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HomeMy WebLinkAboutComp Plan Chapter 1 Introduction  Town  of Ithaca 2014 Comprehensive Plan 1 CHAPTER 1    INTRODUCTION    Town  of Ithaca 2014 Comprehensive Plan 2   Town  of Ithaca 2014 Comprehensive Plan 3 INTRODUCTION  1.1 Ithaca: the setting  The Town of Ithaca is a mosaic of rural, suburban, and urban landscapes that surrounds the City of Ithaca. It is a college town, a farm town, a Finger Lakes community, and a tourist destination renowned for its scenic vistas, forested hillsides, gorges, waterfalls and Cayuga Lake. The Town is fortunate to have three State Parks nearby and many small Town parks and trails. It is a town where institutions of higher learning flourish, where comparatively stable employment centers reside, and where there is easy access to outdoor recreational opportunities, cultural events, shopping, eclectic restaurants, and a thriving arts and music scene. This mix of rural and small town charm with a cultural vibrancy and a nearby city vibe is what makes the Town distinctive. It’s what residents value about living here and what attracts newcomers to visit and stay. Ithaca’s reputation for a high quality of life and for being one of the few expanding economies in upstate New York draw people here. This growth brings new businesses, new employers, and new ideas. An expanding population means a broader base to support the arts, culture, and our many non-profit organizations. The attractiveness of Ithaca has brought many positive changes but it also brings the challenge of accommodating more people well and in a sustainable fashion—preserving valuable farmland and open space, and ensuring that the quality of life that brought people here in the first place is not jeopardized. Concerns about growth, and specifically where it should occur, was a central theme of the Town’s first general land use planning document. The 1959 Ithaca Urban Area Plan was an intermunicipal undertaking by the City of Ithaca, Towns of Ithaca and Lansing and the Village of Cayuga Heights. The 1959 Plan expressed deep anxiety over the increasing dispersion of the population into the more rural areas and away from an urban core and the potential impacts of that development pattern on the quality and character of the Ithaca area. That plan described the residential land use patterns around the urban fringes as having assumed “the characteristics of well-scattered confetti” and went on to state: “Most of the roads and highways in the Ithaca countryside have become, in effect, long drawn-out city streets. New homes have sprung up at random on large lots along the roadside and the overall effect is that of a loose cluster of houses clinging to the web of concrete and asphalt that holds them together.” Despite raising alarms, the proposed ideas and recommendations expressed in the 1959 Plan were not translated into concrete actions that remedied the ongoing development patterns in the Town. It would take 30 more years for the Town to commit formally to implementing regulations and policies to curb the loss of open space. With the adoption of the 1993 Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan, protection of the Town’s agricultural lands, natural areas, and environment was established as a high priority. The Plan’s subsequent implementation has had many important successes. Conservation zoning (with its very low density requirements) was introduced in 1996 to reduce the development potential on 1,000 acres of sensitive watershed in the Six Mile Creek Valley. In recent years, conservation zoning has been expanded to other environmentally sensitive areas of the Town and now covers approximately 3,870 acres of land. Town  of Ithaca at a glance Settled: 1794 (Forest Home area)  Founded: 1821 (split from the Town  of  Ulysses)  Area: 30.3 square miles (total), 29.1  square miles (land only)  Elevation: 382' to 1420’  Population (2010): 19,930   Households (2010): 6,988  Median household income: $55,934  (US Census ACS 2005‐2009)    Town  of Ithaca 2014 Comprehensive Plan 4 Agricultural zoned lands have also expanded and now total approximately 4,150 acres. Agricultural zoning provisions feature both a low density provision (with mandated clustering) and a requirement for deed restrictions on the remaining large parent parcels; the intended purpose is to keep agricultural lands in agricultural production. Revisions to the Town Zoning Code as a result of the implementation of the 1993 Comprehensive Plan also included a right-to-farm provision. Also, the Town implemented a voluntary Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program for preservation of agricultural lands. Cayuga Lake  1.1.1  Building on successes to shape the future  Implementation of the 1993 Plan has provided a strong foundation for protecting the Town’s open space and working farmlands. To ensure continued protection of these valued resources and to accommodate a growing population, more attention now needs to be turned towards the built environment–to places where development is appropriate and where most future residents will live and work. Devoting more attention to the built environment and ensuring that land is used more efficiently and that development is done more thoughtfully and sustainably not only keeps open space preserved for future generations to enjoy, but also creates more viable places for people to live: places with intentional neighborhoods that are coherent, more economically sustainable, and more livable, allowing residents of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds to call Ithaca “home”. For far too long, development has been driven by the convenience of the automobile and by zoning regulations mandating strict separation of uses. Rather than emulating the mixed use, walkable neighborhoods found in many of   Town  of Ithaca 2014 Comprehensive Plan 5 the notable historical villages of New York State, residential development over the last 50 years in the Town has been typified by physically disconnected subdivisions composed of single family houses on large lots–homogeneous and accessible only by automobile. Steady demand for new housing has extended beyond the Town’s borders bringing with it increased traffic without the potential for Town-directed mitigation. The Town's limited commercial development is vehicle-oriented and usually far beyond the walking distance of most residents. Although there is a growing system of recreational trails, sidewalks in residential and commercial areas are rare. The public transportation system is a tremendous asset to the area but does not serve low density, isolated developments; this makes most Town residents dependent upon motor vehicles for their transportation needs. Additionally, the lack of housing options fails to satisfy the preferences and needs of our increasing demographically and economically diverse residents. And, low density auto-dependent development comes at a high public cost with the long-term maintenance of lengthy roads and utilities, as well as high environmental costs associated with the long-term dependence on fossil fuels. 