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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03_YB_Appx 03-D_Comprehensive Plan for the Village and Town of GrotonJoint Comprehensive Plan 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 Albem, 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 INMEMORIUM 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. This page intentionally left blank 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 la. Land Use /Land Cover -Groton Vi ll age & McLean 16 Map 2. Open Space Assets 17 Map 3. Development Constraints 18 Map 4 . Road Ownership 19 Tab le I. 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 This page intentionally left blank Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village & Town of Groton , New York The purpose of this document is to provide leaders and residents in the town and village of Groton a framework within which they can work together in the coming years to guide the future growth and development of their community. It has a long-range outlook, to the year 2024 and beyond. It attempts to identify both issues that the town and village may face , separately or together, and opportunities that the two municipalities might exploit for the common good. Implementation of the recommendations of this plan will take place over the course of years , and in the case of some recommended courses of action, over decades. There will be no quick return on the time and effort invested by the Joint Foreword Town/Village Comprehensive Planning Committee , but their work will ultimately yield a substantial return, one that will be evident five, ten or fifteen years into the future. It is critical to the success of this plan that Town and Village leaders, and residents, review this plan and update it every five years. Certain assumptions have been made in the development of this document. Some of these assumptions may not be correct, and trends, issues or needs that this plan anticipates may not come to pass . At the same time, new issues are sure to arise , and different initiatives will likely be necessary to address these new issues . Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village & Town of Groton , New York This page intentionally left blank 2 Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village & Town of Groton , New York Brief History of the Town & Village The Town of Groton encompasses some 50 square miles in northeastern Tompkins County. It was created on April 7, 1817 when the Town of Locke was divided in two. The southern (Groton) half was named Town of Division while the northern half retained the Town of Locke designation. The new Town of Division measured ten miles from east to west and five miles from south to north. Ten days later on April 17, 1817 the newly created town became one of the original six towns that comprised the newly establish Tompkins County. About a year after its creation residents of the new municipality petitioned to have the name changed to Town of Groton. The original settlers who had arrived in 1797 were from New England, and by 1817 many more settlers had arrived from New England. History is not clear whether the Town was named for Groton, Massachusetts or Groton, Connecticut. Prior to the arrival of European Americans the area that encompasses the contemporary Town of Groton straddled the boundary between the Cayuga and Onondaga nations of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. The border ran roughly north and south , through present day Freeville in the town of Dryden, thence north along the Owasco Inlet. 3 Plan Inventory Being on the frontier between the two nations, the land was not subject to permanent settlement by either the Cayuga or Onondaga. Rather, it apparently served as hunting grounds. Vestiges of one or more temporary hunting camps have been found in the vicinity of the NYS Rte. 38 /Peruville Road intersection. According to M. M. Baldwin, author of The Beginnings of Groton in 1868, the first European American settlers were probably John and Hephzibah Perrin, Ezra Carpenter and Ebenezer Williams. They settled on Military Lot 75 in the Town of Locke. After wintering over they were joined by John Perrin's father Lemuel and others. More families, with names such as Atwood, Avery, Bennett, Branch, Crittenden, Hathaway, Ingalls, Loomis, Morton and Stuart, migrated into the area from New England and Pennsylvania. The Village of Groton has a rich history of industrial innovation and manufacturing that dates back to the early 1800s. By the mid-1820s the future village, then known as Perrin's Settlement, or Groton Hollow, was the site of a fulling mill and carriage shop. In 1849 the Groton Iron Works were established. The enterprise would evolve into the Groton Iron Bridge Company and later the Groton Bridge and Manufacturing Company and in 1877 began producing prefabricated truss bridges that were known throughout the northeast and Midwest, as well as other products. Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village & Town of Groton , New York Other industries included the Monarch Road Roller Company, woodworking enterprises and apparel manufacturers. The community at the beginning of the twentieth century was a prosperous one, with hundreds of manufacturing jobs, a thriving downtown. The village was served by the Lehigh Valley Railroad with freight and passenger service. It had a progressive local government as well, with a village-owned waterworks and a municipal power plant and street lighting system. At the tum of the century Groton entrepreneurs grasped the importance of a then revolutionary new technology -the typewriter. Lead by Benn Conger and other local businessmen, the Standard Typewriter Company was formed. The company purchased the patents and rights of another company and began production of typewriters in Groton. Later they changed the company's name to the Corona Typewriter Company, and in 1926 merged with the L.C. Smith typewriter company to form Smith-Corona. By the later 1920s the Groton company had plants in Groton, Syracuse, Cortland and the Midwest. Smith-Corona prospered through the next 50 years before the typewriter was eclipsed by the personal computer. However by the time the Groton plant closed in 1983, the village had already evolved to a large extent into a bedroom community for the much larger employment centers of Ithaca and Cortland. While Groton village has grown from Perrins Settlement and 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 4 were centers of industry and commerce. These communities rivaled the village in terms of population and economy. McLean, settled around 1806, and Groton City, located about 4.5 miles upstream on Fall Creek, were early centers of the lumber industry. In its early years Groton City was said to have rivaled Groton Hollow as a center of industry and commerce. McLean in the 1890s was home to some 400 residents and boasted a foundry and machine shop, gristmill, cider mill, creamery, barrel factory and tannery'. The hamlet also had several stores plus a half-dozen churches and a Union Free School that taught students up through the tenth grade. Isaac Allen settled West Groton in 1797, the same year the Perrins, Williams and Carpenters arrived. By 1850 the community had grown to include a tannery, a cooperage, several stores and a tavern, as well as blacksmitheries and wagon shops. The Congregational Church, built in 1832, still stands on West Groton Road and is actively used today as a church. Last but not least, on the upper reaches of the Owasco Inlet about one-half mile west of where it enters the valley a steep stream gradient attracted the eye of local industrialists. The waterpower of the Inlet was harnessed by a number of manufacturing establishments, including sawmills, a pail factory, cidermill and cheese factory. The community was named Peruville and also boasted a distillery, several stores, a hotel and dance hall, a tavern and post office. 1 Dieckmann, Jane M., et al. The Towns of Tompkins County. Ithaca, NY : DeWitt Historical Society. 1998 Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York The town and village have changed dramatically in the past two centuries . Many of the old industries, stores and post offices that once supported the smaller hamlets are now gone. They have left a rich legacy, however, in architecture and a small town character that continues to attract new residents . Population The Town of Groton is the fourth largest town in Tompkins County , with 5,794 residents according to the 2000 U.S. Census of Population. Some 2,470 of the Town's 5,794 residents live in the Village of Groton. Another concentration of population is located in and around the hamlet of McLean. Since 1970 the population of the town has increased from 4,881 residents or by about 19%. This compares to a 25% increase for Tompkins County as a whole. (Table 1) Groton for the most part still qualifies as a rural municipality. Outside the Village of Groton population density averages only about 118 persons per square mile . In this regard it mirrors the predominant characteristics of the majority of its neighbors . Except for the small area around McLean in the southeastern comer, land use in the areas of the towns of Dryden, Lansing, Locke, Summerhill and Cortlandville that border Groton are agricultural and rural residential in nature. While population growth has been slow to moderate, between 1990 and 2000 the Town's population kept pace with all other Towns in Tompkins County except the towns of Lansing and Enfield. Its 5% increase matched that of the towns of Danby, Ithaca and Newfield, and surpassed that of the town of 5 Dryden as well as the towns of Caroline and Ulysses (both of which lost population). Although the town and village together have grown at a slow 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 % of population growth townwide. The village's share of population growth however fell to only 31 % for the decade between 1980 and 1990, and 23% between 1990 and 2000. Village residents still accounted for just under 43% of total population in 2000, but this proportion will likely decline in the coming decades unless the above trend is reversed . While its population increases have slowed substantially, the village has still fared much better than the villages of Dryden and Trumansburg. Both of those communities suffered population losses in the decade between 1990 and 2000. The population by age profile for the Town of Groton differs from that of Tompkins County , but is relatively close to that of New York as a whole. (Table 2) Persons in the age 5 to 24 bracket make up a substantially smaller proportion of the town's population than they do in Tompkins County as a whole : 29% for the town versu s 40 .5% for the county as a whole. This Census disparity between the local and county level is common for the more rural communities in Tompkins County. It is likely caused of the very large numbers of college students living in the city and town of Ithaca. Overall in terms of age the population of the town parallels the population of New York as a whole. In the 2000 Census the percentages for the town differed from those of the state Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & Town of Groton , New York Table 1 Comparative Population Growth in Town of Groton and Tompkins County d d <U d Town .8 .8 bJ) .8 .... .... <U 0 i::=o .... <U 0 "' "' bJ) 00 "' 00 "' bJ) °' ;:i 0 ;:i 0 d -~ -;:i 0 d - 0., r-0., 00 (1l I U' °'°' (1l I 0 °' 0 °' ~o :::R f: 0 °' ~o p., -p., -u r-0 -p., -u::io Groton 4 ,881 5,213 332 7% 5,483 Groton Village 2 ,112 2 ,313 201 10% 2 ,398 Tompkins County 77 ,064 87 ,085 10 ,021 13 % 94097 Caroline 2 ,536 2 ,754 218 9% 3,044 D anby 2 ,141 2 ,449 308 14 % 2 ,858 Dryden 9 ,770 12 ,156 2 ,386 24% 13 ,251 Dryden Village 1,490 1,761 271 18% 1,908 Enfie ld 2,028 2,375 347 17% 3,054 Ithaca (Town) 15,620 16,022 402 3% 17,797 Lansing (Town) 5,972 8,317 2,345 39% 9,296 Newfield 3,390 4,401 1,011 30% 4,867 Trum ansburg 1,61 8 1,722 104 6% 1,611 Ulysse s 4 ,500 4 ,666 166 4% 4 ,906 * Includ es approx im ate ly 210 inm ates at th e new Loui s Gossett Ce nter operated by th e NYS Divi sion for Y outh . Sourc e: U.S . Census Burea u, 1970 , 198 0, 19 90 & 2000 Decenni a l Ce nsu s. 6 <U d bJ) .8 i::=o .... "' °' "' ~ -;:i 0 U' 0..0 :::R ~ oo 0 -P., N 270 5% 5,794 85 4% 2 ,470 7 ,012 8% 96 ,501 290 11 % 2,910 409 17 % 3,007 1,095 9% 13 ,353 147 8% 1,832 679 29% 3,369 1,775 11% 18,710 979 12% 10,521 466 11% 5,108 -111 -6 % 1,58 1 240 5% 4 ,775 <U bJ) <U 0 i::=o bJ)O "'0 d -~ - (1l I U' ~o :::R g U0 0 - 311 5% 72 3% 2 ,404 2% -134 -5 % 149 5% 281 2% -76 -4% 315 9% 913 5% 1,225* 12% 241 5% -30 -2 % -1 31 -3 % Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Villa ge & Town of Groton , New York Ta ble 2 Popul ati on by Age, T own of Groton, Tompkins County & New York State Town of Groton -~ -~ <+-, -3 0 .s 0.. <+-, -3 0 .s 0.. Age 1970 ~~Zs 2000 ~~Zs Under 5 years 430 8.8% 317 5 .5% 5 to 24 years 1,882 38.6% 1,68 3 29 .0% 25 to 44 years 1,081 22 .1% 1664 28.7% 45 to 54 years 577 11 .8% 846 14 .6% 55 to 64 ye ars 425 8.7% 541 9 .3% 65 years or older 486 10.0% 743 12.8% 75 years or older 204 4.2 % 370 Total Population 4,8 81 100% 5,794 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970, 2000 Decennial Census. by 1 percentage point or less in five of seven age groupings. The largest difference between the state and town was in the 25 to 44 age cohort , where the proportion for the state was 2 percentage points higher than the town: 30.7% for the state versus 28 .7 for the town . Although the data for the village is not shown in Table 2, the population by age for the village tracks fairly closely to that of the town as a whole. The exception is that the proportion 7 6.4% 100% Tompkins County New York State -~ -~ -~ <+-, -3 0 .s 0.. <+-, -3 0 .s 0.. <+-, -3 0 .s 0.. 