area is NY Route 5, an important corridor which is part of the Seaway Trail and which establishes the character of the lakefront. Many of the land parcels fronting the south side of Route 5 extend to the Thruway with no access other than Route 5. The Gorges Two major streams that discharge into Lake Erie, Chautauqua Creek in Westfield and 20-Mile Creek in Ripley, have been included in the WOA. Both streams offer unique geological features characterized by deep gorges, large areas of forested land, and dramatic views. Chautauqua Creek is utilized as a public source of drinking water and is a designated New York State Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat. Local residents frequent the gorges to take advantage of recreational opportunities, such as hiking and fishing. Both streams offer world-class fishing opportunities that draw recreational fishermen from far and wide. Large areas of publicly owned land surrounding the creeks suggest opportunities for additional uses, improvements and conservation. The Waterfront Opportunity Area (WOA) boundary Page 4 Chapter One Waterfront Opportunity Plan The boundary area surrounding the creeks is set 100 feet back from the top of the gorge slopes.