HomeMy WebLinkAboutGroton_CompPlan_Adopted Comprehensi*ve an
Joi* nt
for the
Village & Town of Groton, New York
Adopted by the Town of Groton Town Board November 1, 2005
Adopted by the Village of Groton Village Board October 17, 2005
Prepared by the
Joint Comprehensive Committee
Mark Paquette, Co-Chairman, Village of Groton Planning Board
Lyle Raymond, Co-Chairman, Town of Groton Comprehensive Plan Committee
Douglas Albern, Town of Groton Comprehensive Plan Committee
Debbie Barron, Village of Groton Planning Board
Marie Busby, Village of Groton Planning Board
Monica Carey, Town of Groton Comprehensive Plan Committee
Mary K. Gloster, Town of Groton Comprehensive Plan Committee
Julie Graham, Town of Groton Comprehensive Plan Committee
Thomas Guihan, Village of Groton Planning Board
Carolyn O'Brien, Village of Groton Planning Board
Steven Thane, Town of Groton Comprehensive Plan Committee
John Watkins, Village of Groton Planning Board
Ex Officio Members
Glenn Morey, Supervisor, Town of Groton
Chuck Rankin, Village Clerk, Village of Groton
Past Members
John Patchai, Town of Groton Comprehensive Plan Committee
Duane Randall, Town of Groton Comprehensive Plan Committee
With assistance from
George R. Frantz & Associates
604 Cliff Street
Ithaca,New York 14850
IN MEMORIUM
THOMAS GUIHAN
(1923-2005)
Who served on both the Town and Village Planning Boards,
who passed away during the creation of this
Joint Comprehensive Plan, whose input was invaluable to the
creation of this Plan and the planning efforts of both
municipalities for over twenty years.
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Table of Contents
Foreword 1
Plan Inventory 3
Plan Goals and Objectives 21
Plan Strategies and Actions 30
Appendix A - Citizens' Survey Results 49
Map 1. Land Use/Land Cover 15
Map 1 a. Land Use/Land Cover- Groton
Village &McLean 16
Map 2. Open Space Assets 17
Map 3. Development Constraints 18
Map 4. Road Ownership 19
Table 1. Comparative Population Growth
Town of Groton and Tompkins County 6
Table 2. Population by Age, Town of Groton,
Tompkins County&New York State 7
Table 3. Average Annual Daily Traffic Volumes
AADT on Highways in the Town of
Groton 13
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Foreword
The purpose of this document is to provide leaders and Town/Village Comprehensive Planning Committee, but their
residents in the town and village of Groton a framework work will ultimately yield a substantial return, one that will
within which they can work together in the coming years to be evident five, ten or fifteen years into the future.
guide the future growth and development of their community.
It has a long-range outlook, to the year 2024 and beyond. It It is critical to the success of this plan that Town and Village
attempts to identify both issues that the town and village may leaders, and residents, review this plan and update it every
face, separately or together, and opportunities that the two five years. Certain assumptions have been made in the
municipalities might exploit for the common good. development of this document. Some of these assumptions
may not be correct, and trends, issues or needs that this plan
Implementation of the recommendations of this plan will take anticipates may not come to pass. At the same time, new
place over the course of years, and in the case of some issues are sure to arise, and different initiatives will likely be
recommended courses of action, over decades. There will be necessary to address these new issues.
no quick return on the time and effort invested by the Joint
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Plan Inventory
Brief History of the Town & Village Being on the frontier between the two nations, the land was
not subject to permanent settlement by either the Cayuga or
The Town of Groton encompasses some 50 square miles in Onondaga. Rather, it apparently served as hunting grounds.
northeastern Tompkins County. It was created on April 7, Vestiges of one or more temporary hunting camps have been
1817 when the Town of Locke was divided in two. The found in the vicinity of the NYS Rte. 38/Peruville Road
southern (Groton) half was named Town of Division while intersection.
the northern half retained the Town of Locke designation.
The new Town of Division measured ten miles from east to According to M. M. Baldwin, author of The Beginnings of
west and five miles from south to north. Groton in 1868, the first European American settlers were
probably John and Hephzibah Perrin, Ezra Carpenter and
Ten days later on April 17, 1817 the newly created town Ebenezer Williams. They settled on Military Lot 75 in the
became one of the original six towns that comprised the Town of Locke. After wintering over they were joined by
newly establish Tompkins County. John Perrin's father Lemuel and others. More families, with
names such as Atwood, Avery, Bennett, Branch, Crittenden,
About a year after its creation residents of the new Hathaway, Ingalls, Loomis, Morton and Stuart, migrated into
municipality petitioned to have the name changed to Town of the area from New England and Pennsylvania.
Groton. The original settlers who had arrived in 1797 were
from New England, and by 1817 many more settlers had The Village of Groton has a rich history of industrial
arrived from New England. History is not clear whether the innovation and manufacturing that dates back to the early
Town was named for Groton, Massachusetts or Groton, 1800s. By the mid-1820s the future village, then known as
Connecticut. Perrin's Settlement, or Groton Hollow, was the site of a
fulling mill and carriage shop. In 1849 the Groton Iron
Prior to the arrival of European Americans the area that Works were established. The enterprise would evolve into
encompasses the contemporary Town of Groton straddled the the Groton Iron Bridge Company and later the Groton Bridge
boundary between the Cayuga and Onondaga nations of the and Manufacturing Company and in 1877 began producing
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. The border ran prefabricated truss bridges that were known throughout the
roughly north and south, through present day Freeville in the northeast and Midwest, as well as other products.
town of Dryden, thence north along the Owasco Inlet.
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Other industries included the Monarch Road Roller were centers of industry and commerce. These communities
Company, woodworking enterprises and apparel rivaled the village in terms of population and economy.
manufacturers.
McLean, settled around 1806, and Groton City, located about
The community at the beginning of the twentieth century was 4.5 miles upstream on Fall Creek, were early centers of the
a prosperous one,with hundreds of manufacturing jobs, a lumber industry. In its early years Groton City was said to
thriving downtown. The village was served by the Lehigh have rivaled Groton Hollow as a center of industry and
Valley Railroad with freight and passenger service. It had a commerce. McLean in the 1890s was home to some 400
progressive local government as well, with a village-owned residents and boasted a foundry and machine shop, gristmill,
waterworks and a municipal power plant and street lighting cider mill, creamery, barrel factory and tanneryl. The hamlet
system. also had several stores plus a half-dozen churches and a
Union Free School that taught students up through the tenth
At the turn of the century Groton entrepreneurs grasped the grade.
importance of a then revolutionary new technology—the
typewriter. Lead by Benn Conger and other local Isaac Allen settled West Groton in 1797, the same year the
businessmen, the Standard Typewriter Company was formed. Perrins, Williams and Carpenters arrived. By 1850 the
The company purchased the patents and rights of another community had grown to include a tannery, a cooperage,
company and began production of typewriters in Groton. several stores and a tavern, as well as blacksmitheries and
Later they changed the company's name to the Corona wagon shops. The Congregational Church, built in 1832, still
Typewriter Company, and in 1926 merged with the L.C. stands on West Groton Road and is actively used today as a
Smith typewriter company to form Smith-Corona. By the church.
later 1920s the Groton company had plants in Groton,
Syracuse, Cortland and the Midwest. Smith-Corona Last but not least, on the upper reaches of the Owasco Inlet
prospered through the next 50 years before the typewriter was about one-half mile west of where it enters the valley a steep
eclipsed by the personal computer. However by the time the stream gradient attracted the eye of local industrialists. The
Groton plant closed in 1983, the village had already evolved waterpower of the Inlet was harnessed by a number of
to a large extent into a bedroom community for the much manufacturing establishments, including sawmills, a pail
larger employment centers of Ithaca and Cortland. factory, cidermill and cheese factory. The community was
named Peruville and also boasted a distillery, several stores, a
While Groton village has grown from Perrins Settlement and hotel and dance hall, a tavern and post office.
Groton Hollow to be the largest community in the town, it
was but one of several early settlements in the township. In
the 1800s McLean, Groton City, Peruville and West Groton
� Dieckmann,Jane M.,et al. The Towns of Tompkins County. Ithaca,
NY:DeWitt Historical Society. 1998
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
The town and village have changed dramatically in the past Dryden as well as the towns of Caroline and Ulysses (both of
two centuries. Many of the old industries, stores and post which lost population).
offices that once supported the smaller hamlets are now gone.
They have left a rich legacy, however, in architecture and a Although the town and village together have grown at a slow
small town character that continues to attract new residents. to moderate pace, growth within the village has slowed
considerably since 1970. In that Census year village residents
comprised about 43% of the total population. Between 1970
and 1980 population growth in the village accounted for 61%
Population of population growth townwide. The village's share of
population growth however fell to only 31% for the decade
The Town of Groton is the fourth largest town in Tompkins between 1980 and 1990, and 23% between 1990 and 2000.
County, with 5,794 residents according to the 2000 U.S. Village residents still accounted for just under 43% of total
Census of Population. Some 2,470 of the Town's 5,794 population in 2000, but this proportion will likely decline in
residents live in the Village of Groton. Another concentration the coming decades unless the above trend is reversed.
of population is located in and around the hamlet of McLean.
Since 1970 the population of the town has increased from While its population increases have slowed substantially, the
4,881 residents or by about 19%. This compares to a 25% village has still fared much better than the villages of Dryden
increase for Tompkins County as a whole. (Table 1) and Trumansburg. Both of those communities suffered
population losses in the decade between 1990 and 2000.
Groton for the most part still qualifies as a rural municipality.
Outside the Village of Groton population density averages The population by age profile for the Town of Groton differs
only about 118 persons per square mile. In this regard it from that of Tompkins County, but is relatively close to that
mirrors the predominant characteristics of the majority of its of New York as a whole. (Table 2) Persons in the age 5 to
neighbors. Except for the small area around McLean in the 24 bracket make up a substantially smaller proportion of the
southeastern corner, land use in the areas of the towns of town's population than they do in Tompkins County as a
Dryden, Lansing, Locke, Summerhill and Cortlandville that whole: 29% for the town versus 40.5% for the county as a
border Groton are agricultural and rural residential in nature. whole. This Census disparity between the local and county
level is common for the more rural communities in Tompkins
While population growth has been slow to moderate, between County. It is likely caused of the very large numbers of
1990 and 2000 the Town's population kept pace with all other college students living in the city and town of Ithaca.
Towns in Tompkins County except the towns of Lansing and
Enfield. Its 5% increase matched that of the towns of Danby, Overall in terms of age the population of the town parallels
Ithaca and Newfield, and surpassed that of the town of the population of New York as a whole. In the 2000 Census
the percentages for the town differed from those of the state
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Table 1
Comparative Population Growth in Town of Groton and Tompkins County
Town � o � o � o � o
on oo oc on 9, rn on O o
O 0�1 O p1 S+" O o o o 0
Pti .--i Pti V o Q+ V 2020 V o
Groton 4,881 5,213 332 7% 5,483 270 5% 5,794 311 5%
Groton Village 2,112 2,313 201 10% 2,398 85 4% 2,470 72 3%
Tompkins County 77,064 87,085 10,021 13% 94097 7,012 8% 96,501 2,404 2%
Caroline 2,536 2,754 218 9% 3,044 290 11% 2,910 -134 -5%
Danby 2,141 2,449 308 14% 2,858 409 17% 3,007 149 5%
Dryden 9,770 12,156 2,386 24% 13,251 1,095 9% 13,353 281 2%
Dryden Village 1,490 1,761 271 18% 1,908 147 8% 1,832 -76 -4%
Enfield 2,028 2,375 347 17% 3,054 679 29% 3,369 315 9%
Ithaca Town 15,620 16,022 402 3% 17,797 1,775 11% 18,710 913 5%
Lansing Town 5,972 8,317 2,345 39% 9,296 979 12% 10,521 1,225* 12%
Newfield 3,390 4,401 1,011 30% 4,867 466 11% 5,108 241 5%
Trumansburg 1,618 1,722 104 6% 1,611 -111 -6% 1,581 -30 -2%
Ulysses 4,500 4,666 166 4% 4,906 240 5% 4,775 -131 -3%
*Includes approximately 210 inmates at the new Louis Gossett Center operated by the NYS Division for Youth.
Source: U.S.Census Bureau, 1970, 1980, 1990&2000 Decennial Census.