1970 ~~Zs 2000 ~~Zs 2000 ~~Zs 6,028 7 .8% 4 ,285 4.4% 1,239,417 35 ,794 46 .6% 39 ,065 40 .5% 5,2 16,143 17 ,27 5 22 .5% 25 ,250 26 .2% 5,83 1622 6,677 8.7% 12 ,02 8 12 .5% 2,552 ,936 5,364 7 .0% 6,616 6.9% 1,687,987 5,743 7.5% 9,257 9.6% 2,448,352 2,411 3.1 % 4,620 4 .8% 1,172,306 42 ,3 40 100% 96,501 100% 18 ,976 ,457 of residents over the age of 65 in the village was 13 .2% in 1970 versus 10.0% for the town as a whole . These numbers include residents of the Groton Nursing Home and the Senior Citizen Housing apartments. Moreover this gap widened slightly between 1970 and 2000. According to the 2000 Census, the percentage of population in the village over the age of 65 climbed to 16 .7% versus 12 .8% for the town overall. 6.5% 27 .5% 30.7% 13.5% 8.9% 12 .9% 6.2 % 100% Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York Residents of the village and town are living longer. Indicative of this nation-wide trend is the fact that in 1970 the Census had simply one category for persons 65 years old or older. For the 2000 Census , there were three categories --65 to 74 years, 75 to 84 years and 85 or older. Moreover according to the 2000 Census townwide there were actually 370 residents who were 75 years old or older, compared to just 204 persons counted in 1970. There may be significant land use implications for the town and village in the coming decades, due to this phenomenon. Housing needs for older residents can be very different from those of other adults, for instance those between the ages of 25 and 54 years, who may have children . Nationwide there is evidence that many older residents are moving out of the traditional single-family home and into smaller owner-or renter-occupied dwellings , specialized senior citizen housing or congregate care facilities. Many of these are conveniently located in downtown areas where they are close to retail and health services. This trend in housing accommodations has benefited many older communities across the country by revitalizing downtown areas and residential neighborhoods . The villages and hamlets in the town offer or have the potential to offer the types of amenities that would be attractive to older residents. 8 Physical Geography The Town of Groton is located in the upper reaches of the Lake Ontario Plain, which begins on the southern shore of Lake Ontario and rises gently 900 to 1,000 feet as one moves southward. The plain has been subject to extensive erosion and today is mostly characterized by gently rolling hills cut in some places by deep valleys and ravines . It was subject to substantial alteration through glaciation during the Ice Age that ended between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago . Glacial action cut deep into valley floors valleys and created the basins now filled by the Finger Lakes. Tributaries of the streams that occupied valleys that were deepened by the glaciers were left "hanging" high above the new valley floors and cut deep gorges and ravines into the valley walls to create the many glens and gorges in the region. In their retreat at the end of the Ice Age the glaciers also deposited enormous moraines through the area, including in the Owasco Inlet Valley . Portions of three watersheds are located within the boundaries of the town: Fall Creek, Owasco Inlet and Salmon Creek. The Owasco Inlet flows northward into Owasco Lake . Both 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. Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York Streams in the Town of Groton are dendritic, or branching, in pattern and have numerous large and small tributaries. Elevations in the town range from approximately 1,500 feet above sea level at the crests of the broad ridges that run north to south between the three watersheds to about 900 feet where the Owasco Inlet flows into the Town of Locke. The many hills in the town are generally broad and smooth with relatively mild topography at higher elevations and slopes that are relatively gentle. The exceptions to this are the west slopes of the Owasco Inlet valley. The valley is a glacial through valley that was widened and deepened during the Ice Age, creating steeply sloping hillsides. Here much of the land has slopes that exceed 15 percent. The melting Ice Age glaciers also deposited a substantial amount of glacial moraine material on the valley floor and sides . The valley floor and sides are thus marked by irregular hills, terraces and hummocks comprised of undifferentiated sand and gravel deposits, some cut by small streams. These deposits have slopes in excess of 15 percent in many places . Within the village of Groton proper about 30 percent of the land is covered by such slopes. In some areas of the valley these glacial moraine deposits are also marked by the presence of highly erodible soils. These soils are particularly prevalent along the lower portions of the western side of the valley, along West South Street, Spring Street and Walpole Road in the village. Another concentration of erodible soils straddles Peru Rd ./Rte .38 from Groton High School southward toward the southern boundary of the town. In these areas slopes generally exceed 15 percent and can be in excess of 25 percent. 9 Approximately 3,565 acres or just over 11 % of the total land area in the town have slopes of 15 percent or greater. The west slope of the Owasco Inlet valley west of Route 38 represents the largest contiguou s area marked by slopes of 15 percent or greater. Small areas covered by steep slopes are scattered throughout the town and village , generally in the form of ravine sides and streambanks. Lands covered by steep slopes generally are not extensively developed due to constraints such as drainage, septic field and foundation problems. They are also generally too steep for agriculture. Ideal uses for such areas are recreation, open space, forestland or as habitat for game. Some 85 different types of soils cover the land in the Town of Groton. In general terms the soils can be classified according to one of three major characteristics: gravelly , clayey or fragipan. In general gravelly soils are located on the floors of stream valleys. They also occur in kame, esker, and moraine areas. Clayey soils were deposited in areas of the town once covered by Ice Age period lakes. These clay soils are limited in extent and are located mainly in western and northern extremes of the town along Fall Creek and in the Owasco Inlet Valley. The dominant soil type in Groton is the fragipan type. Fragipan soils are characterized by presence of a compact, dense , impervious layer at varying depths in the upper subsoil. This layer greatly impedes movement of water downward through the soil. In many locations this can cause groundwater to be trapped in the upper levels of the soil, creating perched water tables . Water can often move horizontally across the surface of the fragipan layer a considerable distance. As a result water-borne sewage Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York effluent and other contaminants can spread substantial distances through the ground from their origins. Water Resources Extensive water resources exist within the Town of Groton, in the form of surface water (streams, lakes, ponds) and groundwater resources. Maintaining the quantity and quality of water resources within the town is critical to protecting the natural environment as well the general health and welfare of residents, and the local economy local. Water resources are an important recreational asset. There are approximately 320 miles of streams and approximately 160 ponds located within the town , the majority of which are manmade. Major surface water resources within the town include Fall Creek and Owasco Inlet. There are an estimated 2,100 acres of wetlands that have been identified in the town and village . Significant areas of wetlands extend up the Owasco Inlet valley from the village to the southern boundary of the town . There is also a significant band of wetlands in the western part of the town between 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 Environmental Conservation (DEC) also has regulatory 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 or waterway segment. The classification "AA" or "A" is assigned to waters used as a source of drinking water; "B" indicates a best usage for swimming and other contact recreation, but not for drinking water; "C" is for waters supporting fisheries and suitable for non-contact activities. The lowest classification and standard is D . The DEC has classified most streams in the town based on existing or expected "best use ." Water bodies classified as "A," "B" and "C" or higher are collectively referred to as protected streams and are subject to more stringent regulation . About 44 miles of the 320 miles of streams in the town are classed as "C" streams. These include all of the Owasco Inlet and the portions of Fall Creek within the town. There are no streams classed as "A" or "B" in the town or village. Streams classified as "A," "B" and "C" may also have a standard of (T) appended. This indicates that they may support a trout population. The Owasco Inlet, Fall Creek and several of their tributaries carry the (T) standard . Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York Land Use Topography has endowed the Town of Groton with significant open space resources . These include the woodlands and agricultural lands that create scenic vistas across the several ridges and valleys of the town and its numerous streams, ponds and wetlands. Groton is still very much a rural township. Approximately 94.4 percent of its land area consists of active or inactive agricultural land or undeveloped meadow, brush, woodlands or wetlands . Agriculture is the largest land use or land cover in the town and village with actively farmed lands covering 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 agricultural lands cover just over one-half of the total land area. (Map 1) Since 1970 residential development in the town and village has consisted primarily of scattered non-farm homes on lots outside the village and hamlets. Of the approximately 725 new dwelling units constructed between 1970 and 2000 slightly more than 500 or roughly 70 percent have been single-family or two-family homes in rural areas. The remaining new dwellings, including those built by the Groton Housing Authority and conversion of the old Groton School to senior apartments, have been built within the village. While residential development in rural areas of Groton has been small-scale and scattered, it has also been almost entirely in the form of frontage lots along existing roadways. This is resulting in the slow erosion of available road frontage, and to a certain extent the rural character of areas of 11 Groton outside the village --the rural character that attracts new residents to the community. Homes built on frontage lots can also be adversely impacted by traffic volumes and speed, especially along roads and highways such as NYS Rte. 34B and NYS Rte. 222 , as well as some of the County highways. Woodland, brushland and meadowland is the second largest category of land use or land cover. There are about 10,080 acres of woodland, plus another 2,485 acres of brush and meadowlands. Altogether almost 12,600 acres in the town, or approximately 39 .5 percent of its area, are undeveloped woodland, brushland and meadowlands. Open Space & Environmental Resources Because of its rural character and relatively low population, most of the open space lands available to the public are in private hands. There are two park facilities in the Village of Groton. The largest is the 18-acre Village park and pool complex off Sykes Street. In addition the South Sports Complex located on Peru Street across from the Groton High School provides tennis courts and a skatepark. A 5 1/2-acre parcel on South Main Street owned by the School District contains a ball field, and playground space and equipment is also available at the elementary school on Elm Street. (Map 2) Semi-public open space within the town and village include the lands of the Groton Rod & Gun Club and the Groton Golf and Recreation Association. Altogether these two organizations own some 305 acres of land Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York Although not public parks, and although they are subject to restrictions on their use, the athletic fields, playgrounds and other lands of the local schools constitute important open space resources. There are approximately 60 acres on the grounds of the Groton High School/Middle School, Groton Elementary School and Cassavant Elementary School in 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 Lakes Land Trust. The Tompkins County Environmental Management Council Unique Natural Areas program identifies areas in Tompkins County that harbor rare or endangered flora and fauna , unique geologic features or that contain excellent examples of ecosystems or biotic communities . These areas have been mapped and designated as Unique Natural Areas (UNAs). The program does not afford an identified open space resource any protections beyond raising awareness of their importance and sensitivity in the mind of the public as well as municipal officials. The preservation of Unique Natural Areas within the town is largely in the hands of private landowners, and essentially voluntary. (Map 3) There are a total of 23 Unique Natural Areas in the town and village . Altogether some 2,450 acres of land are encompassed in these UNAs. The largest UNA is the Bear Swamp UNA in the western part of the town. This UNA contains about 650 acres of wetlands, woodlands, and farmland around the headwaters of Owasco Inlet. 