village of sylvan beach local waterfront revitalization program

Sylvan Beach Planning Board ‐‐‐ Draft for Discussion Only ‐‐‐ 3/9/15

Village of Sylvan Beach

Local Waterfront Revitalization Program

This document was prepared for the New York State Department of State with funds provided under Title XI of the Environmental Protection Fund.


The format of the LWRP/this document should follow the table of contents of this particular document. Further formatting, should be done only after the entire document is considered complete by the community and DOS, and ready for a formal public review that will involve other agencies and the general public.

Maps need to be prepared as standalone high‐resolution document/shapefile/pdf

Pictures illustrating the current conditions should be included next to the associated text.

TableofContentsIntroduction ............................................................................................................................ 1

Section I Waterfront Revitalization Area Boundary .............................................................. 3

Section II Inventory and Analysis of the LWRP area ........................................................... 5

Historical Context ........................................................................................................................ 6

Early Years ............................................................................................................................... 7

“Golden Era” ............................................................................................................................ 7

Transportation ......................................................................................................................... 8

Period of Decline ..................................................................................................................... 8

Incorporation and Renaissance ............................................................................................... 8

Regional Setting ........................................................................................................................... 9

Community Characteristics ....................................................................................................... 10

Existing Land Use ....................................................................................................................... 12

Existing Water Use .................................................................................................................... 15

Land Use Regulations ................................................................................................................ 18

Land Ownership Patterns .......................................................................................................... 19

Public Access and Recreational Resources ................................................................................ 19

Infrastructure Resources ........................................................................................................... 22

Transportation ....................................................................................................................... 22

Drinking Water Supply ........................................................................................................... 23

Wastewater Disposal ............................................................................................................. 24

Solid Waste Management ..................................................................................................... 25

Historic Resources ..................................................................................................................... 25

Signage and Amenities .............................................................................................................. 25

Business Development and Diversification ............................................................................... 26

Marketing and Promotion ......................................................................................................... 27

Scenic Resources ....................................................................................................................... 29


Surface and Groundwater Water Quality ................................................................................. 29

Fish and Wildlife ........................................................................................................................ 31

Soil and Topography ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Natural Features (wetlands, beaches etc.) .................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Erosion and Flooding ................................................................................................................. 34

Summary of Major Issues ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Section III Waterfront Revitalization Policies .................................................................... 40

General Policy ............................................................................................................................ 41

Policy 1.0 ................................................................................................................................ 41

Economic Development Policies ............................................................................................... 45

Policy 2.0 ................................................................................................................................ 45

Policy 3.0 ................................................................................................................................ 49

Policy 4.0 ................................................................................................................................ 50

Waterfront Natural Resources Policies ..................................................................................... 51

Policy 5.0 ................................................................................................................................ 51

Policy 6.0 ................................................................................................................................ 52

Policy 7.0 ................................................................................................................................ 55

Policy 8.0 ................................................................................................................................ 58

Policy 9.0 ................................................................................................................................ 59

Policy 10.0 .............................................................................................................................. 60

Recreation and Cultural Policies ............................................................................................... 60

Policy 11.0 .............................................................................................................................. 60

Policy 12.0 .............................................................................................................................. 66

Policy 13.0 .............................................................................................................................. 66

Section IV Proposed Land and Water Uses and Proposed Projects .................................... 70

Proposed Land Uses .................................................................................................................. 71

Proposed Water Uses ................................................................................................................ 72


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Introduction

Reduce the size of the introduction and concentrate the discussion on the intent and structure of this particular LWRP.

The only place in this inland LWRP where the words “Coastal Area” should appear is the Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inland Waterways Act.

The introduction is usually more focused if it is drafted last.

New York State approaches the management of waterfront areas in a manner significantly different than the approach taken by other states. The State’s overall Local Waterfront Revitalization Program is administered by the New York State Department of State pursuant to the Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inland Waterways Act (Executive Law, Article 42). While state governments can promote development and provide protection for critical resources, New York State recognizes that individual local towns and villages are in the best position to determine their own waterfront objectives and to adapt statewide approaches to specific local needs. Therefore, New York State’s program was created to promote development and provide protection for critical resources in accordance with statewide approaches, but as adapted to fit local needs and objectives.

In New York, a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program is a voluntary effort that brings together state and local governments and the private sector to create a strategy for achieving desired waterfront development. The Local Waterfront Revitalization Program is a comprehensive program that refines legislatively established waterfront policies by incorporating local circumstances and objectives. Such a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program is a detailed realistic effort to promote and protect local waterfront resources.

In preparing this Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, the Village of Sylvan Beach has evaluated its waterfront resources and has developed and implemented a management program for the best use of these community resources.

One component of such a program is the identification of long‐term uses along the water‐front and of specific projects. These uses and projects, in conjunction with an established management program, can significantly increase the Village of Sylvan Beach’s ability to attract and retain development activities that will take the best advantage of the unique cultural and natural characteristics of the Village’s waterfront. The Local Waterfront Revitalization Program also serves to enhance the conservation and protection of valuable environmental resources. The Local Waterfront Revitalization Program provides a method for the Village of Sylvan Beach to achieve balance between economic development and environmental protection in order to


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permit the beneficial use of its waterfront resources while preventing the loss of valuable resources and of opportunities for public access to the waterfront.

Once the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program is completed and approved by the New York State Secretary of State, the Village of Sylvan Beach will have in place the local controls to guide waterfront development and – a distinct benefit of a LWRP – the legal ability to ensure that all State actions proposed for its waterfront occur only in the manner prescribed in the LWRP. This “consistency” provision is a strong tool that assures that State and Village government will work in unison, and not at cross purposes, to build a stronger economy, a healthier waterfront environment, and an enhanced community atmosphere.

Since a harbor management plan is now a required element of a LWRP, the Village of Sylvan Beach has chosen to include its harbor management policies as an integral part of the LWRP. Section II discusses the waterfront and harbor facilities of the Village of Sylvan Beach and the many harbor‐related uses and issues affecting them; Section III identifies policies for harbor management; Section IV includes projects aimed at improving local harbor management; and Section V includes local actions to implement harbor management policies and programs.

The Village of Sylvan Beach is unusual among communities that are not located in the officially designated coastal areas of New York State in that the predominant aspects of its economy, culture, and environment are oriented towards its waterfront. The Village’s Comprehensive Plan, drafted largely in 1998 and adopted in 2001, recognizes the Village’s dependence on its waterfront location. This particular dependence makes the adoption of a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program of particular importance to the Village. The Village’s water‐based orientation will be kept in mind in considering the elements of this Local Waterfront Revitalization Program.


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SectionI WaterfrontRevitalizationAreaBoundary

Divide the information on boundary by the following subheadings: Proposed LWRP Boundary; Rationale for the Proposed LWRP Boundary. The description of the LWRP boundary must be detailed.

Under Proposed LWRP Boundary include a clear and detailed description of the inland boundary based on street names, municipal boundary, specific natural features, and avoid referencing parcels. Also, include a description of the waterside boundary based on the municipal boundary, the location of the mean low water line and an imaginary line parallel and 1,500 feet away from the mean low water line (http://www.dos.ny.gov/opd/programs/pdfs/hmpguide.pdf).

Specify that the waterside of the LWRP area is also the harbor management area covered by this LWRP. Examples of boundary descriptions are available on DOS website, in any of the approved documents made available through the links in the table located at http://www.dos.ny.gov/opd/programs/WFRevitalization/LWRP_status.html

Under Rationale for the Proposed LWRP Boundary explain why the boundary encompasses just certain land and water areas.

A short paragraph describing the general characteristics of the waterfront area covered by this LWRP could be included in this section as an introductory paragraph.

The focus of Section I is the boundary of this LWRP, any other information should be placed somewhere else, such as in Section II – Inventory and Analysis of the LWRP Area

A detailed map illustrating the proposed LWRP boundary must be created; street names and major landmarks should be distinguishable and have a name.

Proposed LWRP Boundary

The Village of Sylvan Beach Waterfront Revitalization Area (WRA) is defined to include all the land within the Village’s municipal limits, which are essentially 1,500 feet west of the Oneida Lake shoreline to the west, the Erie Canal to the south and southeast, Fish Creek to the east, and the center line of portions of four village streets (Harborview Drive, Marina Drive, Vienna Road, and McClanathan Avenue) to the north (see Map 1). The Harbor Management Area (HMA) includes all water areas within the Village, including Oneida Lake within 1,500 feet of the village shoreline and within the midlines of Fish Creek and the Erie Canal, and all waterfront properties in the WRA, including parcels abutting on the public beach along Oneida Lake. Map 1, on the following page, depicts the boundaries of the Village and the land area within the HMA.


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MOVE PARAGRAPH BELOW SOMEWHERE ELSE IN DOCUMENT

It should further be noted that Sylvan Beach’s location on the Erie Canal portion of the New York State Barge Canal System, as in fact the terminus for traffic passing from the eastern portion of the Erie Canal to Oneida Lake or the reverse, means that local efforts will need to be integrated with the State’s ongoing effort to revitalize the Erie Canal Corridor. It is intended that policies and regulations adopted in conformity to this plan will be suitably amended to bring them into conformity with, and enable the Village to take advantage of, Erie Canal Corridor revitalization efforts as they are put into place by the State.

Rationale for Proposed LWRP Boundary

The Village of Sylvan Beach is bounded by water on three sides. Its western limit includes much of the east shore of Oneida Lake. Its southern and southeast border runs along the historic Erie Canal element of the New York State Barge Canal System and its eastern border is comprised largely of Fish and Wood Creeks, with natural and artificial embayments off them penetrating the eastern edge of the Village. It is anticipated that regulations adopted in conformity to this plan may recognize the relatively lower impact of the waterfront on the Residential/Cottage Neighborhoods in the north central area of the Village, but the significance of the waterfront to the entire Village’s economy and culture requires that the waterfront in these neighborhoods be included in the WRA.


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SectionII InventoryandAnalysisoftheLWRParea

• Section II must include a clear and comprehensive description of the current conditions that will be analyzed to identify issues and opportunities that the rest of the document will try to resolve and build on.

• The part named Summary of Major Issues, located at the end of this section, should be updated (maybe renamed Issues and Opportunities) and moved to the beginning of this section, for those readers that are not interested to read the entire I&A in order to understand what was the premise for the rest of the document.

• The following topics covered in Section II must be illustrated on the following required individual maps: Existing Land and Water Uses, Existing Zoning, Land Ownership (including the underwater lands within the LWRP area), Soils and Topography, Natural Features (surface water, wetlands, flood zones), Recreation Facilities and Waterfront Access Areas, Historic Landmarks and Archeologically Sensitive Areas.

Introduction: Key Issues

The Village of Sylvan Beach is a small community located on the east shore of Oneida Lake at the point where the Erie Canal joins the Lake. It has always been a resort community whose economy is dependent on recreational tourism, largely during the summer months. A principal issue which the Village has been addressing both prior to and in its LWRP is the need to spark its sluggish economy, both enhancing tourism on a year‐round basis and broadening the base of the Village’s economic life. Closely related to this is the broadening of available goods and services by strengthening the commercial sector, for both residents and visitors. A second concern is preservation of historic elements. Beyond these two key issues are all the factors that go to make up the fabric of a small village’s life: housing stock, recreational facilities, public facilities, etc. These are addressed at length in this Section.

IssuesandOpportunities

The Village of Sylvan Beach looks to address several major issues related to local waterfront revitalization.

The Village must manage use of its natural assets, in particular the Oneida Lake beach and access to the Erie Canal, with the intent of expanding their use both by tourists and by residents. The mile‐long public sand beach has been subject to long‐term erosion. Stabilization and replenishment of the beach is important, as is increasing public access to the beach, particularly where village streets dead‐end at the beachfront.


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The Village wishes to study erosion of the Fish Creek bank and identify means of streambank stabilization.

The Village wishes to improve the tourist amenities at the waterfront park, including a visitor’s center and improved restroom facilities. Other low‐cost enhancements to the Village’s infrastructure, in particular making the recreation and business core of the Village more welcoming to tourists and other visitors by provision of streetscape improvements and amenities, will serve to improve the quality of tourism experience and hence result in increased tourism and business growth.

The Village wishes to preserve surviving elements of its historic resort role, particularly those with economic and tourism‐related value such as the Yesterday’s Royal restaurant complex and the historic amusement park.

The Village’s existing commercial sector has been sluggish and is now growing slowly. Most commercial establishments are predominantly centered on serving summer water‐based tourism and seasonal residents. By examining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with its business economy, the Village can address three aspects of improving its business climate: maximizing its traditional, seasonal, tourism‐based business income; expanding its tourism‐based business to its year‐round potential; broadening its commercial economy beyond tourism‐based business. Key to addressing these three goals will be water‐dependent and water‐enhanced uses, in particular increased marina and docking facilities. Also important will be the provision of consumer goods and services not now available in the Village. Among such goods and services will be the provision of additional boater services, such as kayak and canoe rentals and boater supplies and services. Enabling businesses to tap into the year‐round recreational market, such as sales and services to snowmobilers, is another aspect of “growing the village economy” that must be addressed.

Other issues which are important on a longer‐term basis are the establishment of trail linkages to other nearby bike‐and‐hike trails, improvements to Van der Linde Park, development of the Village’s “paper streets”, and the rehabilitation of the half‐mile‐long pier into Oneida Lake.

ASKING DOS IF WE CAN REMOVE SECTION BELOW

HistoricalContext

Sylvan Beach’s location, on the east shore of Oneida Lake at the outflow point of Fish Creek and Wood Creek, has always been important in the region. Even prior to European settlement the Oneida tribe of the Iroquois traveled through what is now the Village en route to and from their homeland in Central New York using Wood Creek and the “Great Carry” in what is now Rome to


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access the Mohawk River and its link to the east. Early settlers used the same water route of the Mohawk, Fish Creek, and Oneida Lake in passing west to open up the interior prior to the 1825 opening of the Erie Canal. Much of the Village’s history, and, in fact, its reason for being, is closely related to the adjacent bodies of water – Oneida Lake, Fish Creek, Wood Creek, and the Erie Canal.

EarlyYears

Although the first permanent settler in Sylvan Beach arrived in the early 1840’s, it was not until the 1870’s that significant growth began. In 1873 the Oneida Community, the utopian communal living community located only a few miles south, built a cottage on the lake to be used for summer retreats by community members. Though the Oneida Community disbanded in 1879, this set the tone for continued development of the Sylvan Beach area as a summer retreat and vacation area. The economy of Sylvan Beach has always been centered on the resort industry.

The first hotel in the Village, called Forest Home, was constructed in 1879, and several others followed. Steamships plying Oneida Lake began calling at Sylvan Beach in the mid 1880’s; by 1885 there were six to ten steamships providing daily excursions from the Village. Although the Lehigh Railroad had already constructed a line south of the Village from which tourists could be ferried across Wood Creek to the Village, the New York, Ontario and Western Railroad ran a line directly through the Village in 1886, as part of its loop line around Oneida Lake. A station was constructed on what is now the site of Eddie’s Restaurant and named “Sylvan Station” because of the trees lining the nearby shore.

“GoldenEra”

Local historian Jack Henke refers to the 1890’s and the subsequent two decades as the “Golden Era” of Sylvan Beach, for it was in this period that development boomed. In 1891, Dr. Martin Cavana constructed a private hospital, sanatorium and nursing school on Park Avenue. This facility, for the chronically ill and for recuperation, attracted patients from throughout the Northeast.

Even more important than the medical facility, though, was Dr. Cavana’s promotion of the Village, through newspaper advertisements, the promotion of excursions, and mass gatherings of all sorts. Around the turn of the 20th Century, Sylvan Beach sponsored an annual hop growers’ picnic which drew in excess of 20,000 tourists a year.

James Spencer gave land in 1887 for the construction of Union Chapel, and in 1890 for the Village Park. Both the historic Union Chapel and Village Park remain in use today.

In 1896 William Cottman purchased a carousel and brought it to Sylvan Beach, foreshadowing the amusement park which remains in existence today. A historic roller coaster, the Galaxi, was bought from a Seattle amusement park and reconstructed according to the original plans at the Sylvan Beach amusement park.


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Transportation

Although the earliest years of our nation saw passage along the water route as noted above, the completion of the Erie Canal which ran south of Oneida Lake, meant a decline in water‐based transportation through the area. Sporadic efforts to connect Oneida Lake to the Erie Canal by side canals had little success. The arrival of the railroads in the 1880s changed this, bringing excursionists, tourists, and vacationers to the Village’s resort facilities. The growth of the “Golden Era” was largely made possible by the railroads.

In 1918, the New York State Barge Canal replaced the moribund Erie Canal. As a part of the reconstruction of the canal system, Wood Creek was channelized, and Oneida Lake became a part of the canal system’s statewide linkage. This had both positive and negative effects. The banks of the winding Wood Creek were lined with trees which were removed at this time; the frequent spring flooding of the Village was mostly alleviated. Regular dredging of the canal to maintain navigability has lessened natural beach replenishment thereby reducing the size of the public beach area. A half‐mile pier into Oneida Lake was constructed at the point where the Erie Canal enters the lake.

The impact of the Barge Canal was significant at the time. During the 1920s and 1930s an average of 25 barges a day passed through Sylvan Beach. With the growth of automobile use and subsequent decline of railroads, Sylvan Beach began a period of decline, no longer being on a primary transportation route.

PeriodofDecline

With the coming of the automobile, Sylvan Beach was no longer a destination. Visitors would spend a few hours if they stopped at all, rather than the days‐long stays of the railroad era. The hotels deteriorated. During Prohibition, the Village became known as a center for speakeasies where illegal alcohol could be procured.

The Big Band era gave a brief respite, as several celebrated big bands and individual performers gave concerts in the Village.

After World War II and running into the 1950s, attempts to promote the Village had some success, but the 1960s were marked by rumors about Oneida Lake’s water quality , and a virtual end of tourism – a blow to the tourism‐based Village.

IncorporationandRenaissance

The Village of Sylvan Beach had been incorporated for a short period in the early 20th Century but dissolved as a separate legal entity early in the period of decline.

As part of an effort to revitalize its resort atmosphere, the Village again incorporated in 1971 .

With incorporation, and the Village government’s active encouragement of economic development, has come increased investment in both new and existing businesses.


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The Village has actively sought grant money from federal and state sources for a wide variety of uses, such as the creation of the Midway Mall, attractive brick sidewalks and simulated‐gaslight streetlights, a new sewage treatment plant, housing rehabilitation, a recreation trail, park improvements, and a revolving fund for business development.

With incorporation and the Village government’s active encouragement of economic development has come increased investment in both new and existing businesses.

The Village continues to be a resort, as it has been through its history, and remains subject to the vicissitudes of the tourism economy. Though most of the hotels have gone, many of the historic landmarks of the Village remain. More important than these, though, is the historical role of the Village as resort community, which has been a constant throughout its history.

RegionalSetting

Sylvan Beach is an incorporated village located at the southeastern extremity of the Town of Vienna, in Oneida County. Its southern and eastern boundaries along the Erie Canal and Fish Creek are shared with the Town of Verona. New York State Route 13 constitutes Main Street, the north‐south main artery of the Village’s road system. It lies ten miles west of the City of Rome, an equal distance north of the City of Oneida, about 25 miles west of the City of Utica, and about 45 miles slightly north of east of the City of Syracuse. It is within a day’s journey of many of the major metropolises of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada.

Equally importantly, the Village lies along the eastern shore of Oneida Lake in an angle formed by the inflow of Fish Creek and Wood Creek and the terminus of the eastern portion of the Erie Canal section of the New York State Barge Canal, the route of which passes across Oneida Lake before resuming normal canal and channelized‐stream status. It lies between the waterfront hamlets of Edgewater Beach, to the north, and Verona Beach, to the south.

Sylvan Beach’s key regional assets are its proximity to population centers and its position athwart two major waterways. These two elements historically went together to make Sylvan Beach a summer resort destination. However, changes in American lifestyles and vacation habits have modified these aspects of the Village’s traditional role into a “day trip” location, although a large number of summer cottages remain in the Village, largely as second homes for middle‐class city people. Oneida Lake is arguably the prime recreational outlet for Central New York. It is the largest lake completely within New York State, and is commonly used for boating, swimming, and fishing.

The Erie Canal, as rebuilt to be part of the Barge Canal System, passes along the southern edge of the Village, and includes recently renovated docking facilities which are owned by the New York State Canal Corporation in Sylvan Beach. New York State has been implementing elements of its Canal Recreationway Plan (1995), aimed at revitalizing the Canal and its surroundings. Its goals are to preserve and rehabilitate canal infrastructure, enhance recreational opportunities for water‐based and land‐based users, and to promote and foster economic development throughout the canal corridor.


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The Village’s physical location on flat land largely in an angle formed by the juncture of Fish Creek and the Erie Canal with Oneida Lake is significant. The Village has no significant slopes, and erosion concerns are limited to the effect of storms and seasonal lake level variation on the shorelines. Its Oneida Lake shoreline comprises the largest sand beach along Oneida Lake, and reputedly the only natural one. On the other hand, the low‐lying character of the Village means that flooding is a hazard to be addressed. Much of the land lying along Fish Creek is in Federally‐designated flood hazard area, and historical episodes of flooding along the Oneida Lake shoreline and in the southern part of the Village have been addressed by State management of water levels in the Erie Canal and Oneida Lake in connection with the Canal Corporation’s operation of the canal system.

In terms of the state’s tourism promotion areas, the Village lies within the Central‐Leatherstocking Region, whose recent marketing focus has been on the Erie Canal. As the western terminus of the portion of the Canal running through the region, Sylvan Beach has been noted in their publicity and promotion work.

Tourism sites within a short distance of Sylvan Beach might also be noted for their potential in coordinated tourism promotion. The following attractions are within fifteen miles of the Village:

• Turning Stone Casino and Hotel, Verona, NY, an Oneida Indian‐owned major destination,

• Verona Beach State Park, Verona, NY,

• Vernon Downs, a historic harness‐racing track in Vernon, NY,

• Fort Stanwix National Monument, Rome, NY,

• Old Erie Canal State Park, a lineal series of preserved segments of the pre‐1918 Erie Canal, located from south of Rome westerly along the old canal route,

• Erie Canal Village, Rome, NY,

• Fort Rickey Game Farm, Rome, NY,

• Boxing Hall of Fame, Canastota, NY.

CommunityCharacteristics

The Village of Sylvan Beach is characterized by a tourism‐based economy and a seasonal population base. There are approximately 897 year‐round residents, but summers find a five‐fold increase to a seasonal population of 5,500. After growing rapidly in the early and middle 20th century, the population seems to have stabilized at these levels for the past two decades.

The population broken down by age shows a fairly normal distribution, with about 10% each in the first four decades of their lives (0‐10, 11‐20, 21‐30, 31‐40) and about 15% each in the next three (41‐50, 51‐60, 61‐70). Median age increased quite dramatically from 41.3 to 49.9 between 2000 and 2010. Unlike many communities in the area, there is neither a


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concentration of older people nor a significant shift in these figures over time, indicating that the commonly experienced exodus of young people is not the case in Sylvan Beach.

2012 Marital Status of Village Residents

Married 57%

Never Married 20%

Separated 3%

Divorced 10%

Widowed 10%

2012 Income Distribution

10k or less 10%

10‐25K 33%

25‐60K 26%

60‐100K 14%

100‐150K 13%

150‐200K 4%

200K plus 0%

2012 Source of Income

Salary 73%

Self‐employed, social sec.,

retired


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Many of the year‐round residents are involved in the service businesses which support the tourism industry. Other residents commute to employment in nearby Rome, Syracuse, Utica, Verona, and Oneida while, as with any community, some are self‐employed (in non‐tourism businesses) or retired.

The consultants who prepared the Village’s 2001 Comprehensive Plan made note of the dichotomy between the tourist‐resort facet of the Village on the one hand, most noticeable along Route 13, the Oneida Lake shoreline and in the southern part of the Village and, on the other, the quiet, often water‐based residential community lying inland from Route 13 and along Fish Creek.

According to 2010 Census data, the Village’s housing stock is made up of 830 residential units, with 512 year‐round households, 318 seasonal residences, and 65 vacant premises, including seasonally‐rented units. Various planning studies have indicated up to 70 residential units for sale or rent in the past 15 years. According to Census Bureau data, the median construction date for seasonal residences was 1941; that for year‐round residences was in the late 1950s. Older houses in neo‐traditional styles tend to be concentrated in the northwest of the Village, between Route 13 and the Oneida Lake shore, while large newer homes are along and near Fish Creek in the east of the Village. A mix of site‐built and manufactured housing, much of it of modest size and value, lies in the middle area of the Village between Route 13 and Oneida Road.

ExistingLandUse

The present land use categories of the Village of Sylvan Beach reflect the already‐noted dichotomy between residential and tourism/resort uses. Land uses in 1998 were broken down as follows:


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Table 1. Existing Land Use, Village of Sylvan Beach, 2013

# Parcels Acreage

One Family Residential 451 120.6

Two Family Residential 17 3.0

Three Family Residential 3 0.4

Seasonal 118 17.0

Manufactured House 27 6.1

Res. Multi Purpose/Multi‐Structure 8 1.0

Vacant 271 96.1

Living Quarters (Hotels, Motels, Rentals) 22 23.5

Dining Establishments 13 2.0

Motor Vehicle Services 3 4.9

Storage/Warehouse/Distribution 3 6.2

Banks and Office Buildings 5 12.4

Multiple Use or Multipurpose Commercial 8 2.7

Amusement Facilities 9 3.7

Outdoor Sports Activities 1 6.4

Camping Facilities and Resorts 8 22.0

Parks 1 4.2

Religious 1 0.3

Government 1 4.4

Protection 2 0.2

Waste Disposal 1 17.7

Electric and Gas Transmission 1 0.2

Source: Village of Sylvan Beach Tax Assessment Date, 2013


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Residential uses fall into five categories, as noted in the table. It should be noted that the distinction between year‐round and seasonal residential use is not hard and fast; a given property appearing nearly identical to another may be used only seasonally. There are 506 year‐round residential lots in the Village, constituting the most prevalent use. Seasonal units are largely occupied only during the summer months by households with permanent residences elsewhere. The 118 seasonal properties are concentrated west of Route 13 in the northwest of the Village between that highway and Oneida Lake. Two distinct categories are combined in the apartment use: structures where multiple housing units are located within a single structure, and rental apartments located above other uses. These apartment units are concentrated in the business district of the Village, and include 9 lots. The 27 manufactured homes listed are on single lots. Though scattered throughout the Village, they include a concentration in the north central and northeast areas of the Village. The mobile home parks are large parcels under single ownership renting individual small lots to owners or renters of manufactured housing, and are located along Fish Creek in the southeast and northeast of the Village. Many upscale homes near Fish Creek in the northeast of the village have water access through short riprapped canals.

Restaurants are located in the business area, largely along Route 13 and adjacent areas in the south of the Village. Commercial recreation as a land use category in Sylvan Beach includes campgrounds, mostly adjacent to Fish Creek in the east of the Village, and the miniature golf course on Route 13. The amusement park is located in the southeast corner of the Village, between Spencer Park and the Erie Canal. Most of these uses cater largely to tourists and summer resort‐users, though of course permanent residents comprise a significant part of the clientele of the restaurants.

Included in the sales‐and‐service use are motels, small shops, offices, and the bank. These uses are concentrated in the business district, along Route 13, and adjacent to the waterfront. They include a variety of small commercial establishments. Again the focus of all such businesses is on the tourist and resort user.