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Table 2
Population by Age, Town of Groton, Tompkins County & New York State
Town of Groton Tom kins County New York State
° o o ° o o ° o o ° o o ° o o
Age 1970 F" a. ° 2000 . F" p" ° 1970 - F" p" ° 2000 � F" 0 ° 2000 F" P. °
Under 5 years 430 8.8% 317 5.5% 6,028 7.8% 4,285 4.4% 1,239,417 6.5%
5 to 24 years 1,882 38.6% 1,683 29.0% 35,794 46.6% 39,065 40.5% 5,216,143 27.5%
25 to 44 years 1,081 22.1% 1664 28.7% 17,275 22.5% 25,250 26.2% 5,831622 30.7%
45 to 54 years 577 11.8% 846 14.6% 6,677 8.7% 12,028 12.5% 2,552,936 13.5%
55 to 64 years 425 8.7% 541 9.3% 5,364 7.0% 6,616 6.9% 1,687,987 8.9%
65 years or older 486 10.0% 743 12.8% 5,743 7.5% 9,257 9.6% 2,448,352 12.9%
75 years or older 204 4.2% 370 6.4% 2,411 3.1% 4,620 4.8% 1,172,306 6.2%
Total Population 4,881 100% 5,794 100% 42,340 100% 96,501 100% 18,976,457 100%
Source: U.S.Census Bureau, 1970,2000 Decennial Census.
by 1 percentage point or less in five of seven age groupings. of residents over the age of 65 in the village was 13.2% in
The largest difference between the state and town was in the 1970 versus 10.0% for the town as a whole. These numbers
25 to 44 age cohort, where the proportion for the state was 2 include residents of the Groton Nursing Home and the Senior
percentage points higher than the town: 30.7% for the state Citizen Housing apartments. Moreover this gap widened
versus 28.7 for the town. slightly between 1970 and 2000. According to the 2000
Census, the percentage of population in the village over the
Although the data for the village is not shown in Table 2, the age of 65 climbed to 16.7% versus 12.8% for the town
population by age for the village tracks fairly closely to that overall.
of the town as a whole. The exception is that the proportion
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Residents of the village and town are living longer. Physical Geography
Indicative of this nation-wide trend is the fact that in 1970 the
Census had simply one category for persons 65 years old or The Town of Groton is located in the upper reaches of the
older. For the 2000 Census, there were three categories -- 65 Lake Ontario Plain, which begins on the southern shore of
to 74 years, 75 to 84 years and 85 or older. Moreover Lake Ontario and rises gently 900 to 1,000 feet as one moves
according to the 2000 Census townwide there were actually southward. The plain has been subject to extensive erosion
370 residents who were 75 years old or older, compared to and today is mostly characterized by gently rolling hills cut in
just 204 persons counted in 1970. some places by deep valleys and ravines.
There may be significant land use implications for the town It was subject to substantial alteration through glaciation
and village in the coming decades, due to this phenomenon. during the Ice Age that ended between 10,000 and 20,000
Housing needs for older residents can be very different from years ago. Glacial action cut deep into valley floors valleys
those of other adults, for instance those between the ages of and created the basins now filled by the Finger Lakes.
25 and 54 years, who may have children. Nationwide there is Tributaries of the streams that occupied valleys that were
evidence that many older residents are moving out of the deepened by the glaciers were left "hanging" high above the
traditional single-family home and into smaller owner- or new valley floors and cut deep gorges and ravines into the
renter-occupied dwellings, specialized senior citizen housing valley walls to create the many glens and gorges in the
or congregate care facilities. Many of these are conveniently region. In their retreat at the end of the Ice Age the glaciers
located in downtown areas where they are close to retail and also deposited enormous moraines through the area, including
health services. This trend in housing accommodations has in the Owasco Inlet Valley.
benefited many older communities across the country by
revitalizing downtown areas and residential neighborhoods. Portions of three watersheds are located within the boundaries
The villages and hamlets in the town offer or have the of the town: Fall Creek, Owasco Inlet and Salmon Creek.
potential to offer the types of amenities that would be The Owasco Inlet flows northward into Owasco Lake. Both
attractive to older residents. Salmon Creek and Fall Creek flow south and westward to
empty into Cayuga Lake.
Although the two streams flow in the opposite direction from
that of Owasco Inlet, the waters of all three eventually merge
north of Auburn in the Seneca River. A drop of water from
the upper reaches of Fall Creek would have to travel about
two times as far as a drop of water from the upper reaches of
the Owasco Inlet to reach that point.
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Streams in the Town of Groton are dendritic, or branching, in Approximately 3,565 acres or just over 11% of the total land
pattern and have numerous large and small tributaries. area in the town have slopes of 15 percent or greater. The
west slope of the Owasco Inlet valley west of Route 38
Elevations in the town range from approximately 1,500 feet represents the largest contiguous area marked by slopes of 15
above sea level at the crests of the broad ridges that run north percent or greater. Small areas covered by steep slopes are
to south between the three watersheds to about 900 feet where scattered throughout the town and village, generally in the
the Owasco Inlet flows into the Town of Locke. form of ravine sides and streambanks.
The many hills in the town are generally broad and smooth Lands covered by steep slopes generally are not extensively
with relatively mild topography at higher elevations and developed due to constraints such as drainage, septic field and
slopes that are relatively gentle. The exceptions to this are foundation problems. They are also generally too steep for
the west slopes of the Owasco Inlet valley. The valley is a agriculture. Ideal uses for such areas are recreation, open
glacial through valley that was widened and deepened during space, forestland or as habitat for game.
the Ice Age, creating steeply sloping hillsides. Here much of
the land has slopes that exceed 15 percent. Some 85 different types of soils cover the land in the Town of
Groton. In general terms the soils can be classified according
The melting Ice Age glaciers also deposited a substantial to one of three major characteristics: gravelly, clayey or
amount of glacial moraine material on the valley floor and fragipan. In general gravelly soils are located on the floors of
sides. The valley floor and sides are thus marked by irregular stream valleys. They also occur in kame, esker, and moraine
hills, terraces and hummocks comprised of undifferentiated areas. Clayey soils were deposited in areas of the town once
sand and gravel deposits, some cut by small streams. These covered by Ice Age period lakes. These clay soils are limited
deposits have slopes in excess of 15 percent in many places. in extent and are located mainly in western and northern
Within the village of Groton proper about 30 percent of the extremes of the town along Fall Creek and in the Owasco
land is covered by such slopes. Inlet Valley.
In some areas of the valley these glacial moraine deposits are The dominant soil type in Groton is the fragipan type.
also marked by the presence of highly erodible soils. These Fragipan soils are characterized by presence of a compact,
soils are particularly prevalent along the lower portions of the dense, impervious layer at varying depths in the upper
western side of the valley, along West South Street, Spring subsoil. This layer greatly impedes movement of water
Street and Walpole Road in the village. Another downward through the soil. In many locations this can cause
concentration of erodible soils straddles Peru Rd./Rte.38 from groundwater to be trapped in the upper levels of the soil,
Groton High School southward toward the southern boundary creating perched water tables. Water can often move
of the town. In these areas slopes generally exceed 15 horizontally across the surface of the fragipan layer a
percent and can be in excess of 25 percent. considerable distance. As a result water-borne sewage
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
effluent and other contaminants can spread substantial Environmental Conservation (DEC) also has regulatory
distances through the ground from their origins. responsibilities under the Environmental Conservation Law.
All streams in New York are provided a class and standard
designation based on existing or expected best usage of each
Water Resources water or waterway segment. The classification "AA" or "A"
is assigned to waters used as a source of drinking water; "B"
Extensive water resources exist within the Town of Groton, in indicates a best usage for swimming and other contact
the form of surface water (streams, lakes, ponds) and recreation, but not for drinking water; "C" is for waters
groundwater resources. Maintaining the quantity and quality supporting fisheries and suitable for non-contact activities.
of water resources within the town is critical to protecting the The lowest classification and standard is D.
natural environment as well the general health and welfare of
residents, and the local economy local. Water resources are an The DEC has classified most streams in the town based on
important recreational asset. existing or expected"best use."Water bodies classified as "A,"
"B" and "C" or higher are collectively referred to as protected
There are approximately 320 miles of streams and streams and are subject to more stringent regulation. About 44
approximately 160 ponds located within the town, the majority miles of the 320 miles of streams in the town are classed as
of which are manmade. Major surface water resources within "C" streams. These include all of the Owasco Inlet and the
the town include Fall Creek and Owasco Inlet. portions of Fall Creek within the town. There are no streams
classed as "A" or "B" in the town or village.
There are an estimated 2,100 acres of wetlands that have been
identified in the town and village. Significant areas of Streams classified as "A," "B" and "C" may also have a
wetlands extend up the Owasco Inlet valley from the village to standard of (T) appended. This indicates that they may
the southern boundary of the town. There is also a significant support a trout population. The Owasco Inlet, Fall Creek and
band of wetlands in the western part of the town between several of their tributaries carry the (T) standard.
Smith Road and Cobb Street. Bear Swamp, located north of
Pleasant Valley Road and west of Smith Road, is a complex of
wetlands that covers between 250 and 300 acres.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies
regulate activity along and within streams, ponds and wetlands
under the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and the Clean
Waters Act passed in the 1970s. The Department of
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Land Use Groton outside the village -- the rural character that attracts
new residents to the community. Homes built on frontage
Topography has endowed the Town of Groton with lots can also be adversely impacted by traffic volumes and
significant open space resources. These include the speed, especially along roads and highways such as NYS Rte.
woodlands and agricultural lands that create scenic vistas 34B and NYS Rte. 222, as well as some of the County
across the several ridges and valleys of the town and its highways.
numerous streams,ponds and wetlands.
Woodland, brushland and meadowland is the second largest
Groton is still very much a rural township. Approximately category of land use or land cover. There are about 10,080
94.4 percent of its land area consists of active or inactive acres of woodland, plus another 2,485 acres of brush and
agricultural land or undeveloped meadow, brush, woodlands meadowlands. Altogether almost 12,600 acres in the town, or
or wetlands. Agriculture is the largest land use or land cover approximately 39.5 percent of its area, are undeveloped
in the town and village with actively farmed lands covering woodland, brushland and meadowlands.
some 42.3 percent of the land area. Farmland that is currently
inactive represents another 2,260 acres of land, or about 7.9
percent of the land. Combined active and inactive Open Space & Environmental Resources
agricultural lands cover just over one-half of the total land
area. (Map 1) Because of its rural character and relatively low population,
most of the open space lands available to the public are in
Since 1970 residential development in the town and village private hands. There are two park facilities in the Village of
has consisted primarily of scattered non-farm homes on lots Groton. The largest is the 18-acre Village park and pool
outside the village and hamlets. Of the approximately 725 complex off Sykes Street. In addition the South Sports
new dwelling units constructed between 1970 and 2000 Complex located on Peru Street across from the Groton High
slightly more than 500 or roughly 70 percent have been School provides tennis courts and a skatepark.
single-family or two-family homes in rural areas. The
remaining new dwellings, including those built by the Groton A 5 1/2-acre parcel on South Main Street owned by the
Housing Authority and conversion of the old Groton School School District contains a ball field, and playground space
to senior apartments, have been built within the village. and equipment is also available at the elementary school on
Elm Street. (Map 2)
While residential development in rural areas of Groton has
been small-scale and scattered, it has also been almost Semi-public open space within the town and village include
entirely in the form of frontage lots along existing roadways. the lands of the Groton Rod & Gun Club and the Groton Golf
This is resulting in the slow erosion of available road and Recreation Association. Altogether these two
frontage, and to a certain extent the rural character of areas of organizations own some 305 acres of land
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Key open space resources in Groton are the prime agricultural
Although not public parks, and although they are subject to soils that cover some 56 percent of the land in the town. (Map
restrictions on their use, the athletic fields, playgrounds and 3) Prime agricultural soils are Class I or Class II soils as
other lands of the local schools constitute important open defined in the USDA Soil Survey for Tompkins County New
space resources. There are approximately 60 acres on the York. In addition there are a small number of Class III soils
grounds of the Groton High School/Middle School, Groton with the qualities that make them prime soils for agricultural
Elementary School and Cassavant Elementary School in purposes as well.
McLean that are available for public use on some basis.
Within the town there is one small preserve approximately 11
acres in size off Cemetery Lane that is owned by the Finger Transportation
Lakes Land Trust.
A network of state, county, village and town—maintained
The Tompkins County Environmental Management Council roads totaling approximately 118 miles serves the town and
Unique Natural Areas program identifies areas in Tompkins village. Of these, approximately 11.3 miles are state
County that harbor rare or endangered flora and fauna, unique highways, approximately 40.9 are county highways,
geologic features or that contain excellent examples of approximately 9.2 miles are village streets and 52.3 miles are
ecosystems or biotic communities. These areas have been town owned and maintained. (Map 4) There are also
mapped and designated as Unique Natural Areas (UNAs). approximately 4.1 miles of privately owned roads.