12 Key open space resources in Groton are the prime agricultural soils that cover some 56 percent of the land in the town. (Map 3) Prime agricultural soils are Class I or Class II soils as defined in the USDA Soil Survey for Tompkins County New York. In addition there are a small number of Class III soils with the qualities that make them prime soils for agricultural purposes as well. Transportation A network of state , county, village and town -maintained roads totaling approximately 118 miles serves the town and village. 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 maintained. (Map 4) There are also approximately 4.1 miles of privately owned roads. With a few exceptions , roads and streets owned and maintained by the Town and the Village serve primarily as local roads with relatively low volumes of traffic . In general, they connect village or rural residences and farms with the state and county systems. As a rural road network the Town of Groton road system is well maintained and in line with generally accepted standards for rural roads. The state highways serving the town are NYS Routes 34B, 38 , and 222. NYS Rte. 38 roughly bisects the town from north to south and passes through the village of Groton, 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 Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village & Town of Groton , New York ultimately Owego and NYS Rte 17 /I-86. From Freeville NYS Rte. 366 provides a route to Ithaca. 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 route between the Cargill Salt Co. mine in South Lansing with I-81 in Cortland and Horner and other points north and east of Groton. NYS Rte. 222 connects the village with Cortland. Two other major highways in the town are Peruville Road (CR 107) and McLean Road (CR 105), both owned and maintained by Tompkins County. Peruville connects NYS Rte, 34B where it terminates at NYS Rte. 38 with McLean Road in McLean. It is a link in the truck corridor between South Lansing and Cortland. McLean Road is the eastern extension of the NYS Rte. 13/NYS Rte.366/CR 105/Fall Creek Road corridor from Ithaca to McLean. The corridor has become a heavily traveled alternative to NYS Rte. 13 for drivers between Ithaca and Cortland. 13 Table 3 Average Annual Daily Traffic Volumes AADT on State Highways in the Town of Groton >-. 0 4-, 1s u (1) ce Z 0 1:: ~~a .§ (1) .... ;:I a 4-; ;:I oJ)~ ce o ce ...., ~u ·-.... 0 :E J Location t, E--< > "1-l Between NYS Rte . 38 & Benson Rd., 34B Town of Lansing 2000 4,951 Between NYS Rte. 34B/Peruville Road 38 & NYS Rte.222 /Cortland Street 2001 3,637 Between NYS Rte.222 /Cortland Street 38 & Cayuga County line 2001 3,236 Between Main Street, Groton & CR 222 102/Salt Road 1995 2,650 CR 105 Fall Creek Road west of McLean 2000 5195 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 .). Joint Comprehensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn 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 TCA T 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 TC3 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 1 Land Use Land Cover - Townwide 15 Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village & Town of Groton , New York Insert Map la 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 Insert Map 4 Road Ownership 19 Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village & Town of Groton , New York This page intentionally left blank 20 Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village & Town of Groton , New York Introduction This Comprehensive Plan will be used as a basis for decisions that affect the physical, economic, and social character of the town and village of Groton. Key to an effective comprehensive plan are a set of clear and 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 desired outcome, based on the values held by a community at large, but which may not necessarily be attainable. Progress toward any particular goal generally is not quantifiable. Objectives in contrast establish specific desired outcomes that would result from implementation of plan recommendation. Usually progress toward achieving objectives can be measured in some manner. The overall vision of this comprehensive plan is to : 1. 2. Promote the health, safety and general welfare of all residents and to preserve the area's strong sense of community; Provide specific strategies for balancing the structure of the local economy, maintaining the character and quality of the village and hamlets, protection of the town's rural character, and enhancing the small town quality of life for all residents; 21 Plan Goals & Objectives 3. Promote cooperation and coordination between the village and town in addressing issues of mutual concern. The following goals address specific areas of land use, quality of life for residents. They are set forth to further the above v1s10n : Goal 1. Quality of Life la. Promote retention and expansion of community and cultural resources such as the library, recreation centers, places of worship and fellowship, health services and other organizations that serve the community. Objectives lal. Ensure that Village and Town zoning regulations allow adequate opportunities for religious, fraternal and other organizations that foster community . la2. Whenever appropriate work with the Groton Central School District to provide community cultural and recreational programs for residents. lb. Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village & Town of Groton , New York la3. Promote levels of support for the Groton Public Library adequate to ensure optimum levels of services to residents. la4. Identify desired community and cultural resources not currently available to residents and work with government and not-for-profit agencies to provide them. I a5. Establish a youth center and programming. I a6. Enhance recreational programs for local youth. Ensure the provision of a comprehensive system of fire, police and emergency services to protect life and property throughout the community. Objectives 1 b 1. Update and improve local emergency response plans. 1 b2 . Work with County and local emergency management services to identify gaps and remedy gaps in emergency services. 1 b3. Ensure to the extent practicable adequate funding for fire, police and ambulance services. 1 b4. Ensure that major future growth and development occurs in areas where fire, police 22 le. and emergency services are available or easily accessible. 1 b5. Promote the tradition of volunteer-run and staffed fire and emergency services organizations. lb6. Work cooperatively with State, County and local public safety agencies to ensure an effective program of public education and awareness of hazards to life and property, and appropriate action in case of public emergency. Ensure retention of the small town character, quality of life and economic viability of the village and hamlets. Objectives 1 c 1. Establish programs to actively educate and encourage residents , including youth, to become more involved in local activities such as community groups, service organizations and government committees and boards. 1 c2 . Protect the quality of life in existing residential communities from the adverse impacts of incompatible land uses and increased traffic. 1 c3. Promote downtown Groton and McLean as local centers of commerce and culture. Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York 1 c4. Develop land-use regulations that are clear and concise, and protect the character and economic viability of local communities . lc5 . Work with local organizations to promote and expand festivals and other cultural and fundraising events in the community. Goal 2. Community Character 2a. Protect the diverse physical environment that provides the backdrop for Groton 's rural character. Objectives 2al. Identify and map the significant open space resources of the community. 2a2 . Adopt clear and concise policies and regulations to better protect the significant open space resources of the community. 2a3 . Adopt clear and concise policies and regulations that recognize the nature of contemporary agriculture and enhance the economic viability of agricultural enterprises . 2a4 . Support private land trusts and similar organizations in their efforts to protect significant open space and environmental resources within the town. 23 2b. 2c. Protect the rich historic and cultural heritage of the community. Objectives 2bl. Encourage the restoration and adaptive re-use of historic commercial structures and homes in the village and hamlets . 2b2 . Investigate the establishment of historic districts to better promote preservation of community character and encourage re- investment in older structures. 2b3. Work with the Town of Groton Historical Association and other agencies to identify and call attention to local history and local landmarks. Encourage a land use pattern that, through its physical form, fosters a s ense of community. Objectives 2cl. Encourage new commercial development to locate in the vicinity of already existing downtown areas and other nodes of retail and services activities. 2c2 . Encourage future development that is designed to accommodate alternatives to the automobile. Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York 2d. 2c3 . Develop design standards to ensure safe and attractive commercial development sites consistent with the character of the community. Balance the need for residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural land uses while directing attention to the conflicts inherent among those uses. Objectives 2d 1. Adopt clear and concise policies and regulations that will encourage well-designed residential, commercial and industrial development in the most appropriate locations in the village and town . 2d2. Adopt standards and guidelines for the design of future development to mitigate potential adverse impacts of development and minimize conflicts between incompatible land uses . 2d3 . Encourage new commercial development that re-uses existing commercial structures or vacant lands in traditional commercial centers. Goal 3. Economy 3a. Maintain and enhance the local economy and its ties to the regional economy, and to seek ways to respond to economic trends in ways that will provide residents with a variety of employment opportunities. 24 Objectives 3al. Expand employment opportunities so that our children will not be compelled to relocate to other communities for economic reasons. 3a2 . Support local entrepreneurs and the development of new local businesses and industry. 3a3 . Assist existing local businesses and industries to expand. 3a4. Aggressively promote the Groton Industrial Development Agency Industrial Park. 3a5 . Ensure that the water, sewer and electrical infrastructure required by industry is available. 3a6. Facilitate the development of state-of-the-art telecommunications systems within the village and town to ensure levels of service adequate to meet the needs of industry and commerce. 3a7 . Work with local organizations to promote and expand festivals and other cultural and fundraising events in the community. 3a8 . Work with Tompkins County Area Development and other organizations to foster new local businesses and assist existing local businesses to expand. Joint Comprehensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York 3a9. Work with the Tompkins County Tourism Advisory Board, Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and other organizations to develop marketing strategies to promote tourism development in the town and village. Goal 4. Agriculture 4a. Ensure the continued viability of agriculture as a strong component of Groton's economy and its landscape. Objectives 4al . Adopt clear land-use regulations which recognize the nature of contemporary agriculture and enhance the economic viability of agricultural enterprises. 4a2 . Create explicit language to communicate Town right to farm policy in Town land-use regulations. 4a3 . Ensure that local land-use regulations conform to the policies of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. 