Parking lots are located in the business areas, and include lots owned by adjacent businesses and made available for their customers, as well as a large municipal lot adjacent to Oneida Lake. Though only comprising eight acres in total, they constitute a significant resource to the commercial element of the Village’s land use.

Community open space in Sylvan Beach occupies an unusually large portion of the Village. It includes the Oneida Lake sand beach, open land along the Erie Canal, Village Park (just off Route 13), VanDerlinde Park on the east side of the Village and land adjacent to the Village Hall. As will be noted, most of these areas are adjacent to water and open for public use. They constitute an important municipal resource.

Community service land uses include the Village Hall, the post office, church, the American Legion post, the State Police station and the Fire Department. Though located throughout the Village, most of these uses are concentrated in the resort district along Oneida Lake and in the


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south of the Village. The Village’s sewage treatment plant is located on the largest single lot in the Village. Located in the north of the Village, it comprises most of the utility’s land use.

There are ___ vacant lots spread throughout the village in both residential (80%) and commercial (20%) areas. Of these, nine exceed an acre in area, with the largest at 13.425 acres. The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) owns seven acres including rights‐of‐way for unbuilt roads and land abutting the bridge carrying Route 13 over the Erie Canal. Presumably at the time of these statistics, the former New York Ontario and Western Railroad right‐of‐way crossing the Village from northwest to southeast was included in DOT properties; this has now been deeded to the Village and funds have been acquired to produce a pedestrian/bicyclist trail along it. It should be noted that the vacant areas are not concentrated in any deteriorated section of the Village but spread throughout the community.

The western and southern parts of the Village include a large proportion of the land uses of significance and the water‐based resources. Water‐related resources in this area include the beach along Oneida Lake, the north wall of the Erie Canal, and the embayment of Fish Creek and the canal referred to as “National Lake.” In this district are also the great majority of tourism‐based businesses and other attractions of the Village, including the amusement park, the restaurants, Village Park, and most shops. Parking lots are also concentrated in the southern area of the Village. The majority of the older residences, both seasonal and year‐round, in a variety of market ranges, are in the northern part of this district. The Village has improved been working to improve the flow of pedestrian traffic in this district, which is quite heavy in the summer. A focus on this area is appropriate from both the economic and the natural resources standpoint.

ExistingWaterUse

The Village’s water resources are extensive. Oneida Lake is heavily used recreationally, with boating, fishing, and swimming throughout the summer months. Ice fishing and snowmobiling are fairly common at the west end of the lake in the winter, but do not significantly impact Sylvan Beach itself for lack of a trail system connected to the vast Oneida County trails. The extensive public sandy beach along the Oneida Lake waterfront represents a major and valuable resource but is subject to long‐term erosion problems.

The New York State Canal System includes both the Erie Canal, which constitutes the Village’s south and southeast boundary, and Oneida Lake. It’s original (1918) intended use for heavy transportation by barge is no longer a major factor, but statewide efforts to revitalize the Canal for recreational and tourism purposes are beginning to have a significant impact on the Village’s economy. The Village needs to focus on cooperative efforts to increase this recreational traffic.

Fish Creek, which constitutes the majority of the eastern boundary of the Village, is by comparison a minor resource, but one that should not be disregarded. The extensive waterfront lots along it and its natural and artificial embayments have served to draw significant new residential construction in both high and low market value sectors. Fish Creek also has a quite large watershed area in the towns north of the Village, which is a significant


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component of statewide water resources. The interrelationships between land and water uses in those towns, land and water uses in the Village, and the state’s water resource interests, constitute a topic which requires being addressed regionally on a long‐term basis. For definition purposes, it should be noted that a large embayment adjacent to Fish Creek where it empties into the Erie Canal is referred to as “National Lake.” Present usage of Fish Creek for recreational and fishing purposes by all but the smallest of boats has been impeded by sedimentation and by flood‐borne debris. The residential development of the Fish Creek shoreline has also resulted in a reduction of visual access to that stream. The Village will investigate whether there is a need for any or all of the following:

• Development guidelines for shorefront construction aimed at preserving a pleasant visual impact.

• Stream protection and management zones (in cooperation with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)).

• Dredging and bank restoration along all or part of the Village’s section of Fish Creek.

A report on a 2002 survey conducted by the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board regarding the water quality of Oneida Lake included the following description of concerns noted by Sylvan Beach residents:

The issues of highest concern for this municipality are economic development, tourism enhancement, and planning (regional/long term). Non‐native plants and animals (including zebra mussels and water chestnut), aquatic vegetation, the impact of cormor¬ants on fisheries, and the need for long‐term population control of nuisance species are additional concerns for the municipal representatives. Another issue of high concern is the reduction in fish populations in Oneida Lake. Intoxicated boaters and personal watercraft operators, insufficient public access, and a lack of available docking space are recreational issues that should be addressed. Streambank and lakeshore erosion are additional concerns in Sylvan Beach, as well as the maintenance of lake and streambank protection structures, flooding, highway maintenance, and the storage of road de‐icing materials.

Of all these issues, municipal representatives stated that the highest priority topics include erosion and sedimentation, water quality, personal watercraft and boater safety, and the availability of public access and docking space. Technical and financial assist¬ance, in addition to education, are products that these representatives would like to see develop from the Watershed Management Plan. On a scale of one 1 to 10, municipal respondents rated the overall quality of Oneida Lake as 5 (Good).

Local uses dependent on waterfront access include the numerous uses to which the Erie Canal access is put (described in appropriate sections), and the five camp‐grounds/marinas located in the Village. In addition to the campgrounds within the Village limits, there are numerous campgrounds/marinas in the immediate areas surrounding the Village. Most of these businesses are predominantly campgrounds, with docking facilities provided as an amenity for seasonal campers. With only 30 slips available at the Canal wall, there is a serious shortfall in


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available boat slips, especially for larger boats. Numer¬ous local businesses are in the “water‐enhanced” category, benefiting greatly from their water¬front or near‐water location, such as waterfront restaurants and rental cottages, and all local businesses benefit greatly by the water‐related tourism that underpins the Village economy.

The Erie Canal is periodically dredged by the New York State Canal Corporation. To help alleviate sedimentation resulting in reduced aesthetic, environmental, and recreational values, similar dredging of National Lake and parts of Fish Creek will be advantageous. The Village intends to consult with the NYS Canal Corporation to determine if such dredging can be undertaken. The Erie Canal adjacent to the Village’s downtown area has been channelized by dredging and by construction of NYS Canal Corporation walls topped by a paved walkway with some thirty boat tie‐ups, though no ancillary boater facilities such as restrooms, pump‐outs and electrical connections are present. Northeast of downtown the Canal is edged by normal streamside banks. At the point where the north wall of the Canal enters Oneida Lake, the NYS Canal Corporation owns a 2,300‐foot‐long pier, now in a severely deteriorated state and posted against trespassing, extends into the lake in a southwesterly direction. At the end of the pier an equally decrepit rubblewall breakwater extends 850 feet westerly. Reconstruction of the pier and breakwater has been proposed by the NYS Canal Corporation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; these proposals are discussed in Section IV C.

The Village of Sylvan Beach has ongoing efforts to promote and encourage the Village’s identity as a water‐based tourism resort, by encouraging activities such as recreational boating and fishing, and by providing docking facilities for transient boaters. The Village anticipated additional use of its waterfront, with ancillary economic benefits for Village businesses. The Village of Sylvan Beach can manage the various issues that result from such redevelopment and use of its waters through preparation and implementation of the Village of Sylvan Beach Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. The opportunity for New York State municipalities to address the issues and opportunities associated with harbor management has been provided by amendments to Article 42 of the NYS Executive Law (Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inland Waterways Act) to provide local governments such as the Village with the clear authority to comprehensively plan for, manage, and regulate activities within their harbor and nearshore areas by developing comprehensive harbor management plans and laws to implement those plans.

A harbor management plan addresses conflict, congestion, and competition for space in the use of a community’s surface waters and underwater land. It provides consideration of, guidance, and regulation on the management of boat traffic, general harbor and water use, optimum location and number of boat support facilities and structures, such as docks, piers, moorings, boat pump‐out facilities, special anchorage areas, and identification of local and federal navigation channels. It also provides the opportunity to identify various alternatives for optimum use of the waterfront and adjacent water surface, while at the same time analyzing the probable environmental effects of these uses and alternatives.

As harbor management plans are a required element for approval of a LWRP, the Village of Sylvan Beach has chosen to integrate the Village of Sylvan Beach Harbor Management Plan into


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its LWRP. The harbor management plan considers many uses and opportunities of Sylvan Beach’s water area. These uses and opportunities are identified and examined throughout this section, and include:

• Recreational fishing and boating (Section II‐E)

• Public access and recreational uses generally (Section II‐H)

• Wastewater disposal (Section II‐I‐3)

• Economic impact of harbor facilities (Sections II‐L and II‐M)

• Water quality (Section II‐O)

• Natural resource protection (Sections II‐O and II‐P)

• Economic impact of harbor facilities (Sections II‐L and II‐M)

Harbor management issues of both local and regional importance, opportunities to resolve issues associated with harbor management, and the overall goals and objectives of the Village of Sylvan Beach Harbor Management Plan are integrated throughout the LWRP.

LandUseRegulations

The Village has a zoning law termed “the Village of Sylvan Beach Zoning Ordinance,” and subdivision regulations in place. While they address the Village’s special concerns as a tourism center to a certain extent, they are largely written to address residential and commercial uses and appropriate setbacks and lot sizes. For example, the law does not directly address waterfront access, and regulations regarding visual impact relate to traffic rather than to visual access to the waterfront. A more thorough analysis of the Village of Sylvan Beach’s land use regulations as they relate to waterfront revitalization may be found in Section V.

On June 6, 2005, the Village adopted a complete revision of its Beach Law, which restricts unsafe boating offshore from the public sand beach, and regulates activities on the beach, such as banning the use of alcohol and similar regulations aimed at making the beach “family‐friendly.”

The Village is undertaking to revise these to more closely implement its revitalization policies and state waterfront concerns which relate to land use. (See Section III for the Village’s Waterfront Revitalization Policies, Section VI for state policies and regulations impacting the Village’s waterfront revitalization policies, and Section V for an analysis of needed modifications of the Village’s land use regulations.)


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ASKING DOS IF WE CAN DELETE FOLLOWING DUE TO REDUNDANCY

LandOwnershipPatterns

The majority of the Village of Sylvan Beach’s land area is in private ownership. There are no large private landowners, individual or corporate, holding significant shares of the Village’s land parcels, as is the case in some other communities. However, it will be noted from Subsection D, above, that a fairly large share of land area in the Village is in public hands. The Erie Canal, including its banks and feeder system, is the property of the New York State Canal Corporation. The Village owns and maintains the public beach and significant public land on or near the waterfront, including the municipal parking lot and bathhouse, Village Park, and the Carrello’s Corner parking lot and public restrooms at the intersection of Route 13 and Vienna Road. The portion of the Canal adjacent to the downtown area has concrete walls topped by a walkway. The concrete walls are owned by the NYS Canal Corporation; the Village has an annual permit for operation and minor maintenance of the wall. Thirty boat tie‐ups, without amenities, are present along these walls. Further northeast, the Canal banks are the natural banks of Wood Creek, though the Canal is dredged for navigational purposes. There are no docks on the Canal in the downtown area, though private docks extend into Fish Creek and are present in the Town of Verona across from the Village. A deteriorated and posted pier and breakwater wall extends about a half mile into Oneida Lake from the north wall of the Canal mouth. The Route 13 bridge is the property of the New York State Department of Transportation, as is Route 13. The State Police station is located on Route 13 near the downtown area. More remote from water, the Village holds title to the new recreation trail and to substantial land on and around the site of the Village Hall, including Neil VanDerlinde Park. The Sylvan Beach Volunteer Fire Department has a station on Route 13 between 10th and 11th Avenues.

This concentration of waterfront‐adjacent public land gives the Village extra leverage beyond that normally available to communities in the implementation of its waterfront revitalization policies. The LWRP is the foundation for a community‐wide and locally‐based revitalization effort.

PublicAccessandRecreationalResources

The Village of Sylvan Beach has remarkable present and potential water‐based recreational resources. About 65% of the Village limits comprise water boundaries, including the Oneida Lake shoreline on the west, the Erie Canal and Wood Creek to the south and southeast, and Fish Creek to the east. Much of the information in this section is derived from “A Tourism Assessment for Sylvan Beach, New York” prepared by a team from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in January, [1991] 1991.

Almost all of the Oneida Lake shoreline of the Village is a public sand beach with a shallow slope providing beachfront access unparalleled in all of Central New York. At the south end of the shore, adjacent to the outlet of the Erie Canal into Oneida Lake, is a half‐mile‐long pier owned by the NYS Canal Corporation, once used for fishing and for visual access to the lake, but now


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posted against trespassing due to its decayed state. This pier was formerly a major tourist attraction. Offshore from the beach in Oneida Lake, fishermen and recreational boaters gather in summer months. A hundred‐foot strip at the south end of the beach is a designated swimming area, with lifeguards on duty during the summer season, and a public bathhouse adjacent to the beach.

Presently, access to this public beach is predominantly gained from its southerly end, adjacent to the amusement park and the municipal parking lot. The Village of Sylvan Beach Comprehensive Plan identifies several locations where Village streets dead‐end abutting on the beachfront, and can be developed to improve public access. Such development will principally consist of signage and the planning of attractive entranceways from those streets to the beach. Appearance and maintenance of such additional beach access points is important in expanding public access to the beach, and will enhance visual access as well. This action will serve to promote increased usage of the northerly parts of the public beach, and relieve the pressure on that southerly portion of the beach directly adjacent to the amusement park and parking lot. Two such beach access points, at Akehurst Avenue and 15th Avenue, have been developed using TEA‐21 funding.

At public meetings held in relation to the writing and adoption of the 2001 Comprehensive Plan and the LWRP, Village residents spoke out in favor of rehabilitating the pier, in order to restore its former functions of providing docking, fishing, and visual access to Oneida Lake.

The retaining wall behind the beach north of the parking area, and separating the beach from properties fronting on it, is a major eyesore. The seawall has been constructed and maintained by over thirty individual property owners resulting in more than thirty distinct retaining wall segments. This condition presents an inconsistent appearance with varying visual and structural quality. Parts of the retaining wall are presentable, and parts are in a deplorable, dilapidated condition. The poor condition of the retaining wall results in a negative image of the beach to tourists and residents, with probable loss of tourism dollars. Reconstruction of the retaining wall is one important aspect to the revitalization of the tourism industry. Discussions of reconstruction of the retaining wall have resulted in proposals for the addition of a boardwalk with appropriate lighting and other amenities, brought up by citizens at public meetings.

As noted above, long‐term erosion of the sand beach is a major concern. Estimates by residents and environmental scientists suggest that the beach was over twice as wide forty years ago. Significant longshore drift has reduced the width of much of the beach area, as have the effects of ice movement during the winter. Beach replenishment, perhaps with sand dredged from the Erie Canal, and suitable retaining wall reconstruction to minimize long‐term erosion, are high on residents’ lists of municipal areas of concern.

The Erie Canal provides fishing and boating access, and Fish Creek is regularly used for fishing, which is regarded as excellent. There is, however, little public land access to Fish Creek, with


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the bank largely in private hands. The creek constitutes a valuable resource nonetheless, as property values for the creekside land are fairly high, owing to the owners having on‐site boating access to Fish Creek and hence to the Erie Canal and Oneida Lake.

Docking facilities for boats constitute the major shortfall in water‐based recreational resources for the Village. There are two private‐sector public marina facilities, located on Fish Creek away from the main highway, which are run as adjuncts to campgrounds. Most of their docking facilities are rented seasonally, providing only limited access for transient boaters, and while the marinas provide docking and refueling, they does not have amenities such as restrooms and showers available for the transient user. Their road access and facilities are not well‐suited to larger boats.

Docking for thirty boats is available along the north wall of the Erie Canal on a first‐come‐first‐served basis; canal usage sometimes makes such docking difficult. Owing to the canal wall structure, land access to and from smaller boats can be fairly difficult. The 2001 tourism study noted that many boats are anchored in the shallow water off the Oneida Lake sand beach and the boaters wade in to shore.

Canoes and kayaks are also common watercraft in Sylvan Beach and its environs. The need for additional boat docking and launching facilities remains a concern. Publicly‐owned access is limited to a single unmarked carry‐in/carry‐out launch site off the Canal; the marinas offer private‐sector facilities for launching smaller boats.

In the past, the absence of public launch facilities was alleviated by other marinas in the immediate environs of the Village but outside its limits. The Snug Harbor Marina, on the Erie Canal immediately south of the Village, had 188 boat slips, but was purchased in the late 1990s by the Oneida Indian Nation, with greatly reduced availability for public and transient use. The Village explored the potential for adding publicly‐owned facilities in 1997 with funding by the Economic Development Program of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; however, funding was not provided to implement the proposal.

Village officials and public meetings have identified the development of a marina as a major need. The increase in canal traffic and the boating tourism market, on which the Village relies as an important element of its tourism‐based income, serve to underscore this need. A new marina facility will be an important element in attracting the boating public to the Village, enabling it to grow and enhance its potential tourist market. A potential location for new boat dockage facilities lies just to the north of the breakwall.

The Village boundary extends 1,500 feet into Oneida Lake. Two natural issues affect the lake that in turn diminish tourism: the long‐term reduction of beach area due to erosion, and algae blooms during the tourist season. A suitable program of beach replenishment is underway will assist in reversing the first of these problems. Algae blooms are a natural occurrence and at times may produce cyanobacteria (blue‐green algae) which is a health hazard. Because it is a natural occurrence and affects the entire lake, it is unlikely that any efforts by the Village could mitigate the issue.


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In public meetings citizens have identified several other concerns relating to the lakefront. The Village can implement recreational and educational programs to address these issues including:

• Boats anchoring in close proximity to the public beach area,

• Personal watercraft (e.g., jet skis) interrupting other water activities,

• Trash and broken bottles producing health and safety hazards,

• Accidental discharge of waste and sewer water into the lake.

The Village has arranged for adequate enforcement of watercraft rules and regulations through the New York State Police, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department, and the New York State Park Police. The Village plans to monitor waterfront activities to assure that enforcement continues at an adequate level. (See further discussion of such steps in Section IV, Water Uses.)

The Village Board will continue to communicate with the Oneida Lake Commission regarding the creation of a management plan for dealing with lake closures due to pollution influxes to Oneida Lake from surrounding communities. This may include intermunicipal agreements between Oneida Lake communities, including the Village of Sylvan Beach, and with New York State. The New York State Canal Corporation regulations and authority regulates navigation and docks along the Canal.

An element of HUD’s Canal Corridor Initiative that was not implemented was the development of fishing or boating tours along the Canal Corridor, including the Village of Sylvan Beach and Oneida Lake. The Village will investigate the potential for the development of such tours on a local basis, as opportunity may present, and could include dinner cruises and sightseeing.

InfrastructureResources

Transportation

Land‐based transportation access to the Village is exclusively by highway. There is no railway or aircraft access, although the cities of Rome and Oneida, less than 20 miles away to the west and south respectively, are served by both passenger and freight trains, and the Utica‐Rome Airport is a moderately short drive from the Village.

The principal artery is New York State Route 13, which runs north‐south through the Village one block from the Oneida Lake shoreline. It intersects east‐west highways abutting the shores of Oneida Lake both north and south of the Village: State Route 49 lying to the north and State Route 31 to the south. Route 13 has an interchange with the New York State Thruway, a toll‐road portion of the Interstate Highway system (I‐90) approximately 7.2 miles south of Sylvan Beach, at Exit 34.

The Village has embarked on the implementation of a streetscape improvement plan aimed at improving visual appearance and pedestrian access along NYS Route 13, which is Sylvan Beach’s Main Street. The phased plan includes appropriate street trees, LED street lighting, crosswalks, new or replacement sidewalks, and a variety of pedestrian amenities. It is anticipated that completion of this plan will improve pedestrian access to the downtown business district, with


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consequent positive impacts on the Village’s economy. The project is similar in scope to “Main Street revitalization” projects sponsored in part by the NYS Department of State in other communities. This project is being funded in part by a federal TEA‐21 grant through the NYS Department of Transportation. The Village DPW is working with DOT to address some remaining concerns about pedestrian flow and safety.

Village streets vary in width, the older roads being as narrow as fourteen feet, to newer ones ranging up to 22.5 feet wide. In general, this road mix adds to the character of the Village, but can cause some problems when access to a commercial facility is on one of the narrower roads.

There is extensive public parking in the southerly part of the Village, but the influx of visitors on summer and holiday weekends leads to inadequate parking. Most lots set aside for parking purposes are owned by adjacent businesses and intended for the use of their clientele. The municipal lot is adequate except at these peak periods, and also constitutes an income source for the Village. Areas with on‐street parking are restricted to those adjacent to the Canal and Spencer Park. Addressing peak‐period parking concerns is an essential to Village economic growth. The village may wish to add new parking areas by purchase of property. Solutions for temporary parking issues may be to bring a shuttle service into the village when large events are scheduled.

A new element being recently added to the Village’s transportation system is a bicycle and pedestrian trail being constructed on the former NYO & W railway bed that runs diagonally across the Village from northwest to southeast, funded by a TEA‐21 grant. The northern end will ties into a similar trail being constructed on the extension of the same roadbed through the Towns of Vienna, Constantia, West Monroe, and Hastings to provide a 30‐mile‐long trail. The Village will identify additional nearby trails and the feasibility of linking the trails. In particular, trails paralleling NYS Routes 49 and 5 north and south of the Village might be connected by trails using the NYS Route 13 right‐of‐way.

Water‐based transportation is a significant asset to the Village. As noted in the previous section, boaters frequent the Village using both Oneida Lake and the Erie Canal to reach it. Concerns for docking and boat launching mentioned in that section play a part in the Village’s transportation planning.

DrinkingWaterSupply

The Village of Sylvan Beach receives its water from the Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA), under a forty‐year contract dating from December, 1992. As an element of that contract, all 81,500 linear feet of water mains in the Village have been completely rebuilt. A million‐gallon reservoir built in the early 1990s belonging to the Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA) is located north of the Village in the Town of Vienna, and constitutes the principal Village water source. There are 1,022.25 water services in the Village, each paying $130 (plus usage fees) annually for water supply, and the available resources are deemed adequate by state authorities for maintaining pressure and quantity, including fire‐fighting use, with adequate resources for new development.


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WastewaterDisposal

A large wastewater treatment plant in the north end of the Village serves not only the Village of Sylvan Beach but also areas in the Towns of Vienna, Verona, Sullivan, and Lenox. The plant will accommodate 4,725 gallons per minute or an average treatment capacity of 2,600,000 gallons per day (GPD). A flat fee of $310 per “unit” is charged within the Village, a “unit” being the designation for an average residential property. Mobile homes may be charged a fraction of a unit, commercial properties two or more units, etc. Major sewer mains run along the main streets, with households connected to them by smaller lines. The treatment plant is licensed for two million GPD, with average flow rate at about one million GPD and current maximum flow rate at 1.75 million GPD. Treated effluent is discharged into Fish Creek. The wastewater treatment plant was constructed in 1978 and operates under a SPDES permit first issued at that time and renewed at appropriate intervals since.

Police,EmergencyServices,andEducation

The Village has no police force, as the New York State Police maintain a station on NYS Route 13 in the heart of the Village, and function in most police capacities in the Village, including patrol and traffic control during major events, and foot and bicycle patrols on summer weekend events.

The Sylvan Beach Volunteer Fire Department provides fire protection services, and the Vineall Ambulance Service handles emergency medical response. The fire department is located on Route 13 in the Village and the Ambulance Service is located the City of Oneida. The Fire Department has recently acquired land adjacent to its present facility in order to construct a new facility in the near future. The present building cannot accommodate the growing size of fire trucks and other equipment. The Fire Department has seven vehicles and serves a fire district including parts of the Towns of Vienna and Verona as well as the Village. Estimates of service are six to ten structure fires and over 400 emergency medical service calls per year; the ambulance service responds simultaneously to both sorts of call. The Fire Department has 42 58 volunteers, nearly all of whom are Village residents. Fire equipment includes a 1976 Mini Pumper, a 2014 Suburban, a 2001 E‐One Engine, a 2010 Peirce Rescue Pumper, an ATV, a Rivercraft Airboat, and a 25’ Kencraft Rescue Boat.

In addition to normal land based response, the Fire Department has specifically trained personnel for ice and swift water rescue that have been deployed throughout New York State. The 25’ rescue boat operates out of Snug Harbor Marina.

In addition to normal land‐based response, the Village has the only dive rescue unit in Oneida County, and responds to boating accidents on Oneida Lake, with a dedicated 22‐foot vessel owned by the Fire Department and based at Snug Harbor Marina.

Non‐emergency medical services are available in the Village at the East Shore Medical Center Family Health Care facility.


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There are no schools in the Village, which is divided between the Camden and Oneida School Districts along a line between 16th and 18th Avenues west of Route 13 and along 21st Avenue east of Route 13. Elementary students south of this line attend the Durhamville Elementary School, with middle school students transported to Wampsville and high school students to Oneida. Elementary students north of the line attend McConnellsville Elementary School, and Camden Middle and High Schools.

SolidWasteManagement

Sylvan Beach has no municipal trash removal service. Private contractors pick up solid waste for a fee, transporting it to approved landfills and other disposal sites outside the Village.

HistoricResources

Though the Village of Sylvan Beach has a rich resort history, the ongoing development of new tourism‐based businesses and related activities has left it with scant historic structures. A few of the old structures have been adapted to modern use, such as the former hotel now housing a restaurant complex (Yesterday’s Royal) which has preserved the historic exterior and interior of the structure. Many of the older houses are intact representatives of significant architectural styles, notably the Queen Anne Style, though renovation has generally taken place. At present there are no officially designated historical resources in the Village other than the Erie Canal itself.

One exception to the lack of historic structures is the Union Chapel which fronts the public beach. The Union Chapel is an interdenominational church built in 1887 on land donated by the Spencer family. It is open only during the tourism season and the sides open up creating an almost outdoor service. The Union Chapel is on the State and National Historic Registers of Historic Places.

The Village of Sylvan Beach plans to explore facilitating the preservation of significant remaining structures through the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). This is appropriately done after conducting an inventory of such structures in accordance with the policies of SHPO, which regularly has funding available for the purpose. A project to produce such an inventory is part of Section IV.

In connection with historic resources, the Village wishes to place on public record its interest in preserving the amusement park located between the southern extremity of the Oneida Lake beach and N.Y. Route 13, which is the oldest operating amusement park in New York State.

SignageandAmenities

The Village of Sylvan Beach is aware of the importance of tourism and the need to welcome visitors. The Village has welcoming signs and significant directional signage in place. Recent grant applications and other proposed projects have included informational kiosks as integral


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elements of the projects proposed. An integrated and consistent signage policy is under consideration by the Village.

The bathhouse at the swimming beach at the southerly end of the Village’s Oneida Lake shoreline provides public restroom access is in need of replacement. A new 4,000 square foot facility combined with a visitors center and lifeguard station has been planned and designed (see illus.). A new restroom facility was added in 2003, located in the downtown area of the Village directly across Route 13 from the Village Park at the corner of Vienna and Main Streets (known as Carrello’s Corner). The village could still benefit from the development of more restroom facilities, particularly along the Canal Dock and at the north end of the beach area.

Efforts to improve visual aesthetics and public comfort in the tourist‐frequented areas of the Village include trash receptacles, benches, brick paver‐style crosswalks and sidewalks, street trees, and bicycle racks.