The program does not afford an identified open space
resource any protections beyond raising awareness of their With a few exceptions, roads and streets owned and
importance and sensitivity in the mind of the public as well as maintained by the Town and the Village serve primarily as
municipal officials. The preservation of Unique Natural Areas local roads with relatively low volumes of traffic. In general,
within the town is largely in the hands of private landowners, they connect village or rural residences and farms with the
and essentially voluntary. (Map 3) state and county systems. As a rural road network the Town
of Groton road system is well maintained and in line with
There are a total of 23 Unique Natural Areas in the town and generally accepted standards for rural roads.
village. Altogether some 2,450 acres of land are
encompassed in these UNAs. The largest UNA is the Bear The state highways serving the town are NYS Routes 34B,
Swamp UNA in the western part of the town. This UNA 38, and 222. NYS Rte. 38 roughly bisects the town from
contains about 650 acres of wetlands, woodlands, and north to south and passes through the village of Groton,
farmland around the headwaters of Owasco Inlet. where it is also Main Street. To the north the highway
connects Groton to Locke, Moravia and Auburn. To the
south it connects Groton with Freeville, Dryden, and
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
ultimately Owego and NYS Rte 17/I-86. From Freeville Table 3
NYS Rte. 366 provides a route to Ithaca. Average Annual Daily Traffic Volumes AADT on
State Highways in the Town of Groton
NYS Rte. 34B marks the southern boundary of the Town of
Groton. It provides a convenient route to Ithaca and the
Village of Lansing via South Lansing and Warren Road or
Hanshaw Road. The highway also functions as a major truck Location U w H >
route between the Cargill Salt Co. mine in South Lansing
with I-81 in Cortland and Homer and other points north and
east of Groton. NYS Rte. 222 connects the village with Between NYS Rte. 38&Benson Rd.,
34B Town of Lansing 2000 4,951
Cortland.
Between NYS Rte. 34B/Peruville Road
Two other major highways in the town are Peruville Road 38 &NYS Rte.222/Cortland Street 2001 3,637
(CR 107) and McLean Road (CR 105), both owned and
maintained by Tompkins County. Peruville connects NYS Between NYS Rte.222/Cortland Street
Rte, 34B where it terminates at NYS Rte. 38 with McLean 38 &Cayuga County line 2001 3,236
Road in McLean. It is a link in the truck corridor between Between Main Street,Groton&CR
South Lansing and Cortland. McLean Road is the eastern 222 102/Salt Road 1995 2,650
extension of the NYS Rte. 13/NYS Rte.366/CR 105/Fall
Creek Road corridor from Ithaca to McLean. The corridor CR 105 Fall Creek Road west of McLean 2000 5195
has become a heavily traveled alternative to NYS Rte. 13 for
drivers between Ithaca and Cortland. Between CR 102/Salt Road and
222 Cortland County line 2001 3,153
Source: New York State Department of Transportation,2002 Traffic Volume
Report,Tompkins County Highway Department(Fall Creek Rd.).
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
The town and village are served by the Tompkins
Consolidated Area Transit system, a.k.a. TCAT. Currently
there are three TCAT bus routes that serve town and village
residents:
• Route 40. 4 outbound (from Ithaca) and 5 inbound
(to Ithaca) trips per day between Ithaca and Groton
via Cornell University, Cayuga Heights, Etna and
Freeville;
• Route 42. 2 outbound trips and 2 inbound trips per
day between Ithaca and McLean via Varna, Etna and
Freeville (2 Rte. 43 and 1 Rte. 40 outbound trips and 1
Rte. 40 inbound trip extend to McLean as well);
• Route 43. 7 outbound trips and 7 inbound trips per
day between Ithaca and TO via Cornell University,
Varna and Groton village;
Tompkins County has aggressively developed what is now
one of the most extensive rural transit systems in New York.
As a result the level of public transit service in the town is
well beyond that typically found in a rural municipality.
Nonetheless a key factor in the continued existence of high
levels of service is increased ridership. For town and village
residents to be able to depend on the option of using public
transit, future growth and development patterns that make
public transit an attractive alternative must be encouraged.
14
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Insert Map I Land Use Land Cover -
Townwide
15
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Insert Map ]a Land Use Land Cover -
Groton village & McLean
16
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Insert Map 2 Open Space Assets
17
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Insert Map 3 Development Constraints
18
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
In sect Map 4 R oad Own ersh ip
19
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Th is page in ten tion ally left blan k
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Plan Goals & Objectives
Introduction 3. Promote cooperation and coordination between the
village and town in addressing issues of mutual
This Comprehensive Plan will be used as a basis for decisions concern.
that affect the physical, economic, and social character of the
town and village of Groton. The following goals address specific areas of land use, quality
of life for residents. They are set forth to further the above
Key to an effective comprehensive plan are a set of clear and vision:
concise goal statements and objective statements that provide
an overall framework for the recommended actions and
policies that follow. Goals are generally statements of a Goal 1. Quality of Life
desired outcome, based on the values held by a community at
large, but which may not necessarily be attainable. Progress la. Promote retention and expansion of community and
toward any particular goal generally is not quantifiable. cultural resources such as the library, recreation
Objectives in contrast establish specific desired outcomes that centers,places of worship and fellowship, health
would result from implementation of plan recommendation. services and other organizations that serve the
Usually progress toward achieving objectives can be community.
measured in some manner.
The overall vision of this comprehensive plan is to: Objectives
l al. Ensure that Village and Town zoning
1. Promote the health, safety and general welfare of all regulations allow adequate opportunities for
residents and to preserve the area's strong sense of religious, fraternal and other organizations that
community;
foster community.
2. Provide specific strategies for balancing the structure 1 a2. Whenever appropriate work with the Groton
of the local economy, maintaining the character and Central School District to provide community
quality of the village and hamlets,protection of the cultural and recreational programs for
town's rural character, and enhancing the small town residents.
quality of life for all residents;
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
and emergency services are available or easily
1a3. Promote levels of support for the Groton accessible.
Public Library adequate to ensure optimum
levels of services to residents. 1b5. Promote the tradition of volunteer-run and
staffed fire and emergency services
IA Identify desired community and cultural organizations.
resources not currently available to residents
and work with government and not-for-profit 1b6. Work cooperatively with State, County and
agencies to provide them. local public safety agencies to ensure an
effective program of public education and
I a5. Establish a youth center and programming. awareness of hazards to life and property, and
appropriate action in case of public
I a6. Enhance recreational programs for local youth. emergency.
lb. Ensure the provision of a comprehensive system of lc. Ensure retention of the small town character, quality
fire,police and emergency services to protect life and of life and economic viability of the village and
property throughout the community. hamlets.
Objectives Objectives
lbl. Update and improve local emergency response lcl. Establish programs to actively educate and
plans. encourage residents, including youth, to
become more involved in local activities such
Ib2. Work with County and local emergency as community groups, service organizations
management services to identify gaps and and government committees and boards.
remedy gaps in emergency services.
1c2. Protect the quality of life in existing residential
lb3. Ensure to the extent practicable adequate communities from the adverse impacts of
funding for fire, police and ambulance incompatible land uses and increased traffic.
services.
16. Promote downtown Groton and McLean as
1b4. Ensure that major future growth and local centers of commerce and culture.
development occurs in areas where fire, police
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Ic4. Develop land-use regulations that are clear and 2b. Protect the rich historic and cultural heritage of the
concise, and protect the character and community.
economic viability of local communities.
Objectives
1 c5. Work with local organizations to promote and
expand festivals and other cultural and 2b 1. Encourage the restoration and adaptive re-use
fundraising events in the community. of historic commercial structures and homes in
the village and hamlets.
2b2. Investigate the establishment of historic
Goal 2. Community Character districts to better promote preservation of
community character and encourage re-
2a. Protect the diverse physical environment that provides investment in older structures.
the backdrop for Groton's rural character.
2b3. Work with the Town of Groton Historical
Objectives Association and other agencies to identify and
call attention to local history and local
2al. Identify and map the significant open space landmarks.
resources of the community.
2a2. Adopt clear and concise policies and 2c. Encourage a land use pattern that, through its
regulations to better protect the significant physical form,fosters a sense of community.
open space resources of the community.
Objectives
2a3. Adopt clear and concise policies and
regulations that recognize the nature of 2c 1. Encourage new commercial development to
contemporary agriculture and enhance the locate in the vicinity of already existing
economic viability of agricultural enterprises. downtown areas and other nodes of retail and
services activities.
2a4. Support private land trusts and similar
organizations in their efforts to protect 2c2. Encourage future development that is designed
significant open space and environmental to accommodate alternatives to the
resources within the town. automobile.
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
26. Develop design standards to ensure safe and
attractive commercial development sites Objectives
consistent with the character of the
community. 3 a 1. Expand employment opportunities so that our
children will not be compelled to relocate to
other communities for economic reasons.
2d. Balance the need for residential, commercial,
industrial, and agricultural land uses while directing 3a2. Support local entrepreneurs and the
attention to the conflicts inherent among those uses. development of new local businesses and
industry.
Objectives
3a3. Assist existing local businesses and industries
2d i. Adopt clear and concise policies and to expand.
regulations that will encourage well-designed
residential, commercial and industrial 3a4. Aggressively promote the Groton Industrial
development in the most appropriate locations Development Agency Industrial Park.
in the village and town.
3a5. Ensure that the water, sewer and electrical
2d2. Adopt standards and guidelines for the design infrastructure required by industry is available.
of future development to mitigate potential
adverse impacts of development and minimize 3a6. Facilitate the development of state-of-the-art
conflicts between incompatible land uses. telecommunications systems within the village
and town to ensure levels of service adequate
20. Encourage new commercial development that to meet the needs of industry and commerce.
re-uses existing commercial structures or
vacant lands in traditional commercial centers. 3a7. Work with local organizations to promote and
expand festivals and other cultural and
fundraising events in the community.
Goal3. Economy
3a8. Work with Tompkins County Area
3a. Maintain and enhance the local economy and its ties Development and other organizations to foster
to the regional economy, and to seek ways to respond new local businesses and assist existing local
to economic trends in ways that will provide residents businesses to expand.
with a variety of employment opportunities.
24
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
3a9. Work with the Tompkins County Tourism
Advisory Board, Tompkins County Chamber 4a5. Work with County, State and private
of Commerce and other organizations to organizations to protect important agricultural
develop marketing strategies to promote land resources through non-regulatory means
tourism development in the town and village. such as the purchase of development rights.
Goal4. Agriculture Goals. Housing
4a. Ensure the continued viability of agriculture as a 5a. Ensure that a variety of affordable, high-quality
strong component of Groton's economy and its housing options are available for all members of the
landscape. community.
Objectives Objectives
4a1. Adopt clear land-use regulations which 5al. Provide for the construction and placement of
recognize the nature of contemporary housing of varying types and densities to serve
agriculture and enhance the economic viability the needs of different populations in the
of agricultural enterprises. community.
4a2. Create explicit language to communicate 5a2. Provide quality, safe and affordable housing for
Town right to farm policy in Town land-use senior residents.
regulations.
5a3. Identify areas most appropriate for new
4a3. Ensure that local land-use regulations conform residential development and provide necessary
to the policies of the NYS Department of services and infrastructure to encourage new
Agriculture and Markets. residential development in those areas.
4a4. Tap the resources of the NYS Department of 5a4. Ensure that new residential development
Agriculture and Markets, the Tompkins enhances the character and viability of existing
County Soil and Water Conservation District villages and hamlets.
and Cooperative Extension to promote the
viability of agriculture and to protect farmland.
25
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
5a5. Promote residential construction that Goal7. Transportation
conserves energy and water resources.
7a. Ensure that the local transportation system is safe,
5a6. Work with organizations such as Better efficient and diversified to serve the needs of all
Housing for Tompkins County, Tompkins members of the community.
Community Action and Groton Housing
Authority to develop new housing and Objectives
renovate the existing housing stock in the
community. 7al. Adopt land-use and growth management
policies that make optimum use of existing
streets, road and highways.
Goal 6. Education 7a2. Work with the Tompkins Consolidated Area
Transit to encourage use of public transit
6a. Support the mission of the Groton Central School through expanded bus routes and network of
District and other contiguous school districts. bus stops,park and ride facilities and other
programs.
Gal. Promote educational programs that meet the
education and training needs of all residents. 7a3. Develop a network of streets, roads and
highways that have adequate capacity to
6a2. Promote a community environment that accommodate traffic without congestion.
encourages students to develop abilities and
attitudes that will enable them to achieve 7a4. Extend the existing network of sidewalks in
personal standards of excellence. the village into new areas of development in
and adjacent to the village.
6a3. Promote a community environment that
encourages students to become responsible 7a5. Develop a network of sidewalks, bicycle and
and productive citizens of the community and pedestrian paths between residential
the world. neighborhoods, commercial centers, schools,
parks and places of employment.
7a6. Work with the Gadabout paratransit service to
extend Gadabout bus service to include
Cortland County destinations.
26
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
7b. Ensure that streets and roads for new development, as
well as modifications in the existing street and road 8a2. Identify potential needs and opportunities to
system, contribute to a comprehensive traffic develop area walkways and bicycle/pedestrian
circulation system. paths.
Objectives 8a3. Ensure wherever possible that existing and
future community recreational facilities are in
7b 1. Work with the State and Tompkins County to compliance with the requirements of the
develop alternative routes for heavy traffic Americans with Disabilities Act.
passing through the community.
8a4. Identify and correct deficiencies in the local
7b2. Review and where necessary revise and update park and recreation infrastructure.
Village and Town specifications for the design
and construction of new streets and roads.
7b3. Adopt policies that ensure a system of through Goal 9. Municipal Services
streets and collectors that will provide
residents with a variety of routes and better 9a. Manage growth so that current and future residents
distribute traffic in neighborhoods. are provided adequate and timely municipal services
and quality of life is maintained and enhanced.
