The Strategy:
The Tioughnioga River which runs through Cortland County, New York is the headwaters of the Susquehanna and Chesapeake Bay system. A community-based Waterfront Development Commission, working closely with consultants through a steering committee, is engaged in a Waterfront Development Strategy for the historic river corridor, which was recently designated a New York State major inland waterway.
Plans include a riverfront trail system through one or several municipalities, public access sites for fishing, additional launch sites for small, non-motorized watercraft, as well as additional recreational use and open space sites for picnicking, walking, and biking. In addition, the plan focuses on economic development opportunities such as tourism-related business, general business, retail, restaurants, and other related and/or appropriate activities to enhance usage of and access to the river. The plan also identifies opportunities for heritage tourism and sites designated with interpretative historic signage.
Many issues are being addressed within the project, including shoreline protection, species identification and adaptation, water quality analyses, and coordination with environmental agencies. Additionally, this project addresses marketing and re-branding Cortland to promote tourism activities and businesses around the River, particularly the established identity of Cortland Line and similar companies such as the Marathon Boat Group/Grumman Canoes located in the County and the region.
Economic development, community revitalization, recreational use and tourism are the focal points. Considerations for development include:
- A riverfront trail system, compatible with existing parks along the river and potentially through several municipalities including the City of Cortland and the Village of Homer. The trail system will accommodate walking, biking, landscaping, site features and signage. Maintenance and management issues will also be detailed. The objective will be to coordinate, connect and enhance existing parks and recreational areas throughout Cortland County.
- Public access sites for fishing to include additional launch sites for small, non-motorized watercraft such as canoes and kayaks, as well as enhancement of existing launch sites such as adding vehicular parking, picnic areas, handicap access, etc.
- Economic development of designated areas, focusing on river-tourism, retail businesses (with Cortland Line Company as the anchor business), restaurants, or other related/appropriate businesses to enhance usage of and access to the river.
- Opportunities for linkages to historic downtown(s) for heritage and cultural tourism with sites designated for interpretive signage, tied to promotional efforts by regional groups such as the Finger Lakes Association.
- A quality fishing environment for the community as well as fishing enthusiasts from outside of Cortland County and Central New York (addressing water quality, water temperature, water level, analysis of existing flood control such as dam(s), designated catch and release areas, fly fishing only areas, etc.).
Potential sites for development include:
- I-81/Exit 12 area: Contento's and adjoining Casey property
- I-81/Exit 11 area: Riverside Plaza
- City of Cortland, Kellogg Road (behind Cortland Line Company, Inc.)
- Village of Homer, Historic District connecting to City line
- Village of Marathon, Railroad Station
- Virgil to Greek Peak (Route 392)
Potential sites for public access for recreation, fishing and boating include:
- I-81/Exit 9 and North: Marathon (Village Park) along river to DEC Fishing Access/Parking at Rte. 392 Intersection.
- I-81 Exit 10 and North, beyond Exit 12 to DEC Casterline Pond Parking Area. This area includes a cluster of appropriate public and private property for recreation, including: Cortland Line Company, Cortland Cable Company (where Tioughnioga River splits into East and West Branch), Yaman Park, Riverside Plaza, County Farm, County Highway Department, Contento site, Durkee Park to Casterline Pond DEC Fishing Access/Parking
- I-81: Little York and Preble: County Park (Upper Little York Lake) to Song and Tully Lakes.
The entire river corridor is being explored as part of a longer term strategy to create linkages throughout the County.
Many planning, land use, environmental, and economic development issues are being thoroughly studied and addressed -- from a topographic survey of the development area(s) to subsurface investigation, identification and submission of permits/permit approvals to implement the construction phase, shoreline protection, species identification and adaptation, and water quality analyses -- to property rights issues, handicap access requirements, and coordination with agencies (environmental, local, state and federal) and related not-for-profits (Trout Unlimited, Rails to Trails).