Visitors arriving at Sylvan Beach need to be orientated to the Village and what it has to offer. This may be accomplished through development of informational kiosks and/or tourist maps. A caricature type map and informational kiosks are currently in the planning stages. The Village will identify points along the waterfront and in the Village proper where placement of additional kiosks will accomplish the goals of highlighting the Village’s historic, cultural, recreational, and natural attractions. It is anticipated that placement of such kiosks will result in a greater appreciation of the Village’s assets, resulting in an increase in visitor usage and a more stable economy. The Village will address and prioritize locations where such kiosks seem most needed and obtain funding for their construction and maintenance, through the New York State Coastal Resources Interpretive Program grants (NYSCRIPs).

BusinessDevelopmentandDiversification

The commercial element of the Village is largely directed towards sales to tourists and other seasonal visitors, as one might expect. This produces a quite unusual array, with some business categories well represented and some entirely absent.

Commercial lodging facilities within the Village include several recreational vehicle (RV) parks and several cottage‐rental operations. There are waterfront campgrounds and motel operations within the village. There are also a few motels and other commercial lodging facilities in the area surrounding the village.

Food‐service establishments provide a variety of dining options, with seafood a prominent cuisine. Some of these have an attached bar and provide a “night life” element to the Village’s attractions.

Surprisingly, there are few businesses offering water sports or beach equipment, bait and tackle for fishermen, or boat/canoe/kayak rental, and no bicycle rental.

The Village has no pharmacy and no gasoline or service station, although these can be found in the Villages of Camden and Canastota services are available in nearby communities. After many years without a Village grocery store, a small supermarket began operations in the Village


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during 2004. The only groceries available in the village are at a recently opened convenience store (Nice n Easy).

There are numerous small shops catering to various aspects of the tourist trade. The amusement park is located in the southeast of the Village, near the beach area and several restaurants.

An economic assessment of desirable goods and services and the potential market for them is needed. Conducting such a study is among the projects identified in Section IV.

The Village borrowed funds underwritten by a HUD program established in 1998 to create a revolving loan fund aimed at improving economic conditions in the Village, with particular emphasis on job creation. Two loans made using these funds brought the Village a new restaurant/motel complex and the supermarket mentioned above. It appears that unused loan funds from the HUD program are no longer available. However, the Village has requested that the funds be restored for other economic development purposes.

ASKING DOS IF WE CAN REMOVE SECTION BELOW

MarketingandPromotion

Sylvan Beach has been actively involved in marketing and promoting the Village, particularly as a summer resort destination. Involvement with the Central/Leatherstocking Region tourism promotions and the Erie Canal Corridor revitalization efforts, has expanded local effort. The Village arranged with a group of faculty and students at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry to prepare “A Tourism Assessment for Sylvan Beach, New York” in 1991. That study identified four primary marketing objectives:

1. To expand existing target markets in the Rome/Utica and Syracuse areas.

2. To expand existing target market to include a diversity of outdoor recreation enthusiasts.

3. To incorporate Sylvan Beach’s marketing efforts with existing regional marketing efforts for the county, region, and Oneida Lake.

4. To develop a unified marketing strategy suitable for both public and private interests in the Village of Sylvan Beach.

After a thorough analysis of existing visitors and the market niches they occupy, the study recommended that the Village focus on seven market groups where potential for expanded visitation to Sylvan Beach seemed likely: motor boat users, family groups, anglers, non‐motorized boat users (canoers, kayakers, etc.), scenic road drivers, bicyclists, and snowmobilers.

The study then reviewed current local marketing efforts, predominantly by the Sylvan‐Verona Beach Resort Association, and made recommendations for their improvement.


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The final element of the study, based on the above information, includes recommendations strongly interfaced with the Waterfront Revitalization Program:

1. Conduct a feasibility study for boating facilities.

2. Improve existing visitor services and facilities.

3. Conduct a feasibility study to reduce parking problems.

4. Development of a Sylvan Beach marketing “image.”

5. Develop a unified marketing strategy for the Sylvan Beach area.

6. Improve existing promotion and information products.

7. Create new Village policies which enhance tourism.

8. Create cooperative partnerships for promotional strategies.

9. Develop a new waterfront guidebook.

10. Develop interpretation for visitors.

11. Development of a coordinated signage system.

12. Improve the amusement park.

13. Create a festival/event coordinating committee.

14. Development of an integrated non‐motorized circulation system.

15. Create a tourist information and interpretation center.

16. Contribute to an “Around the Lake” driving loop.

17. Create a limited‐use picnic area on Wedding Island.

18. Utilization of the designated scenic route.

19. Connect Sylvan Beach with existing trail systems.

20. Investigate the opportunities for boat, bike, and skate rental businesses.

21. Improvement of entry/arrival experience.

22. Investigate additional funding sources for Sylvan Beach tourism.

The relevant elements of the above are reflected addressed in the Village’s policies, as discussed in Section III.

The Village has begun to develop and maintain a municipal web site. Such web sites have been developed by neighboring communities in Oneida and other counties. The Village will critically review existing municipal web sites to determine what information will be provided for marketing purposes. The Village will eventually establish links to other entertainment and tourism sites in New York State.


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ScenicResources

Sylvan Beach has a variety of scenic resources unusual for a village of its size. Its entire western edge is a sand beach fronting Oneida Lake, all of which is open to public use. Since it looks west over the lake, it provides unobstructed sunset views for strolling visitors and residents as well as for residents and cottagers along the numerous short streets running west from Route 13 to the shoreline. The sand beach is the Village of Sylvan Beach’s single most valuable asset.

The Village is located on the historic Erie Canal at the point where it joins Oneida Lake, offering residents the opportunity to observe waterborne traffic on the oldest through water route still operating in the United States.

Fish Creek is navigable for smaller boats where it borders the Village, providing a tranquil stream easily accessible by boat and providing excellent fishing.

SurfaceandGroundwaterWaterQuality

Owing to the Village’s extensive shoreline, there are two distinct elements to be considered as regards water quality: Fish Creek and Oneida Lake. The brief length of the Erie Canal abutting the Village is fed predominantly by Fish Creek and Wood Creek, and while its use by boats will inevitably affect water quality, the regulations of the New York State Canal Corporation and DEC are significant in maintaining Erie Canal water quality.

Fish Creek borders the Village to the east for the final mile or so of its length. It rises on the Tug Hill plateau in Lewis County, and flows through the towns of Martinsburg, Montague, West Turin, Osceola, Lewis, Annsville, and Vienna, being joined by a West Branch flowing through the towns of Williamstown and Camden. The greater share of its flow comes from the East Branch, here considered the main stream by local residents and regional planners. In 1982, the National Park Service conducted a study of the east branch of the Fish Creek watershed to consider it for inclusion in the Federal Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers system. As a result, local towns voluntarily adopted local land use regulations aimed at managing land uses along the banks of Fish Creek, with the idea of keeping it as a pristine stream, while not negating the profitable lumbering and second‐home development that are the predominant uses of land along its banks. Along with this effort, the Town of Annsville recently completed construction of a new wastewater collection and treatment system for the hamlet of Taberg, part of which had discharged raw sewage into Fish Creek. As a result, when Fish Creek reaches Sylvan Beach, its flow is of fairly high quality. Owing to the fairly large area of its watershed, it is an important minor element of the statewide water resources inventory.

The Village of Sylvan Beach Sewage Treatment Plant discharges treated effluent into Fish Creek one mile above where it empties into the Erie Canal. This effluent has been rendered largely innocuous by a DEC‐approved treatment process, and is chlorinated during the summer months. Chlorination is omitted during the spawning season for walleye pike, which have nearby breeding grounds, since chlorine residuals are harmful to walleye pike eggs and fry.


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Oneida Lake is a eutrophic lake, a moderately shallow relict of the post‐glacial flooding that occurred over much of Central New York. By eutrophic, limnologists mean a water body with a tendency to summer algal blooms. Within the historic period, the lake’s water quality has always been affected by these cyanophyte blooms, which sometimes produce swirling multicolored patches on the water surface and give off pungent odors as they decay. One major cause of these blooms was phosphorus from agricultural fertilizer runoff, and the banning of phosphorus‐containing fertilizers in 1973 reduced the lake’s phosphorus content by 50%, decreasing algal blooms. Fish Creek and a few minor streams on the north shore of the lake together provide two‐thirds of the inflow to the lake, but only 20% of the nutrients for the lake’s ecosystem. The remaining nutrients come from south shore tributaries.

Oneida Lake water quality improved during the 1990s in a beneficial aspect of an immigrant shellfish usually regarded as a problem: the zebra mussel. Zebra mussels are native to Eastern Europe and are believed to have entered the Great Lakes by discharge of ballast from ships originating in that area and coming up the St. Lawrence Seaway. Oneida Lake’s shallowness and openness combine to produce above‐normal mixing of waters. This and its warm summers and high calcium content produce ideal zebra mussel habitat. The zebra mussel lives by siphoning up to a quart of water daily and filtering out algae and organic debris. This has greatly changed Oneida Lake’s clarity and in consequence strongly affected its ecosystem, which is discussed below. Oneida Lake is classified as B in the NYS DEC water quality system.

Oneida Lake’s algal blooms and rooted lake vegetation have historically impaired recreational use of the lake. Although the Village's beach is made up of sand without significant rooted vegetation, occasional storms uproot aquatic vegetation and deposit it on the beach. In addition, the Village must be concerned for other lakeshore communities as a good neighbor.

It should be noted that two small DEC‐designated wetland areas, coded SB‐33 and SB‐37, lie in the northern part of the Village. Also, just north of the Village’s northeast boundary, SB‐25 appears to have one small outlier extending within Village limits.

The Village participated in the completed Oneida Lake Watershed Study conducted by the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board, in whose member counties most of Oneida Lake is located. The Village is also committed to running its sewage treatment plant in accord with DEC standards. The Village’s sewage treatment conforms to the DEC standards intended to prevent the over‐fertilization of Oneida Lake and consequent eutrophic growth. The major concerns for human‐originated impacts on the lake arise from shoreline areas in Madison and Oswego Counties, relatively remote from the Village. Water quality in Oneida Lake is considered to be generally good, according to DEC data, though chromium, iron, lead, zinc, copper, and aluminum compounds were present in samples taken at the western end of the lake, in quantities above the minimum reportable level but not at levels to arouse concern.

The Village of Sylvan Beach identified the following major concerns to the Oneida Lake Watershed Study in its 2002 survey of watershed community municipal concerns. Though they extend across most of the subject areas addressed in the LWRP, the summary, which concerns itself with watershed management, probably fits best here, as addressing water quality and interrelated concerns.


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The issues of highest concern for this municipality [Sylvan Beach] are economic development, tourism enhancement, and planning (regional/long‐term). Non‐native plants and animals (including zebra mussels and water chestnut), aquatic vegetation, the impact of cormorants on fisheries, and the need for long‐term population control of nuisance species are additional concerns for the municipal representatives. Another issue of high concern is the reduction of fish populations in Oneida Lake. Intoxicated boaters and personal watercraft operators, insufficient public access, and a lack of available docking space are recreational issues that should be addressed. Streambank and lakeshore erosion are additional concerns in Sylvan Beach, as well as the maintenance of lake and streambank protection structures, flooding, highway maintenance, and the storage of road de‐icing materials.

Of all these issues, municipal representatives stated that the highest priority topics include erosion and sedimentation, water quality, personal watercraft and boater safety, and the availability of public access and docking space. Technical and financial assistance, in addition to education, are products that these representatives would like to see develop from the Watershed Management Plan. On a scale of 1 to 10, municipal representatives rated the overall quality of Oneida Lake as 5 (Good).

The Oneida Lake Watershed Study identified a number of issues addressed in the LWRP as regional concerns, but did not itself explicitly address Village‐specific issues or concerns.

Wood Creek in the Village is channelized as a part of the old Erie Canal system. A 1995 DEC report indicated a need to study the creek between Rome and Sylvan Beach for impacts on fish survival and the possibility of pollutants from upstream. This is particularly important in that DEC suspects the channelized area served as a “sediment sink” trapping pollutants.

FishandWildlife

Analysis of Sylvan Beach’s water‐based zoological resources requires primary attention to Oneida Lake, with due consideration to Fish Creek and the surrounding wetlands areas as a secondary factor. This subsection will address the ecology of the lake, followed by its fish and wildlife resources, and finally the biology of Fish Creek and nearby wetlands.

As was noted in Subsection O above, the ecology of Oneida Lake is undergoing major changes. Prior to the 1970s the lake was strongly eutrophic, with an ecosystem where nutrients from the south shore tributaries encouraged algal growth which was, in turn, consumed by zooplankton with Daphnia a leading constituent. The zooplankton provided a food source for the “higher” life forms of the lake’s ecosystem. Growth of algae in the summer, beyond the zooplankton’s consumption capacity, led to algal blooms covering much of the lake. The outlawing of phosphates as a component of agricultural fertilizers in the 1970s and the accidental introduction of zebra mussels in the 1980s resulted in a clarification of the waters and reduced algal growth, at least of the cyanophytes responsible for the blooms. This promoted the growth of rooted weeds (also technically algae, but of different forms than the floating cyanophytes), providing additional cover for shallow water fish species. The long‐term impact of the greater


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lake clarity and cessation of the periodic algal blooms on the deep water fish species is not yet known.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Oneida Lake was noted for ciscos (termed “whitefish”), eels, chain pickerel, walleyes, and northern pike. The damming of the Oswego River, which connected Oneida Lake to Lake Ontario and thence with the Atlantic via the St. Lawrence, resulted in the decline of eels. Cottage development and other shoreline construction, with the draining of wetlands, meant that the pickerel and northern pike, which spawned in lakeshore marshes and adjacent wetlands, also dropped in numbers.

The current game fish common in the lake include walleye pike, yellow perch, gizzard shad, and freshwater drum. Other interesting and significant species constitute a minor component. DEC and Cornell University estimates suggest that the lake’s walleye population ranges from 200,000 to one million, with anglers’ catches averaging about 25% of the population, between 50,000 and 450,000 per year. DEC controls walleye harvest by anglers with flexible regulations. Estimates suggest the normal yellow perch population ranges between one and four million.

The gizzard shad, a longtime component of Lake Ontario and Oswego River ecosystems, was a negligible constituent of the lake population until 1984, expanding in the next decade to a level where they become the major prey for walleyes, but then declining. At present they are relatively scarce. The freshwater drum became a significant element of the lake’s population in 1987, and in recent years have maintained a population level about half that of the walleye. A long‐lived fish, the drum is likely to remain a significant part of Oneida Lake’s fish population for many years.

White perch have become an element of the lake’s ecosystem since construction of the Erie Canal System. An ocean fish, they are also capable of freshwater existence, and have expanded to a level similar to the native yellow perch.

A key fish element of the lake is smallmouth and largemouth bass, popular game fish nowhere near as common as the above species but of major interest to anglers. Other fish of less interest to anglers but with significant roles in the ecosystem include rock bass, “pumpkinseed” sunfish, bluegills, black crappie, burbot, bullheads, white suckers, and channel catfish. Oneida Lake has always had a lake sturgeon population, and these large rare fish are newsworthy when caught.

Five major colonial waterbird species are present over and around Oneida Lake. The smallest, the common tern, is considered a “threatened” species in New York State. With intervention by DEC and Cornell University to improve nesting habitat and minimize predation by gulls, these birds are now stabilized at a population of about 400 nesting pairs.

Three Two species of gulls are present. The ring‐backed gull, the smallest, is the common “seagull” noted by beachgoers and boaters, and well adapted to human presence. In addition to harvesting worms and rodents from farm fields, the ring‐backed gull targets landfills and parks, where it lives off human refuse. An average of 850 breeding pairs of ring‐backed gulls are found around Oneida Lake. The herring gull is an Atlantic Ocean bird, larger and more predatory than the ring‐backed gull, preying on near‐surface fish and on the eggs and young of other birds. In the past two decades, its Oneida Lake population has ranged from 20 to 60 pairs.


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The double‐crested cormorant population is about 2,000 birds. These birds are divers after small and medium‐sized fish, competing with anglers for common game fish. At present, they harvest a small but significant share of the walleye and yellow perch population. They are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1972.

As previously noted, the influx of the highly competitive zebra mussel has been a major factor in the shift in Oneida Lake’s ecosystem. One highly significant additional aspect of their invasion of Oneida Lake has been the extinction of the lake’s native clams.

Another invader, the purple loosestrife, is a wetland plant that is outcompeting many native wetland plants, and requires management. Among plant life that was historically present in or near Sylvan Beach but is no longer extant are the following species: the ram’s‐head ladyslipper (Cypripedium arietinum), the blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa ovata), the dwarf bullrush (Lipocarpha micrantha), the salt‐water spikerush (Eleocharis halophila), the lake‐cress (Armoracia lacrustis), panic grass (Panicum scabriusculum), and lance‐leaved loosestrife (Lysimachia hybrida). Also no longer present are a tree, the shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa) and the brindled madtom (Noturus miurus), a catfish.

Oneida Lake as a whole suffers from algal blooms and the growth of rooted vegetation. Although the sandy lake bottom and shoreline means that rooted vegetation is usually not a problem along Sylvan Beach’s shoreline, uprooted aquatic vegetation, as noted above, is often carried onto the Village’s lakeside beach by wind and waves. The Village will consult with DEC to determine how to implement and fund a cleanup program to combat this problem.

The issues noted for Oneida Lake also apply to Fish Creek adjacent to Sylvan Beach. Like the lake, it provides a fishing and boating resource to the Village, and many of the shallower‐water fish of the lake are abundant in these lower reaches of Fish Creek as well. Particularly, it provides spawning area for walleye, and the impact of the discharge from the Village’s wastewater treatment plant on the walleye population must be considered. At present, the cessation of chlorination of the wastewater discharge during walleye breeding season is considered sufficient by DEC.

As noted above, the Village of Sylvan Beach contains two small state‐regulated wetland areas, with a third spanning the northeast border. However, lands along Fish Creek and the Oneida Lake shoreline north of the Village and south in the Verona Beach area include extensive wetlands. The Village’s waterfront policies will address the need to preserve these wetlands, as their presence helps preserve the lake/stream ecosystem which is the Village’s most valuable natural resource.

Wood Creek has in the past been a poor fishing area due to urban, suburban, and agricultural pollution. As of this study, conditions seem to be improving, but updated DEC studies will be needed in the future.

As might be expected, the Village itself, with its relatively small land area, is not the sole reservoir for any endangered or protected plant or animal species, but adjacent lands do house species of concern to DEC, as described above; the Village’s role in conserving such life forms is


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to act in concert with the state and neighboring towns, villages, and counties to ensure that their habitat is not impacted.

ErosionandFlooding

The Village of Sylvan Beach has two areas in which erosion concerns are relevant: the Oneida Lake Beach and the banks of Fish Creek. In both cases, hard data as to the extent of erosion has been very difficult to isolate, but anecdotal evidence is prevalent.

Based on the latter, a significant amount – one estimate was 50% – of the beach width has been lost to erosion over the last few decades. Maintenance of sand along the beach has been effectively nonexistent. The public beach along the Oneida Lake shore is a major element in Sylvan Beach’s appeal as a water‐based tourism resort. Beach replenishment has been called for at several times over the past few years. The Village has worked with the New York State Canal Corporation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation for an annual replenishment of beach sand using dredge spoil from the Erie Canal and Fish Creek, so that by 2011 this project was under way.

Complaints of banks along Fish Creek crumbling, with property loss to landowners and the resultant sedimentation and turbidity in Fish Creek, has also been an occasional but regular complaint. The Village will arrange with DEC for an examination of the condition of the banks along Fish Creek and National Lake, and determine the need for bank stabilization measures and bank enhancements in accordance with the Village's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program erosion policies.

Sections of Sylvan Beach are subject to flooding, although far less so than in the past. The following excerpt from the Comprehensive Plan addresses this issue.

The 1984 Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) indicates that the perimeter of the Village is classified as Zone A3 or A2. The perimeter area includes the Beachfront, extends along the Canal, and runs adjacent to Fish Creek. Zone A2 and A3 classifications are defined as “areas of 100‐year flood; base flood elevations and flood hazard factors determined” (Flood Insurance Rate Map 1984). Much of the Beach Resort District is classified as Zone C. Zone C classification is defined as “Areas of minimal flooding (no shading)” (Flood Insurance Rate Map 1984).

A portion of the Beach Resort District east of Route 13 from 2nd Street to 12th Street is classified Zone B. Zone B classification is defined as “Areas between limits of the 100‐year flood and 500‐year‐year flood; or certain areas subject to 100‐year flooding with average depths less than one (1) foot where the contributing drainage area is less than one square mile; or areas protected by levees from the base flood (medium shading)” (Flood Insurance Rate Map 1984). Zone B also appears between Pleasant Avenue and the abandoned railroad in the northern portion of the Village. A finger of Zone B also extends from Marina Drive east of Harborview Drive to the Canal.

The 1998 FIRM indicates some changes from the 1984 FIRM. First, the classification scheme is slightly different. The perimeter areas of the 1984 FIRM, which are classified A2 or A3 are


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classified Zone AE on the 1998 FIRM. Zone AE classification is special flood hazard areas inundated by 100‐year flood (base flood elevations determined). The classification definitions are relatively the same, only the symbols have changed.

Secondly, the finger of Zone B from Marina Drive east of Harborview Drive to the Canal is absent on the 1998 FIRM. This area has been classified Zone AE.

Other differences are a portion of Zone AE includes floodway areas on the 1998 FIRM and an area in the proximity of the Wastewater Treatment Plant is classified as undetermined. (Source:

Village of Sylvan Beach Comprehensive Plan, 1991) update with 2013 maps


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SectionIII WaterfrontRevitalizationPolicies

Section III presents the waterfront revitalization policies and their associated standards that are to be used in guiding appropriate development and actions for the Village of Sylvan Beach. They consider the economic, environmental, and cultural characteristics of Sylvan Beach. The policies are comprehensive, and reflect existing laws and authority regarding development and environmental protection. Taken together, these policies and their associated standards are used to determine the appropriate balance between economic development and preservation that will permit beneficial use of, and prevent adverse effects on, Sylvan Beach’s waterfront resources.

The waterfront revitalization policies of the Village of Sylvan Beach are local implementation of policies set forth through the Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inland Waterways Act. Each policy statement is followed by a brief explanation of the situation in Sylvan Beach and the intent of the policy. This is followed by a set of policy standards.

The policies are organized under five headings:

A. General Policy.

B. Economic Development Policies.

C. Waterfront Natural Resources Policies.

D. General Environmental Policies.

E. Recreational and Cultural Policies.

Upon adoption by the Village of Sylvan Beach, the policies will become the basis for consistency determinations made by local, state, and federal agencies for actions affecting Sylvan Beach’s waterfront areas.

Table 2

Summary of the Thirteen Local Waterfront Revitalization Policies

Policy 1 Foster a pattern of development in the waterfront area that enhances community character, preserves open space, makes efficient use of infrastructure, makes beneficial use of Sylvan Beach’s unique location, and minimizes adverse effects of development.


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Policy 2 Protect water‐dependent uses, promote siting of new water dependent uses in suitable locations, and support efficient harbor operation.

Policy 3 Protect agricultural lands.

Policy 4 Promote sustainable use of fish and wildlife resources.

Policy 5 Protect and restore ecological resources, including significant fish and wildlife habitats, wetlands, and rare ecological communities.

Policy 6 Protect and improve water resources.

Policy 7 Minimize loss of life, structures, and natural resources from flooding or erosion.

Policy 8 Protect and improve air quality.

Policy 9 Promote appropriate use and development of energy and mineral resources.

Policy 10 Minimize environmental degradation from solid waste and hazardous substances and wastes.

Policy 11 Provide for public access to, and recreational use of, shoreline waters, public lands, and public resources of the shorefront area.

Policy 12 Enhance visual quality and protect outstanding scenic resources.

Policy 13 Preserve historic resources.

GeneralPolicy

Policy1.0 Foster a pattern of development in the waterfront area that enhances community character, preserves open space, makes efficient use of infrastructure, makes beneficial use of Sylvan Beach’s unique location, and minimizes adverse effects of development.

The vitality of waterfront communities is a critical component of the character of New York’s inland waterways. Focusing investment to sustain these communities as centers of activity enhances their vitality and protects the remaining open landscape that provides ecological and scenic value. Sylvan Beach’s strong emphasis on its waterfront for recreation and economic purposes makes this especially important. All policies will be construed as encouraging high‐quality revitalizing development and not as adversative to such development.

Policy Standards:

Policy 1.1 Concentrate development and redevelopment in order to revitalize deteriorated and underutilized waterfronts and strengthen the traditional waterfront focus of Sylvan Beach.

The Village has an underutilized and deteriorated waterfront principally in areas fronting on Wood Creek, National Lake, and lowermost Fish Creek, but also along the southern Oneida Lake


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shoreline inland from the beach. Rehabilitation of existing sites and infill is of concern, rather than undeveloped areas.

New development will be:

1. Located where adequate road access exists or can be easily developed.

2. Scaled to the setting.

3. Whenever possible, water‐dependent or water‐enhanced uses (see 2.1 and 2.4).

4. Integrated with neighboring uses to enhance the waterfront as a focus for the Village’s social and economic life.

5. Designed to enhance and continue Sylvan Beach’s historic role as a resort community.

All development or uses will support the unique qualities of a waterfront location by:

1. Using building and site design to make beneficial use of a waterfront location and associated aquatic resources.

2. Minimizing consumption of waterfront lands and potential adverse impacts on natural resources.

3. Incorporating recreational activities, public access, open space, or amenities, as appropriate to the use, to enhance the site and the surrounding community, and to increase visual and physical access to the shore.

4. Attracting people to the shore, as appropriate to the use.

5. Ensuring that design and siting of uses and structures complements the surrounding community and landscape.

6. Reinforcing community identity by highlighting local history and important natural and man‐made resources.

Policy 1.2 Ensure that development or uses make beneficial use of their waterfront.

The amount of waterfront in Sylvan Beach and the resources associated with the waterfront are limited. All uses will relate to the unique qualities associated with a waterfront location. Consideration will be given to whether a use is appropriate for a waterfront location. When planning waterfront development or redevelopment, the waterfront location will be reflected in the siting, design, and orientation of the development.

A water‐dependent use is an activity which can only be conducted on, in, over, or adjacent to a water body because such activity requires direct access to that water body, and which involves, as an integral part of such activity, the use of the water. (See Policy 2.1 for examples of water‐dependent uses.)

In general, water‐dependent uses will be promoted where appropriate and given precedence over other types of development at suitable waterfront sites. Existing water‐dependent uses


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will be protected. Development which is not dependent on a waterfront location or which cannot make a beneficial use of a waterfront location will be avoided.

In addition to water‐dependent uses, those uses which are enhanced by a waterfront location will be encouraged to locate along the shore, though not at the expense of water‐dependent uses. A water‐enhanced use is defined as a use or activity which does not require a location adjacent to or over a water body, but whose location on land adjacent to the shore adds to the public use and enjoyment of the water’s edge. Water‐enhanced uses are primarily recreational, cultural, retail, or entertainment uses. Water‐enhanced uses in Sylvan Beach include the many waterfront restaurants along the Village’s shoreline, the waterfront cottage rental businesses, and the amusement park which caters to tourists and visitors using the adjacent public beach.

