(last edit 9/17/05)
The Town and Village of Sodus
(NOTE: Due to formatting problems only the Implementation section is shown below, contact the Chamber for a complete CD of the report)
Comprehensive Plan DRAFT
dated August, 2005
Introduction
Purpose The purpose of the Sodus Comprehensive Plan is to guide local officials and community members in making decisions that will affect the future of the Town and Village of Sodus. Future Town and Village actions that will be based on the policies and recommendations in the Plan include revisions to zoning and other local laws and regulations, capital budgeting, and providing services to the community. The Comprehensive Plan addresses the full spectrum of issues facing the Town and Village, and balances competing needs and interests in the community. Legal Basis The Comprehensive Plan has been prepared pursuant to NYS Town Law §272-a and Village Law §7-722. These sections of the Town and Village Law specify that the Town and Village Boards are responsible for preparing and adopting a Comprehensive Plan. As the law also permits the Town and Village Boards to delegate this responsibility to an ad hoc committee established for the express purpose of preparing Comprehensive Plans, the Town and Village Boards appointed a Comprehensive Plan Committee (CPC) to guide the preparation of the joint Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is a policy document that does not, in itself, have the force of law. However, the Plan will influence changes in Town and Village laws and regulations as well as funding decisions and other Town and Village actions during the next 10 to 15 years. In particular, local zoning regulations must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Process of Preparing the Plan The Sodus Comprehensive Plan represents the culmination of a planning process that began in April 2004. The Comprehensive Plan Committee met monthly for more than s year to coordinate the preparation of the Plan. Members of the CPC included representatives from the Town and Village Boards, Planning Boards, and Zoning Boards of Appeals, as well as citizens at large. The following persons served on the Comprehensive Plan Committee: • David Burlee • Don Lessord • Donna Chittenden • Steve LeRoy • John Cook • Mary Jane Mumby • Dan Datthyn • Earl Patton, Jr. • Sue Datthyn • Brenda Rowe • Mike Garlock • Mike Sullivan • Mark Johnson Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – DRAFT: August 2005 1
The Town and Village retained a team of consultants led by Stuart I. Brown Associates, a planning and management consulting firm based in Fairport, New York, to facilitate the planning process and prepare the plan document. MRB Group, based in Rochester, New York, provided engineering assistance, prepared the maps, and assisted in public participation and coordination. Public participation included a Residents’ Survey, distributed in June 2004, a public informational meeting to present the results of the Residents’ Survey (September 2004), a CPC public hearing May 16, 2005 and a joint public hearing of the Town and Village Board (___________). Several CPC meetings also included focus group discussions with representatives of various interest groups. Focus group discussions were held on the following topics: • Farmland and Agriculture • Parks and Recreation • Economic Development • Housing and Residential Neighborhoods • Downtown Business District Walking Tour Plan Organization The Land Use Overview presents an overview of the community, summarizes the issues addressed in each section, and shows how the individual topical areas relate to one another. It also presents an introduction to zoning and subdivision regulations, which are the primary tools available to the Town and Village to help achieve the land use goals of the Plan. A Future Land Use Map presents the Town and Village policies regarding land use, and will be used as a guide in revising the Town’s and Village’s zoning maps. Topical sections of the Comprehensive Plan address the major issues identified by the community: • natural resources and environmental protection; • agriculture and farmland; • housing and residential development; • business and economic development; • downtown business district revitalization • transportation and infrastructure • community facilities and services 2 Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – DRAFT: August 2005
Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – DRAFT: August 2005 3
• parks and recreation; and • historic resources In each section, the Plan presents: • goals; • background information; • issues and opportunities; • tools and techniques; and • recommended actions. The Implementation Strategy summarizes the recommended actions by topic, with a proposed time frame, responsible agency, cost estimate, and potential funding sources. A summary of the recommended actions by time frame provides a year-by-year guide to implementing the Plan. “Sidebars” within the Plan document present additional information that supports and/or provides the context for the recommendations in the Plan. • Relevant Plans and Programs include summaries of plans prepared by the Town and Village or other government agencies and descriptions of State or County government programs. • Residents’ Survey Highlights present the relevant findings from the survey of Sodus residents conducted in Spring 2004. The final report from the Residents Survey is available at the Sodus Municipal Building and is included as an appendix to the Comprehensive Plan. • Highlights of Focus Group Discussions summarize the issues and recommendations presented by residents and resource people who met with the CPC. Monitoring and Updating the Plan The Town and Village of Sodus are not static, but are in a constant state of flux and change. Over time, the changes which occur in the community may render the Comprehensive Plan outdated or inappropriate if the Plan is not updated to take the changes into consideration. Accordingly, it is essential for the Town and Village Boards to monitor changes in the community and to periodically reevaluate the relevance and appropriateness of the goals set forth in the Plan and the measures recommended to achieve the goals. The Plan should then be updated, as necessary, to appropriately revise the goals and recommended actions so the Plan may continue to serve as useful and relevant guide for Town and Village officials. In communities that experience a slow rate of change, reviewing and updating the Plan at 5-year intervals may be sufficient. In communities that experience rapid change, the Plan may need to be reviewed and updated more frequently, perhaps at 2- or 3-year intervals.
