wnyssb nomination study expansion october 2014

Western New York Southtowns Scenic Byway, Inc.

!Amendment to the Original Nomination Study

For the Expansion of the

Western New York Southtowns Scenic Byway

October 27, 2014

!For Expansion of the Scenic Byway from the

Village of Springville/Town of Concord

Into the Towns of Ashford and Ellicottville, and Village of Ellicottville, in Cattaraugus County

Western New York Southtowns Scenic Byway Amendment to the Original Nomination Study

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Western New York Southtowns Scenic Byway

Amendment to the Original Nomination Study

For the Expansion of the WNYSSB into

Cattaraugus County

October 27, 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

II. EXPANSION OF THE BYWAY – THE PROPOSED ROUTE

III. SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION

IV. PROPOSED BYWAY EXTENSION RESOURCE INVENTORY

V. BENEFITS OF THE BYWAY EXPANSION

VI. ROADWAY AND ROADSIDE CONDITIONS

VII. STEWARDSHIP AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

APPENDICES

A. Government Resolutions of Support

B. NYSDOT Sign Inventory

C. Community Recognition


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`

I. Executive Summary

I.1 The Byway Proposal

The Western New York Southtowns Scenic Byway (WNYSSB), a legally New York

State authorized Byway, is currently 71 miles in length. It forms a slender triangle,

passing through five towns and three villages in southern Erie County. Its primary

routes are US 219 Expressway, from Orchard Park to Springville; US Route 20A,

which forms the northern boundary; Mill Road and NY 240 to towns of Aurora,

Colden and Concord; and NY 39 through the Village of Springville, connecting to

US 219. WNYSSB’s Alternate Byway route includes Chestnut Ridge Road and

Springville-Boston Road, which runs interior to the primary route.

It is proposed that, due to scenic, historic, and cultural aspects, the Byway be

extended in a loop fashion a total distance of 37 miles, into Cattaraugus County to

the south. This extension would begin at the US 219 and NY 39 intersection (in

Concord), and continue south along the US 219 expressway into the Town of

Ashford, to its terminus at the Peters Road interchange; then south along US 219

into Ellicottville, at its intersection with NY 242; then continue westerly along US

219/NY 242 into the Village of Ellicottville, and then south along NY 219 to the

Ellicottville Town border, for a distance of 20 miles. The loop would be closed by

continuing 17 miles from the NY 242/US 219 Intersection and northeast via NY

242 to NY 240; then continue north into Ashford and West Valley, crossing

Cattaraugus Creek, and meeting the Byway at its intersection at NY 240/NY39.

The proposed extension would result in a WNYSSB with a length of 108 miles.

This measurement is in line with other major byways across New York State.

Figure I-1 shows the Byway in its current configuration, as well as the proposed

Byway Extension.


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Figure I-1 WNYSSB - Current

Configuration and Proposed

Extension

Current Western New York

Southtowns Scenic Byway:

71 miles

Proposed Western New York

Southtowns Scenic Byway

Extension: 37 miles


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I.2 Support for the Proposed Action

The WNYSSB Board has given approval to seek NYSDOT approval of this route

extension. This addition is proposed because the expansion of the Byway as

described is in context with the purpose, mission, and values of the WNYSSB.

Specifically, the US 219/NY 242/NY240 loop in Cattaraugus County offers scenic

beauty, rolling topography, and visual assets that parallel that of the WNYSSB in

its current configuration. There are historical and cultural resources in each town

that offer those visitors to the Byway additional activities and enjoyment

opportunities that should be promoted in the context of a scenic byway.

All of the following municipalities and counties have come forward and agreed by

resolution to this extension, and to the legal ramifications and benefits that

accompany a New York State Byway:

Cattaraugus County Erie County

The Town of Ashford

The Town of Ellicottville

The Town of Concord

The Village of Springville

The Village of Ellicottville

I.3 Benefits of the Proposed Expansion

The WNYSSB has been successful in its mission, but the breadth of the Byway in

its current configuration tends to be local in nature, as it is geographically limited

to Southern Erie County. The opportunity to expand geographically would create

a regional Scenic Byway that would represent two counties and more closely tie

the Southern Tier of New York State with the Buffalo Metropolitan area.