A. To ensure that water‐enhanced uses make beneficial use of their waterfront location, they will be sited and designed to:

1. Attract people to or near the waterfront and provide opportunities for access that is oriented to the water.

2. Provide public views to or from the water.

3. Minimize consumption of waterfront land.

4. Not interfere with the operation of water‐dependent uses.

5. Not cause significant adverse impacts to the community character and surrounding land and water resources.

B. Uses will be avoided which would:

1. Result in unnecessary and avoidable loss of water resources.

2. Ignore their waterfront setting as indicated by design or orientation.

3. Do not, by their nature, derive economic benefit from a waterfront location.

1.3 Maintain and enhance natural areas, recreation, and open space.

Natural areas, open space, and recreation land produce public benefits that may not be immediately tangible. In addition to scenic and recreation benefit, these lands may also support habitat for commercially or ecologically important fish and wildlife, provide watershed management of flood control benefits, serve to recharge ground water, and maintain links to a region’s recreational heritage. The Village’s extensive shoreline along Oneida Lake, the Erie Canal, and Wood and Fish Creeks, much of which is in public ownership, and the public park areas which largely are near the shoreline, make this a significant element of the Village’s policies for waterfront revitalization.

It is the intent of the Village to enhance community character and maintain the quality of both natural and man‐made environments. Adverse impacts to natural resources, particularly water quality, will be eliminated or minimized. Development will be pursued in such a manner as to ensure visual compatibility with surrounding areas.


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The Village of Sylvan Beach is particularly concerned for the preservation of its sand beach, nearly unique along the Oneida Lake shoreline, and for the stands of trees shading the interior residential properties of the Village, which gave the Village its name.

1.4 Minimize potential adverse land use, and negative environmental and economic impacts that would result from proposed development.

To enhance the distinctive character of Sylvan Beach as a resort community and to maintain the quality of the natural and man‐made environments in the waterfront area, potential adverse impacts on existing development, physical environments, and on the local economy will be addressed and mitigated. Development requirements will reflect existing site characteristics, limit the disturbance to land and water, and ensure visual compatibility with surrounding areas.

Cumulative and secondary adverse impacts from development and redevelopment will be minimized. Cumulative impacts are the result of the incremental or increased impact of repetitive actions or activities when added to other past, present, or future actions or activities. Secondary impacts are those which may or may not be foreseeable, but which occur at a later time or at a greater distance from the action, and are caused by an action or activity, whether directly or indirectly.

A. Potential adverse impacts on existing development will be minimized, as follows:

1. Avoid introduction of discordant features which would detract from the community by comparing the proposed development with existing mass and distribution of structures, scale, intensity of use, architectural style, land use pattern, or other indicators of community character.

2. Mitigate adverse impacts among existing incompatible uses by avoiding expansion of conflicting uses, promoting mixed‐use development approaches which would reduce potential for conflict, mitigating potential conflicts by segregating incompatible uses, and providing buffers, or using other design measures to reduce conflict between incompatible uses.

3. Integrate waterfront areas with the Village’s commercial and residential interior by providing physical linkages between them, matching uses to community needs, particularly as related to demographic characteristics, and limiting exclusion of the waterfront from the surrounding community.

4. Prevent displacement or impairment of water‐dependent uses.

B. Potential adverse economic impacts will be minimized, as follows:

1. Prevent deterioration of the site and surrounding area by preventing or correcting derelict or dilapidated conditions, avoiding detraction from community character, and preventing isolation of community and people from the waterfront.

2. Protect and enhance the community’s economic base.

3. Promote a diverse economic base.


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4. It is the Village of Sylvan Beach’s policy to encourage water‐dependent and water‐enhanced uses that will foster the Village’s social and economic structure and maximize practical use of the waterfront. The policies identified above are to be applied creatively to encourage beneficial development.

1.5 Protect stable residential areas.

The northern and northeastern areas of the Village are largely residential, with some compatible commercial uses interspersed. It is the Village’s policy to maintain these areas as residential development, including upscale homes with waterfront access on small canals off Fish Creek, and to complete its program to rehabilitate substandard housing, preventing deterioration and blight of neighborhoods where low‐income housing is a significant component. The mix of year‐round and seasonal residences in areas just inland from the waterfront is a prime concern.

EconomicDevelopmentPolicies

Policy2.0 Protect water‐dependent uses, promote siting of new water‐dependent uses in suitable locations, and support efficient harbor operation.

Policy Standards:

2.1 Protect water‐dependent uses.

Water‐dependent uses are activities which require a location in, on, over, or adjacent to a waterway because the activity required direct access to the waterway (i.e., a marina) or the use of water (i.e., an industry which uses water for production or cooling purposes). Water‐dependent uses in Sylvan Beach include the Erie Canal, the mile‐long Oneida Lake sand beach, and campground/marinas such as the Lone Pine and The Landing, both of which combine campground and marina facilities. (See Section II‐E. Existing Water Use, and Section II‐H. Public Access and Recreational Resources.)

Activities will be avoided which would adversely impact or interfere with existing water‐dependent uses. Examples of water‐dependent uses include:

Public and private marinas

Boat yards

Commercial and recreational fishing facilities

Tour boat and charter boat facilities

A water‐dependent use is an activity which can only be conducted on, in, over, or adjacent to a water body because such activity requires direct access to that water body, and which involves, as an integral part of such activity, the use of the water.

In general, water‐dependent uses will be promoted where appropriate and given precedence over other types of development at suitable waterfront sites. Existing water‐dependent uses


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will be protected. Development which is not dependent on a waterfront location or which cannot make a beneficial use of a waterfront location will be avoided.

Sylvan Beach will in particular encourage water‐dependent uses which increment the availability of marina and docking facilities and serve the boating and fishing public.

2.2 Promote the siting of new water‐dependent uses at suitable locations and provide for their safe operation.

In general, water‐dependent uses, such as marinas, will be located within developed areas that contain concentrations of water‐dependent commercial, industrial, or recreational uses and essential support facilities. The Village is particularly concerned to provide adequate docking and boating‐support facilities at a full‐service marina within the Village. The following policies are intended as guidelines for water‐dependent uses and in particular marinas.

A. Water‐dependent uses will be sited in locations where:

1. Waterside and landside access, as well as upland space for parking and other facilities, is adequate.

2. The necessary infrastructure exists or is easily accessible, including adequate shoreline stabilization structures, roads, water supply and sewage disposal facilities, and vessel waste pump‐out and waste disposal facilities.

B. Ensure that new or expanding marinas:

1. Incorporate boating services and boat repair to meet a range of boating needs.

2. Do not displace or impair the operation of water‐dependent transportation, industry, or commerce.

3. Do not encroach upon navigation channels or channel buffer areas.

a. Incorporate public access to the shore through provisions, such as including access from the upland, boat ramps, and transient boat mooring.

b. Prevent discharge of sewage by providing pump out facilities unless adequate pump out facilities exist.

c. Avoid or minimize adverse impacts on natural resources and existing neighborhoods and communities.

C. In the choice of sites where water‐dependent uses will be encouraged and facilitated, the following standards will be used:

1. Competition for space, or the potential for it, will be determined before any given site is promoted for a water‐dependent use. The intent is to match water‐dependent uses with suitable locations and thereby reduce potential conflicts between competing uses. Sites will be selected which will either increase protection of existing water‐dependent activities or encourage new water‐dependent development, and ideally both.


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2. Water‐dependent uses require public facilities and services to function effectively. Sites will be selected which provide access to public sewer and water, provide adequate space to accommodate needed parking and storage, and provide access without creating congestion on existing streets.

3. Sites selected for new water‐dependent uses will be such that the new use is compatible with adjacent existing uses, and will ideally enhance, and at a minimum not detract from, the surrounding community. Hence commercial recreational uses will be sited near related existing facilities catering towards tourists in the southerly area of the Village, and not adjacent to waterfront residential areas in the northeast of the Village.

4. Such facilities will have adequate space to provide for expansion in the mid‐term future.

5. Standards specific for siting and design of docks, boat ramps, mooring facilities, marinas, and support facilities include:

a. Docks will be adequately spaced from each other, shallow areas and adjacent properties, to ensure safe movement to and from channels and to avoid obstructing adjacent uses.

b. New marina facilities and expansions of existing marinas will include, as appropriate, provision for adequate parking, toilet facilities, boat pump‐out facilities, and adequate public access to the facility along existing streets. Such provision may take into account the availability of public facilities on adjacent properties.

c. Facilities shall avoid or minimize infringement of established navigational channels.

d. Facilities shall provide adequate service floats, walkways, gangways, and lighting.

e. Adequate and safe public utilities, including electric, water, and sanitary lines, shall be provided as appropriate.

f. Structures shall be so sited as to promote open areas and visual access to the water.

g. Adequate restroom facilities shall be provided in or adjacent to a marina to ensure that there will be no overboard discharge of sewage from boats.

h. Sufficient trash receptacles shall be provided to encourage proper disposal of trash and waste.

Such uses will, in particular, be encouraged in the southeastern quadrant of the Village, along the Wood Creek and National Lake shorelines, which provide the desired public infrastructure and which will benefit the social and economic base of the Village.

2.3 Improve the economic vitality of water‐dependent uses.

Many water‐dependent uses often contain and are supported by non‐water‐dependent uses that are complementary and supportive of the water‐dependent use and do not impair the ability of water‐dependent uses to function. These non‐water‐dependent uses often mix compatibly with water‐dependent uses, provide beneficial support, and positively affect the working waterfront character. The greater part of Sylvan Beach’s commercial sector is


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comprised of businesses which complement water‐dependent and water‐enhanced uses, and it is key to the Village’s economic growth that water‐dependent and water‐enhanced uses be encouraged and their economic viability enhanced. The Village will continue to support the creation of a mix of uses, both water‐dependent and non‐water dependent, which enhance each other. Promotion and encouragement of businesses which complement and enhance the viability of water‐dependent uses will be an important element in achieving this policy.

A. Non‐water‐dependent accessory or mixed‐use development may be allowed, provided:

1. Accessory uses are subordinate and functionally related to the principal water‐dependent use and contribute to sustaining the water‐dependent use,

2. Mixed uses subsidize the water‐dependent use and are accompanied by a demonstrable commitment to continue operation of the water‐dependent use,

3. Uses are located and operated so as not to interfere with the principal operation of the site for a water‐dependent use, and

4. Uses do not preclude future expansion of a water‐dependent use.

B. Other uses may be incorporated in the waterfront, particularly water‐enhanced and boat‐support services, provided that these uses:

1. Improve the working waterfront and its character,

2. Do not interfere with the efficient operation of another water‐dependent use,

3. Make beneficial use of a shoreline location through siting and design to increase public enjoyment of the waterfront.

2.4 Allow water‐enhanced uses which complement or improve the viability of water‐dependent uses.

In addition to water‐dependent uses, those uses which are enhanced by a waterfront location will be encouraged to locate along the shore, though not at the expense of water‐dependent uses. A water‐enhanced use is defined as a use or activity which does not require a location adjacent to or over a water body, but whose location on land adjacent to the shore adds to the public use and enjoyment of the water’s edge. Water‐enhanced uses are primarily recreational, cultural, retail, or entertainment uses. Water‐enhanced uses in Sylvan Beach include restaurants which are so designed as to take advantage of a waterfront view, and the amusement park which caters to tourists and visitors using the adjacent public beach. Water‐enhanced uses in Sylvan Beach include a wide variety of businesses catering to waterborne or beach‐using tourists. A number of local shops specialize in servicing the tourist. In addition, the Beach’s economy depends heavily on waterfront restaurants such as the Crazy Clam, Harpoon Eddie’s, and the Canal View Café, and cottage‐rental establishments such as Sunset Cottages and The Oneida. All these institutions depend heavily on their waterfront location for the distinctive ambience that keeps them solvent. Sylvan Beach will encourage the development and expansion of water‐enhanced uses in all circumstances where adequate infrastructure is


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available, unless a water‐dependent use would be replaced or negatively impacted and such conflict is avoidable.

Many water‐dependent uses are often supported by water‐enhanced uses that are complementary to the water‐dependent use and do not impair the ability of water‐dependent uses to function. Water‐enhanced uses will be compatible with water‐dependent uses, provide beneficial support, and be a positive impact on the waterfront.

A. When determining if a water‐enhanced use is appropriate for siting along a waterfront, the following factors will be considered:

1. The use will provide an economic incentive to prevent the loss or decline of a water‐dependent use.

2. The use will be sited and operated so as not to interfere with water‐dependent uses.

3. The use will be sited in a manner which does not preclude future expansion of a water‐dependent use.

4. The activity makes beneficial use of a shoreline location through siting and design to increase public enjoyment of the waterfront and enhance community character.

2.5 Promote the efficient management of surface waters and underwater lands.

Lack of effective water use management can contribute to congestion and competition for space within harbors, surface waters, and underwater lands. As a result, natural resources can be degraded and communities are not able to take advantage of tourism and economic growth opportunities.

A. Due to perceived conflicts in boats and personal watercraft operating in the same waters as swimmers and fishermen, the Village will establish and revise water use zones for uses such as moorings, water‐skiing, recreational fishing, and swimming. The proposed Harbor Management Law (see Appendix B) provides for such zones. Within Sylvan Beach, docks and navigation channels are regulated by the New York State Canal Corporation.

B. Oneida County regulations for boat speed in particular areas will be enforced and additional Village boat speed regulations added as needed.

C. The public beach area will be designated as predominantly for swimming, and the operation and anchoring of powerboats in the shallow waters near the beach minimized or prohibited.

D. Navigational channels will be kept clear of marinas, boats not under weigh, swimmers, and other persons engaged in water‐based recreation.

E. No unnecessary in‐water structures will be erected that interfere with water‐dependent uses and recreation.

Policy3.0 Protect agricultural lands.

This state policy is not applicable to the Village of Sylvan Beach, as there are no lands suitable for agricultural use within the Village.


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Policy4.0 Promote sustainable use of fish and wildlife resources.

Living aquatic resources play an important role in the social and economic well‐being of waterfront communities. Commercial and recreational uses of living aquatic resources constitute an important contribution to the economy of the state. Although Sylvan Beach has effectively no commercial fisheries at this time, it depends heavily on the viability of the year‐round recreational fishery in Oneida Lake and the surrounding creeks.

Continued use of living resources depends on maintaining the long‐term health and abundance of fisheries resources and their habitats, and on ensuring that the resources are sustained in sufficient abundance and diversity for future generations. This requires the state’s active management of fisheries, protection and conservation of habitat, restoration of habitats in areas where they have been degraded, and maintenance of water quality at a level that will support an abundance of these resources. Allocation and use of the available resources must: (1) be consistent with the restoration and maintenance of healthy stocks and habitats, and (2) maximize the benefits of resource use so as to provide valuable recreational experiences and viable business opportunities for recreational fisheries.

Policy Standards:

4.1 Ensure the long‐term maintenance and health of living aquatic resources.

A. The state policy is to ensure that commercial and recreational use of living aquatic resources is managed in a manner that places primary importance on:

1. Maintaining the long‐term health and abundance of fisheries.

2. Results in sustained usable abundances and diversity of the resource.

3. Does not interfere with population, habitat maintenance and restoration efforts.

4. Uses best available scientific information in managing the resources,.

5. Minimizes waste and reduces discard mortality of fishery resources.

The Village of Sylvan Beach encourages recreational fishing in a manner that conforms to DEC goals, in support of a sustainable Oneida Lake fishery.

B. There is limited impact within the Village on migratory and endemic species of fish and wildlife. The Village will simply act in manners that help to protect and manage local populations of indigenous and migratory fish and wildlife, consulting with DEC when an environmental assessment indicates that a possible impact may occur.

C. The Village of Sylvan Beach will proactively aid in the protection of spawning grounds for several fish species, predominantly along Fish Creek, by consideration of impacts on them when ruling on land use decisions and when discharging treated effluents from its wastewater treatment plant.

4.2 Provide for commercial and recreational use of Sylvan Beach’s fisheries.

A. Maximize the benefits of resources to provide:


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1. Valuable recreational resource experience, and

2. Viable business opportunities for commercial and recreational fisheries.

B. Where fishery conservation and management require actions that will result in resource allocation impacts, ensure equitable distribution of impact among user groups, giving priority to existing fisheries in the state.

C. Protect public health and marketability of resources from contamination.

D. Provide adequate infrastructure to meet recreational needs including appropriate fishing piers, dockage, parking, and livery services.

WaterfrontNaturalResourcesPolicies

Policy5.0 Protect and restore ecological resources, including significant fish and wildlife habitats, wetlands, and rare ecological communities.

Policy Standards:

5.1 Protect significant Sylvan Beach fish and wildlife habitats.

There are, at present, no officially designated Significant Fish and Wildlife Habitats within Sylvan Beach. This policy is kept in place to correspond with the state numbering and as an affirmation that other policies are intended to protect such habitats and will be so construed.

5.2 Support the restoration of significant Sylvan Beach fish and wildlife habitats wherever possible so as to foster their continued existence as natural, self‐regulating systems.

A. If any public action impacts fish and wildlife habitats within Sylvan Beach, such habitat will be restored. Habitats are discussed in Section II‐P, and include both Oneida Lake and Fish Creek. Measures which can be taken to restore significant habitats include:

1. Reconstructing lost physical conditions to maximize habitat values,

2. Adjusting adversely altered chemical characteristics to emulate natural conditions,

3. Manipulating biological characteristics to emulate natural conditions through re‐introduction of indigenous flora and fauna.

5.3 Protect and restore freshwater wetlands.

Wetlands provide numerous benefits including, but not limited to, the following: habitat for fish and wildlife; erosion and flood control; natural pollution treatment; groundwater protection; and aesthetic open space. Wetlands are located in the northern part of the Village (See Section II‐O.) The following measures can further the protection or restoration of the limited wetland areas within Sylvan Beach:

A. Compliance with the statutory and regulatory requirements of the Freshwater Wetlands Act and the Stream Protection Act.

B. Prevention of the net loss of wetlands by:


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1. Avoiding placement of fill in, or excavations of, wetlands.

2. Minimizing adverse impacts resulting from unavoidable fill, excavation, or other activities.

3. Providing compensatory mitigation for adverse impacts, which may result from unavoidable fill, excavation, or other activities remaining after all appropriate and practicable minimization has been accomplished.

C. Subject to the provisions of B.3., immediately above, the Village will try to maintain all existing wetlands in order to alleviate potential flooding problems, and to maintain the best possible water quality. Thus, the Village will:

1. Reduce the loss of wetlands resulting from development pressures.

2. Preserve and provide the maximum amount of natural drainage ways to allow for the natural recharge of ground water.

3. Ensure that all development conforms to SEQR standards.

D. Educate the community on the need to protect important habitats. Incorporate strong habitat‐awareness into existing educational programs. Establish new programs of education and outreach.

Policy6.0 Protect and improve water resources.

The purpose of this policy is to protect the quality and quantity of water in the waterfront area. Considerations include both point and non‐point pollution management. Water quality protection and improvement must be accomplished by the combination of managing new and remediating existing sources of pollution. In some areas with existing water quality impairments, aggressive remediation measures may be needed.

Five sections present the standards for this policy. The first section deals with both point and non‐point sources of pollution. These standards reflect state regulations for point source discharge, treatment of sanitary and industrial wastes, and discharges into navigable waters. Section 2 presents specific approaches for managing non‐point source pollution according to the land use and pollution source categories. Section 3 summarizes existing regulations for protection of water quality. Section 4 specifically addresses cumulative and secondary impacts as related to water quality. The last section deals with protection of potable water supplies from contamination and depletion.

Policy Standards:

6.1 Prohibit direct or indirect discharges, which would cause or contribute to contravention of water quality standards and targets.

A. Discharge of point source effluents into the waterways of Sylvan Beach is prohibited. All residential and commercial buildings will be connected to the Village’s wastewater collection


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system. Where a land use is not and cannot effectively be connected to that system owing to location, a septic system built in conformance with DEC standards may be permitted.

B. Vessels will be prohibited from discharge of effluents into the waters within the Village boundaries, to the extent that they are not already regulated by the Canal Corporation.

C. Commercial uses (and industrial uses if any are instituted) within the Village will be expected to manage their discharge in such a way as to prevent overloading of the wastewater collection system.

6.2 Minimize non‐point pollution of waters and manage activities causing non‐point pollution.

The following generalized standards are to be applied practically to achieve consistency with this policy.

A. Minimize non‐point pollution of waters using the following approaches, which are presented in order of priority.

1. Avoid non‐point pollution by limiting non‐point sources.

a. Reduce or eliminate introduction of materials which may contribute to non‐point pollution.

b. Avoid activities which would increase off‐site storm water runoff and transport of pollutants.

c. Control and manage storm water runoff to:

(1) Minimize transport of pollutants.

(2) Restore sites to emulate natural storm water runoff conditions where degraded storm water runoff conditions exist.

(3) Allow no net increase of runoff where unimpaired storm water runoff conditions exist.

d. Retain or establish vegetation to maintain or provide:

(1) Soil stabilization.

(2) Filtering capacity.

e. Preserve natural hydrologic conditions:

(1) Maintain natural surface water flow characteristics.

(2) Retain natural watercourses and drainage systems where present.

(3) Where natural drainage systems are absent or incapable of handling the anticipated runoff demands:

i. Develop open vegetated drainage systems as the preferred approach and design these systems to include long and indirect flow paths and to decrease peak runoff flows.


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ii. Use closed drainage systems only where site constraints and storm water flow demands make open water systems infeasible.

2. Reduce pollutant loads to waters by managing unavoidable non‐point sources and use appropriate best management practices as determined by site characteristics, design standards, operational conditions, and maintenance programs.

B. Reduce non‐point pollution using specific, appropriate management measures.

This section presents a summary of management measures to apply to specific land use or pollution sources. These management measures are to be applied within the context of the prioritized approach of avoidance, reduction, and management presented in the previous policy section.

1. Developed Areas:

a. For new development, manage total suspended solids in runoff so that they remain at predevelopment loadings.

b. For site development, limit activities that increase erosion, or the amount or velocity of storm water runoff.

c. For construction sites, reduce erosion and retain sedimentation on site, and limit and control effects of chemicals and nutrients.

d. For new on‐site sewage disposal systems, ensure that siting, design, maintenance, and operation prevent discharge of pollutants.

e. Plan, site, and design roads to manage erosion and sediment loss, and limit disturbance of land and vegetation

f. For roads and bridges, minimize the runoff of contaminants to waters.

2. Marinas:

a. Site and design marinas such that currents will aid in flushing the site or renew its water regularly.

b. Assess impact on water quality as part of marina siting and design.

c. Manage storm water runoff, discharge of hazardous substances, and solid waste.

3. Hydro‐modifications:

a. Maintain the physical and chemical characteristics of surface waters, reduce adverse impacts, and, where possible, improve the physical and chemical characteristics of surface water in channels.

b. Minimize impacts of channelization and channel modification on instream habitat, and identify opportunities to restore habitat.

c. Use vegetative means, where possible, to protect stream banks.

4. Floatables and Litter:


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a. Prohibit all direct or indirect discharges of refuse or litter into waters, to the extent that the New York State Canal Corporation does not already regulate this.

b. Limit entry of floatables to surface waters through containment and prevention of litter.

c. Remove and dispose of floatables and litter from surface waters.

d. Implement pollution prevention and education programs to reduce discharge of floatables and litter into storm drains.

6.3 Protect and enhance water quality.

A. Protect water quality based on an evaluation of physical factors (pH, dissolved oxygen, dissolved solids, nutrients, odor, color, and turbidity), health factors (pathogens, chemical contaminants, and toxicity), and aesthetic factors (oils, floatables, refuse, and suspended solids. In particular, the presence of pollutants in runoff that will contribute to the eutrophication of Fish Creek and Oneida Lake is to be avoided.

B. Minimize disturbance of Fish Creek and Wood Creek including to their bed and banks in order to prevent erosion of soil, increased turbidity, and irregular variation in velocity, temperature, and water level.

C. Protect the water quality of open water and wetlands that are adjacent to and contiguous at any point with navigable waters, from adverse impacts associated with excavation.

D. Limit potential impacts on water quality due to excavation or placement of fill using avoidance and minimization methods including reduction in scope of work and use of clean fill.

6.4 Limit the potential for cumulative and secondary impact of watershed development and other activities on water quality and quantity.

A. Protect water quality by ensuring that watershed development results in protection of areas that are particularly susceptible to erosion and sediment loss, such as the banks of Fish Creek and the Oneida Lake beach.

B. Limit the individual impacts associated with development to prevent cumulative water quality impacts which would lead to a failure to meet water quality standards.

Policy7.0 Minimize loss of life, structures, and natural resources from flooding or erosion.

The principal erosion concerns in the Village of Sylvan Beach are the municipal waterfront and the banks of Fish Creek.

In response to existing or perceived erosion and flood hazards, many landowners construct erosion control structures. While some erosion control measures are necessary to protect development, there are many erosion control structures located along the waterfront that are not necessary for erosion protection.


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Erosion control structures often contribute to erosion both on and off the site due to poor design and siting and lack of downdrift remediation. Increased erosion, aesthetic impairments, loss of public recreational resources, loss of habitats, and water quality degradation can result from individual hardening of the shoreline. The cumulative impact of these structures is potentially large. Before a permit is granted to allow construction of hard erosion control structures, the purpose, function, impact, and alternatives to the project need to be carefully evaluated to determine whether the structures are necessary and to avoid adverse impacts.

Policy Standards:

7.1 Minimize losses of human life and structures from flooding and erosion hazards by using the following management measures which are presented in order of priority.

Owing to the low, level nature of the Village’s terrain, much of the Village lies within flood hazard areas, though sufficiently elevated above water level that it is in the lower‐probability area. The major concerns related to erosion in the Village of Sylvan Beach are the banks of Fish Creek and in particular the ongoing, long‐term erosion of the Village‐owned sand beach along the Oneida Lake shore.

A. Minimize potential loss and damage by locating development and structures away from flooding and erosion hazards.

1. Development of new structures and uses, and reconstruction of structures damaged by 50 percent or more of their value, will be done in a manner which minimizes potential erosion. Construction on floodplain areas shall be done in a manner consistent with DEC and Federal Emergency Management Agency standards.

2. Structures which are not water‐dependent or water‐enhanced will be constructed in areas and in manners which minimize potential erosion and flood hazards.

3. Where practical, moving existing structures and development which are exposed to hazards away from the hazard is preferred over maintaining structures and development in place. Maintaining existing development and structures in hazard areas may be warranted for:

a. Structures which functionally require a location on the shore or in alongshore waters.

b. Water‐dependent uses which, by the nature of the use, cannot avoid exposure to hazards.

c. Sites in areas with extensive public investment, public infrastructure, or major public facilities.

B. Use vegetative non‐structural measures which have a reasonable probability of managing flooding and erosion based on shoreline characteristics including exposure, geometry, and sediment composition. Use vegetative measures to increase protective capacities of natural protective features at every opportunity.

C. Enhance existing natural protective features and use non‐structural measures which have a reasonable probability of managing erosion.


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1. Enhance the protective capabilities of beaches by using fill, artificial nourishment, dredge disposal, or by restoring shore processes.

a. Use only clean sand or gravel with a grain size equivalent to or slightly larger than the native material at the project site.

b. Design criteria for enhancing the protective capabilities of beaches will not exceed the level necessary to achieve protection from a thirty‐year storm, except where there is an overriding public benefit.

c. Work with the New York State Canal Corporation to facilitate the desirable processes of maintaining a clear Erie Canal access while retaining the public beach.

2. Increase protective capacity of natural protective features using practical vegetative measures in association with all other enhancement efforts.

D. Reconstruct existing erosion control devices such as retaining walls for both improved consistency and aesthetics, and to adopt a design which serves to aid in minimizing alongshore drift of sand with consequent beach erosion.