The Town and Village Boards would be wise to enlist the Town and Village Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Appeals to assist with reviewing and updating the Plan as the Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Appeals may have much information and insight that may be beneficial in determining how the Plan should be revised. As with the initial adoption of the Comprehensive Plan, future amendments to the Plan will require both environmental reviews to evaluate potential adverse impacts and public hearings to provide members of the public am opportunity to comment on the proposed amendments.
Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan — DRAFT: August 2005
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Summary of Goals and Recommended Actions
Implementation
Strategy
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Land Use Overview and Future Land Use Plan
Goals:
A. Preserve and protect the rural and small town character of the Town of and Village of Sodus.
B. Balance residential and business development with the protection of natural resources, agricultural
land and community character.
C. Manage growth to ensure high quality development.
Recommended Actions:
1. Revise the Town and Village zoning maps and zoning district regulations to be consistent with the
Future Land Use Plan.
2. Maintain provisions in the Aviation Overlay Zone to manage land use around the Sodus Airport.
3. Identify appropriate locations and revise zoning regulations to include provisions for wind energy
facilities.
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Natural Resources and Environmental
Protection
Goals:
A. Recognize Lake Ontario and Sodus Bay as significant regional resources.
B. Protect water quality from pollutants carried by eroded soil.
C. Protect sensitive natural features such as woodlands, wetlands, stream corridors, and ponds.
D. Reduce the potential for groundwater contamination associated with failing septic systems.
Recommended Actions:
1. Utilize the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process as part of development reviews
to protect stream corridors, woodlots, and other sensitive environmental features.
2. Require the preservation of sensitive natural features to be incorporated into the design of new
residential and business development.
3. Apply appropriate standards to new development to minimize erosion and sedimentation associated
with new construction.
4. Continue to respond to complaints about failing septic systems.
5. Utilize the subdivision and site plan review process to set aside views and/or public access to
Lake Ontario as part of new development along the lakeshore.
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Agriculture and Farmland
Goals:
A. Promote the continued economic viability of agriculture.
B. Ensure that large, contiguous areas of high quality farmland remain available for agricultural production.
Recommended Actions:
1. Enact a local “Right to Farm” law that incorporates grievance/ mediation procedures.
2. Revise zoning regulations to permit ancillary business as part of agricultural operations.
3. Work with County and State economic development officials to attract a large processing facility
to the region.
4. Work with Wayne County to obtain funding to purchase the development rights to large, contiguous
areas of farmland.
5. In reviewing development proposals, encourage designs that locate residential building lots on the
less desirable farmland and incorporate buffers to separate farming and residential uses.
6. Encourage subdivisions that utilize “density averaging” to keep large portions of the farm in agricultural
use.
7. Amend subdivision regulations to require Planning Board review for subdivisions of land into lots
smaller than 20 acres.
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Housing and Residential Development
Goals:
A. Maintain existing residential properties to appropriate standards.
B. Maintain a high quality of life in residential neighborhoods.
C. Ensure that new housing development is built to appropriate quality standards.
D. Accommodate a diversity of housing types.
Recommended Actions:
1. Consistently enforce the property maintenance provisions of the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention
and Building Code, zoning regulations and local laws. Provide sufficient staff to accomplish this.
2. Seek funding for the rehabilitation of deteriorating residential properties. Work with County
and private agencies to promote programs that provide funding to homeowners for the rehabilitation
of existing housing.
3. Uphold high standards for new residential development.
4. Install sidewalks in established neighborhoods where sidewalks are lacking. (See also the Transportation
and Infrastructure chapter).
5. Revitalize downtown Sodus. (See also the Downtown Sodus chapter).
6. Extend public water supplies to additional residential areas in the Town outside the Village. (See
also the Transportation and Infrastructure chapter).
7. Provide sufficient recreational facilities and other services to Village and Town residents.
8. Organize a volunteer program to clean up neighborhoods and repair deteriorating housing. Involve
neighborhood residents, businesses, and the Probation Department.
9. Consider creating a local development corporation to buy rental properties, renovate them and
resell to owner occupants. (See Orleans County model in use in Albion and Medina.)
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Business and Economic Development
Goals:
A. Foster business and industrial development in the Town and Village.
B. Increase tourist related business activities and maximize tourism.
C. Reuse vacant commercial and industrial buildings for commercial and industrial purposes.
D. Permit the establishment and operation of home-based businesses compatible with the residential
character of the neighborhoods in which they are located.
E. Encourage on farms the establishment and operation of home-based businesses compatible
with agriculture.
F. Retain existing agricultural support businesses and encourage their expansion.
G. Promote the continued economic viability of agriculture.
Recommended Actions:
1. Revise Town and Village zoning regulations to permit the establishment and operation of industrial
incubators in vacant industrial buildings.
2. Maintain the provisions of the Town zoning regulations that permit the establishment and operation
of home-based businesses.
3. Extend watermains and sanitary sewers to serve areas best suited for commercial and industrial
development as identified on the Future Land Use Map.
4. Encourage landowners to establish private industrial parks and assist by installing access roads and
municipal watermains and sanitary sewers to make the sites shovel ready.
5. Develop a checklist and flowchart that identify the steps and timeframes for the planning and zoning
review process and distribute them to persons and businesses proposing new business development
or business expansion.
6. Work with New York State and Wayne County economic development agencies to retain existing
businesses and to attract new businesses.