1.1.2 Creating a plan for the new century  A convergence of the social, environmental, economic, and technological forces that has taken place since the 1993 Comprehensive Plan was adopted is changing the way people view and interact with the places where they live, work, and play. With a new century comes a new sensitivity to the built and natural environment that surrounds us. The outcomes of development practices that were the norm through the second half of the 20th century are not necessarily appropriate for the Town in the 21st century. New practices in planning, development, civil engineering, and natural resource protection have emerged— along with more effective tools that better help communities shape the built environment and guide their destiny. Concepts such as Smart Growth, sustainability, new urbanism, light imprint development, and context sensitive design were not well-known when the previous plan was adopted 21 years ago. Resident surveys and comments at neighborhood workshops conducted during the generation of this updated Comprehensive Plan reveal support for denser, more affordable, and more sustainable mixed use neighborhoods in the Town. There is a growing preference among homebuyers and renters for living in communities that are walkable, more compact, and more socially connected, rather than single family houses in low density suburban subdivisions. This can be seen locally in the revitalization of many older neighborhoods in the City of Ithaca. The Ithaca area is also a destination for a growing number of retirees who desire the uplifting social, intellectual, recreational, and cultural environment offered by college towns. As with young adults, the next generation of retirees also seeks communities where retirees will neither be physically or socially isolated nor dependent on a car for their day-to-day needs. The 2014 Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan recognizes these trends and creates the mechanism for the Town to update and adjust its policies and regulations by using new planning concepts and tools to guide future development. Ithaca Farmers’ Market    Town  of Ithaca 2014 Comprehensive Plan 6 1.1.3 Securing a sustainable future  “Sustainability” means meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Prioritizing sustainability requires that we consider the way we grow and the effects on our people (equity), our planet (environment), and our prosperity (economy). The 2014 Comprehensive Plan focuses on creating a sustainable community. It recognizes that resources are finite and that to best support a diverse and sustainable community, the Town must make wise choices about how to use its natural, social, and economic resources. The Town’s prosperity depends on its educational institutions, tourism, agriculture, and economic development consistent with Town goals instead of short-term, high-impact extractive industries. This plan offers the Town a way to do things better with more choices for where and how to live. A more compact and more connected community can reduce the distances that people travel to work, to shop, or to find an affordable home–and can reduce our carbon footprint. It can offer more viable multimodal transportation options, reduce reliance on single occupancy vehicles, and increase connections to nearby employment centers and services. The Plan supports local food production that reduces our use of fossil fuel. The Plan also demands that we be good stewards of our natural resources so they remain available and plentiful for future generations. This plan critically examines what works about Ithaca and what could be improved upon; the Plan consciously proposes shaping a future that takes into account the reality of a world of resources—energy resources, environmental resources, and financial resources—under growing strain. As we look to the future and follow this Comprehensive Plan, we have an important opportunity to be more intentional about the next stages in Ithaca’s growth. 1.1.4 Collaborating with neighboring municipalities  Municipalities in Tompkins County have been leaders in intermunicipal cooperation; they have extensive experience in the mutual provisions of water, sewage treatment, municipal health insurance, property assessment, fire and emergency medical response, the bus system, dog control, recreation, and youth services. Existing cooperative relationships can be built upon to confront additional shared and challenging issues such as transportation, watershed protection, environmental protection, climate change, and economic prosperity; these issues are regional in scale and scope and need collaborative solutions. The Town of Ithaca—a keystone that is contiguous to the City and to all other towns in the County except one—can provide leadership to ensure that a platform for continued dialogue is maintained and that planning efforts are coordinated to benefit the collective future for the region. 