7.2 Preserve and restore natural protective features.

New or expanded development shall be done in a manner which preserves natural protective features, including in particular the protection of trees and natural streambank features such as groundcover.

7.3 Manage navigation infrastructure to limit adverse impacts on shoreline

processes.

A. Manage navigation channels to limit adverse impacts on shoreline processes. The New York State Canal Corporation currently manages navigation channels within the Village; the Village will work cooperatively with the Canal Corporation.

1. Design channel construction and maintenance to protect and enhance natural protective features and prevent destabilization of adjacent areas by:

a. Using dredging setbacks from established channel edges and designing finished slopes to ensure their stability.

b. Locating channels away from erodible features, where feasible.

c. Preventing adverse alteration of basin hydrology.

d. Including bypassing methods to maintain navigability and reduce frequency of dredging.

2. Use clean dredged material as beach nourishment whenever the grain size of the dredged material is the same size or slightly larger than the grain size of the potential recipient beach. Work with the New York State Canal Corporation for the replenishment of the public beach.


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B. Working with the New York State Canal Corporation, promote the management of the Erie Canal passage through the Village in such a manner as to minimize impacts on the Village shoreline and natural resources.

7.4 Expend public funds for management or control of flooding or erosion hazards only in areas of the shoreline which will result in proportionate public benefit.

Sylvan Beach will give priority in expenditure of public funds to actions which protect public health and safety, mitigate past flooding and erosion, protect areas of intensive development, and protect substantial public investment (land, infrastructure, facilities).

A. Expenditure of public funds for flooding or erosion control projects:

1. Is limited to those circumstances where public benefits exceed public costs;

2. Is prohibited for the exclusive purpose of flood or erosion protection for private development, unless such private development will provide a benefit to the general public; and

3. May be done cooperatively with the NYS Canal Corporation and/or other public entities and costs apportioned according to the relative public benefit accrued.

B. Factors to be used in determining public benefit attributable to the proposed flood or erosion control measure include:

1. Economic benefits derived from protection of public infrastructure, and investment and protection of water‐dependent commerce.

2. Protection of significant natural resources, and maintenance or restoration of shoreline processes.

3. Integrity of natural protective features.

4. Extent of public infrastructure investment.

5. Extent of existing or potential public use.

C. Application of these factors may indicate that public expenditure for erosion and flood control projects may be warranted in the Village in most circumstances.

D. GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES

Policy8.0 Protect and improve air quality.

This policy provides for protection of the Village of Sylvan Beach from air pollution generated within its boundaries. In general such processes are expected to have no impact, or only minor impacts, on the Village.

Policy Standards:

8.1 Control or abate existing, and prevent new air pollution.

In general, there are no significant sources of air pollution within the Village of Sylvan Beach. The following policies are intended to provide clear standards for any new development which might result in air pollution.


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A. Limit pollution resulting from new or existing stationary air contamination sources, consistent with:

1. Attainment or maintenance of any applicable ambient air quality standard.

2. Applicable New Source Performance Standards.

3. Applicable control strategy of the State Implementation Plan.

4. Applicable Prevention of Significant Deterioration requirements.

B. Recycle or salvage air contaminants using best available air cleaning technologies.

C. Limit pollution resulting from vehicular or vessel movement or operation, including actions which directly or indirectly change transportation uses or operation, consistent with attainment or maintenance of applicable ambient air quality standards, and applicable portions of any control strategy of the State Implementation Plan.

D. Restrict emissions of air contaminants to the outdoor atmosphere which are potentially injurious to human, plant, or animal life or property, or unreasonably interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property.

E. Limit new facility or stationary source emissions of acid deposition precursors consistent with achieving final control target levels for wet sulfur deposition in sensitive receptor areas, and meeting New Source Performance Standards for the emissions of oxides of nitrogen.

Policy9.0 Promote appropriate use and development of energy and mineral resources.

Policy Standards:

9.1 Promote the conservation of energy resources.

A. Promote energy efficient modes of transportation. Integrate access to mass transit facilities and, where feasible, provide secure bicycle parking and safe bicycle lanes in new development projects.

B. Plan and construct new development using energy efficient design. Energy efficient design includes consideration for energy efficient building materials, solar utilization, protection from wind, and landscaping for thermal control.

9.2 Minimize adverse impacts from fuel storage facilities.

There are at present no commercial fuel storage facilities within the village. The following policies are intended to serve as guidelines for any such facilities which may be incorporated into new development.

A. Prohibit the production, storage, or retention of petroleum products in earthen reservoirs

B. Liquified Natural Gas facilities must be safely sited and operated. Factors to be used in determining the appropriateness for Liquified Natural Gas include:

1. The density of population in neighboring areas.


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2. The density of population of areas neighboring the delivery route.

3. The risk of accident during transportation.

4. The maximum distance that a liquefied natural or petroleum gas vapor cloud is projected to expand and pose a threat to the public.

5. The flammability or explosiveness of a cloud formed by vaporizing liquefied natural or petroleum gas.

6. 100‐year flood zones.

7. Areas with soils that cannot support static and dynamic loading without excessive lateral or vertical movement

8. Areas exposed to severe wave and wind forces.

9. The geologic stability of the site.

10. The need for the facility.

11. The potential environmental impacts.

12. Reasonable alternative locations for the proposed facility.

Because of the high potential for hazard associated with liquid natural gas facilities, these facilities are subject to stringent regulation. The standards listed here are derived from federal and state regulations which have been instituted to protect public safety.

C. Protect natural resources by preparing and complying with an approved oil spill contingency plan.

Policy10.0 Minimize environmental degradation from solid waste and hazardous substances and wastes.

Solid waste generated within the Village of Sylvan Beach is collected by private contractors and disposed of at points outside the Village. The Village policy is that all such contractors will conform strictly to the regulations established by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation for the collection and transport of solid waste and hazardous substances.

RecreationandCulturalPolicies

Policy11.0 Provide for public access to, and recreational use of, shoreline waters, public lands, and public resources of the shorefront area.

Physical and visual access to much of the shoreline throughout New York State has been restricted by private landowners. Sylvan Beach recognizes that its long public beach and public canalside represent both a valuable natural resource and a source for economic benefit to the Village, used by both residents and visitors. The preservation of access to these resources, and to recreational use of nearshore waters in the Village, is the purpose of this policy.

Policy Standards:


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11.1 Promote appropriate physical access and recreation throughout the shoreline area.

A. The Oneida Lake beach and the public lands and waters adjoining the Erie Canal shall be preserved for public use and recreational access. In particular, the sand beach, the Erie Canal walls, and the 2,300‐foot pier extending into Oneida Lake from the north Canal wall are to be preserved and enhanced.

B. Private lands adjoining the Erie Canal, Wood Creek, and National Lake shall provide reasonable visual and/or physical access to the shoreline, subject to the reasonable property rights of the property owners.

C. Where feasible, larger new development projects shall incorporate convenient, well‐defined physical public access to and along the shore for water‐related recreation.

D. Protect and maintain existing public access and water‐related recreation facilities.

1. Prevent physical deterioration of facilities due to lack of maintenance or overuse.

2. Prevent any on‐site or adjacent development project or activity from directly or indirectly impairing physical public access and recreation or adversely affecting its quality.

3. Protect and maintain establish access and recreation facilities.

4. Protect and maintain the infrastructure supporting public access and recreation facilities.

E. Provide additional physical public access and recreation facilities at public sites throughout the shoreline area.

1. Promote acquisition of additional public park land, as feasible, to meet existing public access and recreation needs. This shall include clearing title and promoting appropriate use of the entire Oneida Lake beach in the Village.

2. Provide for public access and recreation facilities on non‐park public waterfront lands as a secondary use.

3. Provide for public access at streets terminating at the shoreline. Parking and other access to the beach and the stream shorelines from public streets shall be promoted.

4. Provide access and recreation facilities to all members of the public whenever access or recreation is directly or indirectly supported through federal or state projects or funding.

5. Retain a public interest which will be adequate to preserve public access and recreation opportunities in publicly owned lands immediately adjacent to the shore in any transfer of public lands.

F. Provide physical access linkages throughout the waterfront area among public access sites, open space areas, public trust lands, and nearshore surface waters. Adequate road access and parking shall be provided for use in conjunction with all public waterfront lands, both along the Oneida Lake beach and the shorelines of the Erie Canal, Fish Creek, and Wood Creek.


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G. Provide physical public access to, and/or water‐related recreation facilities on, shoreline lands and waters whenever development or activities are likely to affect the public’s use and enjoyment of public shoreline lands and waters. Provide incentives to private development projects which provide public access and/or water‐related recreation facilities.

11.2 Provide public visual access to shoreline lands and waters or open space at all sites where physically practical.

A. Compatible with property rights, development shall preserve public view of the waterfront. Review of proposed projects shall evaluate the design. If the design proposed calls for unnecessary blockage of visual access to the shoreline, the Village shall require redesign. The Village’s zoning law addresses this issue through its “special exceptions” provisions.

B. Minimize adverse impact on visual access.

1. Provide for view corridors to the shore in those locations where new structures will block views of the shore from inland public vantage points.

2. Use structural design and building siting technique to preserve or retain visual access and minimize obstruction of views.

3. Visual access requirements may be reduced where site conditions, including vegetative cover or natural protective features, block potential views.

4. Vegetative or structural screening of an industrial or commercial waterfront site is allowed if the resulting overall visual quality outweighs the loss of visual access.

11.3 Preserve public interest in and use of lands and waters held in public trust by the state and other government levels.

Working in conjunction with the New York State Canal Corporation, DEC, and other State agencies, the Village shall creatively use the public trust doctrine to maximize public value of lands and waters held by the state for the various public purposes identified in this policy. The following policy statements shall serve as a guideline in pursuing this goal.

A. Limit grants, leases, easements, permits or lesser interest in lands underwater in accordance with an assessment of potential adverse impacts of the proposed use, structure, or facility on public interest in public lands underwater. Use the following factors in assessing potential adverse impact:

1. Environmental impact.

2. Value for natural resource management, public recreation, and commerce.

3. Size, character, and effect of the transfer in relation to neighboring uses.

4. Potential for interference with navigation, public uses of waterway, and riparian rights.

5. Effect of the transfer of interest on the natural resources associated with the lands.

6. Water‐dependent nature of use.

7. Adverse economic impact on existing commercial enterprises.


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8. Consistency with the public interest for purposes of navigation and commerce, fishing, bathing, and access to navigable waters and the need of the owners of private property to safeguard their right to develop.

B. Limit the transfer of interest in public trust lands to the minimum necessary conveyance of interest.

1. Provide the minimum conveyance using the legal instrument which results in the least abrogation of public interest.

2. Limit the physical extent of any conveyance to the minimum amount of land necessary.

C. Grants in fee of underwater lands are limited to exceptional circumstances.

D. Retain public interest in the transfer of interest in underwater lands which will be adequate to preserve public access, recreation opportunities, and other public trust purposes.

E. Private uses, structures, or facilities on underwater lands are limited to those circumstances where ownership of the underwater lands or riparian interest has been legally validated either through proof of ownership of the underwater lands or adjacent riparian parcel, or by assignment of riparian interest by the riparian owner.

F. Avoid substantial loss of public interest in public trust lands by assessing the cumulative impact of individual conveyances of grants, easements, and leases of public trust lands.

G. Resume and re‐establish public trust interests in existing grants which are no longer being exercised according to terms of the grant, or where the use is not in conformity with the public trust doctrine.

11.4 Assure public access along public trust lands in the Village of Sylvan Beach.

The lands subject to this policy are, in general, owned by the New York State Canal Corporation. In conformity with the Canal Corporation’s rules and regulations, the Village shall work in cooperation with the Canal Corporation to promote the following policy statements:

A. Provide free and substantially unobstructed passage along public trust shorelands.

B. Interference with passage along the shoreline is limited to the minimum extent necessary to gain access from the upland to the water.

C. Provide passage around interferences on public trust land through adjacent upland easements or other mitigation where public access is substantially impeded.

D. Require that all publicly owned land allow for perpendicular access to trust lands whenever compatible with the principal use of the public land.

E. Provide access to, and reasonable recreational use of, navigable waters and public trust lands underwater.

F. Provide for free and unobstructed public use of all navigable waters for navigation, recreation, and other public trust purposes, including the incidental rights of public anchoring.

G. Allow obstruction of public use, including navigation, in navigable waters:


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1. For water‐dependent uses involving navigation and commerce which require structures or activities in water as part of the use.

2. For commercial recreational boating facilities, provided that the loss of navigable waters and the use of underwater lands are offset by sufficient public benefits.

3. In order to gain reasonable access to navigable waters from riparian lands.

H. Obstruction of navigable waters and underwater lands is limited:

1. To the extent that it interferes with commercial navigation. The right of commercial navigation is superior to all other uses on navigable waters and may not be obstructed.

2. To the minimum necessary for access to navigable waters. The minimum is determined by evaluating the following factors:

a. The extent of the use’s dependence on access to navigable waters.

b. The size and nature of the body of water.

c. The nature of public use of the adjacent waters.

d. The traditional means of access used by surrounding similar uses.

e. Whether or not alternative means to gain access are available.

3. Piers, docking facilities, and catwalks must not result in an unnecessary interference with use of public trust lands. Alternatives to long piers or docks include use of dinghies to reach moored boats and mooring in nearby marinas, but generally not dredging to accommodate boat draft.

a. By extent and characteristics of the developable adjacent upland area and its ability to support in‐water development for water‐dependent use;

b. By potential adverse effects on natural resources and their uses; and

c. By potential adverse effects on public safety.

4. Structures extending beyond the minimum necessary for access to navigable waters impair public trust interests and open space values associated with the water’s surface. Allow such structures only in the following circumstances:

a. When necessary for practical and convenient operation of water‐dependent industry or commerce, and provided that obstruction of commercial navigation does not result.

b. For commercial recreation boating facilities provided that:

i. The loss of navigable waters and use of underwater lands is offset by sufficient public benefit, and

ii. Obstruction of commercial navigation does not result.

c. When the principal purpose of the structure is necessary:

i. To provide public access for recreational uses,


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ii. For improvements for navigation,

iii. For protection from shoreline hazards, or

iv. For essential public transportation and transmission facilities.

11.5 Provide access and recreation which are compatible with natural resource values.

The public recreational fishery in Oneida Lake and the streams bordering the village are important resources. The following general standards are to be applied to assure continued and enhanced public access to such recreational areas.

A. Provide appropriate access and associated recreational activity that will avoid potential adverse impacts on natural resources. Use the following factors in determining the potential for adverse environmental impacts:

1. Intensity of the associated recreational, scientific, or educational activity.

2. Level of likely disturbance associated with the proposed activity. The following types of access or associated activities are listed in decreasing order of potential for disturbance:

a. Motorized activities.

b. Active, non‐motorized activities, including water‐dependent and water‐related uses.

c. Passive activities.

d. Avoidance of the area.

3. Sensitivity of the natural resources involved and the extent of the ecological benefits associated with avoidance of the area.

Compatible recreational activities include walking, hiking, bicycling, birdwatching, photography, canoeing, kayaking, and use of non‐motorized boats. More intensive or intrusive recreational activities will be guided to areas of the Village where they will not adversely impact natural resources, or where such impacts are appropriate to the current land and water uses.

B. Limit public access and recreational activities where uncontrolled public use would lead to impairment of natural resources.

1. Establish appropriate seasonal imitations on access and recreation, principally along Fish Creek, in order to minimize adverse impacts on fish and wildlife species.

2. Provide stewardship which is capable of controlling anticipated adverse impacts before providing public access.

3. Physically limit or avoid provision of public access to natural resource areas whose principal values are based on the lack of human disturbance.

4. Provide educational, interpretive, research, and passive uses of natural resources through appropriate design and control of public access and recreation.


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C. Provide public access for fish and wildlife resource related activities, including fishing and hunting, provided that the level of access will not result in a loss of resources necessary to continue supporting these uses.

D. Provide access using methods and structures which maintain and protect open space areas associated with natural resources. Determine the extent of visual and physical impairment by structures extending through these open space areas based on:

1. The value of the open space as indicated by unfragmented nature, or size of the wetland or other natural resources, distance to navigable water, and wetland value, and

2. The size, length, and design of proposed structures.

Policy12.0 Enhance visual quality and protect outstanding scenic resources.

The scenic value of the Sylvan Beach shoreline makes the visual aspect of the waterfront a valuable asset to the Village and its residents. Because of its importance, scenic quality will be considered in balancing use and conservation of waterfront resources.

Policy Standards:

12.1 The policy is intended to protect and improve visual quality throughout the shorefront area.

A. The visual quality of waterfront development is an important component in the character of Sylvan Beach. Much of the inherent value and charm of the village’s waterfront and water‐dependent uses lie in the visual interest imparted by the shoreline and water, including both the natural scenic qualities and the brief, ephemeral events that characterize shore, stream, and lake character.

B. Major structures which are recognized advances or achievements in architecture or engineering that contribute to scenic quality.

1. The historic aspect of the Erie Canal, including its pier, is significant to the shoreline culture and will be preserved and protected.

C. Scenic values associated with natural resources.

1. The quiet Fish Creek, the historic Erie Canal, and the open beauty of

Oneida Lake all contribute valuable natural scenic quality to the Village’s character.

2. The Village will seek to maintain or restore original landforms except where altered landforms provide useful screening or contribute to scenic quality.

Policy13.0 Preserve historic resources. (Preserve historic resources of the waterfront area.)

Archaeological sites and historic structures are tangible links to the past development of a community – both its cultural and economic life – providing a connection to past generations


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and events. The intent of this policy is to preserve the historic and archaeological resources of the waterfront area. Concern extends not only to the specific site or resource but with the area adjacent to and around specific sites or resources. The quality of adjacent areas is often critical to maintain the quality and value of the resource. Effective preservation of historic resources must also include active efforts, when appropriate, to restore or revitalize.

Sylvan Beach at present has no structures one structure, Union Chapel, on the National or State Registers of Historic Places, and no comprehensive inventory of historic structures has been done. This inventory is necessary. The standards contained in this policy will be applicable, on completion of that inventory, to structures in the Village of Sylvan Beach that are identified as historic.

Policy Standards:

13.1 Maximize preservation and retention of historic resources.

These standards are derived from and explain the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards of Identification, Restoration, and Rehabilitation of historic resources. The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards can be consulted for additional detail on specific aspects of historic preservation. The Village will act to preserve the historic resources of the Village, acting in consultation with NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (SHPO) and the Department of the Interior’s historic preservation programs.

An inventory and assessment of historic structures is one of the projects proposed in Section IV; the following standards shall apply to the results of that inventory and assessment.

A. Historic resources are those structures, landscapes, districts, areas or sites, or underwater structures or artifacts which are listed or designated as follows:

1. Any historic resource in a federal or state park established, solely or in part, in order to protect and preserve the resource.

2. Any resource on, nominated to be on, or determined eligible to be on the National or State Register of Historic Places.

3. Any cultural resources managed by the New York State Nature and Historic Preserve Trust or the New York State National Heritage Trust.

4. Any archaeological resource which is on the inventories or archaeological sites maintained by the New York State Department of Education or the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.

5. Any locally designated historic or archaeological resources protected by a local law or ordinance.

B. Identify those elements important in defining the character and value of a historic resource.

1. Use designation information, available documentation, and original research to identify important character‐defining elements of the historic resource in terms of it’s:


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a. Time, place, and use.

b. Materials, features, spaces, and spatial relationships.

c. Setting within its physical surroundings and community.

d. Association with historic events, people, or groups.

2. Determine the value of historic resource as indicated by:

a. Its membership within a group of related resources which would be adversely impacted by the loss of any one of the group of resources; or

b. The rarity of the resource in terms of the quality of its historic elements or in the significance of it as an example; or

c. The significance of events, people, or groups associated with the resource.

C. Preserve and retain the historic character‐defining elements of the resource. Use the following standards to achieve the least degree of intervention.

These standards will be applied as much as possible to achieve complete preservation and retention of historic resources. Passive approaches are often insufficient to achieve needed preservation; an active commitment to preservation is necessary. The Village has a number of historic structures not presently listed on any Federal or State listing, including the amusement park, and historic restaurant structures, and the waterfront Union Chapel building.

1. Protect and maintain historic materials and features according to the following approach:

a. Evaluate the physical condition of important materials and features.

b. Stabilize materials and features to prevent further deterioration.

c. Protect important materials and features from inadvertent or deliberate removal or damage.

d. Ensure the protection of historic elements through a program of nonintrusive maintenance of important materials and features.

13.2 Protection of archeological resources. (Protect and preserve archeological resources)

[Need text. ]In 1977, prior to construction of the sanitary sewer system, a comprehensive and complete cultural resource survey was conducted; no evidence of artifacts or significant archeological resources were discovered.

In 2010, prior to construction of an 8000 linear foot sidewalk project that was Federally funded, another cultural resource study was conducted. The results of the 2010 survey were the same as the 1977 survey; it appears very unlikely that significant archeological resources are present in Sylvan Beach. The Village will of course continue to conduct cultural resource surveys as appropriate for any project that may require it.


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13.3 Heritage of the waterfront area. (Protect and enhance resources that are significant to the waterfront culture.)

[Need text. ]The cultural heritage of the waterfront area is quite simply a resort destination. The large sand beach, access to water based activities and summer breeze off Oneida Lake create a seasonal atmosphere that have always attracted visitors. The very existence of the Village and community can be followed back to this natural draw. The East‐West orientation of Oneida Lake and prevailing westerly winds contribute greatly to the creation of the sand beach. In the winter months, the same westerly winds cause drifting snow, low visibility and uncomfortable wind chill temperatures. The low lying topography of the area also guarantees some level of seasonal flooding. The very factors that make the community a prime tourism destination also create an environment that is less desirable in the off season.


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SectionIV ProposedLandandWaterUsesandProposedProjects

Section IV builds on those issues and opportunities identified in Section II and on the LWRP policies included in Section III.

Under the subheading called Proposes Land Uses should be included the description of those water–dependent and water‐enhanced land uses that are necessary for the implementation of the LWRP policies and those proposed projects with high priority, and for which zoning amendments and other supporting local regulations will be drafted concurrent with the drafting of the LWRP, included in the LWRP as appendices, and adopted concurrent with the adoption of the LWRP.

Changes in land uses associated with less important proposed projects, should be mentioned in the text describing the necessary amendments to the local land use regulation that will be necessary to adopt prior to the implementation of the proposed project.

The content of the harbor management plan (HMP) should follow this guide http://www.dos.ny.gov/opd/programs/pdfs/hmpguide.pdf. Some of the information that is required in an HMP could be placed in Section II and just referenced in this section under this heading.

The continued vitality of the Village of Sylvan Beach in its role as a water‐based tourist resort depends heavily on the effective preservation and use of its land and water resources. A major focus on water‐based recreation and ancillary establishments catering to the tourists engaged in such recreation is key to a thriving Village economy.

The uses and projects discussed in this section are not significant changes from existing land and water uses, but rather steps to effectively capitalize on and expand existing uses and to make maximum use of the opportunities for increased Village vitality that these steps present.

The Village’s proposed land and water uses are in general a continuation of the existing uses outlined in Section II. As noted, the Village is largely residential, with a business element principally oriented towards tourism. Seasonal summer businesses predominate. Water uses are principally recreational in nature, including swimming, personal watercraft, boating, fishing, and related recreational activities. In winter, snowmobilers make use of the frozen lake. Projects are proposed which will enhance the business sector of the Village economy through proper use of natural and manmade resources. This will in turn stimulate the residential economy, in an ongoing mutually supportive upward spiral.


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No significant changes in land or water uses are proposed, other than those which are concomitant with the projects proposed in Subsection C, below. Map 3 depicts the continuing land uses and the projected projects; existing water uses are projected to continue, with the only change being the ongoing efforts to segregate incompatible water uses along the public beach.

ProposedLandUses

The Village of Sylvan Beach has a Comprehensive Plan in place, adopted in 2001. Village land use policies are outlined in that document as modified by this LWRP. Minor revisions to the Village zoning law will be required in the future to implement some of the LWRP policies.

1. Oneida Lake Waterfront – The present land use on the waterfront is a beach, used for swimming, sunning, walking, etc., most heavily at its southern end, backed along most of its length by a series of retaining walls. Adjacent properties include water‐enhanced uses such as restaurants and rental‐cottage businesses, concentrated in the “resort district” area in the south, and interspersed with year‐round and seasonal residences farther north along the shore. It is anticipated that the current uses will continue, and that the Village will enhance the facilities supporting these uses by various projects.

2. Southern Waterfront, including Erie Canal and National Lake – Inland from the waterfront at the southern end of the Village is the downtown business district. Steps to enhance its commercial vitality include Village actions to improve access and amenities in public spaces, the 1998 HUD marina and waterfront facilities application and the HUD‐underwritten revolving loan fund, and several public‐private partnership efforts where the Village facilitated new private‐sector development. This whole area consists of public and private facilities, most of which are focused on serving water‐based tourism. The state’s oldest operating amusement park, a major recreational resource, lies just inland from the beachfront park in the southeast of the Village. Rehabilitation of the half‐mile pier where Erie Canal enters Oneida Lake to add dockage space, fishing access, and visual access to the lake, is detailed below, in C. Proposed Projects. Lack of permanent and transient dockage facilities and boater‐support facilities is a major problem affecting recreational boating in and around the Village and impacts the entire Village economy. In addition to increased tie‐ups, a proposed, additional marina which is discussed below, will double the number of available boat slips. Dredging additional portions of Fish Creek and National Lake by the NYS Canal Corporation will increase its use by boaters and fishermen.

3. Fish Creek Waterfront and Interior – Except for commercial establishments scattered along NYS Route 13 through the Village, the two campgrounds with dockage facilities, and the Village Hall and other public uses, this area is predominantly residential. No significant changes are proposed; efforts to improve visual access to Fish Creek and stabilize its banks will serve to enhance that shoreline. The Village plan calls for continued residential development in this section.


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ProposedWaterUses

As noted above, the Village is particularly interested in improving water‐based recreation, on which much of its economic viability depends. Boating, fishing, and swimming continue to be the mainstays of the Village’s water uses. The Erie Canal continues to carry a minimal amount of commercial shipping, a negligible concern to the Village for the most part, although recreational boaters using the Canal constitute a significant part of the water‐based recreational element of the Village. An inadequate number of tie‐ups and ancillary utilities along the Canal retaining wall prevents full use of that facility for dockage by recreational boats transiting the Erie Canal. Provision of adequate docking will enable the Village to better separate boating and swimming uses. Presently, boats anchor in the shallow water off the Oneida Lake beach, principally used for swimming, and the boaters wade ashore to shop for supplies, etc. Adequate dockage, as noted above, is a need addressed by the proposed marina and additional tie‐ups. The proposed arrangements with the NYS Canal Corporation to dredge National Lake and parts of Fish Creek will serve to open those areas more fully to boaters and fishermen.

Proposed Water Uses/ HarborManagementPlan

As previously described in Section I ‐ Waterfront Revitalization Area Boundary and Section II ‐ Inventory and Analysis, the Erie Canal flows through the Village, and its artificial land‐cut channel is included within the Waterfront Revitalization Area. The Erie Canal is part of the State Canal System and is owned and maintained by the New York State Canal Corporation. Consistent with boating activities throughout the Canal System, long‐term water uses that are appropriate for the Erie Canal within Sylvan Beach include recreational boating and, to a lesser extent, commercial shipping.