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7. Encourage local businesses to utilize the various tools and assistance available through the Small
Business Administration, the Wayne Economic Development Corporation and the Wayne County
Industrial Development Agency.
8. Encourage local retail and service businesses to jointly promote and advertise their businesses and
to increase their visibility to Route 104 traffic by cooperatively erecting a sign or signs identifying
the businesses in the community.
9. Periodically arrange for SCORE training seminars to be provided locally for persons who are interested
in starting new businesses, but may lack the necessary knowledge and skills.
10. Periodically distribute Workforce Development informational brochures and contact information
to businesses located in the Town and Village of Sodus.
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Downtown Business District Revitalization
GOALS:
A. Revitalize the economic viability of the Village’s downtown business district.
B. Increase the visibility of the downtown business district to potential customers traveling
along Route 104.
Recommended Actions:
1. Lobby and encourage the electric, telephone and cable television companies to bury their respective
utility lines and cables in the downtown business district. Or to relocate the utility poles
behind the buildings in the downtown.
2. Form a business improvement district (BID) to raise tax revenue to pay for the cost of making
public improvements in the downtown business district. Such improvements may include visually
appealing surface treatments for streets, sidewalks, and pedestrian crosswalks, and the installation
of landscaping and decorative, pedestrian-scale street lights.
3. Install attractive signage on Route 104 at the Route 88 and Maple Avenue intersections to inform
motorists of the quick and easy access to the Village’s downtown business district and that
identify the businesses in the Village.
4. Encourage the Sodus Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Sodus to work jointly to implement
a “Main Street” revitalization program utilizing the strategies developed and recommended
by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
5. Encourage businesses owners and operators as well as individuals to join the Sodus Chamber of
Commerce and become active in Chamber activities and events.
6. Encourage local community events, festivals and programs such as the Olde Tyme Country Faire
designed to bring in people from outside Sodus into the community.
7. Eliminate the unsightliness of trash receptacles being placed at curbside in the Village on multiple
days of the week by regulating refuse collectors through municipally-imposed licensing requirements.
8. Enact zoning regulations applicable to residential apartments located in the downtown business
district to establish minimum off-street parking requirements, provisions for storage of refuse,
and other appropriate requirements.
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9. Develop and enforce design standards for business signs to improve the appearance of signage in
the downtown businesses district.
10. Pursue grants to fund the cost of making public and private improvements in the downtown business
district.
11. Erect a billboard along Route 104 for the display of a “community calendar” to inform passing
motorists of community events and activities.
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Transportation and Infrastructure
Goals:
A. Provide a network of roads and streets to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of vehicular
traffic throughout the Town and Village of Sodus.
B. Provide a network of sidewalks in the Village of Sodus to facilitate safe and efficient pedestrian
travel throughout the Village.
C. Provide high quality, affordable municipal water service in the Village and throughout Town of
Sodus.
D. Provide high quality, affordable sanitary sewer service in the Village of Sodus and appropriate areas
of the Town.
E. Provide a network of drainage facilities throughout the Town and Village capable of conveying sufficient
amounts of stormwater to prevent property damage from flooding.
F. Provide adequate illumination in the Village of Sodus and in Town lighting districts to provide for
the safe and efficient movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic at night.
G. Maintain Town and Village infrastructure in safe, good and efficient operating condition and make
improvements to and/or replace such facilities as necessary.
Recommended Actions:
Stormwater Drainage Infrastructure
1. Establish drainage districts, either localized or town-wide, as appropriate and when feasible, to permit
the maintenance of ditches and waterways on private lands in order to reduce or prevent
flooding of public roadways and facilities.
2. Continue the program of installing additional catch basins and storm sewers, and explore alternatives
for additional funding to accelerate the program. Give priority to correcting stormwater
drainage problems that contribute to the infiltration of stormwater into the wastewater collection
system.
Transportation Infrastructure
3. Develop a budget and schedule for realignment of the York Settlement Road/Pilgrimport Road
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and Pulver Road/Mud Lane intersections.
4. Continue the policy of gradually eliminating the remaining unpaved town roads by paving one to
two miles annually.
5. Evaluate the cost effectiveness of the current policy of reconstructing and/or repaving 4 to 6
miles of town roads annually versus implementing an improved road maintenance program to
prolong the life of the roadways.
6. Continue to document the poor and dangerous conditions at the Route 88 / Main Street intersection
and lobby NYS DOT for improvements such a signalization and installation of a turn lane
on Route 88 to resolve the situation.
7. Continue the program of rebuilding Village streets.
8. Clarify the policy regarding the Village’s and landowners’ roles and responsibilities for the construction,
repair and replacement of sidewalks.
Municipal Water Infrastructure
9. Extend watermains to areas of the Town not currently served when cost effective to do so .and
pursue grant funs and low-interest loans to help to reduce the cost to property owners.
10. Undertake a water-loss study, particularly with District No. 1, to determine the underlying cause
of the apparent water loss and resolve whether leaks remain to be repaired or whether the system
would benefit from implementation of a meter replacement program. Implement a meter
replacement program as warranted.
11. Construct a new water reservoir to replace the Village’s existing deteriorated reservoirs.
Municipal Sanitary Sewer Infrastructure
12. Continue investigation of sanitary sewer inflow and infiltration to determine more specifically
the locations and causes of infiltration and then take corrective action giving priority to the
situations that contribute the most inflow and infiltration.