1.2 Plan development and organization  1.2.1 The importance of the Comprehensive Plan  The Comprehensive Plan is a “living” document that guides the long-range physical development of the Town of Ithaca over the next 10 to 20 years. The Plan includes analyses of existing conditions and of past and future trends. It describes a vision for the physical, environmental, social, and economic characteristics of the Town, and it makes recommendations so that vision can become a reality. Although not a regulatory document, the Plan serves as the basis for policies and regulations regarding development and conservation. This Plan also serves as a tool to inform and guide Town staff, boards, and elected officials on actions and decisions about land use, transportation, the natural   Town  of Ithaca 2014 Comprehensive Plan 7 environment, and economic development. Local residents can use the Comprehensive Plan to monitor whether development proposals and legislative initiatives conform to the vision and goals that have been set out in the Plan. The Comprehensive Plan should be reviewed regularly to ensure that its goals and recommendations are still relevant. As the conditions upon which the document is based change, it is reasonable to assume that its contents also may need to be changed. Although intended to serve as a guide for the next 10 to 20 years, this Plan should be reviewed at least every five years, with a more formal revision process to occur at the end of the 10- to 20-year planning period. A community and the policies that shape its built environment must respond and adapt to the changes taking place within and around it. For the Town of Ithaca to remain a livable, sustainable, and vibrant community in the 21st century, it should have a plan that reflects the realities of the new millennium. 1.2.2 The planning process  Development of this Plan was led by the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, which included: elected and appointed Town officials; liaisons from the Village of Cayuga Heights and City of Ithaca; and several Town residents. Support was provided by the Town's Planning Department. Committee members (along with elected officials) toured the Town early in the planning process. Public information, neighborhood, and focus group meetings were held to obtain information from stakeholders on issues such as housing, transportation, environment, agriculture, education, and energy. Summaries of these meetings are included in Appendix D. Additionally, a telephone survey was conducted with the assistance of the Survey Research Institute at Cornell University. The survey focused on five main subject areas: quality of life; growth and development; municipal services; budget priorities; and laws and policies. The survey also included an opportunity for general comments and observations from residents. Results of the survey are summarized in Appendix C, and can also be found on the Town’s website (www.town.ithaca.ny.us). 1.2.3 Concurrent planning initiatives  The Comprehensive Plan also draws from other local plans and studies from recent years. These include:  Affordable Housing Needs Assessment, Tompkins County (2006)  Cornell Master Plan for the Ithaca Campus (2008)  Ithaca College Master Plan Report (2002)  North East Subarea Transportation Study (1999)  Route 96 Corridor Management Study prepared for Tompkins County Planning Department (2008)  Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan (2004)  Town of Ithaca Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan (2012)  Town of Ithaca Baseline 2009: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report – Community (2011)  Town of Ithaca Baseline 2009: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report – Government (2011)  Town of Ithaca Government Energy Action Plan (2011)  Town of Ithaca Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan (1997)  Town of Ithaca Scenic Resources Inventory (2010 draft)  Town of Ithaca Transportation Plan (2007)  Transportation-focused Generic Environmental Impact Statement (t-GEIS) prepared by Cornell University (2009)   Town  of Ithaca 2014 Comprehensive Plan 8 1.3 Community vision statement  This Plan update is intended to provide ways for the Town of Ithaca to achieve its vision of where it wants to be in the next 10 to 20 years. The Steering Committee early in the planning process expressed its vision of where it sees the Town now and where the Town should be heading in the form of a vision statement that forms the core of the Plan. That vision statement has evolved through the planning process as a result of community participation and input. The goals, objectives, and recommended actions in the specific sections of the Plan are intended to guide the Town toward this common vision, expressed as follows: The Town of Ithaca enjoys a diversity of urban, suburban, and rural characteristics including lakes, gorges, farms, forests, parks, and trails; locally produced agricultural products, and accessible cultural, dining, shopping, and recreational opportunities; a low unemployment rate, stable local major employers, dedicated town staff; and good health care and other professional services. The Town’s West Hill includes innovative communities such as EcoVillage, quality affordable housing with spectacular views, and excellent medical facilities, all nestled in between the best farmland in the Town. South Hill is home to Ithaca College, natural features such as Buttermilk Falls, and affordable continuing-care institutions like Longview. East Hill includes a large portion of the region's other major educational institution, Cornell University, as well as small commercial centers and the largest part of the town's population. Town residents span a range of ages and cultures, are well educated, and benefit from seasonal influxes that affect their day-to-day experiences. The Town wants its growth to be more sustainable and coordinated, focused in areas where appropriate services are available or can be provided efficiently, and planned in a way that is attractive, environmentally sensitive, and provides access to amenities where residents live, work, shop, and play. We want to encourage preservation of natural areas and natural resources, and promote the use of renewable energy. Residents of all income levels and backgrounds should enjoy a choice of housing and transportation options, including easy access to transit, walkways, interconnected parks and trails, and safe neighborhoods; they should feel connected to their neighborhoods and larger community and feel highly involved in decisions that affect the Town.