A key recommendation set forth in the statewide Canal Revitalization Program was the establishment of harbor centers and service ports at existing urban and village centers along the length of the Canal System which will provide an array of pedestrian and boater public services aimed at revitalizing the System as a major recreation resource. In this regard, Sylvan Beach acts as the terminus for the Erie Canal as it enters Oneida Lake, and the NYS Canal Corporation has invested over $4.5 million for reconstruction of its’the north and south canal walls within the Village, including:

• new walkways;

• period lighting;

• benches and trash receptacles;

• dockage for thirty (30) boats.

In addition, the NYS Canal Corporation has allocated $3 million dollars towards rehabilitation of its pier jutting into Oneida Lake along the north edge of the canal mouth. Though budgeted, this money awaits legislative appropriation.


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While the Village works in partnership with the NYS Canal Corporation and other state agencies to develop public access and boater enhancements, jurisdiction for use of the Canal and its shoreline rests with Corporation. In this regard, the Canal Corporation maintains the navigation channel and canal infrastructure. In addition, rules and regulations adopted pursuant to NYS Canal Law (21 NYCRR Sub‐chapter D, Parts 150‐156) and design standards enforced by the Canal Corporation serve as the definitive controls governing use of the Canal. Key provisions set forth in the rules and regulations are:

• Navigation season ‐ from April 5th ‐ May 20th to November 15th – 20th;

• Size of boats ‐ up to 300 ft. long and 43.5 ft. wide;

• Maximum boat speed ‐ 6 mph along land‐cut canal segments and dependent on local conditions along canalized rivers and lakes (as in Sylvan Beach);

• Occupancy of Canal Corporation lands adjacent to the Canal System is regulated through the issuance of revocable permits by the Canal Corporation.

The Canal Corporation also enforces guidelines governing the construction of docks along the Canal System, set forth in Standards for Docks on the Canal System (see Appendix C). Key provisions of those standards are as follows:

• Applicable to residential/non‐commercial docks accommodating four or fewer boats with a maximum dock length of 100 ft. (commercial and larger docks analyzed on a case‐by‐case basis;

• Docks shall not interfere with canal navigation;

• Docks shall have a minimum offset of 24 ft. (for land‐cut canal sections) or 50 ft. (for canalized waterbodies) from navigation channels;

• Docks shall be constructed parallel to the shore in land‐cut areas and be at least 50 feet from navigation aids;

• Dock designs shall be approved by the Canal Corporation;

• Boat slips must incorporate acceptable provisions for shoreline protection;

• One dock per property owner is permitted;

• Docks shall not restrict access across canal lands;

• Docks shall be set back at least ten feet from adjacent property lines; and

• Excavated slips shall be no larger than 1,000 sq. ft.


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C. Proposed Projects

The projects discussed below are important elements in the revitalization of Sylvan Beach’s waterfront and tourism‐based economy. Each is briefly outlined with cost, projected funding sources, agency involvement and implementation date.

1. Beach Stabilization and Replenishment. As noted in Section II, long‐term erosion of the public sand beach fronting Oneida Lake is a critical concern for the Village. Longshore drifting of sand and the effects of winter storms have reduced the width of the beach by what long‐time residents estimate as more than half over the last fifty (50) years, and the northern 2,400 feet has been completely eroded away. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers documented a loss of an average of 1.2 feet of shoreline per year in the period 1977‐2002, with a maximum erosion rate of 3.5 feet per year. The Village plans to address the problem by a series of actions to stabilize and replenish the sand beach.

Elements of this project will include:

• negotiating an arrangement with the Canal Corporation and DEC for replenishment of beach sand using sand dredged from the Erie Canal, which is presently stockpiled at a spoils site on the south side of the Canal;

• establishment of a phased, prioritized program for implementing specific Army Corps of Engineers recommendations for beach stabilization, probably by an engineering study producing surveys, designs, and construction cost estimates;

• construction of that program in phases.

2. Public Beach Access. As discussed above, enhancement of substandard access points from Main Street to Oneida Lake will provide residents and tourists with additional visual and physical access, improving their experience. Upgrading these access points will promote increased usage of the northern public beach area along Oneida Lake, thus removing pressure off the portion of the beach directly adjacent to the amusement park. Such a project will involve engaging a consultant to prepare concept plans for additional access, the erection of signage, a properly landscaped beach entry at each such point, and perhaps the provision of additional parking. As an initial step in this process, a new parking lot and restroom structure was built during 2003‐04 on Main Street. Two access points, at Akehurst Avenue (the extension of Vienna Street) and 15th Avenue, were improved. Amenities for improving beach access including lighting and benches are still required.

3. Pier Rehabilitation. The Sylvan Beach Pier which is owned by the NYS Canal Corporation was once a major tourist attraction and perhaps the second major feature of the Village, after the public sand beach. Docking facilities, fishing, and observation of sunsets and activities on Oneida Lake attracted large numbers of boaters. The pier was formerly the longest accessible


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pier in upstate New York. Neglect and deterioration over time have rendered the pier unsafe and an eyesore. At public meetings both regarding the Comprehensive Plan and the LWRP, public comment and discussion called for rehabilitation of the pier, which will provide additional public access, including lake viewing, fishing, and increased boater access, both through an improved fishery and additional dock space.

Phase One: In response to this public support, $3,000,000 was committed by the NYS Canal Corporation for an initial phase of pier restoration. Design work for this effort has been completed by the Corps of Engineers; implementation awaits release of funds.

Additional Work: A figure of approximately $8,000,000 for total restoration of the pier was suggested by a consulting engineer in 1997. The Army Corps of Engineers produced a January 2004 “Shoreline Protection Study for Sylvan Beach” which largely addressed pier rehabilitation. Five possible methods were identified; the recommended solution (Plan 4a) will cost $8,823,100, with alternate plan costs ranging from $5,310,700 to $11,152,400. In cooperation with involved Federal and State agencies, the Village will seek to identify funding sources for implementing the results of that study .

4. Retaining Wall and Boardwalk. As described above, the retaining wall between the public beach and private residences inland is in need of rehabilitation or reconstruction, and a proposal has been made for construction of a boardwalk along it. Funding to undertake a feasibility and design study of these connected projects will be sought, with an expected cost of approximately $25,000.

Elements of such a study will include:

• Feasibility and cost of reconstructing the retaining wall.

• Feasibility and cost of constructing a boardwalk along the retaining wall.

• Identification of designs which will minimize the effects of longshore drift of sand and winter‐storm erosion of the sand beach.

• Preparation of development guides for construction standards and aesthetic appear¬ance of the retaining wall. A consistent and unique look to the retaining wall is a significant element in the re‐establishment of beachfront character.

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New York State Department of Environ¬mental Conservation will be contacted to provide technical assistance for those areas in which private property owners maintain their portion of the retaining wall.

• Investigation of alternative methods to control adverse effects to the beach and abut¬ting properties. The Village will take the lead in coordinating a study which will involve the


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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Canal Corporation, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the New York State Department of State.

5. Marina Development. As noted above, a new marina providing additional dockage and boat‐service facilities is perhaps the key economic stimulus need for the Village. Such a marina was proposed by a local development group for construction on an undevel¬oped island where National Lake connects with the Erie Canal, along with a bridge to the mainland and an adjacent parking area. This location will be near the downtown business area and the Tourism Welcome Center, promoting their use by boaters using the marina. Fuel and pump‐out facilities will be provided. The facility will provide needed amenities for both seasonal and transient boaters utilizing the Erie Canal and Oneida Lake. The cost estimates for such a facility are in preparation, but are on the order of $800,000. It will take one construction season to complete the proposed work.

6. Access Enhancements for Erie Canal Boaters. Recreational boaters constitute the majority users of the Erie Canal system. Owing to its location and focus on services to water‐based tourism, Sylvan Beach is in an excellent position to improve the experience of canal boaters by providing amenities and services to them, and in consequence reaping economic benefits from them. Elements of several proposed projects and additional low‐cost stand‐alone improvements will be taken as a unified program to improve access for boaters using the Erie Canal. Among such elements will be additional tie‐up/docking facilities, including the proposed marina and along the rehabilitated Oneida Lake pier; fuel and pump‐out facilities at the proposed marina; improved supplies for boaters through encouragement of boater‐oriented shops as a part of private‐sector initiatives for economic development; and the new Visitor Welcome Center, to be constructed for use during the 2006 tourism season . Additional amenities and access desired by boaters will be identified as a part of the economic development and tourism enhancement projects.

7. Strategic Plan for Economic Development. Production of such a strategic plan is a high priority for the village. Such a study will survey residents, businessmen, and tourists and other visitors to more specifically identify economic development needs, particularly in the retail sector, underwrite a charrette as part of downtown business redevelopment, and produce a detailed strategic action plan for improvement of the Village’s economic life. The project will cost approximately $25,000 and will be completed within six months. This project will dovetail with the $41,500 project to prioritize, design, and produce construction‐ready plans for the Village’s public spaces, which has been proposed for $20,500 in EPF funding, and produce a coordinated strategic plan for the Village’s commercial/tourism district.

Business Rehabilitation. The rehabilitation of existing business, and the investigation of potential new commercial ventures and their siting, have been addressed in the Village of


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Sylvan Beach’s Comprehensive Plan, particularly as regards the Beach Resort Area. Other services will also be needed (see Section II, Existing Conditions).

The Village needs to investigate the feasibility of bringing new businesses to, and rehabilitating declining existing businesses in, the Village. An assessment of unmet needs of residents and visitors is a first step. This is a critical element of the strategic planning program for economic development. Additional steps will be identified in that study.

8. Oneida Lake. Oneida Lake is the key water feature of the Village. Village regulation of the lake extends 1,500 feet from the shore. The lake is an important tourist and citizen recreation area. Three natural issues affect the lake: the long‐term reduction of beach area due to erosion, the lowering of lake level during the winter months; and lake turnover during the tourist season. Significant erosion of the beach has occurred over the last 40 years, reducing its width by half or more. (See project #1, above.)

In public meetings citizens have identified several other concerns relating to the lakefront, including:

• Boats anchoring in close proximity to the public beach area

• Personal watercraft interrupting other water activities

• Trash and broken bottles producing health and safety hazards

• Accidental discharge of waste and sewer water into the lake

All these concerns are aspects of harbor management. The Village’s revised Beach Law (June 2005) and the proposed Harbor Management Law (see Appendix Two) address these issues.

Conducting a study to address all these concerns, and then implementing its results, ranks high on the Village’s list of priority issues related to waterfront revitalization.

Lake Tourism Activities. Conduct a feasibility study of the potential for developing fishing or boat tours. Additionally, such a study could assess the economic feasibility of dinner cruises and riverboat gambling, depending on the status of proposed state legislation. Such a study will be conducted in conjunction with economic develop¬ment programs. Implementation costs to the Village will be dependent on what other resources can be found.

9. Streambank Stabilization. Primarily utilizing DEC expertise and resources, determine the current condition of the creek bank and the need for bank stabilization and bank enhancements along Fish Creek and National Lake. Based on the results of such a study,


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arrange design, funding, and implementation of any bank stabilization deemed necessary or appropriate. Conducting such a study and the costs of implementing its results will be coordinated with DEC.

10. Wetlands Programs. Implement a simple, low‐cost program aimed at encouraging appropriate use and preservation of wetlands in the north of the village and adjacent areas, like bird‐watching, and marsh fishing and hunting. Program components will be education of the community on the need to protect important habitats, incorporation of habitat‐awareness into existing educational programs and establishment of new education and outreach programs.

11. Streetscape Improvements and Amenities. Working with the State’s Main Street initiatives, the Village will continue to develop streetscape improvement standards and techniques. The Village will aggressively pursue funding for such improvements as integrated elements of other appropriate municipal projects for which funding is sought.

Street Amenities. The provision of street amenities, including street trees, benches, trash receptacles, etc., is an inexpensive way to improve the appearance and attractive¬ness of the Village for both residents and tourists. Two low‐cost initiatives will implement this action:

• Guidelines. Develop comprehensive design guidelines for street amenities, as well as façade treatments.

• Streetscape Amenities. Seek funding and implementation for streetscape amenities as integral elements of appropriate municipal projects.

Sidewalks. Sylvan Beach recognizes the need for sidewalks along heavily traveled streets and roads. Recent projects have incorporated replacement of deteriorated sidewalks and the construction of new sidewalks, notably along Main Street to the northern village limits and along portions of Spencer Avenue. The Spencer Avenue sidewalk links the downtown business district to the Erie Canal, benefitting boaters, residents, and sightseers. A safe pedestrian link is expected to boost the downtown economy by making the walk from points of tourist interest more attractive to visitors. Additional sidewalk construction is required in both the resort and the residential districts.

• Redevelopment or reconstruction of existing pedestrian walkways, and construction of new pedestrian walkways, focusing first on areas of higher pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

• Maintain consistent use of materials in order to identify pedestrian crosswalks and create safe movement of pedestrian traffic.

• Provide pedestrian crossing signals at key points in the Village, largely along NYS Route 13.


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12. Walking Tours of the Village. The many structures and properties of historic and scenic value should be highlighted and promoted through the development of a self‐guided walking tour with a printed guide brochure available at the proposed visitor’s center. A smart phone application (app) could also be developed to guide visitors and residents from site to site. In addition to these, officially guided tours should also be developed to showcase the village at certain times of the year. The Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation should be consulted for assistance with this project.

Historic sites will be identified.

Development of potential tourist destinations within the village will be mapped and

combined with historic sites and areas of ecological interest.

Consensus among citizens, as to the hours and days when such tours will be held, will be

sought.

Conduct of such tours will be coordinated with other entertainment activities held in the

village.

In addition to walking tours, the village will look into instituting canoe or boat tours

along Fish Creek, the Erie Canal, and Oneida Lake.

13. Bike and Hike Trails. The western terminus of the Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor is Sylvan Beach. The strategic management plan for this corridor currently maps historic routes, travel times, natural areas, historic sites, and other attractions. The Village will need to investigate the potential for connecting to other sites and attractions along the Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor. It is intended that the work described in 10.1, currently under way, be completed, and that appropriate steps be taken to continue the Village’s participation in regional trails programs as outlined in 10.2 through 10.4

a. Railway Trail. As described in Section II, the development of the abandoned New York, Ontario, and Western railway (NYO & W) right‐of‐way, running diagonally northwest‐southeast through the heart of the Village, is beginning to provide new year‐round recreational opportunities for residents and visitors which currently do not exist. Studies of previous rail‐to‐trail conversions suggested that 10%‐15% of local residents will utilize such a trail system. A project funded by the TEA‐21 program will fund the construction of a paved bike/hike trail along the NYO & W corridor running northwest from a point in Neal VanDerLinde Park near the Village Hall to the Village boundary on McClanathan Avenue. Construction is anticipated in the near future.

The NYO & W right‐of‐way, which has been deeded to the towns and villages, extends north and west from Sylvan Beach to Central Square, providing a potential trail along the north shore of Oneida Lake, and is being developed by the four towns through which it passes. The Village


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needs to ensure that cooperative efforts are continued with the Town of Vienna and the three Oswego County towns to integrate the Village’s trail into, and provide the terminus of, a regional trail system.

b. Identify existing bicycle/pedestrian trails close to the Village or within the Towns of Vienna and Verona.

c. Investigate potential connections with such trails and develop a strategic plan for implementing connections that seem feasible.

d. Examine the potential of connecting these trail systems via Route 13 to the bicycle trails located adjacent to NYS Routes 5 and 49. Discuss other potential trail development with Oneida County Planning Department.

14. Housing Rehabilitation. Several public meetings during the 1990s identified the need for housing rehabilitation in Sylvan Beach. The Village has addressed this need by applying for, receiving, and implementing two $400,000 HUD housing rehabilitation grants for specific target areas, which have addressed most of the most significant substandard‐housing issues. Housing studies have been conducted as part of the Resort Area Plan and the two HUD grants. An inventory of architecturally significant structures will be conducted, in conjunction with the Historic Preservation project (see #15 below), and its findings identified and mapped. Needs assessments including cost estimates will be conducted for both the rehabilitation of substandard properties and the stabilization and maintenance of historically significant structures. The following are intended to coordinate existing Village policies and programs regarding housing rehabilitation with the LWRP:

• Rehabilitation. Rehabilitate substandard components of existing housing stock.

• Funding. The Village will continue to proactively seek out funds for the rehabilitation of existing housing, in the form of low‐interest loans or through federal and state grants. HUD Small Cities funding through the Governor’s Office of Small Cities and state grants from the Division of Housing and Community Renewal are the principal sources for such programs. The Village is strongly considering applying for a final housing rehabilitation grant, targeting the entire village area, with the objective of correcting all substandard housing conditions not addressed by the previous two grants.


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• Aesthetic Standards. The Village will consider the development of aesthetic standards which, without being discriminatory, will provide design guidelines regarding the character and look that is desired by the Village.

15. Historic Preservation. Working in conjunction with the U.S. Department of the Interior and SHPO, the Village will determine what steps can be taken to inventory and protect its historic resources.

a. Amusement Park Preservation. As discussed in Section II, the privately owned and operated amusement park in the Village constitutes the oldest operating amusement park in New York State. There has been substantial concern by the public and local officials that it remain in operation in its historic fashion as a fundamental part of the Village’s tourism‐based character and economy. SHPO and other state offices will be asked to identify programs which will enable the Village to assure, by regulation and public‐private partnership, that this concern be addressed and an appropriate program to keep the amusement park intact and operational be implemented.

b. Historic Inventory. Guidance and funding are available through SHPO for an inventory of historic structures and sites in the Village. Utilizing local volunteers with an interest in historic preservation and consultants, an inventory of historic Village sites that meets Secretary of the Interior standards will be conducted.

c. Historic Preservation Regulations. As may seem appropriate following such an inventory, local regulations may be drafted and adopted, implementing state historic district and historic structure regulations and standards.

16. Restrooms. Past assessments of needs have identified a lack of adequate public restroom facilities in the Village, particularly in the Beach Resort Area. In response to these assessments, in 2004 the Village constructed new facilities at the new village parking lot on Main Street across from Spencer Park. Additional facilities are to be constructed as a part of the canalside Tourism Welcome Center as a part of the TEA‐21 improvements program.

Following the construction and placing into use of the new Tourism Welcome Center, the Village will assess whether the two new structures provide adequate restroom facilities for peak visitor times. The Village will seek funding for rehabilitation of existing facilities as may be needed, and if it is determined that a need for additional facilities still exists, it will seek and obtain funds for their construction.


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17. Informational Kiosks. Visitors arriving at Sylvan Beach need to be orientated to the Village and what it has to offer. This may be accomplished through development of informational kiosks and/or tourist maps. The Department of State’s EPF grant program provides funding for kiosks through NYSCRIP.

Placement of Kiosks. The Village will identify points along the waterfront and in the Village proper where placement of additional kiosks will accomplish the goals of highlighting the Village’s historic, cultural, recreational, and natural attractions. It is anticipated that placement of such kiosks will result in a higher appreciation of the Village’s assets, resulting in increased visitor usage and a more stable economy. The Village will assess and prioritize where such kiosks will be most useful.

18. Marketing Program Implementation. Section II‐M of this document lists the 22 recommendations of the 1991 “Tourism Assessment for Sylvan Beach, New York.” Several elements of these recommendations have been developed in the above proposals. Further review of the feasibility and means of implementing the remaining recommendations will be done after implementation of the more critical elements developed here.

Initial studies for the LWRP identified a number of additional proposals, which are noted as recommendations in the Inventory and Analysis. These proposals have not been sufficiently defined in terms of feasibility and cost to be listed as projects here. Section V’s list of local actions addresses some of these proposals in more depth than the Section II recommendations.

19. Improvements to Van der Linde Park. The village owns a 10 acre parcel on Harbor View Road that is a valuable potential asset for providing recreational opportunities for village residents. The park currently features a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, the remnants of a softball field (backstay intact) and limited playground equipment. The park is accessible by the bike path on the former NYO&W railroad bed that borders the property. The village would like to upgrade the park with improved lighting, bike racks, restroom facilities, a fitness trail (parcourse), bocce ball and horseshoe courts, a little league baseball field, and possibly a skateboard park. Funding should be sought to develop a conceptual plan and site design for park improvements.

20. Observation Tower. An observation tower was constructed at the end of the original pier in the early 1900s. It was demolished in the 1950s. Reconstruction of a similar tower at a location along the lake near the proposed visitor’s center would add to the tourist amenities of Sylvan Beach, providing outstanding views of the lake, canal, and village. The structure should be several stories, matching the original tower and located to provide maximum views and to


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fit within an aesthetically pleasing and functional site plan for the waterfront park. Design work for this project could be incorporated into that currently in progress for the visitor’s center.

21. Improvement/Development of Paper Streets. When the village was laid out in the 1960s, a network of streets was surveyed and fee ownership retained by the village. Several blocks in the north central portion of the village were never paved, but are still shown on tax maps as public right‐of‐ways. The village should be proactive in marketing this area for residential subdivision. The village comprehensive plan should provide guidance and detail with regard to design standards for the development of these streets and the land fronting on them. The zoning law can also be used to ensure that development is this area is safe, efficient, and attractive.

22. Green Energy Implementation. Private alternative energy systems such as photovoltaic (PV) solar power systems, small scale wind energy systems, and geothermal heating are gaining popularity in the region. The use of these will likely continue to grow as the technology becomes more affordable and with currently available tax incentives. The village should evaluate its zoning and other development regulations to make sure that these systems are regulated properly. The village can set an example for its residents by utilizing this technology in its public buildings and properties, especially the newly planned visitor’s center and accessory structures. The addition of LED street lighting is a technology that should also ultimately be pursued in Sylvan Beach. The village should partner with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to pursue these projects.


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Visitors Center Plan

Visitors Center Elevation


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Section V

Local Implementation of the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program

SECTION V

LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LOCAL WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION PROGRAM

Implementation of a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program reflects the intent of the State’s Waterfront Revitalization and Coastal Resources Act. This section has two objectives: to provide sufficient documentation for the Department of State to determine whether Sylvan Beach has met the state’s requirements; and to provide the Village of Sylvan Beach with a complete description of the strategy which the Village will follow in implementing the elements of the LWRP for which the Village is responsible.

A. Existing Local Laws and Regulations

Local laws and municipal regulations are the basic means for the Village of Sylvan Beach to enforce the policies and proposals of the LWRP. Such laws can assure that no actions are taken which will impair or prevent the long‐term advantageous use of the waterfront, or to frustrate the accomplishment of the policies and purposes of the LWRP. It is important that in striking the desired balance between development and resource protection which is apparent in LWRP policies and proposals, the Village must make use of the existing local laws and regulations, properly modified to achieve consistency with LWRP policies and purposes.

1. Comprehensive Plan. The Village of Sylvan Beach contracted with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry for the production of a new Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in 2001. It paid special attention to the needs and concerns of the “resort district” comprising the downtown commercial/tourist area and adjacent waterfront. Although legally not an enforceable law, it lays the necessary groundwork for land use regulations under statute law. The Comprehensive Plan and the LWRP are compatible.


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2. Zoning Law. The Village of Sylvan Beach has a Zoning Law in place, constituting Local Law No. 1 of 1993, termed the “Sylvan Beach Village Zoning Ordinance.” This law of course addresses the village as a whole. It was extensively revised following the adoption in 2001 of the Village of Sylvan Beach Comprehensive Plan. The Village’s Zoning Ordinance is focused largely on land uses, and does not specifically address waterfront concerns, save for the Oneida Lake beach itself being zoned Lakefront and the amusement park being designated a separate district. As with many zoning laws, it follows a classic format of district regulations, area/height/bulk regulations, nonconformities, administration and enforcement, appeals, and an amending process. Three classes each of residential and business districts and a public parks district are established. Map 4 shows existing zoning districts; no amendments to the map are called for by the LWRP

3. Waterfront Rules and Regulations. The Village of Sylvan Beach has adopted a local law for public use of the beach, boating and docking, and related public water uses. A comprehensive revision of this law was enacted in June 2005. The beach law prohibits a number of activities that have historically tended to produce a rowdy, non‐family‐friendly atmosphere, and provides for safe use of the beach. For example, alcoholic beverages and glass containers are barred. Any games equipment that is brought in and erected, such as volleyball nets, must be removed at the end of play, and commercially‐sponsored volleyball is prohibited. Operation of boats and personal watercraft in manners unsafe to swimmers is also contrary to the Beach Law.

4. Parking Regulations. To effectively manage public parking during the peak tourist season, the Village has public parking regulations in place. No significant changes to the existing regulations are anticipated. The Village prohibits on‐street parking except in specific marked areas, which, along with the village parking lot adjacent to the beach and amusement park, are metered parking.

B. Proposed Local Laws and Regulations

Two local laws have been drafted and are appended to this LWRP as elements in its implementation. Following state review and consequent possible revision, they will be adopted by the Village Board.

1. Waterfront Consistency Law. The Village will need to adopt a local Waterfront Consistency Law to ensure that local laws and regulations are applied in a way that assures


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consistency with the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. A draft local law for this purpose is attached as Appendix A.

2. Harbor Management Law. A proposed harbor management law is attached as Appendix B. It sets forth standards for the construction of shoreline structures such as docks, prohibits unsafe or incompatible water activities, and generally provides for effective use of Sylvan Beach’s harbor area.

C. Other Public and Private Actions

The following items constitute projects which are being explored or are under consideration that will serve to implement one or more elements of this LWRP and/or the economic health of the Village as it interrelates with this LWRP. Each main heading below summarizes existing conditions and concerns, as described in more detail in Section II of this LWRP. The subheadings, identify proposed projects that address the conditions and concerns described in the associated main heading.

1.0 The Beach – “The Beach” as used here refers to the extensive public beachfront along Oneida Lake which constitutes the western perimeter of the Village’s land area. The Beach is the major tourist attraction for Sylvan Beach. It is an integral part of not merely the economy of the Village, but of Sylvan Beach’s essential identity as a community. However, the varying water level of Oneida Lake and erosion have resulted in a gradual loss of beach area. Until recently, there has been little or no maintenance of the sand along the shoreline. The importance of the beach to the Village’s economy and essential character dictate that restoration of areas adjacent to the beach receives top priority.

1.1 Beach Replenishment – Establish cooperation between the Village, the Canal Corporation, and the Army Corps of Engineers regarding the replenishment of sand to the beach on an annual basis. Periodic dredging from Fish Creek and the Erie Canal will be the likely source of sand.


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2.0 Oneida Lake – Oneida Lake is the key water feature of the Village and is an important tourist and citizen entertainment area. Village regulation of the lake extends 1,500 feet out from the shore.

2.1 Watercraft Enforcement – The Village has arranged for adequate enforcement of watercraft rules and regulations through the New York State Police, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department, and the New York State Park Police. The Village will monitor waterfront activities to assure that enforcement continues at an adequate level.

2.2 Management Plan – Communicate with the Oneida Lake Commission regarding the creation of a management plan for dealing with lake closures due to pollution influxes from surrounding communities. This may entail intermunicipal agreements between Oneida Lake communities, including the Village of Sylvan Beach, and with New York State.

3.0 The Canal – The New York State Canal Corporation owns, regulates, and maintains water use, navigation, and docking on the Canal and Oneida Lake. The Village will work cooperatively with the Canal Corporation regarding issues of common interest. Some examples include:

3.1 Dredging – Dredging of the Erie Canal is undertaken by the New York State Canal Corporation. The Village will examine present and potential dredging activities for the Erie Canal, National Lake, and portions of Fish Creek. As appropriate, negotiate with the Canal Corporation or private dredging concerns to improve navigability and ecological conditions of the Village waterways.

3.2 Water Level ‐ The Village will consult with the Canal Corporation on the

raising and lowering of Erie Canal water levels, as this affects all water activities within the Village.