4a4. Tap the resources of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District and Cooperative Extension to promote the viability of agriculture and to protect farmland . 25 4a5 . Work with County, State and private organizations to protect important agricultural land resources through non-regulatory means such as the purchase of development rights. Goal 5. Housing 5a. Ensure that a variety of affordable, high-quality housing options are available for all members of the community. Objectives 5al . Provide for the construction and placement of housing of varying types and densities to serve the needs of different populations in the community. 5a2. Provide quality, safe and affordable housing for senior residents. 5a3. Identify areas most appropriate for new residential development and provide necessary services and infrastructure to encourage new residential development in those areas. 5a4 . Ensure that new residential development enhances the character and viability of existing villages and hamlets. Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village & Town of Groton , New York 5a5. Promote residential construction that conserves energy and water resources. 5a6. Work with organizations such as Better Housing for Tompkins County, Tompkins Community Action and Groton Housing Authority to develop new housing and renovate the existing housing stock in the community. Goal 6. Education 6a. Support the mission of the Groton Central School District and other contiguous school districts. 6al. Promote educational programs that meet the education and training needs of all residents. 6a2. Promote a community environment that encourages students to develop abilities and attitudes that will enable them to achieve personal standards of excellence. 6a3 . Promote a community environment that encourages students to become responsible and productive citizens of the community and the world. 26 Goal 7. Transportation 7a. Ensure that the local transportation system is safe, efficient and diversified to serve the needs of all members of the community. Objectives 7al. Adopt land-use and growth management policies that make optimum use of existing streets, road and highways. 7a2 . Work with the Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit to encourage use of public transit through expanded bus routes and network of bus stops, park and ride facilities and other programs. 7a3. Develop a network of streets, roads and highways that have adequate capacity to accommodate traffic without congestion. 7a4. Extend the existing network of sidewalks in the village into new areas of development in and adjacent to the village. 7a5. Develop a network of sidewalks, bicycle and pedestrian paths between residential 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. Joint Comprehensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York 7b. Ensure that streets and roads for new development, as well as modifications in the existing street and road system, contribute to a comprehensive traffic circulation system. Objectives 7b 1. Work with the State and Tompkins County to develop alternative routes for heavy traffic passing through the community. 7b2 . Review and where necessary revise and update Village and Town specifications for the design and construction of new streets and roads. 7b3 . Adopt policies that ensure a system of through streets and collectors that will provide residents with a variety of routes and better distribute traffic in neighborhoods. Goal 8. Parks and Recreation 8a . Provide a system of park and recreational facilities that can serve the variety of recreational needs of all residents . Objectives 8al . Establish a Youth Center. 27 8a2. Identify potential needs and opportunities to develop area walkways and bicycle/pedestrian paths. 8a3 . Ensure wherever possible that ex1stmg and future community recreational facilities are in compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 8a4. Identify and correct deficiencies in the local park and recreation infrastructure. Goal 9. Municipal Services 9a. Manage growth so that current and future residents are provided adequate and timely municipal s ervices and quality of life is maintained and enhanced. 9b . Objectives 9al. Manage future growth and development to direct it toward areas of the community where the use of the existing public facilities and services can be maximized. Expand and maintain public facilities such as water, sewer and other municipal services as needed in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Joint Comprehensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York Objectives 9bl. Establish coordinated capital improvement programs for the Village and the Town to direct future capital investments by the municipalities. 9b2 . Locate future expansions of public water and sewer infrastructure to channel development into areas that are best suited for growth. 9b3 . Emphasize cooperation between the Village and Town to minimize the cost of public water and sewer services and to maximize the efficiency of such systems. 9b4 . Ensure a continuous and systematic program of monitoring, maintenance and upgrading of existing water and sewer facilities to maximize their efficiency and life span. Goal 10. Environment and Open Space Resources 1 Oa . Protect the diverse array of environmental resources in the community, including but not limited to streams, wetlands, groundwater aquifers, woodlands and agricultural lands. 28 Objectives 1 Oal . Adopt policies and regulations to better protect stream corridors , wetlands and other water bodies from inappropriate development. 1 Oa2 Promote carefully designed development that minimizes adverse impacts such as loss of agricultural and forest lands, soil erosion and sedimentation, and stonnwater run-off. 1 Oa3 Support private land trusts and similar organizations in their efforts to protect significant ecological resources within the town. 1 Oa4. Protect both private property and the functional capabilities of floodplains by channeling development away from such areas. 1 Ob . Protect the scenic quality of the landscape. Objectives 1 Oal . Identify and map the significant open space resources of the community and adopt policies and regulations to better protect such areas . 10a2 . Support private land trusts and similar organizations in their efforts to protect significant open space and environmental resources within the town. Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village & Town of Groton , New York 1 0a3. Adopt land-use regulations that will direct future large-scale residential, commercial and industrial development into or adjacent to the village and hamlets. 29 Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village & Town of Groton , New York Introduction Key to an effective comprehensive plan is a set of clear strategies and actions designed to assist the community in achieving the objectives of the comprehensive plan. This chapter of the comprehensive plan sets forth a substantial number of recommended strategies and actions that the Village or Town, or Village and Town together, should implement in the coming years to further the goals and objectives of the comprehensive plan. In the Village and Town of Groton we have the opportunity to both guide future development in a beneficial manner and 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; Plan Strategies and Actions 30 3. Balancing the local economy with maintaining the character and quality of the village and hamlets, and protection of the town's rural character; 4. Enhancing the small town quality of life for all residents; 5. Promoting cooperation and coordination between the village and town in addressing issues of mutual concern. The following strategies and actions are designed to guide the Village and Town in furthering the goals and objectives of this plan, and to ensure that future generations can enjoy a higher quality of life and the small town and rural character of Groton today . Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village & Town of Groton , New York Quality of Life The people of Groton have a rich history of progressive institutions founded to provide an array of opportunities to engage in civic, recreational, educational, fraternal and spiritual pursuits. These institutions today provide a wide variety of services that enhance the quality of life for all residents of the community. Even within the limitations imposed by constitutional and legal constraints on the activities local governments can engage in, the Village and Town can play important roles in promoting and expanding such services. Specific strategies and actions for protecting and enhancing the quality of life for Village and Town residents are: Strategy Retain and expand community and cultural resources such as the library, civic and fraternal groups, health services and other organizations that serve the community. A key partner in implementing this policy will be the Groton Central School District. Actions 1. Work to promote levels of support for the Groton Public Library adequate to ensure optimum levels of services to residents. 2. Work with government and not-for-profit agencies to identify desired community and cultural resources not currently available to residents and to provide them. 31 Strategy Enhance recreational programs for youth in the village, town and hamlets. Action 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 meeting place for youth groups, provide office space for youth services delivery agencies and as an informal gathering place for local youth. The center could also provide facilities necessary to support enhanced recreational programs for local youth. Strategy Encourage residents of all ages to become actively engaged in the civic affairs of the community. Civic engagement is a critical element in maintaining a high quality of life in any community. Unfortunately there are many other issues or activities that compete for the attention of local residents. The Village and Town thus need to take a more pro-active role in encouraging civic engagement. Action Work with government and not-for-profit agencies to establish programs to actively educate and encourage Joint Comprehensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York residents, including youth, to become more involved in local community groups, service organizations and government committees and boards. Strategy Manage commercial, industrial, residential and other development in a manner that protects the quality of life in existing residential communities from potential adverse impacts. These include the impacts of adjacent but incompatible land uses and increased traffic. Actions 1. Develop clear, concise and up-to-date zoning, subdivision and other growth management regulations. 2. Promote downtown Groton and McLean as local centers of commerce and culture. The downtown areas of both communities are integral parts of their respective characters, and the character of the community as a whole . 3. Adopt policies and programs that encourage adaptive re- use of existing buildings and infill development within the downtown areas. 4 . Craft zoning regulations in a manner that protects the community without discouraging new investment in downtown areas. 32 Strategy 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 critical funds for public service organizations. They provide the opportunity for civic engagement by a broad spectrum of the community, and they can attract tourists into the community. Action Work with local , county and state organizations to promote and expand festivals and other cultural and fundraising events in the community, especially in the downtown areas. Strategy Ensure that there are adequate opportumtles for religious, fraternal and other organizations that foster community fellowship. Actions 1. Periodically review and revise where necessary zoning ordinances and maps to ensure that such institutions are adequately accommodated within local land-use regulations . Joint Comprehensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York 2. Ensure that zoning regulations must acknowledge that such land uses can have potential adverse impacts such as noise and traffic, especially in residential neighborhoods and include provisions to prevent or minimize such impacts. Strategy Encourage development patterns that protect agricultural lands and other aspects of the rural landscape that contribute to the quality of life in the town, village and hamlets. Actions See Agriculture section on page 38 33 Public Safety Local emergency service organizations are an integral part of the tradition of community service. Over the past three 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 situations that may not have been imagined even ten years ago. This has presented the local volunteers with a considerable challenge that can directly impact the quality of life for residents. Specific strategies and actions to maintain and enhance public safety are: 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 compames and ambulance organizations to promote the tradition of volunteer-run and staffed fire and emergency services organizations. Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York Strategy Ensure that major future growth and development occurs in areas where fire, police and emergency services are available or easily accessible . Actions 1. Channel future major development toward existing concentrations of population to help reduce average distances traveled by responding units and overall response times. 2. Channel future major development in a manner that increases the possibility that municipal water could be readily available for fire fighting purposes. Strategy Ensure an effective program of public education and awareness of hazards to life and property , and appropriate action in case of public emergency. Actions 1. Work with State, County and local public safety agencies to implement to assist residents in learning about and preparing for potential natural and other disasters or emergencies. 2. Evaluate municipal emergency operations plans on an annual basis and update as needed. 34 3. Ensure that local emergency planning efforts are coordinated between municipalities, emergency response agencies and Tompkins County. Community Character To ensure that future residents can enjoy the small town and rural farming community character enjoyed by current residents, future residential , commercial and industrial growth should be directed toward the existing centers of development such as the village and the hamlets. In the case of the Village there are already in place municipal water and sewer services to serve the needs of industrial and commercial enterprises, as well as new residential development. The several hamlets do not at this time provide such municipal services . By promoting growth within and adjacent to these communities however, the Town can lay the foundation for the potential provision of public water and sewer services in the future, and at a reasonable cost. This policy would also protect agricultural lands and other aspects of the rural landscape. Just as important as the economic benefits of directing future major growth and development toward existing centers is the protection such policy will provide the diverse physical environment that provides the backdrop for Groton's rural farming character. Specific strategies and actions for protecting and enhancing community character are : Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York Strategy Encourage the development of well-designed residential neighborhoods in the most appropriate locations in the village and town. Actions 1. Adopt clear, concise and up-to-date zonmg and subdivision regulations . 2 . Adopt land-use regulations that permit higher residential 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 community; and increase the customer base for existing and future retail businesses and services. 3. Adopt design standards and guidelines for the design of future non-residential development to minimize potential adverse impacts and conflicts between those uses and residential neighborhoods. Such standards would not dictate the design of individual buildings , but instead would provide for minimum standards for parking, lighting and landscaping, as well as for buffer areas between residential and non-residential land uses. Strategy Encourage new commercial and industrial development that would re-use existing commercial structures or vacant lands 35 in the village and other traditional commercial centers. Directing new retail and service businesses into existing downtown areas and other nodes of retail and services activities can benefit individual businesses by creating a critical mass of drive-by or walk-by customers necessary to ensure the viability and growth of the business. Action Review and modify where necessary zoning regulations that may hinder adaptive re-use of existing commercial and industrial buildings . Strategy Better protect the rich historic and cultural heritage of the community through actions that encourage an appreciation of local history by residents and the restoration of and adaptive re-use of historic structures. Actions 1. Work with the Town of Groton Historical Association to identify structures of historic significance and to encourage owners to apply for listing on the State and National Register of Historic Structures. 2. Work with the Town of Groton Historical Association to establish one or more historic districts in the Village and the Town. Many communities have used historic districts to call attention to significant structures in the Joint Comprehensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York community, promote their preservation by providing financial incentives to building owners and to generate economic development. Some communities also enact 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 . Strategy Protect the diverse physical environment that provides the backdrop for Groton's rural character as growth and development occurs in the town and village in the coming decades. Actions 1. Adopt clear and concise policies and regulations to better protect significant open space and agricultural land resources. 2. Work with the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council, Finger Lakes Land Trust , Cornell Plantations, and other public and private entities to protect significant open space and environmental resources within the community. 3. Pursue a multi-faceted approach that utilizes, among other things , growth management tools such as cluster subdivision design and purchase of development rights to protect significant open space and environmental 36 resources within the community. In a limited number of circumstances, outright acqms1tion by either a government or private entity may be most appropriate.,_ Economy The local economy determines to a great extent how a community will grow, or not grow , the ability of local governments to provide desired levels of services and the overall quality of life of its residents. The successful implementation of policies that seek to maintain and enhance the local economy and provide residents with a variety of employment opportunities will in tum have a positive effect on quality of life. A critical issue that has been identified is the need to expand local employment opportunities so that young adults in the community will not have to leave to seek employment elsewhere, but instead remain in Groton to raise their families. Fortunately Groton is within easy commuting distance of centers of employment in Ithaca and Cortland. The community also has a long history of manufacturing and industrial innovation . The Village can provide municipal water and sewer services to prospective industries, and the Groton Industrial Development Agency has created an industrial park and can provide financial packages to existing and new businesses. Within the Village prospective new enterprises would be eligible for lower cost municipal electric service through the Village system . Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York One utilities infrastructure issue that has been identified however is the lack of state-of-the-art telecommunications systems, including high-speed internet access, needed by industry and commerce . Although tourism development is not viewed as a replacement for industrial development as a major local economic engine , the Village and Town have much to offer 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 development strategy. Specific strategies and actions for local economic development in the Village and Town are: Strategy Provide support whenever possible to local entrepreneurs who desire to expand local businesses or industries , including agricultural enterprises, or to develop new businesses or industries , including agricultural enterprises . Actions 1. Continue and where possible expand Industrial Development Agency assistance to local enterprises. 2. When appropriate supplement the existing local economic 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 3. Work with private sector providers to develop state-of- the-art telecommunications systems , including high-speed internet access , needed by industry and commerce. 4 . Work with state and local agencies to assist local industries to invest in energy conservation measures to reduce costs and increase productivity. Strategy Encourage additional industrial development in the Groton Industrial Development Agency Industrial Park. Especially when compared to most other locations in Tompkins County, the park has relatively easy access to I-81 in Cortland and markets throughout the northeastern United States. The Industrial Park also has municipal water and sewer service and is tied to the Village's municipal electric system . Actions 1. Promote the Industrial Park more aggressively to prospective industries . 2 . Work with the Groton Industrial Development Agency to make the Groton Industrial Park more attractive to prospective industries by more fully developing the site with access road and utilities. Joint Comprehensive Plan for the Village & Town of Groton , New York Strategy Increase tourism by promoting and expanding festivals and other cultural and fundraising events in the community and to develop marketing strategies to promote tourism development in the town and village Actions 1. Work with local organizations, the Tompkins County Tourism Advisory Board and Tomplcins County Chamber of Commerce to promote and expand festivals and other cultural and fundraising events in the community. 2. Work with local organizations, the Tompkins County Tourism Advisory Board and Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and to develop marketing strategies to promote tourism development in the town and village. 38 Agriculture This plan anticipates that agriculture can continue to be a major and valuable economic sector and land use in Groton. The Town and Village should support agriculture and its role as a major and valuable economic sector and land use in Groton, and should work with farmers and agribusinesses to promote the continued viability of agriculture in the community. Many farmers m the community must supplement their incomes with income generated by an agriculture-related business. Examples of such businesses are grain, feed, seed, farm implement or farm building dealerships, as well as wholesale and retail distribution of agricultural products. By providing such options for generating revenue in its zoning regulations, the Town can allow the farmer or farmland 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. Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York Specific strategies and actions to promote the continued viability and contributions to the local economy for agriculture are: Strategy Enhance the economic viability of agricultural enterprises through land-use regulations that address the needs of contemporary agricultural enterprises . Actions 1. Adopt as part of zoning regulations explicit language communicating the current Town "right to farm" policies to reduce potential conflicts between landowners, local government and the state. 2. Adopt land-use regulations which permit farm-based agriculture-related business enterprises. 3. Adopt local land-use regulations conform to the policies of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. 4 . Work with the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets and Cornell Cooperative Extension to promote new crops and new markets to help strengthen the viability of agriculture. 5. Work with the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District and Cornell Cooperative Extension to promote soil conservation , nutrient management and other agricultural practices that protect soil, water and other environmental resources. 39 Strategy Protect the most important agricultural land resources of the village and town. Actions 1. Establish zoning and other growth management tools that promote development of the existing village , the hamlets and their immediate environs for future re sidential , commercial and industrial land uses. 2. Identify farmland that should be permanently preserved for agricultural use and make full use of County, State and private resources to protect important farmland resources through non-regulatory means . 3. Protect agricultural areas from the impacts that could be generated by the development of incompatible public facilities such as water and sewer extensions. 4 . Adopt subdivision regulations to promote the subdivision of land in a manner that maximizes the retention of farmland . Subdivision and zoning regulations that permit the use of cluster subdivision design and flag lots can permit the flexibility that is sometimes needed to create new residential lots while preserving quality farmland. Cluster subdivision design can permit a landowner to create smaller residential lots than permitted under conventional subdivision , on poorer quality soils, in exchange for preserving better quality agricultural lands. Flag lots can provide access from public roads to woods or other non-agricultural lands that may be located beyond productive fields . Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York Strategy Integrate the farming community more fully into local government policy making. Action Establish a Town of Groton Agricultural Advisory Committee comprised of members of the farm community. This committee would be charged with advising the Town on matters related to agriculture in the town. Such a committee could act as a sounding board and provide expertise to the Town Board, Planning Board and Zoning Board, as well as represent the interests of the farm community in Town policy making. Housing The availability of decent, affordable housing fulfills a basic human need for shelter. While the majority of the homes within the community are well constructed and maintained, many homes are older and do not meet current building and fire codes, or have not been adequately maintained. In many cases the most vulnerable members of the community, such as small children, the elderly and the disabled occupy these homes. Another issue associated with housing is its location. In Groton as elsewhere new residential development for the most part has been scattered throughout the community, and generally beyond the range of municipal services such as water, sewer and public transit. Valuable farmland and open space resources are also lost. 40 Criteria for identifying the best areas for future neighborhoods include the presence of existing municipal services , proximity to existing concentrations of population in the village and hamlets , availability or high potential for public transit service. By channeling future development into such areas, the Town and Village can achieve the objectives of providing decent affordable housing , enhancing the viability of downtown areas, providing municipal services in an efficient manner, and protect the small town and rural/farming character of the community. Finally, smaller households and an aging population are creating demands for housing other than the single-family detached home which has been the norm for decades. The Town and Village must thus adopt new strategies and action to address issues regarding housing , including: Strategy Ensure that zoning and subdivision regulations provide for the construction and placement of housing of varying types and densities to serve the needs of different populations in the community. Actions 1. Adopt residential development densities that can provide high quality homes affordable to the average family, make optimal use of existing municipal services and preserve important open space and agricultural resources. Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York 2. Adopt zoning regulations that permit the construction of quality, safe and affordable housing for senior residents and other residents with special needs, while protecting quality of life and community character. Strategy Encourage major new residential development in those areas that would be most appropriate for such land use by providing the municipal services to encourage new residential development in those areas. Actions 1. Adopt land-use regulations for newer forms of residential development envisioned in this plan that both accommodate the changing forms of housing and protect existing neighborhoods from potential traffic and other impacts. Adequate parkjng, open space, play areas and other amenities become more important as residential densities increase . Yard setbacks and landscaped buffer areas between high-density developments and adjoining single-family homes are also recommended. 2. Work with organizations such as Better Housing for Tompkins County, Tompkins Community Action and Groton Housing Authority to develop new housing and renovate the existing housing stock in the community. 41 Transportation The network of state, county, town and village-maintained 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 maintained. (Map 4) There are also approximately 4.1 miles of privately-owned roads. With a few exceptions , roads and streets owned and maintained by the Town and the Village serve primarily as local roads with relatively low volumes of traffic . In general, they connect village or rural residences and farms with the state and county systems . As a rural road network the Town of Groton road system is well maintained and in line with generally accepted standards for rural roads. The state highways serving the town are NYS Routes 34B, 38, and 222. NYS Rte. 38 roughly bisects the town from north to south and passes through the village of Groton, 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 ultimately Owego and NYS Rte 17 /1-86 . From Freeville NYS Rte. 366 provides a route to Ithaca. Fall Creek Road (County Route 105) connects McLean and the eastern portions of the town to Freeville and NYS Rte . 366. County Route 105 continues eastward from Mclean as the McLean-Cortland Road and connects McLean to Cortland. Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York NYS Rte. 222 connects the village with Cortland and provides the village and town with a link to 1-81 via NYS Rte. 281. It provides convenient access for commuters, shoppers to Cortland and truck access to 1-81. 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 . The village and town should strive to make optimum use of existing and future streets and roads. One way to do so and also reduce the potential increases in traffic generated by new development would be to encourage use of alternatives to the automobile, including public transit. In general creating a cost-effective network of bus routes requires a minimum density of 4 to 5 dwelling units per acre within a community. Thus , directing major residential and other development toward the existing village and hamlet areas will complement this policy . Specific strategies and actions to address issues related to transportation are: Strategy Protect local communities from the impacts of high volumes of traffic. In the village of Groton and McLean hamlet large volumes of heavy truck traffic are of particular concern. 42 Action Work with the State and Tompkins County to develop alternative routes for heavy truck traffic passing through these communities. Strategy Make optimum use of existing streets , roads and highways as the Village and Town grow in the coming decades. Actions 1. Adopt land-use regulations that direct major residential and other development toward existing village and hamlet areas. 2. Develop a network of streets, roads and highways that would make optimum use of existing streets without adverse impacts to quality of life m existing neighborhoods. 3. Combine use of ex1stmg streets and roads with new streets and roads. This network would have adequate capacity to accommodate traffic without congestion, provide residents with a variety of routes to better distribute traffic in neighborhoods and reduce impacts of increased traffic on existing neighborhoods. Joint Comprehensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York Strategy Ensure that the rural road network of the town continues to serve the needs of the local farm community . Actions 1. Direct major residential and other development toward existing village and hamlet areas to better protect rural roads from increased levels of traffic that could adversely impact the ability of farmers to move equipment over roads. 2. Identify and correct deficiencies in local roads to ensure that they can support heavy farm equipment. 3 . Educate the motoring public about safe driving habits when encountering farm equipment on public highways. Strategy Encourage increased use of public transit and other alternatives to the automobile. Actions 1. Work with the Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit to encourage use of public transit through expanded bus routes and network of bus stops, park and ride facilities and other programs. 2. Develop a network of sidewalks, bicycle and pedestrian paths within the village of Groton and hamlet of McLean 43 to better connect residential neighborhoods, commercial centers , schools, parks and places of employment. This will be a combination of new paths and existing paths. As residential development occurs the existing network of sidewalks should be extended into new areas of development. Strategy Ensure that residents of all capabilities have access to needed transportation services. Action Work with the Gadabout paratransit service to extend Gadabout bus service to include Cortland County 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 be addressed. Municipal Services One of the greatest challenges to local governments is striking a reasonable balance between the benefits accrued from growth and development and the costs associated with growth and development. The presence of adequate infrastructure is essential to economic development in the community , to the implementation of land-use policies designed to direct future large-scale development toward Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York ex1stmg developed areas , policies to promote downtown revitalization and to preserve valuable open space and agricultural land resources. The Village of Groton directly provides municipal water, sewer and electric services, maintains an extensive network of streets and sidewalks, a park system and a police department. The Town of Groton directly provides for the maintenance of an extensive road system. Both municipalities fund local fire departments and ambulance services. How the village and town grow in the coming decades will directly impact the cost of providing municipal services. Together they must manage growth so that current and future residents are provided adequate and timely municipal services and quality of life is maintained and enhanced . One means ensuring efficient use of ex1stmg municipal infrastructure would be to permit higher density residential development in areas served by municipal water and sewer. By encouraging residential densities of 3 to 4 dwellings per acre on average , both the Village and Town can accommodate substantial residential development in areas already served by or in close proximity to existing water and sewer lines. Even though McLean is not currently served by municipal water and sewer, it is possible that in the future such service may be desirable. By promoting denser development in and around the hamlet, the Town can minimize per unit costs for such an investment and enhance the financial feasibility of such a project. 44 Specific recommended strategies and actions with regard to municipal services in the Village and Town are : Strategy Maximize the use of the existing public facilities and services to ensure that future investments in new facilities are minimized . Actions 1. Adopt land-use regulations that direct major residential and other development toward existing village and hamlet areas . 2. Expand municipal water, sewer and other infrastructure and services as needed in an efficient and cost-effective manner. 3. Invest in municipal water, sewer and other infrastructure that is adequate to serve the economic needs of local industry and maintain their competitiveness in the global economy. 4. Implement a systematic program of monitoring, maintaining and upgrading the existing water and sewer facilities is critical to maximizing their efficiency and life span. 5. Establish coordinated capital improvement programs for the Village and the Town to direct future capital 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 Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York minimized and the efficiency of such systems can be maximized . Strategy Ensure public water supply that is adequate to serve the future growth and development in the town and village Action Identify potential risks to the quality and quantity of the Village's municipal water supply and take appropriate actions to ensure a continued high quality and adequate supply of water. 45 Parks and Recreation The Town and Village should plan to make modest investments in new public park and recreation facilities in the coming years. This is necessary to ensure a system of park and recreational facilities that can serve the variety of recreational needs of all residents. The National Recreation and Parks Association (NRP A) has established standards for communities throughout the country to use to plan their park systems. According to the NRP A a community should strive to develop between 6.25 and 10.5 acres of public parks for every 1,000 residents. For the town and village combined, these figures would translate into between 36 and 61 acres of public parkland town-wide, and between 15 and 26 acres for the village proper. The NRP A 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. Join t Compreh ensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York Nonetheless as the eastern portions of the village continue to develop a second park complex should be developed in the area. Also, a small public park to serve residents of McLean should be developed in the coming years. Both proposed parks should be around 2.5 acres in size: an area large enough to accommodate a 2-acre playing field for baseball and other field sports, a playground and short walking trail and benches. Because they are expected to serve homes within relatively easy walking distance of users, there would be no need to build comfort facilities or parking at these parks. Specific recommended strategies and actions with regard to public park and recreation facilities include: Strategy Ensure that village and town residents have access to a high quality network of park and recreational facilities. Actions 1. Work in partnership with Groton Central School District, Dryden Central School District and private civic groups to make most efficient use of public monies when developing proposed new public park and recreation 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 meeting place for youth groups, provide office space for youth services delivery agencies and as an informal gathering place for local youth . The center could also provide facilities necessary to support enhanced recreational programs for local youth. 