Objectives
Goal 8. Parks and Recreation
9a1. Manage future growth and development to
8a. Provide a system of park and recreational facilities direct it toward areas of the community where
that can serve the variety of recreational needs of all the use of the existing public facilities and
residents. services can be maximized.
9b. Expand and maintain public facilities such as water,
Objectives sewer and other municipal services as needed in an
8a1. Establish a Youth Center. efficient and cost-effective manner.
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Objectives Objectives
9b 1. Establish coordinated capital improvement Mal.. Adopt policies and regulations to better protect
programs for the Village and the Town to stream corridors, wetlands and other water
direct future capital investments by the bodies from inappropriate development.
municipalities.
10a2 Promote carefully designed development that
9b2. Locate future expansions of public water and minimizes adverse impacts such as loss of
sewer infrastructure to channel development agricultural and forest lands, soil erosion and
into areas that are best suited for growth. sedimentation, and stormwater run-off.
9b3. Emphasize cooperation between the Village 10a3 Support private land trusts and similar
and Town to minimize the cost of public water organizations in their efforts to protect
and sewer services and to maximize the significant ecological resources within the
efficiency of such systems. town.
9b4. Ensure a continuous and systematic program 10a4. Protect both private property and the
of monitoring, maintenance and upgrading of functional capabilities of floodplains by
existing water and sewer facilities to maximize channeling development away from such
their efficiency and life span. areas.
1 Ob. Protect the scenic quality of the landscape.
Goal 10. Environment and Open Space Objectives
Resources
10al. Identify and map the significant open space
10a. Protect the diverse array of environmental resources resources of the community and adopt policies
in the community, including but not limited to streams, and regulations to better protect such areas.
wetlands, groundwater aquifers, woodlands and
agricultural lands. 10a2. Support private land trusts and similar
organizations in their efforts to protect
significant open space and environmental
resources within the town.
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
10a3. Adopt land-use regulations that will direct
future large-scale residential, commercial and
industrial development into or adjacent to the
village and hamlets.
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Plan Strategies and Actions
3. Balancing the local economy with maintaining the
Introduction character and quality of the village and hamlets, and
protection of the town's rural character;
Key to an effective comprehensive plan is a set of clear 4. Enhancing the small town quality of life for all
strategies and actions designed to assist the community in residents;
achieving the objectives of the comprehensive plan. This 5. Promoting cooperation and coordination between the
chapter of the comprehensive plan sets forth a substantial village and town in addressing issues of mutual
number of recommended strategies and actions that the concern.
Village or Town, or Village and Town together, should
implement in the coming years to further the goals and The following strategies and actions are designed to guide the
objectives of the comprehensive plan. Village and Town in furthering the goals and objectives of
this plan, and to ensure that future generations can enjoy a
In the Village and Town of Groton we have the opportunity higher quality of life and the small town and rural character
to both guide future development in a beneficial manner and of Groton today.
to encourage economic growth that will ensure that future
generations can enjoy the same quality of life current
residents do. We have the opportunity to do so in a manner
that protects the environment and preserves the small town
and rural character that residents highly value.
Key themes that tie the recommended strategies and actions
together are:
1. Promotion of the health, safety and general welfare of
all residents of the community;
2. Preservation of the area's strong sense of community
that are hallmarks of the town, village and hamlets;
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Quality of Life
Strategy
The people of Groton have a rich history of progressive
institutions founded to provide an array of opportunities to Enhance recreational programs for youth in the village, town
engage in civic, recreational, educational, fraternal and and hamlets.
spiritual pursuits. These institutions today provide a wide
variety of services that enhance the quality of life for all Action
residents of the community.
Work with government and not-for-profit agencies to
Even within the limitations imposed by constitutional and establish a youth center to serve Village and Town youth
legal constraints on the activities local governments can and also to enhance recreational programs for local
engage in, the Village and Town can play important roles in youths. The envisioned center could serve as a central
promoting and expanding such services. meeting place for youth groups, provide office space for
youth services delivery agencies and as an informal
Specific strategies and actions for protecting and enhancing gathering place for local youth. The center could also
the quality of life for Village and Town residents are: provide facilities necessary to support enhanced
recreational programs for local youth.
Strategy
Retain and expand community and cultural resources such as Strategy
the library, civic and fraternal groups, health services and
other organizations that serve the community. A key partner Encourage residents of all ages to become actively engaged in
in implementing this policy will be the Groton Central School the civic affairs of the community. Civic engagement is a
District. critical element in maintaining a high quality of life in any
community. Unfortunately there are many other issues or
Actions activities that compete for the attention of local residents.
The Village and Town thus need to take a more pro-active
1. Work to promote levels of support for the Groton Public role in encouraging civic engagement.
Library adequate to ensure optimum levels of services to
residents. Action
2. Work with government and not-for-profit agencies to
identify desired community and cultural resources not Work with government and not-for-profit agencies to
currently available to residents and to provide them. establish programs to actively educate and encourage
31
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
residents, including youth, to become more involved in
local community groups, service organizations and Strategy
government committees and boards.
Expand festivals and other cultural and fundraising events in
the community, especially in the downtown areas. These
events benefit the community in many ways. They can raise
Strategy critical funds for public service organizations. They provide
the opportunity for civic engagement by a broad spectrum of
Manage commercial, industrial, residential and other the community, and they can attract tourists into the
development in a manner that protects the quality of life in community.
existing residential communities from potential adverse
impacts. These include the impacts of adjacent but Action
incompatible land uses and increased traffic.
Work with local, county and state organizations to
Actions promote and expand festivals and other cultural and
fundraising events in the community, especially in the
1. Develop clear, concise and up-to-date zoning, subdivision downtown areas.
and other growth management regulations.
2. Promote downtown Groton and McLean as local centers
of commerce and culture. The downtown areas of both Strategy
communities are integral parts of their respective
characters, and the character of the community as a Ensure that there are adequate opportunities for religious,
whole. fraternal and other organizations that foster community
fellowship.
3. Adopt policies and programs that encourage adaptive re-
use of existing buildings and infill development within the Actions
downtown areas.
1. Periodically review and revise where necessary zoning
4. Craft zoning regulations in a manner that protects the ordinances and maps to ensure that such institutions are
community without discouraging new investment in adequately accommodated within local land-use
downtown areas. regulations.
32
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
2. Ensure that zoning regulations must acknowledge that Public Safety
such land uses can have potential adverse impacts such as
noise and traffic, especially in residential neighborhoods Local emergency service organizations are an integral part of
and include provisions to prevent or minimize such the tradition of community service. Over the past three
impacts. decades the roles and responsibilities of volunteer fire fighters
and ambulance corps members have changed dramatically.
Today fire fighting and emergency medical response
personnel must be trained to utilize equipment and confront
Strategy situations that may not have been imagined even ten years
ago. This has presented the local volunteers with a
Encourage development patterns that protect agricultural considerable challenge that can directly impact the quality of
lands and other aspects of the rural landscape that contribute life for residents.
to the quality of life in the town,village and hamlets.
Specific strategies and actions to maintain and enhance public
Actions safety are:
See Agriculture section on page 38 Strategy
Ensure the continued provision of a comprehensive system of
fire, police and emergency services to protect life and
property throughout the community.
Actions
1. Work with local emergency response providers to identify
and remedy those gaps in emergency services.
2. Ensure to the extent practicable adequate funding for fire,
police and ambulance services.
3. Work cooperatively with local fire companies and
ambulance organizations to promote the tradition of
volunteer-run and staffed fire and emergency services
organizations.
33
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Strategy
3. Ensure that local emergency planning efforts are
Ensure that major future growth and development occurs in coordinated between municipalities, emergency response
areas where fire, police and emergency services are available agencies and Tompkins County.
or easily accessible.
Actions Community Character
1. Channel future major development toward existing To ensure that future residents can enjoy the small town and
concentrations of population to help reduce average rural farming community character enjoyed by current
distances traveled by responding units and overall residents, future residential, commercial and industrial growth
response times. should be directed toward the existing centers of development
such as the village and the hamlets. In the case of the Village
2. Channel future major development in a manner that there are already in place municipal water and sewer services
increases the possibility that municipal water could be to serve the needs of industrial and commercial enterprises, as
readily available for fire fighting purposes. well as new residential development.
The several hamlets do not at this time provide such
municipal services. By promoting growth within and adjacent
Strategy to these communities however, the Town can lay the
foundation for the potential provision of public water and
Ensure an effective program of public education and sewer services in the future, and at a reasonable cost. This
awareness of hazards to life and property, and appropriate policy would also protect agricultural lands and other aspects
action in case of public emergency. of the rural landscape.
Actions Just as important as the economic benefits of directing future
major growth and development toward existing centers is the
1. Work with State, County and local public safety agencies protection such policy will provide the diverse physical
to implement to assist residents in learning about and environment that provides the backdrop for Groton's rural
preparing for potential natural and other disasters or farming character.
emergencies.
Specific strategies and actions for protecting and enhancing
2. Evaluate municipal emergency operations plans on an community character are:
annual basis and update as needed.
34
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Strategy in the village and other traditional commercial centers.
Directing new retail and service businesses into existing
Encourage the development of well-designed residential downtown areas and other nodes of retail and services
neighborhoods in the most appropriate locations in the village activities can benefit individual businesses by creating a
and town. critical mass of drive-by or walk-by customers necessary to
ensure the viability and growth of the business.
Actions
Action
1. Adopt clear, concise and up-to-date zoning and
subdivision regulations. Review and modify where necessary zoning regulations
that may hinder adaptive re-use of existing commercial
2. Adopt land-use regulations that permit higher residential and industrial buildings.
densities in specific areas of the Town and Village to
protect valued open space and make optimal use of
existing and future municipal services; further the
objective to ensure decent affordable housing for the Strategy
community; and increase the customer base for existing
and future retail businesses and services. Better protect the rich historic and cultural heritage of the
community through actions that encourage an appreciation of
3. Adopt design standards and guidelines for the design of local history by residents and the restoration of and adaptive
future non-residential development to minimize potential re-use of historic structures.
adverse impacts and conflicts between those uses and
residential neighborhoods. Such standards would not
dictate the design of individual buildings, but instead Actions
would provide for minimum standards for parking,
lighting and landscaping, as well as for buffer areas 1. Work with the Town of Groton Historical Association to
between residential and non-residential land uses. identify structures of historic significance and to
encourage owners to apply for listing on the State and
National Register of Historic Structures.
Strategy 2. Work with the Town of Groton Historical Association to
establish one or more historic districts in the Village and
Encourage new commercial and industrial development that the Town. Many communities have used historic districts
would re-use existing commercial structures or vacant lands to call attention to significant structures in the
35
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
community, promote their preservation by providing resources within the community. In a limited number of
financial incentives to building owners and to generate circumstances, outright acquisition by either a
economic development. Some communities also enact government or private entity may be most appropriate_
design review and approval processes to regulate changes
to structures and ensure that new construction is sensitive
to and compatible with existing historic district character.
This is not a necessary step for the Town or Village to
take, or a recommended policy. Economy
The local economy determines to a great extent how a
community will grow, or not grow, the ability of local
Strategy governments to provide desired levels of services and the
overall quality of life of its residents. The successful
Protect the diverse physical environment that provides the implementation of policies that seek to maintain and enhance
backdrop for Groton's rural character as growth and the local economy and provide residents with a variety of
development occurs in the town and village in the coming employment opportunities will in turn have a positive effect
decades. on quality of life.
Actions A critical issue that has been identified is the need to expand
local employment opportunities so that young adults in the
1. Adopt clear and concise policies and regulations to better community will not have to leave to seek employment
protect significant open space and agricultural land elsewhere, but instead remain in Groton to raise their
families.
resources.
2. Work with the Tompkins County Environmental Fortunately Groton is within easy commuting distance of
Management Council, Finger Lakes Land Trust, Cornell centers of employment in Ithaca and Cortland. The
Plantations, and other public and private entities to protect community also has a long history of manufacturing and
significant open space and environmental resources industrial innovation. The Village can provide municipal
within the community. water and sewer services to prospective industries, and the
Groton Industrial Development Agency has created an
3. Pursue a multi-faceted approach that utilizes, among other industrial park and can provide financial packages to existing
things, growth management tools such as cluster and new businesses. Within the Village prospective new
subdivision design and purchase of development rights to enterprises would be eligible for lower cost municipal electric
protect significant open space and environmental service through the Village system.
36
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
One utilities infrastructure issue that has been identified
however is the lack of state-of-the-art telecommunications 3. Work with private sector providers to develop state-of-
systems, including high-speed internet access, needed by the-art telecommunications systems, including high-speed
industry and commerce. internet access, needed by industry and commerce.
Although tourism development is not viewed as a 4. Work with state and local agencies to assist local
replacement for industrial development as a major local industries to invest in energy conservation measures to
economic engine, the Village and Town have much to offer reduce costs and increase productivity.
for visitors to enjoy, whether it is scenic vistas, the farms or
historic architecture in the village and hamlets. Tourism
development should thus be an integral part of any economic Strategy
development strategy.