The following is a detailed scope of work conducted to date:
1. Waterfront Development and Revitalization Strategy - Assessment Phase
A Waterfront Development Commission has been convened to reconfirm project goals and possible impacts, as well as to develop a community outreach plan, including meetings with stakeholders and local municipalities. The Commission identified the planning area and defined the project boundaries. Work has been completed to produce base mapping of the project vicinity, obtain site demographic and topographic survey of the principle drainage and sub-drainage basins, as well as the most recently delineated 100-year floodplain and floodway areas. The group has also investigated potential floodplain/floodway issues. Planning included all the land area from which floodplain and floodway problems are perceived to arise. This may include an entire watershed, but may only include a section of the floodplain or floodway not fewer than 200 feet from the riverbanks.
2. Inventory and Analysis of Land Use and Environmental Concerns
A data collection effort included a natural, cultural and historic resources inventory, with particular attention paid to areas needing special resource management and/or protection such as wetlands, wildlife and fisheries habitats, and rare and endangered species. Among issues studied by local schools and science groups have been the functions and benefits the natural resources provide to the community, including flooding reduction, nutrient cycling, biological diversity and habitat support, water quality, as well as open space such as recreation, aesthetics and heritage and cultural resource preservation. The analysis utilized sources such as: USGS, NRCS, aerial photos, local experts on State natural heritage program and local historians, USFWS, FEMA, EPA, DEC, Cortland County Planning Department and the local Conservation District, etc. A natural resource baseline map was created showing floodplains, critical wildlife habitats, erosion potential, historic landmarks, scenic areas, water table, wetlands, etc. Each characteristic was mapped individually. The Waterfront Commission is helping prioritize the floodplain natural resource functions and development issues.
Landscape issues are being addressed in the design phase, such as foundation and retaining walls, if needed; site grading and control, site landscaping, walkways, public access (canoe launch, public parking) signage, and other significant site features.
Existing land use and development trends that may impact or may be impacted by the project are being analyzed.
3. Strategy for Economic Development/Community Revitalization
Thoma Development has been retained to work with the Cortland County BDC-IDA and 11 municipalities along the river corridor on a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP) for economic and community development. An important component of the project is an assessment of the potential for fostering investment by existing and prospective businesses along targeted areas of the river. This includes devising an action plan for the county and the 11 local communities to identify new initiatives that will result in diversified investment.
The economic development component of the project will focus on six areas:
- Traditional economic development marketing and attraction efforts
- Nontraditional economic development efforts, recognizing the dual nature of tourism and heritage efforts in terms of providing employment and earnings, as well as being drivers of quality of life, attractiveness and identity
- Activities that relate to community revitalization, particularly downtown development and "Main Street" initiatives
- Opportunities for structural linkages to other components of the local economy, particularly in the area of job creation
- Identification of specific projects and geographic areas that should be targeted for business or commercial development efforts based on land use patterns
- Ideas for special events that might be tied to waterfront development efforts
As a research component of the project, similar communities with comparable waterways were profiled in order to help Cortland understand where it might fit in competitively and market itself for attracting investment.
A business attraction analysis will also identify industries or general businesses to be targeted for attraction or expansion efforts. These businesses could be existing or selected because they could benefit from a Cortland location along Interstate 81 and the river. These target businesses should fit the following general criteria:
- Increase the diversity of the economic base
- Provide opportunity for employment for residents across a range of wage levels
- Offer a potential for growth
- Serve to attract other similar businesses in a related "cluster"
- Support Cortland County's overall economic development goals
These businesses should also include micro-enterprises by small-scale entrepreneurs. Sources of financing for this entrepreneurial development will be analyzed.
An important component of the economic development element of the plan is a land use inventory to identify opportunities for development, particularly within downtown business districts. In order to assess the conditions and development potential within the central business districts of Homer, Cortland and Marathon, a land use inventory will be completed with maps of each district showing the general land use pattern along the river. The central business districts of each community offer promise for mixed use, including retail, restaurants, office and professional buildings, tourism use, residential and open space. This land use inventory will relate development nodes to recreation nodes, existing public parks, and potential projects such as a walkway. It should be recognized that a deterrent to commercial development in many of these communities may be the large concentration of residential properties as well as a large number of buildings in disrepair and some marginal businesses.