3. Work with the Town of Dryden and landowners to develop the 4.5-mile former railroad grade extending south from Groton to Freeville as a bicycle and pedestrian path. This would be a joint project with the Town of Dryden. The facility would serve both as a practical transportation link and a valuable recreational facility . It would provide a level bicycle route suitable for commuting purposes . It would provide walkers , joggers and recreational bicyclists access to the scenic wetlands and woodlands of the Owasco Inlet bottomlands . The path could tie into the bicycle and pedestrian path the Town of Dryden is currently working to build between Dryden village and Freeville, and plans to ultimately extend the path through Etna and Varna to Ithaca. 4 . Upgrade existing park and recreational facilities wherever possible to comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and design and construct all future facilities to comply to the extent possible. Joint Comprehensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York Environment and Open Space Resources The hills, farm fields, some 10,000 acres of woodland , 320 miles of streams and approximately 2,100 acres of wetlands in the town and village are critical to the quality of life for all residents and need to be protected as the community grows in the coming decades. Another important visual element in the landscape of Groton and a defining scenic landmark is the forested western side of the narrow Owasco Inlet valley. This steep hillside extends north to south through the town and village and is visible from a wide variety of vantage points These features contribute to the scenic beauty of the community enjoyed by resident and visitor alike. Moreover the farmland is critical to the viability of a major economic sector in the community. Wetlands contribute to water quality in streams, retain excess water in times of flood and provide important habitat for numerous species of plants and animals. Woodlands contribute to the scenic character of the community and provide important habitat for wildlife. The undeveloped floodplain areas along the Owasco Inlet and Fall Creek represent an important open space asset that should be protected from future development where possible. In addition to limiting future flood-related property losses , steering development away from floodplain areas protects their 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 In some cases the outright acqms1t1on, most likely through donation to a land trust or other private entity, can be utilized. The Town and Village could have important roles in such efforts , particularly by serving as conduits for state and federal grants for such initiatives. Specific policy recommendations for environmental and open space resources in the Village and Town are: Strategy Ensure better protection of stream corridors , wetlands and other water bodies, as well as agricultural and forest lands , through carefully designed development. Actions 1. Adopt design approaches such as cluster subdivision, stream buffer areas and no (tree)-cut zones that would permit developers the densities permitted under zoning, yet at the same time protect important open space and environmental resources , including farmland , woodland and steep slopes. 2. Adopt design standards that better protect stream corridors , wetlands and other water bodies and minimize adverse impacts such as loss of soil erosion and sedimentation, and stormwater run-off. Joint Comprehensive Plan for th e Villa ge & To wn of Groton , New York Strategy Ensure better protection of the significant open space resources of the community through policies and regulations 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 3. Educate the public and builders to the benefits of floodplains, the adverse impacts of building in floodplains and alternatives to building in floodplains . Joint Compreh ensive 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 Introduction GROTON TOWN-VILLAGE CITIZENS' SURVEY RESULTS March 25 , 2004 What Was The Public Opinion Survey? March 25 , 2004 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. 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 4 th 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 sub stantial 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% ofrespondents 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% ofrespondents 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 ofrespondents, 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 ofrespondents. There appears to be very strong support for agriculture in the town. Some 59 .8% ofrespondents feel that right to farm protection for agriculture is "Essential," while another 29.9% consider it "Important." (Quest. 18) Fifty-nine percent ofrespondents 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 oflife for residents . The major transportation issues for survey respondents appear to be road maintenance and truck traffic. Some 81.8% ofrespondents believe that the volume of heavy truck traffic through residential areas is an "Important" or "Essential" issue. More controls on truck traffic ranked 15 th 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% ofrespondents. (Quest. 26) Ninety-two percent ofrespondents 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 ih in the responses given to Question 29, while improving the local economy ranked 9th on the list. 5 Appendix A Groton Town-Vi ll age Citizens' Survey Results March 25, 2004 Survey Responses -Tabulated 1. Where do you li ve? Groton McLean east of 38 & east of 38 & west of38 & west of38 & Total No. of vi ll age ham let south of222 north of222 so uth of north of Responses Spring St Spring St No. of Responses 193 39 37 59 79 39 Percent of tota l Responses 48.3% 8.7% 8.3% 13.2% 17.7% 8.7% 446 N.B. 2 . If you live outside the Village of Groton, what is the community nearest yo u? Vill age of Mc lean Freevi ll e Locke Lans ing West Peruv ill e Groton Dryden Cort land Tota l No. of Groton ham let Groton City Responses No. of Responses 152 55 5 12 12 6 6 4 2 3 Percent of tota l 58.9% 21.3% 1.9% 4.7% 4 .7% 2.3% 2.3% 1.6% 0.8% 1.2% 258 Responses 3. H ow long have yo u li ve d in the Town or Vill a~ e of Groton? more than 30 more tha n 21 more than 11 more than 6 more than 3 more than I Less than I Total No. of years yea rs 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 tota l Responses 4 3.1% 15.4% 16.6% 10.2% 7.5% 5.4% 1.8% 44 1 N.B. P lease note th at because many respo nde nts did not answer all the questions on th e ir questionaires the number ofrespondents per question varies considerab ly in these tabulations . 6 Appen dix A Groton Town-Village Citizens' Survey Results 4. Where do you work? No. of Responses 57 2 Percent of total Responses 12 .5% 0.4% --0 -0 -OJ -OJ,--. 0 :>-. 0 :>-. --0 4a. Breakdown of "I am C 0 C O OJ E o. E o.·t "' E 25 5.5% 18 76 31 21 3.9% 16.7% 6.8% 4.6% --0 ... +-' Q) If) Cl) 0:>-.\0--0 =..2 OJo E o.. oO --o "' E -< C "'0 oO C !;, ;::l "' 0 uu 15 3.3% --0 .§~ t: ;::l 0 0 uu 45 9.9% 14 3.1% i3: OJ z --0 -OJ 0 :>-. C o E o. "' E ...... OJ 1 151 0.2% 33.1% March 25, 2004 U'l 0 <I) z ~ ce & .... U'l 0 <I) f-, ~ 456 not Emploved" responses ...... OJ "' E ~ ...... OJ'--' ...... OJ ' "' The questionnaire did not have a place where respondents could indicate that they were retired, however 49 respondents who checked the "I am not employed" line also made a notation that they were retired. Another 66 who checked the line indicated later on the questionnaire that they are 65 years old 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. No. of Responses 151 49 66 Percent of total Responses 100% 32 .5% 43.7% 5. Approximately how far is it from home to your place of work, one way? ~ °' 2 2 2 2 5 0 U'l -B <I) C 2 "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' z U'l "' "' BB BB BB BB ~ i:: -5 ~"' ~"' 0 "§ "§ "§ "§ "§ "§ "§ "§ "§ OJ -0, "'~ "§ ~ ·a~ "' ... .... U'l "'·-0~ V) °' 0~ V) °' 0 0 0 <+-<I) ~ E -E V) E ----N N N N «") E f-, 0 ~ 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 6. If you are a business person or farmer, do you employ others in your business or farm? No. of Responses Percent of respondents answering Yes. 27 100% 0 :z: 70 N I A ;,-., 0 0. Ei µ.i 10 37.0% v;> (") ;,-., 0 0. Ei µ.i 8 29.6% 0 -I I.O ;,-., 0 ]' µ.i 6 22.2% 6b. How many employees reside outside the Town of Groton? No. of Responses "' I!) I!) >-. 0 N 0. I s -I!) 12 "' I!) I!) >-. 0 '1" 0. I s M <U 3 7. What was the last year of schoo l yo u comp leted? No. of Responses Percent of tota l Responses 8 0 t::: 0 o:I ..c: ..c: (.) -"' "'..c: ~ -~ ......l ..c: 12 2.8% 0 0 ..c (.) "' ..c: 0/) :B 194 44.5% "' I!) I!) >-. 0 t--0. I s \0 I!) 0 "' I!) I!) >-. 0 0 0. "-;' s 00 I!) 2 100 22.9% Appendix A V) -I --;,-., 0 0. Ei µ.i 2 7.4% "' I!) I!) >-. tr, 0 -0.. o S -I!) 0 0 r;i V) -;,-., 0 0. Ei µ.i 0 0% "' I!) I!) >-. 0 0 N 0. '-0 s -I!) 0 64 14.7% 0 N ;,-., 0 0. Ei µ.i 0 0% "' I!) I!) >-. 0 0 M 0.. o S N <U 0 ., "\;j ., ::, ., "O ..... o:I 0/) ..... ., 0 "O 66 15.1% 1 3.7% "' I!) I!) s ~ 0. O O 8 :::s M <U March 25, 2004 97 0 436 Groton Town -Village Citizens' Survey Results March 25, 2004 8. How many persons live in your household? 0 rJJ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 <l) z rJJ Q -0 ell 0-. +-> rJJ 0 <+-, <l) E-< 0 0::: 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 0 0 rJJ 24 44 64 65 <l) z rJJ Q years years years years -0 ell 0-. old old old or +-> "' 0 <l) older E-< 0::: 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: ;l (].) 0 rJJ o" tn -B (].) -0 (I.) 0 .0 z "' -0 (I.) C: .5 E E E 8 0 -0 ' 0 >, 4-< Q 1-, ·.;: C: .... -0 0 "'·-"'·-§ (I.) "' "' § C: (I.) (I.) (I.) -0-. ........ ........ l:lJ) .... -gf -5 (I.) > ell (I.)-(I.) t: C.Sc8_=5 <S ] C: 0 +-> rJJ c.,-0.. "' 0 .0 0 <+-, (].) 0 <2 0 0.. "'2 0 .0 "' .;::! .2 u E-< 0 0::: "' C: "' 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? ~ 4-, rr, ,_ 0 (I) According to the 2000 Census of Population, ---0 ,-; ,_ rr, I I CFJ (I) i:: ,_ ,_ :::: Zl co ..... .D 0 7 5. 6% of dwellings in the town and village are i:: i=l ~ s fZ' ..... 11) (I) CFJ (I)·-i:: i::: ...c: (I) ...c: (I) ,_ -::i (I) owner occupied, 24.4% are renter ocupied. ~ ..... CFJ ..... ;:,. ce ,-9 (I) 0 0;.::: z ix: 0 ,_ ::i 0.. CFJ Hom eowners are thus over-represented in the No. of Res pon ses 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? 4-, CFJ 0 (I) ., -st "' ., .... "' ,-; ,_ rr, .... ' Cl) 2~ Cl) (I) i::: I 2 N .!:! .s ..... .D 0 ..!:! ~., Ee..> '5 ~ u .i:: ., = 0 s 0.. gr·§ 8 .... ., f-, ::i CFJ E ·'= (I) c.ii <S _g ·-~ 0 ~ z ix: Cl) ~ -0 Cl) ~ E -o 419 28 6 92 .5% 6 .2% 1.3% 453 13 . Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your dwe ll ing? 4-, CFJ -0 Cl) -0 0 (I) ,.;::.~ .i:: .s ., ,-; ,_ CFJ ,.;::. Cl) (I) i:: ..... --~ ;,.,E .!:! ..... .D 0 -~ -~ 1 ..... -0 s 0.. ~£V f-, ::i rr, "' -0 :a -~ .g (I) z ix: No. of Respon ses 391 56 Percent of total Respon ses 87.5% 12.5% 447 Appendix A Groton Town -Village Citizens' Survey Results 14. If dissatisfied, whv are you dissatisfied? No. of Responses 7 11 13 18 Percent of Responses to 12.5% Question 0 0% 19 .6% 23.2% 32 .1% 15. How many motor vehicles are there in your household? No. of Responses Percent of total Responses none 6 1.4% 91 20.4% 2 209 47.3% 3 93 21.0% 4 31 7.0% 3 5.4% 5 3 "' (Jj (Jj a 3 _g -0 ..... -(Jj ;::l :,: 0 (Jj :,: = 34 60 .7% 6 0.7 % 16. If you are employed, what mode of transportation do you normally use? No. of Responses Percent of total Responses 11 28 8.7% ..... 0 0 E (!)~ :> (.) -~ :.2 -0 (Jj :> 308 96 .0% 5 1.6% 6 1.9% ..... (Jj (Jj :> ..c: ·-...., ..... 0 -0 1 0.3% Appendix A 4 CJ) (Jj ~ .s ..c: .. 00 ..... ·-(!) ..c: -s 0 OB 4 7 .1% 0.9% (Jj -0 a ..... (Jj -s 0 0 7 l I 1.8% 0.2% ~ a ..... (Jj ..c: 0 8 0 1 1.8% 1 0.2% 9 1 1.8% l 0.2% 4-, rr, 0 Q.) -..... rr, o::l Q.) i:: ...., .D 0 0 s 0. E-< ;::l ~ z~ 321 March 25, 2004 -0 "3 .g 0 = :,: 0 .. (.) i) "' ..c: (Jj 03 1 56 1.8% °' 4-, rr, = 0 Q.) ..... rr, "' "; Q.) = -s ...., .D 0 (Jj 0 s 0. ..... E-< ;::l ~ 0 ::E z~ 0 442 Groton Town-Vi ll age Citizens' Survey Results March 25, 2004 17 . H ow do yo u fee l about yo ur commute to work? I:: ~ Q) 4-, "' ..c:: 0 -0 ..c:: 0 =o § 0 ll) ..... u -~ .8 0 u ·a -a ,_.. "' s '§ .-;: ;::l 'o.. ~..c:: ll) i:: Q) Q) ..... a ..... .D 0 ~ 3 g -5 ..... Q) 0 0 ..... ~ E ~ c -I:: ~ c 0 4!..~Clj "' -~ "E ~ 0 ;J z <>8.:'.: ;::l ll) i5 Q) Q) z~ ;, o .n a Q .-;: ;, C/l Q) 0 No. of Responses 11 31 158 54 21 25 Percent of tota l Responses 3.7% 11.5% 58.5% 18.0% 7 .8% 9.3% 270 18 . How do you rank the fo ll owing issues regarding agriculture in terms of importance? I:: 4-, "' E E ~ 0 0 ll) "' o:I o:I ·a -a ,_.. i:: ..... t: t: E ll) 0 0 'o,. ..... .D 0 z p. 0 Q) 0 s 0. p. "' 0 .