Encourage additional industrial development in the Groton
Specific strategies and actions for local economic Industrial Development Agency Industrial Park. Especially
development in the Village and Town are: when compared to most other locations in Tompkins County,
the park has relatively easy access to I-81 in Cortland and
Strategy markets throughout the northeastern United States. The
Industrial Park also has municipal water and sewer service
Provide support whenever possible to local entrepreneurs and is tied to the Village's municipal electric system.
who desire to expand local businesses or industries, including
agricultural enterprises, or to develop new businesses or Actions
industries, including agricultural enterprises.
I. Promote the Industrial Park more aggressively to
Actions prospective industries.
1. Continue and where possible expand Industrial 2. Work with the Groton Industrial Development Agency to
Development Agency assistance to local enterprises. make the Groton Industrial Park more attractive to
prospective industries by more fully developing the site
2. When appropriate supplement the existing local economic with access road and utilities.
development capacity with assistance and expertise that
can be provided through Tompkins County Area
Development, Tompkins County Workforce Development
and other organizations to foster new local businesses and
assist existing local businesses to expand.
37
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Strategy Agriculture
Increase tourism by promoting and expanding festivals and This plan anticipates that agriculture can continue to be a
other cultural and fundraising events in the community and to major and valuable economic sector and land use in Groton.
develop marketing strategies to promote tourism development The Town and Village should support agriculture and its role
in the town and village as a major and valuable economic sector and land use in
Groton, and should work with farmers and agribusinesses to
Actions promote the continued viability of agriculture in the
community.
1. Work with local organizations, the Tompkins County
Tourism Advisory Board and Tompkins County Chamber Many farmers in the community must supplement their
of Commerce to promote and expand festivals and other incomes with income generated by an agriculture-related
cultural and fundraising events in the community. business. Examples of such businesses are grain, feed, seed,
farm implement or farm building dealerships, as well as
2. Work with local organizations, the Tompkins County wholesale and retail distribution of agricultural products. By
Tourism Advisory Board and Tompkins County Chamber providing such options for generating revenue in its zoning
of Commerce and to develop marketing strategies to regulations, the Town can allow the farmer or farmland
promote tourism development in the town and village. owner alternatives to the sale of land for development
purposes.
Some of the tools that the Town should use include the
Agricultural District program, federal agricultural
conservation programs and the purchase of development
rights. The protection of large tracts of contiguous farmland is
critical to the overall viability of agriculture in the
community. In addition to preventing fragmentation of
agricultural land, such a policy would also limit the potential
for the conflicts that can arise between the farm and non-farm
community over agricultural practices.
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Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Specific strategies and actions to promote the continued Strategy
viability and contributions to the local economy for
agriculture are: Protect the most important agricultural land resources of the
village and town.
Strategy
Actions
Enhance the economic viability of agricultural enterprises
through land-use regulations that address the needs of 1. Establish zoning and other growth management tools that
contemporary agricultural enterprises. promote development of the existing village, the hamlets
and their immediate environs for future residential,
Actions commercial and industrial land uses.
1. Adopt as part of zoning regulations explicit language 2. Identify farmland that should be permanently preserved
communicating the current Town "right to farm" policies for agricultural use and make full use of County, State
to reduce potential conflicts between landowners, local and private resources to protect important farmland
government and the state. resources through non-regulatory means.
2. Adopt land-use regulations which permit farm-based 3. Protect agricultural areas from the impacts that could be
agriculture-related business enterprises. generated by the development of incompatible public
facilities such as water and sewer extensions.
3. Adopt local land-use regulations conform to the policies
of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. 4. Adopt subdivision regulations to promote the subdivision
of land in a manner that maximizes the retention of
4. Work with the NYS Department of Agriculture and farmland. Subdivision and zoning regulations that permit
Markets and Cornell Cooperative Extension to promote the use of cluster subdivision design and flag lots can
new crops and new markets to help strengthen the permit the flexibility that is sometimes needed to create
viability of agriculture. new residential lots while preserving quality farmland.
Cluster subdivision design can permit a landowner to
5. Work with the NYS Department of Agriculture and create smaller residential lots than permitted under
Markets, the Tompkins County Soil and Water conventional subdivision, on poorer quality soils, in
Conservation District and Cornell Cooperative Extension exchange for preserving better quality agricultural lands.
to promote soil conservation, nutrient management and Flag lots can provide access from public roads to woods
other agricultural practices that protect soil, water and or other non-agricultural lands that may be located
other environmental resources. beyond productive fields.
39
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Strategy
Criteria for identifying the best areas for future
Integrate the farming community more fully into local neighborhoods include the presence of existing municipal
government policy making. services, proximity to existing concentrations of population in
the village and hamlets, availability or high potential for
Action public transit service. By channeling future development into
such areas, the Town and Village can achieve the objectives
Establish a Town of Groton Agricultural Advisory of providing decent affordable housing, enhancing the
Committee comprised of members of the farm viability of downtown areas, providing municipal services in
community. This committee would be charged with an efficient manner, and protect the small town and
advising the Town on matters related to agriculture in the rural/farming character of the community.
town. Such a committee could act as a sounding board
and provide expertise to the Town Board, Planning Board Finally, smaller households and an aging population are
and Zoning Board, as well as represent the interests of the creating demands for housing other than the single-family
farm community in Town policy making. detached home which has been the norm for decades.
The Town and Village must thus adopt new strategies and
Housing action to address issues regarding housing, including:
The availability of decent, affordable housing fulfills a basic Strategy
human need for shelter. While the majority of the homes
within the community are well constructed and maintained, Ensure that zoning and subdivision regulations provide for
many homes are older and do not meet current building and the construction and placement of housing of varying types
fire codes, or have not been adequately maintained. In many and densities to serve the needs of different populations in the
cases the most vulnerable members of the community, such community.
as small children, the elderly and the disabled occupy these
homes.
Actions
Another issue associated with housing is its location. In
Groton as elsewhere new residential development for the 1. Adopt residential development densities that can provide
most part has been scattered throughout the community, and high quality homes affordable to the average family,
generally beyond the range of municipal services such as make optimal use of existing municipal services and
water, sewer and public transit. Valuable farmland and open preserve important open space and agricultural resources.
space resources are also lost.
40
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
2. Adopt zoning regulations that permit the construction of Transportation
quality, safe and affordable housing for senior residents
and other residents with special needs, while protecting The network of state, county, town and village—maintained
quality of life and community character. roads comprise a network that totals approximately 118
miles. Of these, approximately 11.3 miles are state highways,
approximately 40.9 are county highways, approximately 9.2
miles are village streets and 52.3 miles are town owned and
Strategy maintained. (Map 4) There are also approximately 4.1 miles
of privately-owned roads.
Encourage major new residential development in those areas
that would be most appropriate for such land use by providing With a few exceptions, roads and streets owned and
the municipal services to encourage new residential maintained by the Town and the Village serve primarily as
development in those areas. local roads with relatively low volumes of traffic. In general,
they connect village or rural residences and farms with the
Actions state and county systems. As a rural road network the Town
of Groton road system is well maintained and in line with
1. Adopt land-use regulations for newer forms of residential generally accepted standards for rural roads.
development envisioned in this plan that both
accommodate the changing forms of housing and protect The state highways serving the town are NYS Routes 34B,
existing neighborhoods from potential traffic and other 38, and 222. NYS Rte. 38 roughly bisects the town from
impacts. Adequate parking, open space, play areas and north to south and passes through the village of Groton,
other amenities become more important as residential where it is also Main Street. To the north the highway
densities increase. Yard setbacks and landscaped buffer connects Groton to Locke, Moravia and Auburn. To the
areas between high-density developments and adjoining south it connects Groton with Freeville, Dryden, and
single-family homes are also recommended. ultimately Owego and NYS Rte 17/I-86. From Freeville NYS
Rte. 366 provides a route to Ithaca.
2. Work with organizations such as Better Housing for
Tompkins County, Tompkins Community Action and Fall Creek Road (County Route 105) connects McLean and
Groton Housing Authority to develop new housing and the eastern portions of the town to Freeville and NYS Rte.
renovate the existing housing stock in the community. 366. County Route 105 continues eastward from Mclean as
the McLean-Cortland Road and connects McLean to
Cortland.
41
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
NYS Rte. 222 connects the village with Cortland and Action
provides the village and town with a link to I-81 via NYS
Rte. 281. It provides convenient access for commuters, Work with the State and Tompkins County to develop
shoppers to Cortland and truck access to I-81. alternative routes for heavy truck traffic passing through
these communities.
NYS Rte. 34B runs west along the southern boundary of the
town from NYS Rte. 38. It connects Groton with South
Lansing to the west and Ithaca to the south. Strategy
The village and town should strive to make optimum use of Make optimum use of existing streets, roads and highways as
existing and future streets and roads. One way to do so and the Village and Town grow in the coming decades.
also reduce the potential increases in traffic generated by new
development would be to encourage use of alternatives to the Actions
automobile, including public transit. In general creating a
cost-effective network of bus routes requires a minimum 1. Adopt land-use regulations that direct major residential
density of 4 to 5 dwelling units per acre within a community. and other development toward existing village and hamlet
Thus, directing major residential and other development areas.
toward the existing village and hamlet areas will complement
this policy. 2. Develop a network of streets, roads and highways that
would make optimum use of existing streets without
Specific strategies and actions to address issues related to adverse impacts to quality of life in existing
transportation are: neighborhoods.
3. Combine use of existing streets and roads with new
Strategy streets and roads. This network would have adequate
capacity to accommodate traffic without congestion,
Protect local communities from the impacts of high volumes provide residents with a variety of routes to better
of traffic. In the village of Groton and McLean hamlet large distribute traffic in neighborhoods and reduce impacts of
volumes of heavy truck traffic are of particular concern. increased traffic on existing neighborhoods.
42
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Strategy to better connect residential neighborhoods, commercial
centers, schools, parks and places of employment. This
Ensure that the rural road network of the town continues to will be a combination of new paths and existing paths. As
serve the needs of the local farm community. residential development occurs the existing network of
sidewalks should be extended into new areas of
Actions development.
1. Direct major residential and other development toward
existing village and hamlet areas to better protect rural Strategy
roads from increased levels of traffic that could adversely
impact the ability of farmers to move equipment over Ensure that residents of all capabilities have access to needed
roads. transportation services.
2. Identify and correct deficiencies in local roads to ensure Action
that they can support heavy farm equipment.
Work with the Gadabout paratransit service to extend
3. Educate the motoring public about safe driving habits Gadabout bus service to include Cortland County
when encountering farm equipment on public highways. destinations. Because many Village and Town residents
receive their health care in Cortland the lack of paratransit
service to Cortland is a major gap in service that needs to
Strategy be addressed.
Encourage increased use of public transit and other
alternatives to the automobile.
Actions Municipal Services
1. Work with the Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit to One of the greatest challenges to local governments is
encourage use of public transit through expanded bus striking a reasonable balance between the benefits accrued
routes and network of bus stops, park and ride facilities from growth and development and the costs associated with
and other programs. growth and development. The presence of adequate
infrastructure is essential to economic development in the
2. Develop a network of sidewalks, bicycle and pedestrian community, to the implementation of land-use policies
paths within the village of Groton and hamlet of McLean designed to direct future large-scale development toward
43
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
existing developed areas, policies to promote downtown Specific recommended strategies and actions with regard to
revitalization and to preserve valuable open space and municipal services in the Village and Town are:
agricultural land resources.
Strategy
The Village of Groton directly provides municipal water,
sewer and electric services, maintains an extensive network Maximize the use of the existing public facilities and services
of streets and sidewalks, a park system and a police to ensure that future investments in new facilities are
department. The Town of Groton directly provides for the minimized.
maintenance of an extensive road system. Both
municipalities fund local fire departments and ambulance Actions
services. How the village and town grow in the coming
decades will directly impact the cost of providing municipal 1. Adopt land-use regulations that direct major residential
services. Together they must manage growth so that current and other development toward existing village and hamlet
and future residents are provided adequate and timely areas.
municipal services and quality of life is maintained and
enhanced. 2. Expand municipal water, sewer and other infrastructure
and services as needed in an efficient and cost-effective
One means ensuring efficient use of existing municipal manner.
infrastructure would be to permit higher density residential
development in areas served by municipal water and sewer. 3. Invest in municipal water, sewer and other infrastructure
By encouraging residential densities of 3 to 4 dwellings per that is adequate to serve the economic needs of local
acre on average, both the Village and Town can industry and maintain their competitiveness in the global
accommodate substantial residential development in areas economy.
already served by or in close proximity to existing water and
sewer lines. 4. Implement a systematic program of monitoring,
maintaining and upgrading the existing water and sewer
Even though McLean is not currently served by municipal facilities is critical to maximizing their efficiency and life
water and sewer, it is possible that in the future such service span.
may be desirable. By promoting denser development in and
around the hamlet, the Town can minimize per unit costs for 5. Establish coordinated capital improvement programs for
such an investment and enhance the financial feasibility of the Village and the Town to direct future capital
such a project. investments by the municipalities. In doing so and
emphasizing cooperation between the Village and Town,
the cost of public water and sewer services can be
44
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
minimized and the efficiency of such systems can be Parks and Recreation
maximized.