3.3 Tourism ‐ The Village will take advantage of canal tourism, particularly regarding statewide and regional efforts for water‐based economic development in relation to the canal system.

4.0 Wetlands – The Village will try to maintain all existing wetlands in order to alleviate potential flooding problems as well as for water quality issues.

4.1 Wetland Protection ‐ The Village will:


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• Consider the integration of wetland protection into the existing planning structure.

• Adapt DEC recommendations for municipal wetland management into the existing master plan and zoning ordinance following a study of state and local wetland‐related concerns.

• Reduce the loss of wetlands resulting from development pressures.

• Preserve the maximum amount of natural drainageways to allow for the natural recharge of ground water.

• Ensure that development conforms to SEQR standards.

• Provide the maximum amount of natural drainageways.

5.0 Flooding – Erie Canal and Oneida Lake levels are managed by the New York State Canal Corporation. Fish Creek carries heavy spring runoff from its watershed. Regional actions have alleviated but not completely eliminated flooding concerns. The Village will explore whether there is a need for additional flood control measures and work in collaboration with Federal, State, and regional bodies to determine the feasibility and need for flood management projects.

5.1 Flood Warning System – Assess how to develop and implement any needed flood warning programs.

5.2 Guidelines – Establish guidelines for natural and man‐made water runoff, including:

A. As per SEQR requirements, new construction may create no more runoff than occurred before construction.

B. Any large developments, such as subdivisions, which may occur in the Village will be required to maintain a certain proportion of green area which is not to be developed.

C. The Village will consider creating guidelines for green space require¬ments, street tree plantings, and other natural features. Other towns and villages in resort areas have incorporated such guidelines.

6.0 Road Improvements – The creatively designed comprehensive streetscape improvement plan, along both sides of Main Street (NYS Route 13), will have a direct impact upon the appearance and quality of life in downtown Sylvan Beach. It is anticipated that implementation of the plan will significantly increase the number of residents and tourists utilizing pedestrian walkways which are located in the center of the Village’s business district. This effort will


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positively influence the Village’s tourist‐based economy and result in job creation and job retention for Village residents.

6.1 Guidelines – Reduce the negative impact of highway maintenance practices on water quality. Ensure that environmental education is a component of highway mainten¬ance training. Reevaluate salting and sanding practices on Village roads where applicable and develop use guidelines that can be applied Village‐wide.

6.2 Erosion Controls – Establish strong uniform erosion and sediment controls for highway practices. Reduce the impacts of sedimenta¬tion and flooding caused by the deposition of sand in ditches and storm water pipes. Recognize the potential and variation of non‐point pollution impacts caused by paved and unpaved roads.

D. Local Management Structure

The Village of Sylvan Beach appointed a nine‐member Planning Committee for Local Waterfront Revitalization in 2001. That committee will continue to act as an advisory body to the Village Board, the Village Planning Board, and the Village Zoning Board of Appeals in ensuring that land and water use decisions are consistent with the LWRP.

The Village is committed to ongoing efforts to revitalize the economy and social fabric of the village, as may be seen from the discussion of projects already completed in Section II. The Mayor is committed to fostering economic development through creative means of tapping into government programs and private‐sector initiatives. Principal responsibility for implementing the Village of Sylvan Beach Local Waterfront Revitalization Program rests with the Mayor and Village Board, and will be exercised as appropriate to the particular element. For example, they may cause the Planning Board to draft regulations relative to implementing the policies in Section III, and the local enforcement officer to enforce such regulations; or they may retain a consultant with expertise in project construction and implementation to manage the implementation of a particular project identified in Section IV.

The Planning Board will apply the policies of this LWRP in reviewing proposals brought before them to assure consistency of new projects with LWRP standards and policies.

The Village enjoys ongoing relationships with a number of governmental agencies, university faculty, and a variety of entrepreneurs and consultants, providing it with a wealth of expertise


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in designing and implementing projects and applying policies fairly and creatively to foster revitalization of the Village and its waterfront.

E. Financial Resources

The Village has a consistent policy of allocating funding from the municipal budget to assist in implementing programs aimed at improving the Village’s appearance and economic viability, including in particular tourism‐related activities, as well as allocating force account services towards grant matches. The proposed strategic planning program will itemize and prioritize the various proposals for such programs, including those outlined in this Section. The Village Board of Trustees will then pursue a program of allocating what it considers feasible from the annual Village budgets towards the implementation of that plan.

Federal and state funding will be required to implement many elements of this LWRP. The Village has aggressively pursued Small Cities CDBGs, TEA‐21 funding, the 1986 Bond Act, the EPF, and several other state and federal grant and loan programs towards the goals outlined in this LWRP document. It anticipates continuing to seek funding to implement the proposals outlined here, as prioritized in accordance with the strategic plan. Although funding sources vary over time with the introduction and shifting of new Federal and State programs, the following are significant potential sources at the time of writing:

• Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (Environmental Protection Fund), New York State Department of State

• Small Cities Community Development Block Grants, Governor’s Office of Small Cities

• Environmental Protection Fund and 1996 Bond Act, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation

• TEA‐21 and related programs, New York State Department of Transportation

• Environmental Protection Fund and 1996 Bond Act, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

• New York State Department of Economic Development

The Village has had ongoing relationships with Federal sources including the Department of Housing and Urban Development. At present it is not aware of Federal programs which will support its proposed projects, but will continue to monitor Federal offerings and take advantage of any which become available.


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It is also important to note valuable indirect sources of funds for projects affecting the Village, including the New York State Canal Corporation and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, whose projected work involving the Erie Canal pier and breakwater, discussed in Section IV, will have a significant effect on the Village.

Section VI

State Actions and Programs Likely to Affect Implementation of the LWRP

SECTION VI

STATE ACTIONS AND PROGRAMS LIKELY TO

AFFECT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LWRP

State actions will affect and be affected by implementation of a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP). Under State law and the U.S. Coastal Zone Management Act, certain State actions within or affecting the local waterfront area must be Aconsistent@ or Aconsistent to the maximum extent practicable@ with the enforceable policies and purposes of the LWRP. This consistency requirement makes the LWRP a unique, intergovernmental mechanism for setting policy and making decisions and helps to prevent detrimental actions from occurring and future options from being needlessly foreclosed. At the same time, the active participation of State agencies is also likely to be necessary to implement specific provisions of the LWRP.

Pursuant to the State Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inland Waterways Act (Executive Law, Article 42), the Secretary of State notifies affected State agencies of those agency actions and programs which are to be undertaken in a manner consistent with approved


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LWRPs. The following list of State actions and programs is that list. The State Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inland Waterways Act requires that an LWRP identify those elements of the program which can be implemented the local government, unaided, and those that can only be implemented with the aid of other levels of government or other agencies. Such statement shall include those permit, license, certification, or approval programs; grant, loan, subsidy, or other funding assistance programs; facilities construction; and planning programs which may affect the achievement of the LWRP.

The second part of this section is a more focused and descriptive list of State agency actions which are necessary to further implementation of the LWRP. It is recognized that a State agency's ability to undertake such actions is subject to a variety of factors and considerations; that the consistency provisions referred to above, may not apply; and that the consistency requirements cannot be used to require a State agency to undertake an action it could not undertake pursuant to other provisions of law. Reference should be made to Section IV and Section V, which also discuss State assistance needed to implement the LWRP.

A. State Programs Which Should Be Undertaken in a Manner Consistent with the LWRP

OFFICE FOR THE AGING

1.00 Funding and/or approval programs for the establishment of new or expanded facilities providing various services for the elderly.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS

1.00 Agricultural Districts Program

2.00 Rural Development Program

3.00 Farm Worker Services Programs.

4.00 Permit and approval programs:


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4.01 Custom Slaughters/Processor Permit

4.02 Processing Plant License

4.03 Refrigerated Warehouse and/or Locker Plant License

DIVISION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL/ STATE LIQUOR AUTHORITY

1.00 Permit and Approval Programs:

1.01 Ball Park ‐ Stadium License

1.02 Bottle Club License

1.03 Bottling Permits

1.04 Brewer's Licenses and Permits

1.05 Brewer's Retail Beer License

1.06 Catering Establishment Liquor License

1.07 Cider Producer's and Wholesaler's Licenses

1.08 Club Beer, Liquor, and Wine Licenses

1.09 Distiller's Licenses

1.10 Drug Store, Eating Place, and Grocery Store Beer Licenses

1.11 Farm Winery and Winery Licenses

1.12 Hotel Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses

1.13 Industrial Alcohol Manufacturer's Permits

1.14 Liquor Store License

1.15 On‐Premises Liquor Licenses

1.16 Plenary Permit (Miscellaneous‐Annual)

1.17 Summer Beer and Liquor Licenses

1.18 Tavern/Restaurant and Restaurant Wine Licenses

1.19 Vessel Beer and Liquor Licenses

1.20 Warehouse Permit

1.21 Wine Store License

1.22 Winter Beer and Liquor Licenses


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1.23 Wholesale Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses

DIVISION OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES

1.00 Facilities, construction, rehabilitation, expansion, or demolition or the funding of such activities.


2.01 Certificate of approval (Substance Abuse Services Program)

3.00 Permit and approval:

3.01 Letter Approval for Certificate of Need

3.02 Operating Certificate (Alcoholism Facility)

3.03 Operating Certificate (Community Residence)

3.04 Operating Certificate (Outpatient Facility)

3.05 Operating Certificate (Sobering‐Up Station)

COUNCIL ON THE ARTS

1.00 Facilities construction, rehabilitation, expansion, or demolition or the funding of such activities.

2.00 Architecture and environmental arts program.

DEPARTMENT OF BANKING


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1.01 Authorization Certificate (Bank Branch)

1.02 Authorization Certificate (Bank Change of Location)

1.03 Authorization Certificate (Bank Charter)

1.04 Authorization Certificate (Credit Union Change of Location)

1.05 Authorization Certificate (Credit Union Charter)

1.06 Authorization Certificate (Credit Union Station)

1.07 Authorization Certificate (Foreign Banking Corporation Change of Location)

1.08 Authorization Certificate (Foreign Banking Corporation Public Accommodations Office)

1.09 Authorization Certificate (Investment Company Branch)

1.10 Authorization Certificate (Investment Company Change of Location)

1.11 Authorization Certificate (Investment Company Charter)

1.12 Authorization Certificate (Licensed Lender Change of Location)

1.13 Authorization Certificate (Mutual Trust Company Charter)

1.14 Authorization Certificate (Private Banker Charter)

1.15 Authorization Certificate (Public Accommodation Office ‐ Banks)

1.16 Authorization Certificate (Safe Deposit Company Branch)

1.17 Authorization Certificate (Safe Deposit Company Change of Location)

1.18 Authorization Certificate (Safe Deposit Company Charter)

1.19 Authorization Certificate (Savings Bank Charter)

1.20 Authorization Certificate (Savings Bank De Novo Branch Office)

1.21 Authorization Certificate (Savings Bank Public Accommodations Office)

1.22 Authorization Certificate (Savings and Loan Association Branch)

1.23 Authorization Certificate (Savings and Loan Association Change of Location)

1.24 Authorization Certificate (Savings and Loan Association Charter)

1.25 Authorization Certificate (Subsidiary Trust Company Charter)

1.26 Authorization Certificate (Trust Company Branch)

1.27 Authorization Certificate (Trust Company‐Change of Location)

1.28 Authorization Certificate (Trust Company Charter)

1.29 Authorization Certificate (Trust Company Public Accommodations Office)


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1.30 Authorization to Establish a Life Insurance Agency

1.31 License as a Licensed Lender

1.32 License for a Foreign Banking Corporation Branch

CENTRAL NEW YORK REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (regional agency)

1.00 Acquisition, disposition, lease, grant of easement and other activities related to the management of land under the jurisdiction of the Authority.

2.00 Facilities construction, rehabilitation, expansion, or demolition.

3.00 Increases in special fares for transportation services to public water‐related recreation resources.

OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES


2.00 Homeless Housing and Assistance Program.


3.01 Certificate of Incorporation (Adult Residential Care Facilities)

3.02 Operating Certificate (Children's Services)

3.03 Operating Certificate (Enriched Housing Program)

3.04 Operating Certificate (Home for Adults)

3.05 Operating Certificate (Proprietary Home)

3.06 Operating Certificate (Public Home)


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3.07 Operating Certificate (Special Care Home)

3.08 Permit to Operate a Day Care Center

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES


DORMITORY AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

1.00 Financing of higher education and health care facilities.

2.00 Planning and design services assistance program.

EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT/ EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

1.00 Preparation or revision of statewide or specific plans to address State economic development needs.

2.00 Allocation of the state tax‐free bonding reserve.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

1.00 Facilities construction, rehabilitation, expansion, demolition or the funding of such activities.



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2.01 Certification of Incorporation (Regents Charter)

2.02 Private Business School Registration

2.03 Private School License

2.04 Registered Manufacturer of Drugs and/or Devices

2.05 Registered Pharmacy Certificate

2.06 Registered Wholesale of Drugs and/or Devices

2.07 Registered Wholesaler‐Re‐packer of Drugs and/or Devices

2.08 Storekeeper's Certificate

NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

1.00 Issuance of revenue bonds to finance pollution abatement modifications in power‐generation facilities and various energy projects.

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

1.00 Acquisition, disposition, lease, grant of easement and other activities related to the management of lands under the jurisdiction of the Department.

2.00 Classification of Waters Program; classification of land areas under the Clean Air Act.


4.00 Financial assistance/grant programs:

4.01 Capital projects for limiting air pollution

4.02 Cleanup of toxic waste dumps


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4.03 Flood control, beach erosion and other water resource projects

4.04 Operating aid to municipal wastewater treatment facilities

4.05 Resource recovery and solid waste management capital projects

4.06 Wastewater treatment facilities

5.00 Funding assistance for issuance of permits and other regulatory activities (New York City only).

6.00 Implementation of the Environmental Quality Bond Act of 1972, including:

(a) Water Quality Improvement Projects

(b) Land Preservation and Improvement Projects including Wetland Preservation and Restoration Projects, Unique Area Preservation Projects, Metropolitan Parks Projects, Open Space Preservation Projects and Waterways Projects.

7.00 Marine Finfish and Shellfish Programs.

8.00 New York Harbor Drift Removal Project.


Air Resources

9.01 Certificate of Approval for Air Pollution Episode Action Plan

9.02 Certificate of Compliance for Tax Relief ‐ Air Pollution Control Facility

9.03 Certificate to Operate: Stationary Combustion Installation; Incinerator; Process, Exhaust or Ventilation System

9.04 Permit for Burial of Radioactive Material

9.05 Permit for Discharge of Radioactive Material to Sanitary Sewer

9.06 Permit for Restricted Burning

9.07 Permit to Construct: a Stationary Combustion Installation; Incinerator; Indirect Source of Air Contamination; Process, Exhaust or Ventilation System


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Construction Management

9.08 Approval of Plans and Specifications for Wastewater Treatment Facilities

Fish and Wildlife

9.09 Certificate to Possess and Sell Hatchery Trout in New York State

9.10 Commercial Inland Fisheries Licenses

9.11 Fishing Preserve License

9.12 Fur Breeder's License

9.13 Game Dealer's License

9.14 Licenses to Breed Domestic Game Animals

9.15 License to Possess and Sell Live Game

9.16 Permit to Import, Transport and/or Export under Section 184.1 (11‐0511)

9.17 Permit to Raise and Sell Trout

9.18 Private Bass Hatchery Permit

9.19 Shooting Preserve Licenses

9.20 Taxidermy License

9.21 Permit ‐ Article 15, (Protection of Water) ‐ Dredge or Deposit Material in a Waterway

9.22 Permit ‐ Article 15, (Protection of Water) ‐ Stream Bed or Bank Disturbances

9.23 Permit ‐ Article 24, (Freshwater Wetlands)

Hazardous Substances

9.24 Permit to Use Chemicals for the Control or Elimination of Aquatic Insects

9.25 Permit to Use Chemicals for the Control or Elimination of Aquatic Vegetation

9.26 Permit to Use Chemicals for the Control or Extermination of Undesirable Fish

Lands and Forest


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9.27 Certificate of Environmental Safety (Liquid Natural Gas and Liquid Petroleum Gas)

9.28 Floating Object Permit

9.29 Marine Regatta Permit

9.30 Navigation Aid Permit

Marine Resources

9.31 Digger's Permit (Shellfish)

9.32 License of Menhaden Fishing Vessel

9.33 License for Non‐Resident Food Fishing Vessel

9.34 Non‐Resident Lobster Permit

9.35 Marine Hatchery and/or Off‐Bottom Culture Shellfish Permits

9.36 Permits to Take Blue‐Claw Crabs

9.37 Permit to Use Pond or Trap Net

9.38 Resident Commercial Lobster Permit

9.39 Shellfish Bed Permit

9.40 Shellfish Shipper's Permits

9.41 Special Permit to Take Surf Clams from Waters other than the Atlantic Ocean

9.42 Permit ‐ Article 25, (Tidal Wetlands)

Mineral Resources

9.43 Mining Permit

9.44 Permit to Plug and Abandon (a non‐commercial, oil, gas or solution mining well)

9.45 Underground Storage Permit (Gas)

9.46 Well Drilling Permit (Oil, Gas, and Solution Salt Mining)

Solid Wastes

9.47 Permit to Construct and/or Operate a Solid Waste Management Facility


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9.48 Septic Tank Cleaner and Industrial Waste Collector Permit

Water Resources

9.49 Approval of Plans for Wastewater Disposal Systems

9.50 Certificate of Approval of Realty Subdivision Plans

9.51 Certificate of Compliance (Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility)

9.52 Letters of Certification for Major Onshore Petroleum Facility Oil Spill Prevention and Control Plan

9.53 Permit ‐ Article 36, (Construction in Flood Hazard Areas)

9.54 Permit for State Agency Activities for Development in Coastal Erosion Hazards Areas

9.55 State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit

9.56 Approval ‐ Drainage Improvement District

9.57 Approval ‐ Water (Diversions for) Power

9.58 Approval of Well System and Permit to Operate

9.59 Permit ‐ Article 15, (Protection of Water) ‐ Dam

9.60 Permit ‐ Article 15, Title 15 (Water Supply)

9.61 River Improvement District Approvals

9.62 River Regulatory District Approvals

9.63 Well Drilling Certificate of Registration

9.64 401 Water Quality Certification

10.00 Preparation and revision of Air Pollution State Implementation Plan.

11.00 Preparation and revision of Continuous Executive Program Plan.

12.00 Preparation and revision of Statewide Environmental Plan.

13.00 Protection of Natural and Man‐made Beauty Program.

14.00 Urban Fisheries Program.


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15.00 Urban Forestry Program.

16.00 Urban Wildlife Program.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES CORPORATION

1.00 Financing program for pollution control facilities for industrial firms and small businesses.

FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION


OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES

1.00 Administration of the Public Lands Law for acquisition and disposition of lands, grants of land, grants of easement and issuance of licenses for land underwater, including for residential docks over 5,000 square feet and all commercial docks, issuance of licenses for removal of materials from lands under water, and oil and gas leases for exploration and development.

2.00 Administration of Article 4‐B, Public Buildings Law, in regard to the protection and management of State historic and cultural properties and State uses of buildings of historic, architectural or cultural significance.



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4.00 Administration of Article 5, Section 233 of the Education Law regarding the removal of archaeological and paleontological objects under the waters of the State.

5.00 Administration of Article 3, Section 32 of the Navigation Law regarding location of structures in or on navigable waters.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH



2.01 Approval of Completed Works for Public Water Supply Improvements

2.02 Approval of Plans for Public Water Supply Improvements.

2.03 Certificate of Need (Health Related Facility ‐ except Hospitals)

2.04 Certificate of Need (Hospitals)

2.05 Operating Certificate (Diagnostic and Treatment Center)

2.06 Operating Certificate (Health Related Facility)

2.07 Operating Certificate (Hospice)

2.08 Operating Certificate (Hospital)

2.09 Operating Certificate (Nursing Home)

2.10 Permit to Operate a Children's Overnight or Day Camp

2.11 Permit to Operate a Migrant Labor Camp

2.12 Permit to Operate as a Retail Frozen Dessert Manufacturer

2.13 Permit to Operate a Service Food Establishment

2.14 Permit to Operate a Temporary Residence/Mass Gathering

2.15 Permit to Operate or Maintain a Swimming Pool or Public Bathing Beach

2.16 Permit to Operate Sanitary Facilities for Realty Subdivisions


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2.17 Shared Health Facility Registration Certificate

DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES



2.01 Federal Housing Assistance Payments Programs (Section 8 Programs)

2.02 Housing Development Fund Programs

2.03 Neighborhood Preservation Companies Program

2.04 Public Housing Programs

2.05 Rural Initiatives Grant Program

2.06 Rural Preservation Companies Program

2.07 Rural Rental Assistance Program

2.08 Special Needs Demonstration Projects

2.09 Urban Initiatives Grant Program

2.10 Urban Renewal Programs

3.00 Preparation and implementation of plans to address housing and community renewal needs.

HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

1.00 Funding programs for the construction, rehabilitation, or expansion of facilities.

2.00 Affordable Housing Corporation


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JOB DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

1.00 Financing assistance programs for commercial and industrial facilities.

MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES FINANCING AGENCY

1.00 Financing of medical care facilities.

OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH



2.01 Operating Certificate (Community Residence)

2.02 Operating Certificate (Family Care Homes)

2.03 Operating Certificate (Inpatient Facility)

2.04 Operating Certificate (Outpatient Facility)

OFFICE OF MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES

1.00 Facilities construction, rehabilitation, expansion, or demolition, or the funding of such activities.


2.01 Establishment and Construction Prior Approval


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2.02 Operating Certificate Community Residence

2.03 Outpatient Facility Operating Certificate

DIVISION OF MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS

1.00 Preparation and implementation of the State Disaster Preparedness Plan.

NATURAL HERITAGE TRUST

1.00 Funding program for natural heritage institutions.

OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION (including Regional State Park Commission)

1.00 Acquisition, disposition, lease, grant of easement or other activities related to the management of land under the jurisdiction of the Office.


3.00 Funding program for recreational boating, safety and enforcement.

4.00 Funding program for State and local historic preservation projects.

5.00 Land and Water Conservation Fund programs.

6.00 Nomination of properties to the Federal and/or State Register of Historic Places.


7.01 Floating Objects Permit

7.02 Marine Regatta Permit

7.03 Navigation Aide Permit

7.04 Posting of Signs Outside State Parks


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8.00 Preparation and revision of the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan and the Statewide Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan and other plans for public access, recreation, historic preservation or related purposes.

9.00 Recreation services program.

10.00 Urban Cultural Parks Program.

POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

1.00 Acquisition, disposition, lease, grant of easement and other activities related to the management of land under the jurisdiction of the Authority.


NEW YORK STATE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION

1.00 Corporation for Innovation Development Program.

2.00 Center for Advanced Technology Program.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

1.00 Appalachian Regional Development Program.

2.00 Coastal Management Program.

3.00 Community Services Block Grant Program.


4.01 Billiard Room License

4.02 Cemetery Operator

4.03 Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code

STATE UNIVERSITY CONSTRUCTION FUND


STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

1.00 Acquisition, disposition, lease, grant of easement and other activities related to the management of land under the jurisdiction of the University.


THRUWAY AUTHORITY /CANAL CORPORATION/CANAL RECREATION‐WAY COMMISSION (regional agency)

1.00 Acquisition, disposition, lease, grant of easement and other activities related to the management of land and other resources under the jurisdiction of the Thruway Authority, Canal Corporation, and Canal Recreationway Commission.


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3.01 Advertising Device Permit

3.02 Approval to Transport Radioactive Waste

3.03 Occupancy Permit

3.04 Permits for use of Canal System lands and waters.

4.00 Statewide Canal Recreationway Plan

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

1.00 Acquisition, disposition, lease, grant of easement and other activities related to the management of land under the jurisdiction of the Department.

2.00 Construction, rehabilitation, expansion, or demolition of facilities, including, but not limited to:

(a) Highways and parkways

(b) Bridges on the State highways system

(c) Highway and parkway maintenance facilities

(d) Rail facilities


3.01 Funding programs for construction/reconstruction and reconditioning/ preservation of municipal streets and highways (excluding routine main‐tenance and minor rehabilitation)

3.02 Funding programs for development of the ports of Albany, Buffalo, Oswego, Ogdensburg, and New York

3.03 Funding programs for rehabilitation and replacement of municipal bridges

3.04 Subsidies program for marginal branchlines abandoned by Conrail

3.05 Subsidies program for passenger rail service

4.00 Permits and approval programs:

4.01 Approval of applications for airport improvements (construction projects)

4.02 Approval of municipal applications for Section 18 Rural and Small Urban Transit Assistance Grants (construction projects)

4.03 Approval of municipal or regional transportation authority applications for funds for design, construction and rehabilitation of omnibus maintenance and storage facilities

4.04 Approval of municipal or regional transportation authority applications for funds for design and construction of rapid transit facilities

4.05 Certificate of Convenience and Necessity to Operate a Railroad


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4.06 Highway Work Permits

4.07 License to Operate Major Petroleum Facilities

4.08 Outdoor Advertising Permit (for off‐premises advertising signs adjacent to interstate and primary highway)

4.09 Real Property Division Permit for Use of State‐Owned Property

5.00 Preparation or revision of the Statewide Master Plan for Transportation and sub‐area or special plans and studies related to the transportation needs of the State.

6.00 Water Operation and Maintenance Program‐‐Activities related to the containment of petroleum spills and development of an emergency oil‐spill control network.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and its subsidiaries and affiliates

1.00 Acquisition, disposition, lease, grant of easement or other activities related to the management of land under the jurisdiction of the Corporation.

2.00 Planning, development, financing, construction, major renovation or expansion of commercial, industrial, and civic facilities and the provision of technical assistance or financing for such activities, including, but not limited to, actions under its discretionary economic development programs such as the following:

(a) Tax‐Exempt Financing Program

(b) Lease Collateral Program

(c) Lease Financial Program

(d) Targeted Investment Program

(e) Industrial Buildings Recycling Program

3.00 Administration of special projects.

4.00 Administration of State‐funded capital grant programs.

DIVISION OF YOUTH

1.00 Facilities construction, rehabilitation, expansion, or demolition or the funding or approval of such activities.

B. State and Federal Actions and Programs Necessary to Further the LWRP

1. State Actions

1.0 New York State Canal Corporation

Water level management, relative to Erie Canal and Oneida Lake

Dredging of Erie Canal

Beach replenishment program

Pier restoration program


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Technical assistance relative to a coordinated effort to rebuild or rehabilitate existing retaining wall along beachfront.

General assistance relative to management of Erie Canal impact on Village.

2.0 Empire State Development Corporation

2.1 Policies and provision of funding for the development or promotion of tourism‐related activities or development.

3.0 Department of Environmental Conservation

Planning, development, construction, major renovation, or expansion of facilities in the waterfront area, including access points and any proposed recreational improvement projects.

Assistance with planning, development, and construction of streambank stabilization projects.

Assistance with stream protection and management efforts.

Ongoing assistance relative to municipal wastewater management system operation and maintenance.

Planning and development of wetlands management in a manner consonant with Village development efforts.

Sedimentation management assistance.

Flood hazard management assistance.

Technical assistance relative to a coordinated effort to rebuild or rehabilitate existing retaining wall along beachfront.

4.0 Division of Housing and Community Renewal

Provision of funding under Rural Preservation Company program.

Approval of funding for Rural Area Revitalization Program projects.