A marketing component of the project will identify how the waterfront can be part of a brand identity campaign for Cortland County and the Finger Lakes - Central New York region, and include recommendations for promotional literature, direct mail, advertising, articles in national and regional publications or trade journals, joint marketing initiatives and strategies for cultivating prospects. It will answer such questions as: What is the relationship of this project to historical and cultural resources and facilities in the county? To golf and ski centers? Is there a tangible tie-in to the proposed $30 million capital development plan for Greek Peak which runs adjacent to the river in Virgil? What are the full ranges of synergies that can be created through the Cortland Line and Grumman Canoe/Marathon Boat brand names?
Finally, suggestions will be made as to legislative steps that New York State could take in the Assembly or Senate to assist with the economic revitalization of Cortland County's waterfront. These might include low interest loan programs or other incentives to stimulate commercial investments that take advantage of a waterfront location, while preserving scenic, historic, cultural and natural resources. Other important legislative initiatives might include code reform or regulatory measures to make investment easier in these areas. Legislative designations such as that of "Heritage Area" and "Scenic Byway" will be explored to determine if such a classification is possible or desirable. An extensive conversation with the New York State Department of State will examine opportunities through the NYS DOS Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, and if there are eligibility issues, there will be suggestions made as to how program guidelines could be reviewed and addressed.
4. A Strategy & Action Steps to Implement and Manage the Plan
The role of consultants will be to take the lead in the creation of the strategy and implementation plan. The consultants will work with BDC-IDA staff to facilitate, coordinate, and attend meetings with the NYSDEC, municipalities and stakeholders, the Army Corps of Engineers, Soil Conservation District, FEMA, Fish and Wildlife, and any agency or service whose involvement is required throughout the process of this study and including the study's implementation. The consultants will prepare a conceptual design to include a detailed phasing plan for development, delineating alternatives and nodes of development.
The consultants will establish conservation goals throughout each project phase, such as:
- identify property owners along the river and within project boundaries and determine process of notification and requirements for easement(s), restrictions, or other,
- maintain or add vegetative buffers,
- establish better habitat for selected species of river,
- identify water quality issues and recommend mechanisms for control and/or enforcement of water quality (i.e., stormwater and wastewater treatment)
The consultants will work with the BDC-IDA to establish economic development goals throughout each project phase, such as:
- identify public access areas
- identify areas for recreational uses and open space
- create a development plan utilizing approaches from other waterfront communities
- identify ways to market and brand the River
- identify ways to promote tourism activities and businesses around the River, particularly the established identity of Cortland Line and similar companies throughout the County
The consultants will prepare preliminary design drawings to graphically present site layouts, perspective sketches, material samples, and section details. The consultants will prepare and present to the Waterfront Development Commission the suggested scope of the plan and delineated nodes of development, outlining and summarizing the following:
- land use issues and foreseen and potential unforeseen complications related to obtaining private property easements or rights-of-way.
- anticipated construction work necessary to accomplish recommended design concepts, potential impacts, etc.
- suggested plan for accomplishment and capital budget
- suggested maintenance and management plan for a trail system
The consultants will also be responsible for:
- identification of agencies and processes for each required permit
- technical data relevant to project, such as survey information and mapping, engineering calculations and reports, geotechnical reports, etc.
- probable construction cost estimates
- proposed project schedule
The consultants will be required to participate in and facilitate working and presentation meetings. As community participation is an important aspect of the project, meetings will include workshops and information sessions, public hearings, BDC-IDA Board meetings, Waterfront Development Commission meetings, individual meetings with landowners, and federal, state or local agencies, etc.
Public input is encouraged...
Please e-mail comments, questions, ideas or issues about the project to:
rivertrail@cortlandbusiness.com