The Town and Village should plan to make modest
investments in new public park and recreation facilities in the
Strategy coming years. This is necessary to ensure a system of park
and recreational facilities that can serve the variety of
Ensure public water supply that is adequate to serve the future recreational needs of all residents.
growth and development in the town and village
The National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) has
Action established standards for communities throughout the country
to use to plan their park systems. According to the NRPA a
Identify potential risks to the quality and quantity of the community should strive to develop between 6.25 and 10.5
Village's municipal water supply and take appropriate acres of public parks for every 1,000 residents. For the town
actions to ensure a continued high quality and adequate and village combined, these figures would translate into
supply of water. between 36 and 61 acres of public parkland town-wide, and
between 15 and 26 acres for the village proper.
The NRPA standards however are geared toward suburban
and urban areas, not rural towns such as Groton. The rural
character, relatively low population and informal recreational
pursuits traditionally available to rural residents reduce the
need for public park facilities, at least in areas outside the
village and McLean hamlet.
The Village itself, even excluding Groton Central School
District facilities, fares relatively well in terms of public
parks. The 18-acre Village park complex off Sykes Street and
the 2-acre South Sports Complex place the village in the
recommended range for public park acreage. In addition the
lands along the Owasco Inlet in the vicinity of the pedestrian
bridge between downtown and Conger Boulevard and the
small area around the Graves memorial on Main Street also
qualify as park.
45
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Nonetheless as the eastern portions of the village continue to meeting place for youth groups, provide office space for
develop a second park complex should be developed in the youth services delivery agencies and as an informal
area. Also, a small public park to serve residents of McLean gathering place for local youth. The center could also
should be developed in the coming years. Both proposed provide facilities necessary to support enhanced
parks should be around 2.5 acres in size: an area large enough recreational programs for local youth.
to accommodate a 2-acre playing field for baseball and other
field sports, a playground and short walking trail and 3. Work with the Town of Dryden and landowners to
benches. Because they are expected to serve homes within develop the 4.5-mile former railroad grade extending
relatively easy walking distance of users, there would be no south from Groton to Freeville as a bicycle and pedestrian
need to build comfort facilities or parking at these parks. path. This would be a joint project with the Town of
Dryden. The facility would serve both as a practical
Specific recommended strategies and actions with regard to transportation link and a valuable recreational facility. It
public park and recreation facilities include: would provide a level bicycle route suitable for
commuting purposes. It would provide walkers, joggers
Strategy and recreational bicyclists access to the scenic wetlands
and woodlands of the Owasco Inlet bottomlands. The
Ensure that village and town residents have access to a high path could tie into the bicycle and pedestrian path the
quality network of park and recreational facilities. Town of Dryden is currently working to build between
Dryden village and Freeville, and plans to ultimately
Actions extend the path through Etna and Varna to Ithaca.
1. Work in partnership with Groton Central School District, 4. Upgrade existing park and recreational facilities wherever
Dryden Central School District and private civic groups to possible to comply with the requirements of the
make most efficient use of public monies when Americans with Disabilities Act and design and construct
developing proposed new public park and recreation all future facilities to comply to the extent possible.
facilities. This includes possible improvements to the
South Sports Complex such as landscaping, picnic area,
horseshoe, bocce and shuffleboard and portable ice
skating rink.
2. Work with government and not-for-profit agencies to
establish a youth center to serve Village and Town youth
and also to enhance recreational programs for local
youths. The envisioned center could serve as a central
46
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Environment and Open Space Resources In some cases the outright acquisition, most likely through
donation to a land trust or other private entity, can be utilized.
The hills, farm fields, some 10,000 acres of woodland, 320 The Town and Village could have important roles in such
miles of streams and approximately 2,100 acres of wetlands in efforts, particularly by serving as conduits for state and federal
the town and village are critical to the quality of life for all grants for such initiatives.
residents and need to be protected as the community grows in
the coming decades. Specific policy recommendations for environmental and open
space resources in the Village and Town are:
Another important visual element in the landscape of Groton
and a defining scenic landmark is the forested western side of Strategy
the narrow Owasco Inlet valley. This steep hillside extends
north to south through the town and village and is visible from Ensure better protection of stream corridors, wetlands and
a wide variety of vantage points other water bodies, as well as agricultural and forest lands,
through carefully designed development.
These features contribute to the scenic beauty of the
community enjoyed by resident and visitor alike. Moreover Actions
the farmland is critical to the viability of a major economic
sector in the community. Wetlands contribute to water quality 1. Adopt design approaches such as cluster subdivision,
in streams, retain excess water in times of flood and provide stream buffer areas and no (tree)-cut zones that would
important habitat for numerous species of plants and animals. permit developers the densities permitted under zoning,
Woodlands contribute to the scenic character of the community yet at the same time protect important open space and
and provide important habitat for wildlife. environmental resources, including farmland, woodland
and steep slopes.
The undeveloped floodplain areas along the Owasco Inlet and
Fall Creek represent an important open space asset that should 2. Adopt design standards that better protect stream
be protected from future development where possible. In corridors, wetlands and other water bodies and minimize
addition to limiting future flood-related property losses, adverse impacts such as loss of soil erosion and
steering development away from floodplain areas protects their sedimentation, and stormwater run-off.
ability to hold and retain floodwaters and reduce potential
flood crests further downstream.
An important tool for protecting important open space would
be the sale or donation of conservation by individual
landowners to either private land trusts or government agency.
47
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
Strategy
3. Educate the public and builders to the benefits of
Ensure better protection of the significant open space floodplains, the adverse impacts of building in floodplains
resources of the community through policies and regulations and alternatives to building in floodplains.
to better protect such areas.
Actions
1. Adopt zoning and other growth management policies that
promote development of the existing village, the hamlets
and their immediate environs for future residential,
commercial and industrial land uses.
2. Identify and map the significant open space and
ecological resources of the community and work with
other government agencies, private land trusts and similar
organizations to permanently protect such resources for
future generations.
Strategy
Protect the functional capabilities of floodplains and private
property through appropriate regulations and education.
Actions
1. Direct new development away from floodplain areas and
limit the depositing of earth fill in such areas.
2. Regulate new construction in floodplain areas to ensure it
is designed and constructed to be flood-proof to the
maximum extent possible, and minimized reductions in
floodplain functional capacities.
48
Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village&Town of Groton,New York
APPENDIX A
GROTON TOWN-VILLAGE CITIZENS'
SURVEY RESULTS
March 25,2004
49
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
GROTON TOWN-VILLAGE CITIZENS' SURVEY RESULTS
March 25 , 2004
Introduction
What Was The Public Opinion Survey?
The public opinion survey was mailed to every household in the Town and Village of Groton in December 2003 and January 2004. It
had 30 questions on employment, housing, transportation, agriculture, shopping and dining patterns, and quality of life in Groton.
Respondents were also asked whether they lived in or outside the Village, how long they had lived in Groton, and age and educational
level. The type of information sought in the survey is not included in the U.S. Census but augments Census data. Finally, survey
respondents were asked what they loved about Groton, what they would change, and what the Town and Village would be like if the
proposed changes were made.
Why Was It Done?
The Town and Village of Groton are working on updating their comprehensive plans. The Town and Village are undertaking this
jointly. Comprehensive plans need to be updated every few years to keep them current. This is important to maintain eligibility for
State and Federal grants. It is also needed for updating current land use (zoning)regulations and providing guidance for Town and
Village Board actions. Obtaining a clear understanding of what Groton residents think about the community, growth,jobs and quality
of life, and what to do about them is critical in developing a sensible and effective comprehensive plan.
Who Developed The Survey?
The Town of Groton Comprehensive Plan Committee and the Village of Groton Planning Board developed the Public Opinion Survey
jointly. A consultant, George Frantz,provided input and guidance and compiled the survey into the format that was mailed out.
The Town Comprehensive Plan Committee currently has seven members (formerly eight), appointed by the Town Board in February
2002. These include the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Planning Board and two members of the Zoning Board of Appeals, including the
Chair. The Village of Groton Planning Board consists of five members. Discussion of a public opinion survey began in March 2003.
How Was The Survey Distributed?
Two copies of the survey were mailed to 2,490 addresses in the Town, which includes the Village. They were addressed to "Postal
Customer"through the Groton, McLean, Freeville and Cortland post offices in the areas that each serves in the Town. Additional
surveys were available at the Town and Village offices and could also be downloaded from the Ithaca Journal web site.
1 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
Who Responded To The Survey?
Altogether 457 survey questionnaires were returned. This represents about 9.2 percent of the total number of surveys mailed.
However, if it were assumed that most households only returned one copy of the survey, the response rate would be closer to 18
percent among households.
By gender: 255 (55.8%) were female, and 199 (43.5%) were male.
By age: 18-24 (0.7%); 25-44 (21.5%); 45-64 (48.4%); 65 or older(29.4%).
By length of residency: Over 30 years, 190 (43.1%); 21-30 years, 68 (15.4%); 11-20 years, 73(16.6%); 6-10 years, 45 (10.2%); 3-6
years, 33 (7.5%); 1-3 years, 24 (5.4%); less than 1 year, 8 (1.8%).
By education: less than high school, 12 (2.8%): high school, 194 (44.5%); 2-year college, 100 (22.9%); 4-year college, 64 (14.7%);
Graduate degree, 66 (15.1%).
How Does Response To The Survey Compare To U.S. Census Data?
By gender: According to U.S. Census, town and village population was 52.3%were female and 47.7%were male, compared to 55.8%
female and 43.5% male among the respondents.
By residence: The U.S. Census reports that 42.6% of the Town's residents live in the Village; 48.3% of the respondents are from the
Village.
By household size: The average size of household reported by survey respondents is 2.53 persons, compared to the 2.62 persons in the
U.S. Census of Population.
By age: U.S. Census data shows 8.0% of Town's population is 18-24 years old but make up only 0.7% of the survey respondents;
persons 25-44 comprise 28.8% of Town's population according to U.S. Census, but only 21.5% of survey respondents; the 45-64 age
group is 23.9% in U.S. Census, but are 48.4% of survey respondents; and the 65 or older age group is 12.8% in U.S. Census,
compared to 29.4% of survey respondents.
2 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
Conclusion
Survey respondents tended to be older(78% over 45), longer term residents (75% eleven years or more), and have more education
(53% college). The male/female ratio among survey respondents is fairly representative of the Town's population. The Village is
somewhat over-represented among the survey respondents, as well as smaller households vs. larger ones.
The tabulated results of the survey are at the end of this report.
Survey Responses - Some Highlights
Quality of Life
Many respondents appear to have a very positive opinion regarding the town and village of Groton, the quality of life and the services
and amenities available to them. (Quest.28) The positive characterizations of friendliness and small size ranked first and second,
followed by the quality of the school system and a "quiet/peaceful" character. Groton's central location and proximity to larger
surrounding cities ranks high also in the minds of survey respondents.
Other positive aspect of the town and village listed by twenty or more respondents were:
• Rural/agrarian character of the town, scenic beauty;
• Strong sense of community, safe living environment and low crime rate;
• Inexpensive/reasonably priced housing;
• Inexpensive municipal electric power in village.
The following are a number of quality of life issues that appear to be important to residents.
Respondents believe that the scenic qualities and natural beauty of the town and village are important to quality of life. In response to
Question 26, 97.5% said that preserving scenic quality and natural beauty of the area is "Important" or "Essential." The same
percentage of respondents believes that preserving the rural,peaceful character of the community is "Important" or "Essential." The
descriptives "quiet, peaceful character" and "rural, agrarian character" ranked 4th and 6th in the responses to Question 28.
Related to the appreciation of the scenic qualities communicated by survey respondents is a concern regarding property upkeep in the
community. In response to the question "What would you change in Groton?" (Quest. 29) the need to rehabilitate commercial
3 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
properties ranked third, and the need to rehabilitate residential properties ranked fifth. The elimination of trash and abandoned
vehicles on private property was also noted as an issue.
In response to the question about what they would change in Groton(Quest. 29) a substantial number of residents expressed the desire
for increased shopping opportunities, especially in the area of food shopping. Some 64 respondents specifically mention the desire for
a larger,better and more reasonably priced grocery store or supermarket. Another 35 expressed a desire to have a pharmacy, while 42
expressed a desire to have a wider selection of restaurants.
When asked if they would shop more in the village if facilities or services were improved, 84.4% of respondents said yes,they would.
Some 74.2% stated that they would dine out more in the village if their options were improved or expanded. (Quest.23)
Another quality of life issue that appears to be important is the need for recreational opportunities for youth in the town and village.
Some 47 respondents to Question 29 listed the lack of a youth center and recreational facilities as something they would change. Of
the respondents to Question 24, 75.1% said that they were "Important" or "Essential" to them.
In response to being asked where they work(Quest. 4) some 72.5% of respondents who identified where they worked(221 of 305)
reported that they commute to jobs outside the Town of Groton. Of these 221 respondents, 66.1%work in Tompkins County, 20.4%
in Cortland County, and 6.8% in Cayuga County, with the remaining reporting they worked elsewhere in New York of out of state.