General assistance relative to housing rehabilitation, including technical and funding assistance.

5.0 Onondaga County Water Authority

5.1 Potable water supply

6.0 Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation

6.1 Enforcement assistance relative to watercraft regulations.

6.2 Planning, development, construction, major renovation, or expansion of recreational facilities or the provision of funding for such facilities.

6.3 Provision of funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

6.4 Planning, development, implementation, and/or provision of funding for recreation services programs.


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6.5 Planning, provision of funding, and implementation assistance for historic preservation studies and activities.

6.6 Technical assistance in municipal program for preservation of privately‐owned historic amusement park.

7.0 Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board

7.1 Technical assistance in regional aspects of local planning efforts, particularly in reference to water quality management.

8.0 Governor’s Office of Small Cities

8.1 Planning, development, technical assistance, provision of funding, and implementation of infrastructure and economic development programs and projects

9.0 Department of State

Technical assistance, provision of funding, and guidance relative to the implementation of the LWRP, once approved.

Technical assistance, provision of funding, and guidance relative to the implementation of the Harbor Management Plan.

Technical assistance and provision of funding under the Main Street Revitalization Program.

Provision of funding under the Community Services Block Grant Program

10.0 New York State Police

10.1 Enforcement assistance in regard to both general law enforcement and to waterfront and watercraft regulations.

11.0 New York State Department of Transportation

Assistance relative to traffic management and pedestrian safety issues.

Provision of funding under the TEA‐21 grants program.

12.0 Tug Hill Commission

Technical assistance on general issues related to municipal management of LWRP‐related actions

13.0 State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry

13.1 Planning, technical, and design assistance relative to the implementation of the LWRP, including technical studies that may be needed relative to specific proposed elements of the LWRP

14.0 New York State Council on the Arts

Waterfront plan assistance through the Architecture and Environmental Arts Program.

2. Federal Actions

1.0 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers


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1.1 Technical and implementation assistance relative to reconstruction and/or restoration of the pier and beachfront infrastructure

2.0 Federal Emergency Management Agency

2.1 Planning and implementation assistance relative to flood hazard management program.

3.0 Department of Housing and Urban Development

3.1 Technical and funding assistance relative to economic development, including through Section 108 loan guarantee program

4.0 Department of the Interior

4.1 Technical assistance relative to historic preservation activities

5.0 National Parks Service

5.1 Technical assistance from the Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers Program relative to Fish Creek management

Section VII

Local Commitment and Consultation

SECTION VII

LOCAL COMMITMENT AND CONSULTATION

A. Local Commitment

The Village Board and the Mayor have been involved in the process of preparation of the LWRP during the entire period of its development. The Village Planning Board provided substantial input regarding existing conditions and proposed improvements. The Mayor prepared and revised the list of proposed activities which are described in Section VI C and Section V B.

A nine‐member LWRP Planning Committee worked with the consultant on the initial draft of the LWRP document, and adopted the first draft of Section III. A public hearing was held on April 23, 2001, and public informational meetings on August 9 and October 3, 2001 relative to the LWRP. A final public informational meeting will be held during the sixty‐day review of the Draft LWRP document in the summer of 2005. In addition, public hearings were held for at least six proposed projects related to revitalization of portions of the waterfront prior to submission of grant applications.

Meetings and regular telephone and e‐mail communication has been maintained throughout the preparation of the LWRP between the Mayor, the consultants, and the assigned NYS Department of State representative to assure that the completed LWRP complies with the expectations and standards of the Department of State.

Citizen input was significant, though not formally researched outside the public hearing and public informational meeting setting. The public contribution has demonstrated extensive citizen interest and commitment to the Comprehensive Plan and to the numerous waterfront


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revitalization projects that have been proposed or implemented during 1997‐2004. The process provided an extensive list of identified issues and concerns, as well as proposed actions. These have been incorporated into this LWRP.

B. Consultation

The consultants and the Planning Committee sought guidance from the NYS Department of State representative, the Mayor and Village Board, and state and regional agencies. An initial draft was prepared in 2001 and reviewed by DOS staff. A completely revised draft was prepared during 2003‐2005.

The Village undertook SEQR review of the proposed LWRP and caused a Full Environmental Assessment Form to be prepared on June 16, 1999. Based on its review of this document, the Village assumed Lead Agency status and determined that preparation of the LWRP program document constitutes an Unlisted Action under SEQR. A Negative Declaration was prepared and adopted under SEQR on June 6, 2005.

It is intended that implementation of the LWRP be done in a phased program based on the results of the Strategic Planning Program for Economic Development, and that review of individual projects under SEQR be done following scoping and project design for each individual project.

Appendix A

Waterfront Consistency Review Law

Waterfront Consistency Review Law

Village of Sylvan Beach, Oneida County, New York

Local Law No. ___ of the year 2005

Be it enacted by the Village Board of the Village of Sylvan Beach, New York as follows:

GENERAL PROVISIONS

I. Title

This local law will be known as the Village of Sylvan Beach Waterfront Consistency Review Law.

II. Authority and Purpose

A. This local law is adopted under the authority of the Municipal Home Rule Law and the Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inland Waterways Act of the State of New York (Article 42 of the Executive Law).

B. The purpose of this local law is to provide a framework for the Village of Sylvan Beach and its elected and appointed officials to consider the policies and purposes contained in the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program when reviewing applications for actions or direct agency actions located in the waterfront area (which is defined to constitute the entire village); and to assure that such actions and direct actions are consistent with the said policies and purposes.


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C. It is the intention of the Village of Sylvan Beach that the preservation, enhancement, and utilization of the natural and manmade resources of the unique waterfront area of the Village take place in a coordinated and comprehensive manner to ensure a proper balance between natural resources and the need to accommodate population growth and economic development. Accordingly, this local law is intended to achieve such a balance, permitting the beneficial use of waterfront resources while preventing: loss of living aquatic resources and wildlife; diminution of open space areas or public access to the waterfront; losses due to flooding and erosion; impairment of scenic resources; or permanent adverse changes to ecological systems.

D. The substantive provisions of this local law shall only apply while there is in existence a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program which has been adopted in accordance with Article 42 of the Executive Law of the State of New York.

III. Definitions

A. "Actions" mean either Type I or unlisted actions as defined in SEQRA regulations (6 N.Y.C.R.R. 617.2) which are undertaken by an agency and which include:

1. Projects or physical activities, such as construction or other activities that may affect the environment by changing the use, appearance or condition of any natural resource or structure, that:

a. Are directly undertaken by an agency; or

b. Involve funding by an agency; or

c. Require one or more new or modified approvals from an agency or

agencies.

2. Agency planning and policy making activities that may affect the environment and commit the agency to a definite course of future decisions;

3. Adoption of agency rules, regulations and procedures, including local laws, codes, ordinances, executive orders and resolutions that may affect the environment; and

4. Any combinations of the above.

B. "Agency" means any board, agency, department, office, other body, or officer of the Village of Sylvan Beach.

C. "Consistent" means that the action will fully comply with the LWRP policy standards and conditions and, whenever practicable, will advance one or more of them.


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D. "Direct Actions" means actions planned and proposed for implementation by an agency, such as, but not limited to, a capital project, rule making, procedure making and policy making.

E. "Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP)" means the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program of the Village of Sylvan Beach, approved by the Secretary of State pursuant to the Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inlands Waterways Act (Executive Law, Article 42), a copy of which is on file in the Office of the Clerk of the Village of Sylvan Beach.

F. "Planning Board" means the Planning Board of the Village of Sylvan Beach.

G. "Waterfront Assessment Form (WAF)" means the form used by an agency to assist it in determining the consistency of an action with the LWRP.

H. "Waterfront Area" means the Waterfront Revitalization Area delineated in the Village's LWRP.

IV. Village Planning Board

The Village Planning Board is authorized to review and make recommendations to appropriate agencies regarding the consistency of proposed actions with the policies and purposes of the LWRP.

V. Review of Actions

A. Whenever a proposed action is to be located in the Village's waterfront area, an agency shall, prior to approving, funding or undertaking the action, make a determination that is consistent with the LWRP policy standards and conditions set forth in Paragraph 7 herein.

B. Whenever an agency receives an application for approval or funding of an action, or as early as possible in the agency's formulation of a direct action, to be located in the waterfront area, the applicant, or in the case of a direct action, the agency, shall prepare a Waterfront Assessment Form (WAF) to assist with the consistency review of the proposed action.


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C. The agency shall refer a copy of the completed WAF to the Planning Board within ten (10) days of its submission, and prior to making its determination, shall consider the recommendation of the Planning Board with reference to the consistency of the proposed action.

D. After referral from an agency, the Planning Board shall consider whether the proposed action is consistent with the LWRP policy standards and conditions set forth in Paragraph K herein. The Planning Board shall require the applicant to submit all completed applications, WAFs and any other information deemed to be necessary to its consistency recommendation.

E. The Planning Board shall render its written recommendation to the agency within thirty (30) days following referral of the WAF form the agency, unless extended by mutual agreement of the Planning Board and the applicant, or in the case of the direct action, the agency. The recommendation shall indicate whether, in the opinion of the Planning Board, the proposed action is consistent with, or inconsistent with, one or more of the LWRP policy standards or conditions and shall elaborate in writing the basis for its opinion.

F. The Planning Board shall, along with its consistency recommendation, make any suggestions to the agency concerning modification of the proposed action to make it consistent with LWRP policy standards and conditions or to greater advance them.

G. In the event that the Planning Board's recommendation is not forthcoming within the specified time, the referring agency shall make its decision without the benefit of the Planning Board's recommendation.

H. If the agency and the Planning Board concur in the consistency of the proposed action, the agency may proceed with the action. In the event that the agency, after reviewing the written recommendation of the Planning Board, finds that it disagrees with the consistency recommendation of the Planning Board, the agency shall, within fifteen (15) days, prepare a written finding detailing its position and transmit it to the Planning Board. The Planning Board and the agency shall meet to resolve their differences within fifteen (15) days of the Planning Board's receipt of the agency's finding.

I. If the Planning Board and the agency cannot reach a mutually agreeable determination of consistency, the matter will be referred to the Village Board for a finding of consistency. The agency shall take no action until the Village Board has made a determination and finding of consistency with the LWRP.


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J. The provisions of IV. G. shall not apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Instead, where the Zoning Board of Appeals is the agency, the Zoning Board of Appeals shall consider the written consistency recommendation of the Planning Board when reviewing and considering an application for a variance.

K. Actions to be undertaken within the waterfront area shall be evaluated for consistency in accordance with the following LWRP policy standards and conditions, a copy of which is on file in the Village Clerk's Office and available for inspection during normal business hours. In the case of direct actions, the agency shall also consult with Section IV of the LWRP in making their consistency determination. The action shall be consistent with the policies to:

1. Foster a pattern of development in the waterfront area that enhances community character, preserves open space, makes efficient use of infrastructure, makes beneficial use of Sylvan Beach’s unique location, and minimizes adverse effects of development.

2. Protect water‐dependent uses, promote siting of new water‐dependent uses in suitable locations, and support efficient harbor operation.

3. Protect agricultural lands.

4. Promote sustainable use of fish and wildlife resources.

5. Protect and restore ecological resources, including significant fish and wildlife habitats, wetlands, and rare ecological communities.

6. Protect and improve water resources.

7. Minimize loss of life, structures, and natural resources from flooding and erosion.

8. Protect and improve air quality.

9. Promote appropriate use and development of energy and mineral resources.


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10. Minimize environmental degradation from solid waste and hazardous substances and wastes.

11. Provide for public access to, and recreational use of, shoreline waters, public lands, and public resources of the waterfront area.

12. Enhance visual quality and protect outstanding scenic resources.

13. Preserve historic resources.

L. If the agency determines that the action would not be consistent with one or more of the LWRP policy standards and conditions, such action shall not be undertaken unless the agency makes a written finding with respect to the proposed action that:

1. No reasonable alternatives exist which would permit the action to be undertaken in a manner which will not substantially hinder the achievement of such LWRP policy standards and conditions;

2. The action would be undertaken in a manner which will minimize all adverse effects on such LWRP policy standards and conditions;

3. The action will advance one or more of the other LWRP policy standards and conditions; and

4. The action will result in an overriding Village, regional or state‐wide

public benefit.

Such a finding shall constitute a determination that the action is consistent with the LWRP policy standards and conditions.

M. Each agency shall maintain a file for each action made the subject of a consistency determination, including any recommendations received from the Planning Board. Such files shall be made available for public inspection upon request.


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VI. Enforcement

1. The Village Zoning Enforcement Officer and Building Inspector shall be responsible for enforcing this local law.

2. No work or activity on a project in the waterfront area which is subject to review under this local law shall be commenced or undertaken until the Zoning Enforcement Officer has been presented with a written determination from an agency that the action is consistent with the Village's LWRP policy standards and conditions.

3. In the event that an activity is not being performed in accordance with this local law or any conditions imposed thereunder, the Zoning Enforcement Officer, Building Inspector or any authorized official of the Village shall issue a stop work order and all work shall immediately cease. No further work or activity shall be undertaken on this project so long as a stop work order is in effect.

VII. Violations

1. A person who violates any of the provisions of, or who fails to comply with any conditions imposed by, this chapter shall have committed a violation, punishable by a fine not exceeding five hundred (500) dollars for a conviction of a first offense and punishable by a fine of one thousand (1,000) dollars for a conviction of a second or subsequent offense. For the purpose of conferring jurisdiction upon courts and judicial officers, each week of continuing violation shall constitute a separate violation.

2. The Village Attorney is authorized and directed to institute any and all actions and proceedings necessary to enforce this local law. Any civil penalty shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any criminal prosecution and penalty.

VIII. Severability

The provisions of this local law are severable. If any provision of this local law is found invalid, such finding shall not affect the validity of this local law as a whole or any part or provision hereof other than the provision so found to be invalid.


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IX. Effective Date

This local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 27 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.

Appendix B

Proposed Harbor Management Law

Be it enacted by the Village Board of Trustees of the Village of Sylvan Beach as follows :

Article I. Introductory

Section 1.1. This local law shall be known and cited as the Village of Sylvan Beach Harbor Management Law.

Section 1.2. The purpose of this law shall be to protect, preserve, and enhance the waterfront resources of the Village of Sylvan Beach and to give legal form and effect to the harbor management provisions of the Village of Sylvan Beach Local Waterfront Revitalization Program.

Section 1.3. This law shall be read and construed in conjunction with the Village of Sylvan Beach Zoning Law, the Village of Sylvan Beach Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, the state Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inland Waterways Act and implementing regulations, the regulatory provisions of the New York State Canal Corporation’s policies and standards, and all other relevant state and regional provisions and regulations for local waterfront management and harbor management.

Section 1.4. The provisions of this law shall apply to all lands under the jurisdiction of the Village of Sylvan Beach which are under water or which meet the definition of a waterfront parcel under the Village of Sylvan Beach Zoning Law.


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Section 1.5. All words used herein shall be understood in their normal and customary meaning or as specifically defined in the laws and regulations referenced in Section 1.3 above. Verbs in the present tense shall be construed to include the future tense; the term person shall be understood to constitute any corporation, partnership, firm, association, organization, joint venture, or other legal means whereby individuals may jointly act, as well as an individual. The terms lot, plot, and parcel shall be read synonymously. Terms related to use or occupation shall be construed to mean both actual use or occupation or the intent, arrangement, or design of land, buildings, or structures to be used or occupied. Words in the singular shall include the plural, and the term shall is intended to be mandatory.

Article 2. General Regulations

Section 2.1. No structure shall be constructed, placed, enlarged, modified, or used in any waters in, abutting, or surrounding the Village of Sylvan Beach which is not in conformity with this law, the Village of Sylvan Beach Zoning Law, and the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code. No structure shall be constructed, placed, enlarged, or modified on waterfront parcels which shall impact the use of such waters unless it is in conformity with this law and the abovementioned Zoning Law and Uniform Code. Building permits shall be required as provided in the Village of Sylvan Beach Zoning Law for any construction or new use, or any significant enlargement or alteration of a structure or use, which is located in such waters or waterfront parcel.

Section 2.2 The Village Board shall from time to time designate specific areas of the waterfront and adjacent waters within the village jurisdiction as:

• Designated swimming beach area

• Designated mixed use beach area

• Designated vessel navigation area

• Designated fishing and recreational boating area

Pending such designation, existing use and beachfront regulations shall be construed to demarcate such areas.

Section 2.3 No person shall operate a boat or other vessel under power or in a manner which shall create a hazard to persons within the water within the designated swimming beach


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area. No person shall operate a boat or other vessel in such a manner as to create a hazard to persons within the water within the designated mixed‐use beach area. Operation of boats and other vessels in response to an emergency shall not be construed to violate this section.

Section 2.4 No boat or other vessel shall be operated, anchored, or moored which is unsafe, unseaworthy, in such a deteriorated condition as to be likely to sink or otherwise become a hazard to navigation or reasonable use of the waters. No person shall operate, anchor, or moor a boat in such a manner as to obstruct designated navigation channels or fairways, nor shall any person permit floating objects to create such an obstruction. Prior to their being left unattended, all vessels shall be securely anchored or moored in a manner which assures that such vessel shall not become such hazard or obstruction.

Section 2.5 Regulations of the New York State Canal Corporation shall apply and supersede any provisions of this law with reference to the canalized portion of Wood Creek commonly referred to as the Erie Canal within the village, and to any other flowing waterways coming under Canal Corporation jurisdiction. Such regulations shall be construed to apply to that area of Oneida Lake under the jurisdiction of the Village in such a manner as to give effect both to such regulations and the provisions and intent of this law.

Section 2.6 No person shall swim, wade, bathe, or dive in such a manner as to create or cause an obstruction to boating or vessel traffic within the designated vessel navigation area or within the designated fishing and recreational boating area.

Article 3. Permitted Structures

Section 3.1 No person shall cause a structure to be built in or floating on the waters of the Village of Sylvan Beach which shall significantly impair water quality, cause harm to fish spawning grounds, damage the natural beauty of the shoreline, cause significant erosion or streambank degradation, create hazards to navigation, interfere with the legal public use and enjoyment of the water surface or shoreline, or otherwise threaten the public health and safety.

Section 3.2 Any structure which is constructed in or extending into the water area shall be so erected as to minimize any grading, dredging, earth moving, or disturbance of land either above or below the waterline, and to permit the free circulation of water and reduce impact on water movements. Such structures shall be constructed in such a manner as to float on the water when feasible, and to be erected on pilings or other modes permitting the free flow of water beneath such structures in other cases. Structures in or extending into waterways which are


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supported by rock‐filled cribbing, sheet piling, closely spaced piling, or other modes of construction which block or significantly impair water movement shall require a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals after justification to that board of the necessity of utilizing such construction.

Section 3.3 No pier, dock, or wharf shall be constructed to extend into the waters of Oneida Lake or the Erie Canal without a special permit conditioned on a clear demonstration that such structure will not impede navigation or adversely impact the scenic and visual quality of the shoreline. This article shall not be construed to prohibit or impede the reconstruction, rehabilitation, or expansion of the existing pier extending into Oneida Lake adjacent to the Erie Canal, nor to the construction of such structures in or adjacent to National Lake for purposes contemplated in the LWRP or the village Zoning Law.

Section 3.4 Appropriate regulations relative to the construction of such piers, docks, wharfs, and related structures may be adopted by resolution of the Village Board from time to time. Any such structure shall be so constructed as to not impede the free navigation of the waterway nor the riparian rights of adjacent landowners, and shall be adequately marked (including lighting where needed) as to prevent any hazard to users of the waterways.

Section 3.5 This law and such regulations shall be so construed as to permit the reasonable use of the waterways by persons owning or occupying residences on waterfront parcels and appropriate commercial use of the waterways, but shall not be construed in a manner which shall impede the reasonable use of the waterways by others nor adverse impacts on the aquatic environment. The Zoning Board of Appeals shall have power to grant or deny permits in accordance with this section.

Article 4

Section 4.1 Reasonable fees may be set by resolution of the Village Board for any permitted use, special permit or special condition as provided herein.

Section 4.2 Any police officer or peace officer, including enforcement officers charged with enforcing the Village Zoning Law and the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, may issue a uniform summons and complaint pursuant to the Criminal Procedure Law and/or the Navigation Law of the State of New York for any violation of the provisions of this local law.


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Section 4.3 Any violation of this local law shall be a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100), imprisonment for up to ninety days, or both, or by a conditional discharge imposing as a condition the correction of any continuing violation of this law. Each week of continued violation of this law, or each day of the creation of a significant navigational hazard in violation of this law, shall constitute a separate offense.

Section 4.4 In addition to the penalties provided above, the Village may bring an action or proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with, or to restrain by injunction, any violation of this local law.

Section 4.5 Application for variances from the strict application of this law shall be submitted to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Such variances may be granted in accordance with the variance provisions of the Zoning Law when the strict application of this law will result in unnecessary hardship to the applicant. In granting such variances, the Zoning Board of Appeals shall make such requirements as shall minimize the negative impact of such variances and shall ensure that the spirit, intent, goals, and objectives of this local law will be observed, the public welfare secured, and substantial justice done.

Section 4.6 This local law shall be construed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the New York State Canal Corporation to the extent that those rules and regulations shall govern any portion of the village’s water and waterfront area. In case of any perceived contradiction between a provision of this law and those rules and regulations, those rules and regulations shall govern in all areas where they are applicable.

Section 4.7 This local law shall take effect upon passage by the Village Board of Trustees, review and consent by the Office of Coastal, Local Government and Community Sustainability of the New York State Department of State, and filing with the Secretary of State of the State of New York.


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Appendix C

Standards for Docks on the Canal


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NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY AUTHORITY/ NEW YORK STATE CANAL CORPORATION

STANDARDS FOR DOCKS ON THE CANAL SYSTEM

NEW YORK STATE CANAL CORPORATION

MAY 2001

BUREAU OF MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS AND PLANNING

TAP‐915 (05/01)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION PAGE

I. Introduction 1

II. Application 1

III. Standards 1

A. Navigation 1

B. General 3

C. Environmental 4


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IV. Appendix 4


I. INTRODUCTION

Section 100 of the Canal Law authorizes the Canal Corporation to "issue revocable permits granting certain limited privileges therein, whenever the same can be done without detriment to Canal navigation or damage to the banks or other structures thereof." The purpose of this document (the "Standards") is to provide specific standards for docks on the Canal System.

II. APPLICATION

The Standards shall apply to residential/non‐commercial docks, which can accommodate four or fewer boats, each of which shall not exceed 40 feet in length, with a maximum dock length of 100 feet.

Commercial docks, as well as docks larger than the size standard established above, will be analyzed on a case‐by‐case basis.

The Standards apply to the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga/Seneca Canals (i.e., the areas under Canal Corporation jurisdiction). Docks on reservoirs and feeder canals will be considered by the Canal Corporation on a case‐by‐case basis.

Any new dock installations or extensions to current docks will require a work permit.

III. STANDARDS

A. NAVIGATION

No dock shall interfere with Canal navigation, by either physically impeding navigation or obstructing the vision of boaters traveling on the Canal System.

1.. Minimum offset from edge of navigation channel (bottom angle):

a. River section: 50 feet minimum offset.

b. Land cut section: 24 feet minimum offset (16 feet clear area plus 8 feet

nominal boat width). Where a 24 feet offset is physically impossible, a dock with 4 feet maximum projection from the shoreline is allowable.

c. On curved sections of the Canal, the Canal Corporation may require greater

offsets than the offsets set forth in a. and b., to account for sight distance or vessel maneuverability considerations. The Division Canal Engineer may designate certain limited areas where docks are prohibited for navigation reasons.Docks shall be parallel to shore in land cut areas.


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2. Docks shall be at least 50 feet from Canal Corporation navigation aids.

3. Docks and moored boats shall not hinder boaters' views of navigation aids or

structures on the Canal System.

4. Protection of the dock and moored boats from passing boat wakes is the permittee's

responsibility. Boats shall not be moored on the outer (Canal) side of wake protection devices.

2.


5. Docks and slips shall have their design approved by the Division Canal Engineer.

A standard approved dock design is attached as Appendix A.

6. Excavated slips are not permitted where:

a. The Canal is in an embankment section;

b. An unstable or unsafe condition would be created; or

c.. The Division Canal Engineer determines that there is insufficient Canal

Right‐of‐Way, or a future trail would be impeded.

8. No dock installation will be permitted which may impair the integrity of an

embankment.

9. Slips, cuts, etc., must be lined with stone bank protection, riprap, or other method

for protection against erosion and wave action as approved by the Canal Corporation.

B..... GENERAL

1. One dock per property owner (residential) is permitted. More than one

dock shall be treated as a commercial dock installation.

2. Docks and decks shall not restrict access (e.g., for trails, maintenance or

operations) across Canal lands.

3. Docks shall be set back at least 10 feet from property lines of adjacent upland

owners. Extensions of property lines across Canal Corporation property to the water shall be as determined by the Canal Corporation.


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4. No new boathouses will be permitted.

5. Covered slips may have a roof only — no sides are permitted.

6. Excavated slips, where permitted, shall be no larger than 1,000 sq. feet.

7. All electrical and plumbing services to docks, slips and decks shall meet all

applicable local, state and federal codes.

8. No enclosed storage shall be permitted on docks or decks.

9. Flotation devices for docks shall be foam blocks, pontoons or other material

manufactured specifically for flotation. Metal barrels, drums, or other containers that are not specifically made for flotation are prohibited.

10. Retaining walls, when a part of a dock request, shall be constructed of stone, concrete

blocks, poured concrete or other materials acceptable to the Canal Corporation. Railroad ties, vehicle tires, creosote timbers, guide railing, and asphalt are not permitted.

3


C. ENVIRONMENTAL

1. Any dock with more than four boat moorings or 100 linear feet of dockage will require

an independent environmental review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).

2. No creosote or pentachlorophenol shall be allowed.

3. Slips or other excavations shall require a letter of no effect from the State Historic Preservation

Office before permit issuance.

4. Slips or other excavations will require appropriate sampling and disposal of materials as

directed by the Canal Corporation.


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5. Fills are prohibited within the limits of an established floodway, flowage easement or flood

plain, unless mitigation measures approved by the Canal Corporation and all other appropriate state and federal agencies are included.


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4


IV. APPENDIX

APPENDIX A

(Reduced from Sheet Size 8‐1/2" x 1 V)

This information was compiled for planning purposesand is NOT a survey product. It may not be reproducedor transmitted for commercial purposes or for any otherpurpose without the prior authorization of the NYS TugHill Commission. NYSTHC makes no claims as to theaccuracy or completeness of the data contained hereon.

VILLAGE OF SYLVAN BEACHBase Map

[0 500 1,000250

Feet

LegendRoads

Village/TownState

ONEID

A LA

KE


VILLAGE OF SYLVAN BEACHAerial Image

[0 500 1,000250

Feet

ONEID

A LA

KE


VILLAGE OF SYLVAN BEACHLand Use

[0 500 1,000250

Feet

LegendAgricultureResidentialVacantCommercialRecreation

Community ServicesIndustrialPublic ServiceForest

ONEID

A LA

KE


VILLAGE OF SYLVAN BEACHPublic Lands

[0 500 1,000250

Feet

LegendOneida CountyVillage


VILLAGE OF SYLVAN BEACH1895 Historic Map

[0 500 1,000250

Feet


VILLAGE OF SYLVAN BEACHDevelopment Constraints

[0 500 1,000250

Feet

LegendNWI WetlandsDEC WetlandsFlood Hazard Area

ONEID

A LA

KE

village of sylvan beach local waterfront revitalization program

Documents