13. Continue enforcing the prohibition of sump pump connections to the sanitary sewer system.
14. Continue making repairs and upgrades to sanitary sewer collection system.
15. Continue to prioritize stormwater drainage improvements most likely to reduce sanitary sewer
inflow and infiltration.
16. Rehabilitate the Village’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to increase its capacity to treat
larger volumes of wastewater.
17. Define areas within the Town appropriate for municipal sanitary sewer service and identify potential
sewer routes. Explore the possibility of entering into intermunicipal agreements with the
Villages of Sodus and Sodus Point to connect to their sanitary sewer systems.
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Street Lighting
18. Explore opportunities to strategically replace the lights having the greatest impact upon the visual
appearance within the Village with lower and more attractive fixtures to support enhanced economic
activity.
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Community Facilities and Services
Goals:
A. Provide high-quality municipal services in a cost-efficient and effective manner.
B. Enhance the access of Sodus residents to cultural resources in the community.
Recommended Actions:
Town and Village Municipal Services
1. Establish and maintain a Town Highway Department equipment replacement schedule and continue
maintaining the Village Streets Department equipment replacement schedule.
2. Pursue increased intermunicipal cooperation between and among the Town and Village of Sodus
and the Sodus Central School District. Opportunities for increased cooperation include:
a. The consolidation of the Village Street Department with the Town Highway Department
whereby the Town Highway Department assumes responsibility for maintaining and plowing
Village Streets through an intermunicipal service agreement.
b. The joint development and maintenance of a maintenance garage by the Town and Village of
Sodus and the Sodus Central School District.
c. Joint purchasing of equipment, supplies and materials.
3. Construct a new and larger Town Highway salt storage facility, as funding permits.
4. Continue to maintain in good condition the cemeteries for which the Town is responsible .
Emergency Services
5. Encourage residents to join and volunteer their time and labor to the various fire departments and
the ambulance / fly car squads that serve the Town and Village.
6. Encourage fire departments and ambulance squads to jointly purchase fire apparatus, ambulances,
and other equipment in order to obtain volume pricing discounts.
7. Encourage increased sharing of equipment among the fire departments and ambulance squads that
serve Sodus to reduce the duplicate purchases of equipment.
8. Establish and maintain a joint Town-Village Internet website for the dissemination of municipal information
to residents and to provide residents with access to meeting minutes of the Town and
Village Boards, Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Appeal.
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Parks and Recreation
Goals:
A. Provide a broad array of high-quality recreational opportunities year round for Sodus residents of
all ages and interests.
B. Provide a network of multi-use recreational trails within the Town of Sodus.
Recommended Actions:
Town an Village Municipal Services
Recreational and Cultural Resources
1. Continue to maintain existing Town and Village parks in good condition and good appearance.
2. Explore and evaluate the feasibility of establishing a youth recreation center in the Village of Sodus
jointly funded and operated by the Town and Village of Sodus and the Sodus Central School District.
If feasible, establish a youth center.
3. Encourage the establishment of a clearinghouse for the dissemination of information to residents
about the recreational and sports activities and programs provided by various agencies and organizations
to increase public awareness of the availability of recreational programs.
4. Encourage the establishment of a committee with representatives of the various youth sports organizations
to meet annually or as necessary for the purpose of coordinating the scheduling of
youth sporting events in order to reduce conflicts to the extent feasible.
5. Explore the potential and feasibility to develop jointly with the Sodus Central School a centralized
youth sports facility containing baseball, softball and soccer fields, concession stand, restrooms, and
lighting. If feasible, pursue funding to develop such a facility.
6. Work with and support Wayne County’s efforts to develop the recreational trails identified in the
Wayne County Recreationway Plan and the Genesee Transportation Council’s Regional Trails Initiative
(RTI) project.
7. Work with the Intermunicipal Committee established, in part, to develop recreational trails in the
vicinity of Sodus Bay as identified in the Sodus Vision Plan.
8. Develop a community park with facilities such as picnic shelters, walking/nature trails, pond, playground,
basketball courts, skateboarding area, etc. that provide residents of all ages and interests
with an assortment of recreational opportunities.
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Historic Recourses
Goals:
A. Encourage the preservation of historic and culturally significant buildings and landscapes.
Recommended Actions:
1. Identify and inventory potentially significant historical structures and sites, and research and document
their historic significance.
2. Provide support to the Town Historian’s office.
3. Establish a recognition program for privately owned historic buildings.
4. Provide information to owners of historic buildings and properties regarding grant programs.
5. Distribute pamphlets and sponsor workshops that provide suggestions for appropriate exterior
treatments of historical buildings and appropriate landscaping.
6. Consider the adoption of a local historic preservation law after historic buildings have been inventoried
to establish a review process to be undertaken whenever an application for a building or
demolition permit is submitted that involves an historically significant structure.