Some 34.4% of commuters from Groton work in the town or city of Ithaca, another 14.0% in the village or town of Lansing, and about
8.1% in the village or town of Dryden.
Although the 59% of residents who commute to work drive more than 10 miles one way, the trip does not appear to be a problem for
most. In response to the question about how respondents felt about their commute, 58.5% said they did mind it and 18% stated that
they like it very much. Only 15.2% claimed to dislike their commute, with only 3.7% claiming to dislike it very much. (Quest. 5,
Quest. 17)
Municipal services are seen as important elements in quality of life. In response to Question 24, some 92.1% of respondents
characterized municipal services as being "Important" or "Essential; some 95.5% characterized police and fire protection as being
"Important" or "Essential." This sentiment is confirmed in responses to Question 26.
Inexpensive municipal electric rates were ranked seventh, and inexpensive housing costs ranked twelfth among the positive attributes
of living in Groton listed in Question 26.
4 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
Planning Issues
The single-family, owner-occupied home is by far the most widespread type of home amongst survey respondents. Some 92.5% of
respondents said they live in a single-family home and 94% stated that they own their home. The majority of respondents, 87.5%,
reported that they are satisfied with their home. Of those that were dissatisfied with their home, the largest percentage of respondents,
60.7%would like to live in a newer home. Some 32.1% desired a house on a larger lot, 23.2%would like to live in a lager house and
19.6%would like to live in a smaller house.
Although only 16 respondents live on a farm operated full time, and 17 live on farms operated part-time, agriculture in the town is still
an important issue for the majority of respondents. There appears to be very strong support for agriculture in the town. Some 59.8%
of respondents feel that right to farm protection for agriculture is "Essential," while another 29.9% consider it "Important." (Quest. 18)
Fifty-nine percent of respondents believe that protecting the town's higher quality agricultural soils is "Essential," while 30.1%believe
such action is "Important."
The importance of agriculture to survey respondents is also reflected in the responses to Question 26. There 90.0% said that the
economic viability of the agricultural community is "Important" or "Essential," and 92.4% said that protecting farmland was
"Important" or "Essential" to quality of life for residents.
The major transportation issues for survey respondents appear to be road maintenance and truck traffic. Some 81.8% of respondents
believe that the volume of heavy truck traffic through residential areas is an "Important" or "Essential" issue. More controls on truck
traffic ranked 15th out of the 69 suggestions listed in the responses to Question 29. Maintaining existing roads was "Important or
"Essential" to 98.6% of respondents, while constructing new roads was considered "Important" or "Essential" for 71.2% of
respondents. The issue ranked 14th out of the 69 suggestions listed in the responses to Question 29.
There is substantial interest also in employment and economic development in the town and the village. Local businesses are
considered "Important" or "Essential" to quality of life for 94.8% of respondents. (Quest. 26) Ninety-two percent of respondents
believe that employment opportunities are "Important" or "Essential," 76.4%believe that new light industrial development is
"Important" or "Essential," and 85.5%believe that expansion of municipal water and sewer service areas is "Important" or "Essential."
Increasing employment opportunities locally ranked 7th in the responses given to Question 29, while improving the local economy
ranked 9th on the list.
5 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
Survey Responses - Tabulated
1. Where do you live?
Groton McLean east of 38& east of 38& west of 38& west of 38& Total No.of
village hamlet south of 222 north of 222 south of north of Responses
Spring St Spring St
No.of Responses 193 39 37 59 79 39
Percent of total Responses 48.3% 8.7% 8.3% 13.2% 17.7% 8.7% 446 rrs.
2. If you live outside the Village of Groton, what is the co ity nearestyou?
Village of Mclean Freeville Locke Lansing West Peruville Groton Dryden Cortland Total No. of
Groton hamlet Groton City Responses
No.of Responses 152 55 5 12 12 6 6 4 2 3
Percent of total 58.9% 21.3% 1.9% 4.7% 4.7% 2.3% 2.3% 1.6% 0.8% 1.2% 258
Responses
3. How long have you lived in the Town or Village of Groton?
more than 30 more than 21 more than 11 more than 6 more than 3 more than 1 Less than 1 Total No. of
years years to 30 years to 20 years to 10 years, less year,less year Responses
years years years than 6 years than 3 years
No.of Responses 190 68 73 45 33 24 8
Percent of total Responses 43.1% 15.4% 16.6% 10.2% 7.5% 5.4% 1.8% 441
N.B. Please note that because many respondents did not answer all the questions on their questionaires the number of respondents per question varies
considerably in these tabulations.
6 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
4. Where do you work?
Z Z
Q) Z U -M
-- o o y o w o o 0 0 .,
� L7 C7 0 > F� > �1 E F, 0 wHU UU UU W O
No.of Responses 57 2 25 18 76 31 21 15 45 14 1 151
Percent of total Responses 12.5% 0.4% 5.5% 3.9% 16.7% 6.8% 4.6% 3.3% 9.9% 3.1% 0.2% 33.1% 456
o ' o °' d 18 �°�' o o The questionnaire did not have a place where respondents could indicate that
4a. Breakdown of 7 am a a 2 w�0 they were retired,however 49 respondents who checked the"I am not
not Employed"responses
- U 5 ¢ m employed" line also made a notation that they were retired. Another 66 who
No.of Responses 151 49 66 checked the line indicated later on the questionnaire that they are 65 years old
Percent of total Responses 100% 32.5% 43.7% or older. Thus of the 151 respondents who checked the"I am not employed"
line,up to 115 may actually be retired and no longer in the workforce. This
leaves only 36 respondents who may be in the local workforce but currently
unemployed.
5. Approximately how far is it from home to your place of work, one way?
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CZ
No.of Responses 42 33 46 81 51 20 4 18
Percent of total Responses 14.2% 11.2% 15.6% 27.5% 17.30% 6.8% 1.4% 6.1% 295
7 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
6. If you are a business pe son or farmer, doyou em loy others in your business or farm?
o
N o ° z
O
M � �
No.of Responses 27 70 10 8 6 2 0 0 1 97
Percent of respondents answering 100% N/A 37.0% 29.6% 22.2% 7.4% 0% 0% 3.7%
Yes.
6b. How many employees reside outside the Town of Groton?
0 0 0 0 0 V.) 0 0 0 0 0 o
Q Q N M 0
No.of Responses 12 3 1 0 2 0 0 0 0
7. What was the last year of school you completed?
o
4 4° ° ° +; z
y ` on °' °° °' 0
on on
-� v° C7 -o F o 04
No.of Responses 12 194 100 64 66 436
Percent of total Responses 2.8% 44.5% 22.9% 14.7% 15.1%
8 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
8. How many persons live in your household?
CIO
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Z Cn
0
N
F- o R
No.of Responses 56 219 55 48 20 14 1 0 0
Percent of total Responses 13.6% 53.2% 13.3% 11.7% 4.9% 3.4% 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% 412
9. What age bracket are you in?
18 to 25 to 45 to
24 44 64 65 Z
years years years years °
old old old or o
older F
No.of Responses 3 96 216 131 446
Percent of total Responses 0.7% 21.5% 48.4% 29.4%
10. If you live on a farm, is it:
y o
o ° r� ° o ° C4 9 F- o 94
No.of Responses 16 17 13 8 27 457
Percent of total Responses 3.5% 3.7% 2.8% 1.8% 5.9%
9 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
11. Do you own or rent your dwelling?
\ o
According to the 2000 Census of Population,
75.6%of dwellings in the town and village are
y .a owner occupied, 24.4%are renter ocupied.
Z o O O a'� Homeowners are thus over-represented in the
No.of Responses 425 22 1 4 survey response, and renters substantially
Percent of total Responses 94.0% 4.9% 0.2% 0.9% 452 under-represented
12. What type of structure is your dwelling?
o i
on o an
w 3 d 3 � Z �
419 28 6
92.5% 6.2% 1.3% 453
13. Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your dwelling?
C O N
b
Z . o � o
3a Zp'
No.of Responses 391 56
Percent of total Responses 87.5% 12.5% 447
10 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
14. If dissatisfied, wh are you dissatisfied?
7
p O N
N "• 4y N N O N N R3 N R3 N '. y y N O O
4.1
o o °? o -cs o a? o g �
Cli �
cd i-i •.. i-i }_i •.. ;.. N it F-I y
o °A 3 � 34'.
No.of Responses 7 0 11 13 18 3 34 4 1 1 1 1 56
Percent of Responses to 12.5% 0% 19.6% 23.2% 32.1% 5.4% 60.7% 7.1% 1.8% 1.8% 1.8% 1.8%
Question
15. How many motor vehicles are there in your household?
0
none 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 °
0
No.of Responses 6 91 209 93 31 3 4 1 1 1 0
Percent of total Responses 1.4% 20.4% 47.3% 21.0% 7.0% 0.7% 0.9% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 442
16. If you are employed, what mode of transportation do you normally use?
w
8 > •$4 o o o
° a E C? o -"
>
o 0 0 o Z
No.of Responses 28 308 5 6 1 0 0
Percent of total Responses 8.7% 96.0% 1.6% 1.9% 0.3% 321
11 Appendix AA
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
17. How do you feel about your commute to work?
0
7o
o o o o o
No.of Responses 11 31 158 54 21 25
Percent of total Responses 3.7% 11.5% 58.5% 18.0% 7.8% 9.3% 270
18. How do you rank the following issues regarding agriculture in terms of importance?
M °
Za a o F
w Z Z w
23 123 246 19 411
Right to Farm No.of Responses 5.6% 29.9% 59.8% 4.6%
Percent of total Responses
117 49 57 89 312
No Right to Farm No.of Responses 37.5% 15.7% 18.3% 28.5%
Percent of total Responses
37 114 179 47 377
Special Purpose Permits(for chemical use,storage) No.of Responses 9.8% 30.2% 47.5% 12.5%
Percent of total Responses
17 122 239 27 405
Protecting Higher Quality Farmland from Major No.of Responses 4.2% 30.1% 59.0% 6.7%
Development Percent of total Responses
20 162 198 26 406
Educating the Non-Farming Community about No.of Responses 4.9% 39.9% 48.8% 6.4%
agriculture Percent of total Responses
and right to farm laws
12 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
19. How do you rank the following issues regarding transportation in terms of importance?
o
0 0 o y �.
Z w Z
New road construction No.of Responses 105 190 110 16 421
Percent of total Responses 24.9% 45.1% 26.1% 3.8%
Maintaining existing roads No.of Responses 3 121 302 3 429
Percent of total Responses 1.0% 28.2% 70.4% 1.0%
Public transit service No.of Responses 43 209 132 38 422
within Tompkins County Percent of total Responses 10.2% 49.5% 31.3% 9.0%
Public transit service No.of Responses 64 207 87 63 421
To Cortland County Percent of total Responses 15.2% 49.2% 20.7% 15.0%
Public transit service No.of Responses 140 123 57 103 423
to Cayuga County Percent of total Responses 33.1% 29.1% 13.5% 24.3%
Volume of heavy truck No.of Responses 36 202 140 40 418
traffic in residential areas Percent of total Responses 8.6% 48.3% 33.5% 9.6%
20. If you live outside the village of Groton how often to do you travel into the village for purposes
other than work?
Cd CZ
41
> O N
o O 3 O cv 3 OE� ,2 04 Z E R!
No.of Responses 162 42 24 13 19 1 261
Percent of total Responses 62.1% 16.1% 9.2% 5.0% 7.3% 0.4%
13 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
21. What percentage of your spending for food and other consumer goods, services such as banking, legal, accounting and
insurance, or healthcare goes to businesses in:
Total No.
Responses
O1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o to
0
*=less than 1.0% o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Question:
o N m v °O c 1,389
Village or town of No.of Responses 76 83 87 25 17 48 13 19 10 8 386
Groton Percent of Responses to 5.5% 6.0% 6.3% 1.8% 1.2% 3.5% * 1.4% * * 27.8%
Question
Village or town of No.of Responses 80 46 37 1 2 7 2 0 1 4 180
Dryden Percent of Responses to 5.8% 3.3% 2.7% * * * * * * * 13.0%
Question
Ithaca,town of Ithaca No.of Responses 51 74 59 22 30 30 4 8 10 13 301
or Lansing Percent of Responses to 3.7% 5.3% 4.2% 1.6% 2.2% 2.2% * * * * 21.7%
Question
Cortland or town of No.of Responses 16 46 43 30 49 63 21 45 26 22 361
Cortlandville Percent of Responses to 1.2% 3.3% 3.1% 2.2% 3.5% 4.5% 1.5% 3.3% 1.9% 1.6% 26.0%
Question
Cayuga County No.of Responses 35 13 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 59
Percent of Responses to 2.5% * * * * * * * * * 4.2%
Question
Other: No.of Responses 16 4 6 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 27
Syracuse/Onondaga Percent of Responses to 1.2% * * * * * * * * * 1.9%
County Question
Other: No.of Responses 6 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 14
Binghamton/Broome Percent of Responses to * * * * * * * * * * 1.0%
County Question
Other: No.of Responses 10 2 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 17
Cataolog/Internet Percent of Responses to * * * * * * * * * 1.2%
Question
Other Place or No.of Responses 15 16 5 3 0 1 1 1 1 1 44
Unspecified Percent of Responses to 1.1% 1.2% * * * * * * * * 3.2%
Question
14 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
22. If you live outside the village of Groton and travel into the village for purposes other than work, what are the purposes?