§ .§ "' 0 f-, ;::l a3 µ:.1 z z~ 23 123 246 19 4 11 Right to Farm No . of Responses 5.6% 29.9% 59.8% 4.6% Percent of total Res ponses 1 17 49 57 89 312 No Right to Farm No. of Respo n ses 37.5% 15 .7% 18.3% 28.5% Percent of total Responses 37 114 179 47 377 Specia l Purpose Perm its (for chemica l use, storage) No. of Responses 9.8% 30.2% 47.5% 12.5% Percent of total Responses 17 122 239 27 405 Protect ing Higher Qua li ty Farmland from Major No. of Respon ses 4.2% 30.1% 59.0% 6.7% Development Percent of tota l Responses 20 162 198 26 406 Educat ing the Non -Farming Community about No . of Responses 4.9% 39 .9% 48.8% 6.4% ag ric ul ture Percent of total Responses and right to farm laws 12 Appen dix A Groton Town-Vi ll age Citizens' Survey Results March 25, 2004 19 . H ow do yo u rank th e fo ll owing iss u es regarding transportat ion in te rms of importance? '+-< "' i:: 0 (l.) "E "E 0 .... "' "' "' ] 'i= (l.) i:: t t "E ·s.. -,.0 0 0 0 <l) 0 Cll s 0., ... 0.. 0.. "' 0 .... ;:j "' o a a "' ~z~ z--i:.I.l z New road construction No. of Responses 105 190 110 16 421 Percent of total Responses 24 .9% 45.1% 26.1% 3 .8% Maintai ning existing roads No. of Responses 3 121 302 3 429 Percent of total Responses 1.0% 28.2% 70.4% 1.0% Public tra nsit service No. of Responses 43 209 132 38 422 within Tompkins County Percent of tota l Responses 10.2% 49.5% 31.3% 9.0% Public tra nsit serv ice No. of Responses 64 207 87 63 421 To Cort land County Percent of tota l 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% Vo lume of heavy tru ck No. of Responses 36 202 140 40 4 18 traffic in res idential areas Percent of total Responses 8 .6% 48 .3% 33.5% 9.6% 20 . If yo u live outside th e vi ll age of Gro ton how often to do you trave l into the vi ll age for purp oses oth er than work? ~ c '+-< "' i:: <l) 0 (l.) <l) "' ~ <l) ... .... "' -B > 0 (l.) i:: "' "' <l) "' "'..c: ;,... ... -as 8. ~ <l) <!)~ <l) <') ~ <l) ... -;:; <l) 0 (.) (.) Q) (.) ... Q) (.) i:: "' ... > .... = "' ~ § i:: Q) i:: 0 Q) i:: 0 "' "' Q) ~z~ 0 ~ ON~ oa~ i:.:: z No. of Responses 162 42 24 13 19 1 261 Percent of tota l 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: 'cf-'cf-'cf-'cf-'cf-'cf-'cf-'cf-'cf-Total No . 'cf-°' °' °' °' °' °' °' °' °' Responses -N ("') 'SI' V) '-0 r--00 °' °' 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 to 2 'cf-'cf-'cf-'cf-'cf-'cf-'cf-'cf-'cf-Question: *=less than 1.0% 'cf-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -N ("') 'SI' V) '-0 r--00 °' 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 2 1 45 26 22 36 1 Cortlandvi ll e 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 Respon ses 35 13 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 59 Percent of Responses to 2.5% * * * * * * * * * 4 .2% Question Other : No . of R espo nses 16 4 6 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 27 Syrac use/ Onondaga Percent of Responses to 1.2% * * * * * * * * * 1.9% County Question Othe r : No. of Responses 6 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 B inghamton/ Broome Percent of Responses to * * * * * * * * * * 1.0% County Question Other: No. of Responses 10 2 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 Catao log/Internet Percent of Responses to * * * * * * * * * * 1.2% Question Othe r P lace 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 Appen dix A Groton Town -Vi ll age Citizens ' Survey Results March 25, 20 04 22. If yo u live out si de th e v ill age of Groton an d trave l into the v ill age for purposes other than work , w h at are th e purposes? Oil .5 0. 0. 0 ..0 [/) 183 127 164 73 111 85 71 62 13 5 3 3 0 No. of Responses Percent of Respo nses to Question 20.3% 14.1% 18.2% 8.1% 12.3% 9.4% 7.9% 6.9% 1.4% 0 .6% 0.3% 0.3% 23. If any of the faci li ties or services in Qu estion 22 were improved and expanded, would either you or memb ers of your fami ly use them more often? B -~ .... "' "' "' 0 ::l "' "~ (].) " <l) :"§ Oil 0 -5 ~ O(j ~ ..... ·-.::: .,, _ :§i 0 15 .~ ~ -..o u = <l) = ..... 0) "'5 ;::l <l) Oil i:: E > o3 <l) "' 0 ·- Oil "' -= .... > Oil "' t, .... 0 "' 0 ,:: Oil <-< = r.n on ·.c u ·.;::::; ·-C: "' <l) = "' <l) "' ·c.. Oil 8 C: C: -B ro ro ·-r.n 0 :.a r.r.i -o E "O <l) 0. .5 ·-·-::l <Ut:-0"0 0 ~ 15 = u C: .2 0 = t: ~ 0 «i tl <l) .2 i:l ..c: -<l) ~ ·s: <l) > ..c: 6 (l) ro 8 <l) ~ ~ .5 Ji u g > to .... [/) [/) ..0 "' • ::r:: [/) ·-<l) <t; ·u <t; ~ 3 16 315 3 12 3 14 314 310 312 310 To tal number of Responses No . of YES Responses 264 232 115 14 1 160 86 95 48 Percent of tota l Responses 84.4% 74 .2% 36 .9% 44 .9% 51.0% 27 .7% 30.4% 15 .5% 52 83 197 173 154 224 2 17 262 No. of NO Responses 15.6% 25.8% 63.1% 55.1% 49.0% 72.3% 69.4% 84.5% Percent of total Responses 15 Appendix A 0% 900 Groton Town -Vi ll age Citizens' Survey Results March 25, 20 04 24 . How important are th e fo ll ow ing to yo u ? Not Total Important Important Essential No opinion Responses Job opportun ities No. of Responses 74 159 148 30 411 Percent of tota l Responses 18% 38.7% 36.0% 7 .3% Educationa l faci lities No. of Responses 43 138 220 20 421 Percent of tota l Responses 10 .2% 32 .8% 52 .3% 7.1% Cost of li ving No. of Respo nses 4 147 267 9 427 Percent of tota l Responses 0.9% 34.4% 62.5% 2.1% Taxes No. of Respo nses 1 137 276 9 423 Percent of tota l Respon ses 0.2% 32.4% 65.2% 2.1% Recreatio n 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 4 17 Percent of tota l 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% Friend liness No. of Respo nses 10 197 212 7 426 Percen t of total Respo nses 2.3% 46 .2% 49 .8% 1.6% Sh opp ing faci li ties 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 4 8 420 Percent of tota l Respo nses 19.4% 37.4% 31.4% 11.4% Municipal serv ices No. of Responses 16 174 210 17 4 17 Percent of total Res ponses 3.8% 41 .7% 50.4% 4.1 % Poli ce & fire protection No. of Respo nses 10 10 6 302 9 427 Percent of tota l Respon ses 2 .3% 24 .8% 70.7% 2 .1 % Physical attractiveness No. of Responses 19 214 154 25 412 Percent of to tal Respon ses 4.6% 51.9% 37.4% 6.1% C loseness to work No. of Respo nses 74 17 1 80 72 397 Percent of to tal Respon ses 18.6% 43.1% 20 .2% 18.1% P lann ing for community No. of Responses 29 181 172 24 406 growth Percent of total Respo nses 7.1% 44.6% 42.4% 5.9% Zoning No. of Responses 42 178 152 30 402 Percent of tota l Respo nses 10 .5% 44.3% 37 .8% 7.5% C loseness to rural No. of Responses 40 16 1 15 1 40 392 surroundings Percent of tota l Respo nses 10 .2% 41.1% 38.5% 10 .2% 16 A ppen dix A Groton Town -Village Citizens' Survey Results March 25, 2004 NOTE. Due to a error in fina l layout th e choice of answers to #2 5 were not I = Low; 3 = Neutra l; 5 = High as they were intended to be . A lthough the res p on ses to the qu estion are incl uded here, they are in c lude d on ly as a m atter of interest an d wi ll not be use d in future delib erations on th e new Jo int Comprehensive Plan. 25. How would you rate your community on the fo ll owing? Not Tota l Important Important Essential No opinion Responses Employment No. of Responses 75 153 88 45 361 opportunities Percent of tota l 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 tota l 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 Respo nses 7 206 125 4 342 Percent of total Responses 2.0% 60.2% 36.5% 1.2% Shoppi ng 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 tota l Responses 12 .1% 45 .9% 30.3% 11.8% Municipal services No. of Responses 12 17 1 143 17 354 Percent of tota l Responses 3.5% 49.9% 41.7% 5.0% Po lice and fire No. of Responses 2 132 215 5 354 protection Percent of tota l Responses 0.6% 37.3% 60 .7% 1.4% Physica l attractiveness No. of Responses 36 190 96 22 344 Percent of tota l Responses 10.5% 55.2% 27.9% 6.4% 17 Appendix A Groton Town-Vi ll age Citizens' Survey Results March 25, 2004 26. H ow do you rank the fo llowing in terms of importance to quality of li fe in the future? Not Total Important Important Essential No opinion Responses Preserv ing scen ic quality /natural No. of Respo nses 7 195 222 4 428 be auty Percent of tota l Responses 1.6% 45.6% 5 1.9% 0.9% Preserving rura l/ No. of Respon ses 6 184 239 5 434 peacefu l character Percent of tota l Responses 1.4% 42.4% 55.1% 1.2% Locatio n in the reg ion No. of Responses 25 209 145 34 413 Percent of total Responses 6.1% 50 .6% 35 .1% 8.2% Loca l businesses No. of Responses 14 208 193 8 423 Percent of total Responses 3.3% 49.2% 45.6% 1.9% Future residentia l growth No. of Responses 68 187 144 22 421 Percent of total Responses 16.2% 44.4% 34.2% 5.2% New sma ll-sca le commercia l No. of Respon ses 58 200 152 17 427 deve lopment Percent of total Respon ses 13.6% 46.8% 35.6% 4.0% New large-scale commerc ial No. of Responses 194 111 89 30 424 development Percent of total Responses 45 .8% 26 .2% 21.0% 7.1% New light industria l No. of Respon ses 73 210 110 26 419 Deve lopme nt Percent of total Responses 17.4% 50.1% 26.3% 6.2% Directing future development into or No. of Responses 75 200 104 33 4 12 close to existing hamlets or vi ll ages Percent of total Responses 18 .2% 4 8.5% 25.2% 8.0% Provi ding for a variety of No . of Responses 48 225 109 21 403 develop ment Percent of total Responses 11.9% 55.8% 27 .0% 5.2% Employment opportunities No. of Respon ses 23 189 20 1 11 424 Percent of total Responses 5.4% 44.6% 4 7.4% 2.6% Municipa l services No. of Respo nses 11 174 229 14 428 Percent of total Respon ses 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/e mergency medica l services No. of Responses 2 125 304 5 436 Percent of total Respon ses 0.5% 28.7% 69.7% 1.1% 18 Appendix A Groton Town-Vi ll age Citizens' Survey Results March 25, 2004 26. (C ONT.) H ow do yo u rank the fo ll owing in terms of importance to qu ality of life in th e fu tu re? Not Tota l Important Important Essential No opinion Responses Water/se wer districts No. of Responses 30 154 219 33 436 Percent of total Responses 6.7% 35 .3% 50.2% 7.6% Recreatio nal No. of Responses 49 237 103 31 420 opportu nities Percent of total Responses 11.7% 56.4% 24 .5% 7.4% Viabi lity of agricu ltura l No. of Responses 25 188 193 17 423 community Percent of tota l Responses 5.9% 44.4% 45.6% 4.0% Clea r land use po li cies No. of Responses 27 193 161 33 414 Percent of tota l Responses 6 .5% 46 .6% 38 .9% 8.0% Protect farmland No . of Responses 20 176 216 12 424 Percent of tota l Responses 4.7% 41.5% 50.9% 2.8% Public tran sit No. of Responses 54 199 131 42 426 Percent of total Res p on ses 12.7% 46 .7% 30 .6% 9 .9% Expand wa lkways and No. of Respon ses 93 187 92 46 418 bike trai ls Percent of tota l Respon ses 22 .2% 44.7% 22 .0% 11.0% 2 7 . lama fema le; male resi den t. Of th e res p ond ents to the qu es tionnaire, 55.8% were fema le, 4 3.5% were male, an d 0 .7 % did not respond to th e ques ti on . 19 Appendix A Groton Town -Vi ll age Citizens' Survey Results March 25, 20 04 28. What do you lo ve about Gro ton? What wou ld you t ell a frien d about why they should move here? Response Co unt R esponse Count It's a friendly community 145 Good se lect ion of stores, services 16 The smal l size/sma ll town character 108 Good vill age/tow n municipa l services 13 The qua li ty of the schoo l system 69 Quality of the park & poo l, other recreationa l faci li ties 11 The qu iet, peacefu l character 68 Quali ty of the fire, po lice, emergency medica l services 11 It's 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 mu nici pa l electricity (vi ll age) 33 Vi ll age Christmas season street decorations 6 A strong sense of community, civic pride 32 Proximity to family 5 Close kn it community -peop le recognize, watc h out for each other 32 The fitness center 5 Commun ity character -attractive, clean community 27 Proximity to cultural events (in Cortland, Ithaca, elsewhere) 3 Inexpen sive/reasonably priced hous in g, cost of living 24 Snow plowing/win ter main te nance 3 Scenic beauty of the area 22 Tax rates 3 Good place to raise a fami ly 17 Not much industria l deve lopment 2 Good service by loca l business peop le 17 Good /great potential 2 20 Appendix A Groton Town-Village Citizens' Survey Results March 25 , 2004 Question# 28. There were a number ofresponses 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" 21 Question 29 results on next page 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 onnortunities 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 , snowmob ile s,A TV s, 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 serv ice areas 7 Rehabilitate run -down residential properties 35 Expand the number of community events 7 Increase employmeny opportunities locally 30 No or les s low income housing 6 More 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 /ped . paths 6 Improve local hosuing stock 19 Need adult recreational onnortunities/more activities 5 Improve local zoning regulations, zoning enforcement 19 Consolidate DPW, other municipsl sevices where practical 5 Improve local streets and roads, street and road maintenance 14 Increase rate ofvolunteerism 5 More contro l of heavy truck traffic , in c ludin g restricting routes 13 [mprove bus, taxi service 4 Expand municipal e lectric service area I 1 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