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HomeMy WebLinkAboutI - 10 Comp Plan recommended responses August 2, 2021 Mr. Tom Williams, Supervisor Town of Cortlandville 3577 Terrace Road Cortland, New York 13045 RE: Town of Cortlandville Comprehensive Plan CHA Project No.: 34338 Dear Supervisor Williams: The following are recommended responses to comments received from the Town boards and the public on the Draft Comprehensive plan and our recommendations on edits to the plan. Town Board Virtual Workshop – January 13, 2021 a. Peter Morse-Ackley Topic- Moratoriums and Grandfathering, timing of new requirements and projects Response: Projects that come before the Town are required to meet the requirements of the regulations in place at the date of the first approval, usually a Concept approval. Comprehensive Plans serve as a guidance documents for municipalities, they are not regulatory. However, Town Law Section 272-A states that “All town land use regulations must be in accordance with a comprehensive plan adopted pursuant to this section”. When towns adopt or update a Comprehensive Plan, it should be followed by a thorough review and update of all Town Zoning, Subdivision and other regulations to bring them into compliance with the Plan. This is addressed in the first recommendation identified in the Action Plan. This underscores the importance of both adopting the Comprehensive Plan and efficiently addressing the necessary regulatory changes for the regulations to be in conformance with the Plan. This ensures a Town or municipality can make steady progress towards achieving the vision, goals and objectives outlined in the Plan. This review and adoption process can realistically require up to a year to complete. Municipalities that are facing development pressure generally or in a specific geographic area or type of project often choose to enact a moratorium while they address deficiencies in regulations. Moratoriums should have a specific start and end date and identify the action to be completed. Moratoriums generally apply to projects that have not received any municipal approvals. Projects submitted but not approved would be subject to a moratorium. It is important that any municipality wishing to enact a moratorium consult with a land use attorney for proper wording and process. In regard to grandfathering of projects, typically in zoning this applies to a use currently in existence or operation that complied with zoning law at the time of its inception but may no longer comply as a result in changes in zoning requirements. Zoning Article XVII address nonconforming uses. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic – Solar Development Response: The Town has experienced pressure in the area of solar farm development. Questions regarding the appropriateness of existing PILOTs and fees are not discussed in the Comprehensive Plan. These are details that should be addressed in the Town’s zoning and in the negotiations for specific projects. Committee members and the community expressed concern at the speed at which solar applications were being submitted to the Town. The Plan identified this concern and recommended (Infrastructure Recommendation 2.5) that the Town’s existing Solar Regulations be reviewed and updated as necessary to continually address this rapidly changing technology. The Action Plan refers to promoting responsible development of renewable energy sources under the heading of Sustainable Communities. To highlight the importance of this action, “review and update the existing solar regulations” can be inserted under Review and Update Zoning Code and identified as an immediate priority. As discussed above, a moratorium could be considered during this review and update. Specific arrangements between land owners and solar developers and/or the town and solar developers regarding fees and PILOT are outside the scope of the Comprehensive Plan. b. Nick Renzi Topic – summary of new businesses and square footage, summary of businesses Response: A business inventory to the extent identified in the comment was not included in the Comprehensive Plan. This level of effort was not considered warranted given the many large issues effecting the Town and the associated costs to produce this survey. The Plan includes a focus on incentivizing desired commercial development patterns, redevelopment of underutilized areas, and opportunities for mixed use development. The Town might consider a more robust economic development plan in the future that such an inventory could be important. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic -Solar Arrays Response: The Plan has recognized the intense interest in solar facilities and has included recommendations regarding this including reviewing the existing regulation structure and monitoring completed projects to address the potential for land use conflicts, impacts to visual character, and impacts to the farming community. An updated regulation could include for example: limits on parcel coverage, limits on the conversion of agricultural and regulation of operations, facilities, orientation of arrays and buffers. Part of this effort would involve identifying the key concerns important to the community, understanding that there are competing issues of financial benefits to the farming community, the desire for renewable energy alternatives, and the visual implications on the community. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic-Business District Design Standards Response: The topic of design guidelines for development/general development aesthetics was not discussed in detail during development of the comprehensive plan however this recommendation could be included under the topic of visual/aesthetic character. Recommend revising Draft Plan to include a recommendation to re-visit the Town’s design standards. Topic – Graphics Response: CHA can provide electronic files that will allow the Town to print larger size maps. In addition, CHA can provide paper copies of the mapping at a larger size to be maintained at Town Hall. Topic- Business Development in harmony with environmental concerns Response: Comment noted. Issue has been addressed sufficiently in the plan. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic – stormwater management Response: This topic has been addressed in the plan recommendations and action plan. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic – connect actions with responsible parties Response: In general, there are often several options for leading the various action plan items. This is best left up to the Town Board with input from the Planning Board and other Town officials at the time the action is to be addressed. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic – remove names from public Response: Redacting names or other information from the public record is the responsibility of the Town, should they deemed appropriate. CHA will incorporate the public record as provided by the Town for the final Plan. Topic – alphabetical reference Response: This will require considerable additional effort. CHA believes that the document can be navigated sufficiently through the Table of Contents. The format of the Plan is consistent with plans prepared throughout the State. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. c. Bob Martin Topic – surveying lime hollow nature preserve for a highway garage Response: This was not part of the scope of the Comprehensive Plan nor was this potential use a subject of discussion. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic- Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex revenues Response: This was not within the scope of the Comprehensive Plan. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic – Identification of most critical action items Response: The Plan identifies most of these items as immediate or short term. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. d. Ann Hotchkin Topic – Cortland City Schools Response: CHA attempted to contact the school district several times and received no response. The Town may wish to engage the District separately. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic – Population Response: Agreed, the town should monitor changes in demographics in all age categories to inform investment decisions on programming. The Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board should be able to assist with census data and population estimates between census cycles. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic- Town Center Response: CHA reviewed past projects but does not have a Town Center design that is applicable to Cortlandville. How the Town Center might look is completely dependent on the selected area, the goals and objectives for land use/programming, architectural standards, etc. Is it a municipal center or commercial center, or both? No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic – Pictures Response: Additional photographs will be added. e. Doug Withey Topic- Cluttered maps Response: It is anticipated that most people will review the plan digitally and will be able to enlarge maps as needed. However, it is important to note that the maps are intended as graphic representations of resources and recommendations, not an accurate depiction such as that which would be expected from site plans that are informed by field assessments and surveys. As noted above CHA can provide electronic files to print larger maps. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic – Plan incomplete – boilerplate Response: The Comprehensive Plan was completed in accordance the approved scope of work. It is consistent with the standards for preparing comprehensive plans. It was prepared by certified planners, both with over 30 years of planning experience each. It is intended to be generic and to wrap the community’s arms around the various issues that should be addressed in further detail. It provides an Action Plan that organizes the many recommendations and prioritizes them so that the Town can focus on the most critical issues. As noted in the comment, the Plan should be treated as a living document. Updates should be considered on a more frequent basis, as new information arises and more detail is developed through implementation of the Plan. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic – sidewalks and connections Response: The Plan recommends the creation of a Multi-modal Facilities plan that addresses all modes of transportation and would provide an overall plan for “connections” including sidewalks, walking paths and bike paths. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. f. Pam Jenkins Topic – FEMA maps Response: The 100- year floodplain is mapped on Figure 6-9. Special flood hazard areas are defined by FEMA as the land area covered by the floodwaters of the base or 100-year flood (an area of land that has an approximate 1 percent probability of a flood occurring on it in any given year). CHA has reviewed the mapping prepared from trusted GIS sources and compared the mapping with the FEMA floodplain panels. CHA has determined that the GIS data as mapped on Figure 6-9 is correct. Map scale can be deceiving and may be a factor in the commentor’s interpretation of the maps. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic – additional content regarding the Haudenosaunee and the underground railroad & Archaeological Sensitivity Response: The Inventory & Analysis section of the Plan was completed well in advance of drafting the Plan and helped to inform the planning process. Additional information on the history and pre-contact history of the Town is not likely to change any of the recommendations or result in a reordering of priorities. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic – Link to EPA Response: The link provided does not appear to work and may be outdated. However, it is recommended that further information regarding the aquifer and any future designations it might have can be incorporated into revisions of the aquifer protection plan identified as a priority action item in Comprehensive Plan Chapter 5. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. g. Peter Morse-Ackley Topic- Town Center not required Response: The interest in a Town Center has been a popular topic during public outreach. This topic should continue to be explored as recommended in the Action Plan. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic- Controlling Development through buffers and land conservation seems complicated and may force development outside of the Town Response: Controlling where and how much development occurs within a community is a difficult and complicated process and the reason that zoning was implemented. Cities were carefully planned but rural areas were of less concern since the pattern of development was either wilderness or farming. Suburbanization has forced the need to come up with innovative measures to prevent sprawl, maintain or improve quality of life for existing residents, and conserve land. Cortlandville is both a suburban and rural, agricultural community. The viability of agriculture is in jeopardy throughout the country but development pressure is one factor that can be controlled by local governments. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic- Update Census data Response: The Town should consider looking closely at the Census data from the 2020 Census to project changes that are occurring. However, many of the most critical tasks facing the Town are currently known. At this time, effort should be put into addressing the immediate and short term actions as identified in Chapter 5 of the Plan. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic- Shared Services Response: The topic of shared services is gaining ground in many areas. There are many examples of shared service agreements occurring out of need and convenience. The Action Plan addresses this under “Collaboration and Communication” and under “Sustainable Community.” No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. Topic- Staffing Needs & Resources to implement the Plan Response: Staffing and financial resources to undertake action items is a challenge for most communities. The Action Plan is prioritized in order to provide focus for the Town leadership and to properly allocate funds. Grants to perform planning and other implementation work are available but competitive. However, the costs of not doing the appropriate planning for the future typically far exceeds the costs for the studies. Engaging the universities and public volunteers is also an important source of labor. No changes to the Draft Comprehensive Plan are recommended. h. Bob Martin 6/16/21 Topic- Town Planner or Planning Consultant Response: The work of implementing the Comprehensive Plan will take many Town officials and volunteers to cover the key topics. Generally speaking, successful implementation of action items in a timely manner requires 1) a Champion (typically someone in a leadership position in the Town) to move the effort forward (allocating funds, obtaining consensus on the importance of the task, and driving the schedule) and 2) expertise in the topic to create the best outcome and get the work done. A Town Planner can serve this role depending on the extent of his or her daily work load addressing the Planning Board’s agenda. However, some communities prefer to retain consultants to handle items such as site plan reviews and specific planning issues. Many communities have both and more times than not, specific expertise from a consulting firm is needed to address specific action items that the Town Planner either does not have time to address or does not have the specific experience. Ultimately, this is a budgetary issue. Topic- Importance of Action Plan Items Response: Mr. Martin has highlighted many of the action items in the Action Plan that he feels are important and should be addressed quickly. Most of the time frames appear to be consistent with that which was recommended in the Plan so no changes are recommended. We also received some editorial comments from the Town that we are happy to address. Please let us know if you are in agreement with the response to comments and we will work with the committee to finalize the plan. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at ceinstein@chacompanies.com or (518) 453-4505. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Christopher R. Einstein Principal Planner Cc: Nasrin Parvizi 1 Einstein, Chris From:Abigail Albro <aalbro@cortlandville.org> Sent:Tuesday, July 13, 2021 10:12 AM To:Einstein, Chris Subject:[--EXTERNAL--]: Comprehensive Plan Town of Cortlandville Attachments:20210713095851662.pdf Chris Einstein, I read through the Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Cortlandville. Please see attached corrections. Page 4-10 has a "this this" that needs to be corrected. I attached the front and back of a page included in the Public Workshop December 5, 2018. This page has a spelling error on the back. Suit Kote is misspelled as Suit Cote. Also the same page is duplicated in the Plan. Basically 2 of the exact same pages in a row. Kristen asked me to email you to see if you are able to get this corrected. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank You, ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: <copier@cortlandville.org> Date: Tue, Jul 13, 2021 at 9:52 AM Subject: Message from "RNP583879344732" To: Abigail Albro <aalbro@cortlandville.org> This E-mail was sent from "RNP583879344732" (IM C3500). Scan Date: 07.13.2021 09:58:51 (-0400) Queries to:copier@cortlandville.org -- Abigail Albro Deputy Town Clerk Town of Cortlandville Ph: 607-756-5725 Fax: 607-756-4659 aalbro@cortlandville.org This e-mail, including any attachments, may be confidential, privileged or otherwise legally protected. It is intended only for the addressee. If you receive this e-mail in error or from someone who was not authorized to send it to you, do not disseminate, copy or otherwise use this e-mail or its attachments. Please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete this e-mail from your system.