0.
M cccii ° � bA � dp
O O U O U O O O E° o
183 127 164 73 111 85 71 62 13 5 3 3 0
No.of Responses 20.3% 14.1% 18.2% 8.1% 12.3% 9.4% 7.9% 6.9% 1.4% 0.6% 0.3% 0.3% 0% 900
Percent of Responses to
Question
23. If any of the facilities or services in Question 22 were improved and expanded, would either you or members
of your family use them more often?
° o
y ° o
> N
o v •y o chi ° ` 0 � W 0 cC
316 315 312 314 314 310 312 310
Total number of Responses
No. of YES Responses 264 232 115 141 160 86 95 48
Percent of total Responses 84.4% 74.2% 36.9% 44.9% 51.0% 27.7% 30.4% 15.5%
52 83 197 173 154 224 217 262
No. of NO Responses 15.6% 25.8% 6 .1% 55.1% 49.0% 72.3% 69.4% 84.5%
Percent of total Responses
15 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
24. How important are the following to you?
Not Total
Important Important Essential No opinion Responses
Job opportunities No.of Responses 74 159 148 30 411
Percent of total Responses 18% 38.7% 36.0% 7.3%
Educational facilities No.of Responses 43 138 220 20 421
Percent of total Responses 10.2% 32.8% 52.3% 7.1%
Cost of living No.of Responses 4 147 267 9 427
Percent of total Responses 0.9% 34.4% 62.5% 2.1%
Taxes No.of Responses 1 137 276 9 423
Percent of total Responses 0.2% 32.4% 65.2% 2.1%
Recreation opportunities No.of Responses 85 216 83 33 417
Percent of total Responses 20.4% 51.8% 20.0% 7.9%
Youth activities/services No.of Responses 73 188 125 31 417
Percent of total Responses 17.5% 45.1% 30.0% 7.4%
Housing No.of Responses 53 193 137 26 409
Percent of total Responses 13.0% 47.2% 33.5% 6.4%
Friendliness No.of Responses 10 197 212 7 426
Percent of total Responses 2.3% 46.2% 49.8% 1.6%
Shopping facilities No.of Responses 40 199 177 11 427
Percent of total Responses 9.4% 46.6% 41.5% 2.6%
Churches No.of Responses 83 157 132 48 420
Percent of total Responses 19.4% 37.4% 31.4% 11.4%
Municipal services No.of Responses 16 174 210 17 417
Percent of total Responses 3.8% 41.7% 50.4% 4.1%
Police&fire protection No.of Responses 10 106 302 9 427
Percent of total Responses 2.3% 24.8% 70.7% 2.1%
Physical attractiveness No.of Responses 19 214 154 25 412
Percent of total Responses 4.6% 51.9% 37.4% 6.1%
Closeness to work No.of Responses 74 171 80 72 397
Percent of total Responses 18.6% 43.1% 20.2% 18.1%
Planning for community No.of Responses 29 181 172 24 406
growth Percent of total Responses 7.1% 44.6% 42.4% 5.9%
Zoning No.of Responses 42 178 152 30 402
Percent of total Responses 10.5% 44.3% 37.8% 7.5%
Closeness to rural No.of Responses 40 161 151 40 392
surroundings Percent of total Responses 10.2% 41.1% 38.5% 10.2%
16 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
NOTE. Due to a error in final layout the choice of answers to #25 were not 1 = Low; 3 = Neutral; 5= High as they were intended to
be. Although the responses to the question are included here,they are included only as a matter of interest and will not be used in
future deliberations on the new Joint Comprehensive Plan.
25. How would you rate your community on the following?
Not Total
Im ortant Important Essential No opinion Responses
Employment No.of Responses 75 153 88 45 361
opportunities Percent of total Responses 20.8% 42.4% 24.4% 12.5%
Educational facilities No.of Responses 16 90 171 14 367
Percent of total Responses 4.4% 24.5% 46.6% 3.8%
Cost of living No.of Responses 15 183 147 10 355
Percent of total Responses 4.2% 51.5% 41.4% 2.8%
Taxes No.of Responses 15 166 154 8 353
Percent of total Responses 4.2% 47.0% 46.5% 2.3%
Recreation opportunities No.of Responses 63 176 70 30 341
Percent of total Responses 18.6% 51.9% 20.6% 8.8%
Youth activities/services No.of Responses 55 184 73 35 347
Percent of total Responses 15.9% 53.0% 21.0% 10.1%
Housing No.of Responses 37 194 98 16 345
Percent of total Responses 10.7% 56.2% 28.4% 4.6%
Friendliness No.of Responses 7 206 125 4 342
Percent of total Responses 2.0% 60.2% 36.5% 1.2%
Shopping facilities No.of Responses 71 179 88 8 346
Percent of total Responses 20.5% 51.7% 25.4% 2.3%
Churches No.of Responses 41 156 103 40 340
Percent of total Responses 12.1% 45.9% 30.3% 11.8%
Municipal services No.of Responses 12 171 143 17 354
Percent of total Responses 3.5% 49.9% 41.7% 5.0%
Police and fire No.of Responses 2 132 215 5 354
protection Percent of total Responses 0.6% 37.3% 60.7% 1.4%
Physical attractiveness No.of Responses 36 190 96 22 344
Percent of total Responses 10.5% 55.2% 27.9% 6.4%
17 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
26. How do you rank the following in terms of importance to quality of life in the future?
Not Total
Important Important Essential No opinion Responses
Preserving scenic quality/natural No.of Responses 7 195 222 4 428
beauty Percent of total Responses 1.6% 45.6% 51.9% 0.9%
Preserving rural/ No.of Responses 6 184 239 5 434
peaceful character Percent of total Responses 1.4% 42.4% 55.1% 1.2%
Location in the region No.of Responses 25 209 145 34 413
Percent of total Responses 6.1% 50.6% 35.1% 8.2%
Local businesses No.of Responses 14 208 193 8 423
Percent of total Responses 3.3% 49.2% 45.6% 1.9%
Future residential growth No.of Responses 68 187 144 22 421
Percent of total Responses 16.2% 44.4% 34.2% 5.2%
New small-scale commercial No.of Responses 58 200 152 17 427
development Percent of total Responses 13.6% 46.8% 35.6% 4.0%
New large-scale commercial No.of Responses 194 111 89 30 424
development Percent of total Responses 45.8% 26.2% 21.0% 7.1%
New light industrial No.of Responses 73 210 110 26 419
Development Percent of total Responses 17.4% 50.1% 26.3% 6.2%
Directing future development into or No.of Responses 75 200 104 33 412
close to existing hamlets or villages Percent of total Responses 18.2% 48.5% 25.2% 8.0%
Providing for a variety of No.of Responses 48 225 109 21 403
development Percent of total Responses 11.9% 55.8% 27.0% 5.2%
Employment opportunities No.of Responses 23 189 201 11 424
Percent of total Responses 5.4% 44.6% 47.4% 2.6%
Municipal services No.of Responses 11 174 229 14 428
Percent of total Responses 2.6% 40.7% 53.5% 3.3%
Police coverage No.of Responses 14 143 271 8 436
Percent of total Responses 3.2% 32.8% 62.2% 1.8%
Fire/emergency medical services No.of Responses 2 125 304 5 436
Percent of total Responses 0.5% 28.7% 69.7% 1.1%
18 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
26. (CONT.) How do you rank the following in terms of importance to quality of life in the future?
Not Total
Important Important Essential No opinion Responses
Water/sewer districts No.of Responses 30 154 219 33 436
Percent of total Responses 6.7% 35.3% 50.2% 7.6%
Recreational No.of Responses 49 237 103 31 420
opportunities Percent of total Responses 11.7% 56.4% 24.5% 7.4%
Viability of agricultural No.of Responses 25 188 193 17 423
community Percent of total Responses 5.9% 44.4% 45.6% 4.0%
Clear land use policies No.of Responses 27 193 161 33 414
Percent of total Responses 6.5% 46.6% 38.9% 8.0%
Protect farmland No.of Responses 20 176 216 12 424
Percent of total Responses 4.7% 41.5% 50.9% 2.8%
Public transit No.of Responses 54 199 131 42 426
Percent of total Responses 12.7% 46.7% 30.6% 9.9%
Expand walkways and No.of Responses 93 187 92 46 418
bike trails Percent of total Responses 22.2% 44.7% 22.0% 11.0%
27. lam a female; male resident.
Of the respondents to the questionnaire, 55.8%were female, 43.5%were male, and 0.7% did not respond to the question.
19 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
28. What do you love about Groton? What would you tell a friend about why they should move here?
Response Count Response Count
It's a friendly community 145 Good selection of stores,services 16
The small size/small town character 108 Good village/town municipal services 13
The quality of the schools stem 69 Quality of the park&pool,other recreational facilities 11
The quiet,peaceful character 68 Quality of the fire,police,emergency medical services 11
It's location/proximity location/proximity to Auburn,Cortland,Ithaca, Syracuse 54 The Groton Public Library 9
The rural/agrarian character of the town 41 The churches 8
Safe living environment/low crime rate 33 Community events 7
Inexpensive municipal electricity(village) 33 Village Christmas season street decorations 6
A strong sense of community,civic pride 32 Proximity to family 5
Close knit community-people recognize,watch out for each other 32 The fitness center 5
Community character-attractive,clean community 27 Proximity to cultural events(in Cortland,Ithaca,elsewhere) 3
Inexpensive/reasonably priced housing,cost of living 24 Snow plowing/winter maintenance 3
Scenic beauty of the area 22 Tax rates 3
Good place to raise a family 17 Not much industrial development 2
Good service by local business people 17 Good/great potential 2
20 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
Question#28. There were a number of responses by only one respondent. These responses to Question#28 by individuals were:
"only 10 last names in the whole community" (a positive observation on the small town character...)
"[its] historic character"
"good employment in schools"
"Senior housing is available."
"[It's a] resourceful community"
"beautiful chimes"
Question 29 results on next page
21 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
29. What would you change in Groton?
Response Count Response Count
Need a larger/better/more resonably priced grocery store 64 Eliminate truck traffic salt trucks mentioned several times) 9
Need a youth center/more recreational opportunities for youth 47 Make safety improvements to intersection of Main and Rte.222 9
Increase the number and types of restaurants 42 Better noise control auto/truch,snowmobiles,ATVs,radios) 8
Rehabilitate run-down commercial properties 42 Need a hardware/plumbing/home center type store 7
Need a pharmacy 35 Expand water and sewer service areas 7
Rehabilitate run-down residential properties 35 Expand the number of community events 7
Increase eLnploymeny opportunities locally 30 No or less low income housing 6
More stores/shopping stores/shopping opportunities in general 29 Need more entertainment venues 6
Eliminate trash,abandoned vehicles from properties 22 Consolidate Town&Village governments 6
Improve the local economy 22 Improve telecommunications TV cable,High-speed internet) 6
Lower taxes 19 Improve local parks,incl. skate park&new bike/ ed.paths 6
Improve local hosuing stock 19 Need adult recreational opportunities/more activities 5
Improve local zoning regulations,zoning enforcement 19 Consolidate DPW,other munici sl sevices where practical 5
Improve local streets and roads,street and road maintenance 14 Increase rate of volunteerism 5
More control of heavy truck traffic,including restricting routes 13 Improve bus,taxi service 4
Expand municipal electric service area 11 Maintain agricultural lands 4
Improve enforcement of speed limits 11 Increase tax base 4
22 Appendix A
Groton Town-Village Citizens'Survey Results March 25,2004
There were a number of responses from 3 persons or less to Question #29. Other comments received in response to Question# 29
were (in random order):
3 responses each:
Encourage tourism; Eliminate zoning regulations; Increase tax base.
2 responses each:
Need better sidewalks; Improve animal control; Friendlier people; Eliminate Village police, replace with State Police; Need more
development; Need more stores on Rte. 222; Expand natural gas service areas; village should clear snow from Cayuga St. sidewalks;
Need a new Village fire/ambulance building; Need increased municipal parking; Improve school distict performance; Reduce
number of bars; Maintain scenic beauty of area; Need a shopping center; Increase development within the village; Shop locally&
support local businesses more; Increase police force.
1 response each:
Expand main Street improvements in village; Change the perception that Groton needs more stores; Expand the range of health care
services; Restrict rural trash burning; Use less road salt in winter; maintain Groton as a residential community; Enhance the
downtown as a day trip destination; Give local assessment review boards power to change assessments; Improve landscaping
downtown; Need more single-family homes; Enact tax relief for veterans; Need better odor contraol at fish farm.
In addition to the above comments, at least two respondents who suggested the need for a youth center or more recreational
opportunities for youth specifically mentioned a need for such action for youth in McLean.
23 Appendix A