Implementation Strategy Summary of Recommended Actions Grouped by Time Frame Immediate (within one year) HRD 6 Extend public water supplies to additional residential areas in the Town outside the Village (See also the Transportation and Infrastructure chapter). {Also Long-Term (6-10 years)} Responsible Agency: Governor’s Office for Small Cities Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program Rural Development Community Facilities Program HRD 8 Organize a volunteer program to clean up neighborhoods and repair deteriorating housing. Involve neighborhood residents, businesses, and the Probation Department. (Also Ongoing) Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards with assistance of local civic groups, community organizations and Wayne County Probation Dept. DBDR 7 Eliminate the unsightliness of trash receptacles being placed at curbside in the Village on multiple days of the week by regulating refuse collectors through municipally-imposed licensing requirements. Responsible Agency: Village Board DBDR 11 Erect and maintain a “community calendar” in a prominent location in the Village to inform passing motorists of community events and activities. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards with assistance from Chamber of Commerce TI 8 Clarify the policy regarding the Village’s and the landowners’ roles and responsibilities for the construction, repair, and replacement of sidewalks. (Also Ongoing) Responsible Agency: Village Board PR 4 Encourage the establishment of a committee with representatives of the various youth sports organizations to meet annually or as necessary for the purpose of coordinating the scheduling of youth sporting events in order to reduce conflicts to the extent feasible. (Also Ongoing) Responsible Agency: Youth sports organizations with encouragement of Town and Village Boards Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – Draft: August 2005 239
Recommended Actions by Time Frame
Short Term (1-3 years) LU 1 Revise the Town and Village zoning maps and regulations to be consistent with the Future Land Use Plan. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards LU 3 Identify appropriate locations and revise zoning regulations to include provisions for wind energy facilities. Responsible Agency: Town Board AG 1 Enact a local “Right to Farm” law that incorporates grievance/ mediation procedures. Responsible Agency: Town Board AG 2 Revise zoning regulations to permit ancillary businesses as part of agricultural operations. Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Planning Board AG 2 Revise zoning regulations to permit ancillary businesses as part of agricultural operations. Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Planning Board AG 7 Amend subdivision regulations to require Planning Board review for subdivisions of land into lots smaller than 20 acres. Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Planning Board HRD 2 Seek funding for the rehabilitation of deteriorating residential properties. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards BED 1 Revise Town and Village zoning regulations to permit the establishment and operation of industrial incubators in vacant industrial buildings. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Board with assistance of Town and Village Planning Boards BED 5 Develop a checklist and flowchart that identify the steps and timeframes for the planning and zoning review process and distribute them to persons and businesses proposing new business development for business expansion. (Also Ongoing) Responsible Agency: Town and Village Planning Boards DBDR 8 Enact zoning regulations applicable to residential apartments located in the downtown business district to establish minimum off-street parking requirements, provisions for storage of refuse, and other appropriate requirements. Responsible Agency: Village Board with assistance of Village Planning Board Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – Draft: August 2005 240
Recommended Actions byTime Frame
Short-Term (1-3 years) (continued)
DBDR 9 Develop and enforce design standards for business signs to improve the appearance of signage in the downtown business district. Responsible Agency: Village Board with assistance of Village Planning Board DBDR 10 Pursue grants to fund the cost of making public and private improvements in the downtown business district. Responsible Agency: Village Board responsible for pursuing Small Cities grants Incorporated Business Improvement District or Not-for-Profit Corp. responsible for pursing New York Main Street grants TI 9 Extend watermains to areas of the Town not currently served with municipal water service when cost effective to do so. Pursue grant funds and low-interest loans to reduce the cost to property owners. (Also Long-Term) Responsible Agency: Town Board TI 11 Construct a new water reservoir to replace the Village’s existing deteriorated reservoirs. Responsible Agency: Village Board CFS 8 Establish and maintain a joint Town-Village Internet website for the dissemination of municipal information to residents and to provide residents with access to meeting minutes of the Town and Village Boards, Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Appeal. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards HR 1 Identify and inventory potentially significant historical structures and sites, and research and document their historic significance. Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Historian and the Landmark Society of Western New York or other consultant HR 5 Distribute pamphlets and sponsor workshops that provide suggestions for appropriate exterior treatments of historical buildings and appropriate landscaping Responsible Agency: Code Enforcement Officer Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – Draft: August 2005 241
Recommended Actions by Time Frame
Medium-Term (4-5 years) AG 4 Work with Wayne County to obtain funding to purchase the development rights to large, contiguous areas of farmland. Responsible Agency: Town Board HRD 8 Consider creating a local development corporation to buy rental properties, renovate them, and resell to owner occupants. (See Orleans County model in use in Albion and Medina.) Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards BED 8 Encourage local retail and service businesses to jointly promote and advertise their businesses and to increase their visibility to Route 104 traffic by cooperatively erecting a sign or signs identifying the businesses in the community Responsible Agency: Chamber of Commerce with support of Town and Village Boards BED 9 Periodically arrange for SCORE training seminars to be provided locally for persons who are interested in starting new businesses, but may lack the necessary knowledge and skills. (Also Ongoing) Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards with assistance of Wayne Economic Development Corporation, Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), Wayne County Business Council (WCBC) DBDR 2 Form a business improvement district (BID) to raise tax revenue to pay for the cost of making public improvements in the downtown business district. Such improvements may include visually appealing surface treatments for streets, sidewalks, and pedestrian crosswalks, and the installation of landscaping and decorative, pedestrian-scale street lights. Responsible Agency: Village Board with concurrence of property owners in proposed BID TI 5 Evaluate the cost effectiveness of the current policy of reconstructing and/or repaving 4 to 6 miles of town roads annually versus implementing an improved road maintenance program to prolong the life of the roadways. Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Highway Superintendent TI 10 Undertake a water-loss study, particularly with District No. 1, to determine the underlying cause of the apparent water loss and resolve whether leaks remain to be repaired or whether the system would benefit from implementation of a meter replacement program. Implement a meter replacement program as warranted. (For water loss study; also Long-Term and Ongoing for meter replacement program) Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Engineer Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – Draft: August 2005 242
Recommended Actions byTime Frame
Medium-Term (4-5 years) (continued)
TI 18 Street Lighting – Explore opportunities to strategically replace the lights having the greatest impact upon the visual appearance within the Village with lower and more attractive fixtures to support enhanced economic activity. Responsible Agency: Village Board with assistance of Village Engineer CFS 1 Establish and maintain a Town Highway Department equipment replacement schedule and continue maintaining the Village Streets Department equipment replacement schedule (For establishing schedule and also Ongoing for maintaining schedule) Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Highway Superintendent and Village Board with assistance of Village Streets Superintendent PR 3 Encourage the establishment of a clearinghouse for the dissemination of information to residents about the recreational and sports activities and programs provided by various agencies and organizations to increase public awareness of the availability of recreational programs. Responsible Agency: Sodus Recreation, Inc. HR 3 Establish a recognition program for privately owned historic buildings. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards
Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – Draft: August 2005 243
Recommended Actions by Time Frame
Long-Term (6-10 years) HR 5 Revitalize downtown Sodus. (See also the Downtown Sodus chapter) (Also Ongoing) Responsible Agency: Village Board, Chamber of Commerce, Business Owners and Operators HR 6 Extend public water supplies to additional residential areas in the Town outside the Village (See also the Transportation and Infrastructure chapter). (Also Immediate (within 1 year) Responsible Agency: Town Board HR 7 Provide sufficient recreational facilities and other services to Village and Town residents. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards BED 4 Encourage landowners to establish private industrial parks and assist by installing access roads and municipal watermains and sanitary sewers to make the sites shovel ready. (Also Ongoing) Responsible Agency: Town Board DBDR 1 Lobby and encourage the electric, telephone and cable television companies to bury their respective utility lines and cables in the downtown business district or to relocate utility poles behind the buildings in the downtown. (Also Ongoing) Responsible Agency: Village Board TI 1 Establish drainage districts, either localized or townwide, as appropriate and when feasible, to permit the maintenance of ditches and waterways on private lands in order to reduce or prevent flooding of public roadways and facilities. Responsible Agency: Town Board TI 3 Develop a budget and schedule for realignment of the York Settlement Road/Pilgrimport Road and Pulver Road/Mud Lane intersections. Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Highway Superintendent TI 4 Continue the policy of gradually eliminating the remaining unpaved town roads by paving one to two miles annually. (Also Ongoing) Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Highway Superintendent TI 9 Extend watermains to areas of the Town not currently served with municipal water service when cost effective to do so. Pursue grant funds and low-interest loans to reduce the cost to property owners. (Also Short-Term (1-3 years) Responsible Agency: Town Board Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – Draft: August 2005 244
Recommended Actions byTime Frame
Long-Term (6-10 years) (continued)
TI 10 Undertake a water-loss study, particularly with District No. 1, to determine the underlying cause of the apparent water loss and resolve whether leaks remain to be repaired or whether the system would benefit from implementation of a meter replacement program. Implement a meter replacement program as warranted. (Also Medium-Term (4-5 years) for water loss study and Ongoing for meter replacement program) Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Engineer TI 12 Continue investigation of sanitary sewer inflow and infiltration to determine more specifically the locations and causes of infiltration and then take corrective action giving priority to the situations that contribute the most inflow and infiltration. (Also Ongoing for investigation) Responsible Agency: Village Board with assistance of Village Water Department TI 16 Rehabilitate the Village’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) as needed to increase its capacity, as needed, to treat larger volumes of wastewater. Responsible Agency: Village Board TI 17 Define areas within the Town appropriate for municipal sanitary sewer service and identify potential sewer routes. Explore the possibility of entering into intermunicipal agreements with the Villages of Sodus and Sodus Point to connect to their sanitary sewer systems. Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Engineer CFS 2 Pursue increased intermunicipal cooperation between and among the Town and Village of Sodus and the Sodus Central School District. Opportunities for increased cooperation include: a. The consolidation of the Village Street Department with the Town Highway Department whereby the Town Highway Department assumes responsibility for maintaining and plowing Village Streets through an intermunicipal service agreement. b. The joint development and maintenance of a maintenance garage by the Town and Village of Sodus and the Sodus Central School District. c. Joint purchasing of equipment, supplies, and materials. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards and Sodus School Board CFS 3 Construct a new and larger Town Highway salt storage facility, as funding permits Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Highway Superintendent PR 2 Explore and evaluate the feasibility of establishing a community center in the Village of Sodus for use by residents of all ages jointly funded and operated by the Town and Village of Sodus and the Sodus Central School District. If feasible, establish such a community center. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards, Sodus School Board Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – Draft: August 2005 245
Recommended Actions by Time Frame
Long-Term (6-10 years) (continued)
PR 5 Explore the potential and feasibility to develop jointly with the Sodus Central School a centralized youth sports facility containing baseball, softball and soccer fields, concession stand, restrooms, and lighting. If feasible, pursue funding to develop such a facility. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards, Sodus School Board, Sodus Recreation, Inc. and local youth sports organizations PR 7 Work with the Intermunicipal Committee established, in part, to develop recreational trails in the vicinity of Sodus Bay as identified in the Sodus Vision Plan. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards assisting the Intermunicipal Committee PR 8 Develop a community park with facilities such as picnic shelters, walking/nature trails, pond, playground, basketball courts, skateboarding area, etc. that provides residents of all ages and interests with an assortment of recreational opportunities. Responsible Agency: Town Board HR 6 Consider the adoption of a local historic preservation law after historic buildings have been inventoried to establish a review process to be undertaken whenever an application for a building or demolition permit is submitted that involves an historically significant structure. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – Draft: August 2005 246
Recommended Actions by Time Frame
Ongoing LU 2 Maintain provisions in the Aviation Overlay Zone to manage land use around the Sodus Airport. Responsible Agency: Town Board NREP 1 Utilize the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process as part of development reviews to protect stream corridors, woodlots, and other sensitive environmental features. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Planning Boards NREP 2 Require the preservation of sensitive natural features to be incorporated into the design of new residential and business development. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Planning Boards NREP 3 Apply appropriate standards to new development to minimize erosion and sedimentation associated with new construction. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Planning Boards NREP 4 Continue to respond to complaints about failing septic systems. Responsible Agency: Code Enforcement Officer NREP 5 Utilize the subdivision and site plan review process to set aside views and/or public access to Lake Ontario as part of new development along the lakeshore. Responsible Agency: Town Planning Board AG 3 Work with County and State economic development officials to attract a large processing facility to the region. Responsible Agency: Town Board AG 5 In reviewing development proposals, encourage designs that locate residential building lots on the less desirable farmland and incorporate buffers to separate farming and residential uses. Responsible Agency: Town Planning Board AG 6 Encourage subdivisions that utilize “density averaging” to keep large portions of the farm in agricultural use. Responsible Agency: Town Planning Board HRD 1 Consistently enforce the property maintenance provisions of the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building code, zoning regulations and local laws. Provide sufficient staff to accomplish this. Responsible Agency: Code Enforcement Officer responsible for enforcement Town and Village Boards responsible for providing sufficient staff Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – Draft: August 2005 247
Recommended Actions by Time Frame
Ongoing (continued)
HRD 2A Work with County and private agencies to promote programs that provide funding to homeowners for the rehabilitation of existing housing. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards HRD 3 Uphold high standards for new residential development. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Planning Boards HRD 4 Appropriate funds annually into the Village’s Capital Improvement Fund for sidewalk improvements and seek grant funding for sidewalk improvements. Construct improvements annually as funding permits. (See also the Transportation and Infrastructure chapter). Responsible Agency: Village Board HRD 5 Revitalize downtown Sodus. (See also the Downtown Sodus chapter).{Also Long-Term (6-10 Years)} Responsible Agency: Village Board, Chamber of Commerce, Business Owners and Operators HRD 8 Organize a volunteer program to clean up neighborhoods and repair deteriorating housing. Involve neighborhood residents, businesses, and the Probation Department. {Also Immediate (within 1 year)} Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards with assistance of local civic groups, community organizations and Wayne County Probation Dept. BED 2 Maintain the provisions of the Town and Village zoning regulations that permit the establishment and operation of home-based businesses. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards BED 3 Extend watermains and sanitary sewers to serve areas best suited for commercial and industrial development as identified on the Future Land Use Map. Responsible Agency: Town Board in cooperation with Village Board BED 4 Encourage landowners to establish private industrial parks and assist by installing access roads and municipal watermains and sanitary sewers to make the sites shovel ready. {Also Long-Term (6-10 years)} Responsible Agency: Town Board BED 5 Develop a checklist and flowchart that identify the steps and timeframes for the planning and zoning review process and distribute them to persons and businesses proposing new business development for business expansion. {Also Short-Term (1-3 years)} Responsible Agency: Town and Village Planning Boards Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – Draft: August 2005 248
Recommended Actions by Time Frame
Ongoing (continued)
BED 6 Work with New York State and Wayne County economic development agencies to retain existing businesses and to attract new businesses. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards; Sodus Chamber of Commerce BED 7 Encourage local businesses to utilize the various tools and assistance available through the Small Business Administration, the Wayne Economic Development Corporation, and the Wayne County Industrial Development Agency. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards with assistance of Wayne Economic Development Corp. and Wayne County Industrial Development Agency BED 9 Periodically arrange for SCORE training seminars to be provided locally for persons who are interested in starting new businesses, but may lack the necessary knowledge and skills. {Also Medium-Term (4-5 years)} Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards with assistance of Wayne Economic Development Corporation, Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), Wayne County Business Council (WCBC) BED 10 Periodically distribute Workforce Development informational brochures and contact information to businesses located in the Town and Village of Sodus. Responsible Agency: Sodus Chamber of Commerce with assistance of Wayne County Workforce Development DBDR 1 Lobby and encourage the electric, telephone and cable television companies to bury their respective utility lines and cables in the downtown business district or to relocate utility poles behind the buildings in the downtown. {Also Long-Term (6-10 years)} Responsible Agency: Village Board DBDR 4 Encourage the Sodus Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Sodus to work jointly to implement a “Main Street” revitalization program utilizing the strategies developed and recommended by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Responsible Agency: Chamber of Commerce and business volunteers with assistance of the Village Board. DBDR 5 Encourage business owners and operators as well as individuals to join the Sodus Chamber of Commerce and become active in Chamber activities and events. Responsible Agency: Sodus Chamber of Commerce; Town and Village Boards DBDR 5 Encourage local community events, festivals, and programs such as the Olde Tyme Country Faire designed to bring in people from outside Sodus into the community. Responsible Agency: Chamber of Commerce with support / assistance of other community organizations and Town and Village Boards Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – Draft: August 2005 249
Recommended Actions by Time Frame
Ongoing (continued)
TI 2 Continue the program of installing additional catch basins and storm sewers, and explore alternatives for additional funding to accelerate the program. Give priority to correcting stormwater drainage problems that contribute to the infiltration of stormwater into the wastewater collection system. Responsible Agency: Village Board TI 4 Continue the policy of gradually eliminating the remaining unpaved town roads by paving one to two miles annually. {Also Long-Term (6-10 Years)} Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Highway Superintendent TI 6 Continue to document the poor and dangerous conditions at the Route 88 / Main Street intersection and lobby NYS DOT for improvements such a signalization and installation of a turn lane on Route 88 to resolve the situation. Responsible Agency: Village Board to lobby NYSDOT Village Police and Village Streets Dept. to document dangerous conditions TI 7 Continue the program of rebuilding Village streets. Responsible Agency: Village Board and Village Streets Department TI 8 Clarify the policy regarding the Village’s and the landowners’ roles and responsibilities for the construction, repair and replacement of sidewalks. (Also Immediate) Responsible Agency: Village Board TI 10 Undertake a water-loss study, particularly with District No. 1, to determine the underlying cause of the apparent water loss and resolve whether leaks remain to be repaired or whether the system would benefit from implementation of a meter replacement program. Implement a meter replacement program as warranted. {Also Medium-Term (4-5 years) for water loss study and Long-Term (6-10 years)} Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Engineer TI 12 Continue investigation of sanitary sewer inflow and infiltration to determine more specifically the locations and causes of infiltration and then take corrective action giving priority to the situations that contribute the most inflow and infiltration. (Also Long-Term (6-10 years) for taking corrective action) Responsible Agency: Village Board with assistance of Village Water Department TI 13 Continue enforcing the prohibition of sump pump connections to the sanitary sewer system. Responsible Agency: Village Board with the assistance of the Village Sewer Department TU 14 Continue making repairs and upgrades to sanitary sewer collection system. Responsible Agency: Village Board Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – Draft: August 2005 250
Recommended Actions by Time Frame
Ongoing (continued)
TI 15 Continue to prioritize stormwater drainage improvements most likely to reduce sanitary sewer inflow and infiltration. Responsible Agency: Village Board with assistance of Streets Department Superintendent CFS 1 Establish and maintain a Town Highway Department equipment replacement schedule and continue maintaining the Village Streets Department equipment replacement schedule. (For maintaining schedule and also Medium-Term (4-5 years) for establishing schedule) Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Highway Superintendent and Village Board with assistance of Village Streets Superintendent CFS 4 Continue to maintain in good condition the cemeteries for which the Town is responsible. Responsible Agency: Town Board with assistance of Town Highway Department CFS 5 Encourage residents to join and volunteer their time and labor to the various fire departments and the ambulance / fly car squads that serve the Town and Village. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards CFS 6 Encourage fire departments and ambulance squads to jointly purchase fire apparatus, ambulances, and other equipment in order to obtain volume pricing discounts. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards with assistance of Wayne County Emergency Management Office CFS 7 Encourage increased sharing of equipment among the fire departments and ambulance squads that serve Sodus to reduce the duplicate purchases of equipment. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards with assistance of Wayne County Emergency Management Office PR 1 Continue to maintain existing Town and Village parks in good condition and good appearance. Responsible Agency: Town Highway Department and Village Streets Department PR 4 Encourage the establishment of a committee with representatives of the various youth sports organizations to meet annually or as necessary for the purpose of coordinating the scheduling of youth sporting events in order to reduce conflicts to the extent feasible. {Also Immediate (within 1 year)} Responsible Agency: Youth sports organizations with encouragement of Town and Village Boards PR 6 Work with and support Wayne County’s efforts to develop the recreational trails identified in the Wayne County Recreationway Plan and the Genesee Transportation Council’s Regional Trails Initiative (RTI) project. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Boards
Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – Draft: August 2005 251
Recommended Actions by Time Frame
Ongoing (continued)
HR 2 Provide support to the Town Historian’s office. Responsible Agency: Town Board HR 4 Provide information to owners of historic buildings and properties regarding grant programs. Responsible Agency: Town and Village Historians; Code Enforcement Officer; Websites HR 5 Distribute pamphlets and sponsor workshops that provide suggestions for appropriate exterior treatments of historical buildings and appropriate landscaping. {Also Short Term (1-3 years)} Responsible Agency: Code Enforcement Officer Town and Village of Sodus Comprehensive Plan – Draft: August 2005