The argument for this geographic expansion becomes more compelling when

consideration is given that the proposed corridor offers numerous cultural, scenic,

tourist, recreational, and historic activities present within it. This report

demonstrates that the proposed Byway expansion offers a natural extension that

creates synergies and opportunities to promote the entire Buffalo area, its

Southtowns, and the Southern Tier under a single umbrella entity.


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II. Expansion of the Byway - The Proposed Route

The Western New York Southtowns Scenic Byway (WNYSSB), a legally New York

State authorized Byway, is currently 71 miles in length. It forms a slender triangle,

passing through five towns and three villages in southern Erie County. Its western

spine is the US 219 Expressway, which carries one through from Orchard Park to

Springville. US Route 20A forms the northern boundary. From its junction with US

219, continue east through the Villages of Orchard Park and East Aurora. From

here you can enjoy the Village of East Aurora and then turn south on Mill Road

and take NY 240 to towns of Aurora, Colden and Concord. At NY 39, travel west

through the Village of Springville, from which you can take the WNYSSB’s

Alternate Byway route of the Springville-Boston Road or US 219 north through

Boston’s and return.

The proposed expansion to the WNYSSB will follow in a loop, similar in nature to

the original Byway, as follows:

From the Interchange of US 219 with US 39 in the Town of Concord, the

extension will continue down US 219 to the Towns of Ashford and

Ellicottville. The segments are as follows:

o US 219 at US 39, south via the US 219 expressway, to the Peters Road

interchange, 3.7 miles

o From Peters Road to the Old US 219, south via US 219 through

Ashford and into Ellicottville, to the Intersection with NY 242, 13.5

miles

o From NY 242 at US 219, west through the Village of Ellicottville, to

the main corners, where US 219 veers south, 1.0 miles

o From the main corners in Ellicottville, south via US 219, to the

Ellicottville town line, 1.6 miles.

From the Interchange of US 219 with NY242 in the Town of Ellicottville, the

loop is closed by continuing northeast on NY242, then north up NY 240 to


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Springville, where it will meet the current Byway. The segments are as

follows:

o NY 242 at US 219, easterly along NY 242 to the intersection with NY

240, 3.5 miles

o NY 240, through Ashford and West Valley, and continuing into the

Town of Concord and the Village of Springville, to the connection

with the Byway at the NY 39/NY 240 Intersection, 14 miles.

Figure II-1 shows the existing WNY Southtowns Scenic Byway route. Figure II-2

shows the proposed byway extension into Cattaraugus County.


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Figure II-1 WNYSSB Current Configuration


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Figure II-2 WNYSSB Proposed Extension


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III. SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION

III.1 The Position of the Western New York Southtowns Scenic Byway

The WNYSSB Mission Statement

To promote economic development and community pride through the thoughtful

stewardship of the natural, scenic, cultural, historic, and recreational resources of

the byway region.

The Byway is a 501(c) (3) Corporation registered with the IRS as a nonprofit

corporation Code. Its EIN is 26-4497213.

The Byway has demonstrated a clear track record of success. During the past few

years it was the recipient of NYS-DOT route signing (2011), and in 2013 the

successful completion of a $66,000 Federal/State grant funded 14 interpretive

sign program. The Byway is in pursuit of other grants. The Byway organization

has become active in the community, and participates in and promotes the Byway

routinely. The WNYSSB and the organization that monitors the Byway have

proven viability.

On Expansion of the Byway

Discussions have led to the conclusion by the WNYSSB that it is both natural and

beneficial to extend the Byway into Cattaraugus County, via US 219 to Ellicottville,

and via NY 240 and 242 through Ashford and to Springville.

The WNYSSB Board has given approval to seek NYSDOT approval of this route

extension. This addition is proposed because the expansion of the Byway as

described is in context with the purpose, mission, and values of the WNYSSB.

Specifically, the US 219/NY 242/NY240 loop in Cattaraugus County offers scenic

beauty, rolling topography, and visual assets that parallel that of the WNYSSB in

its current configuration. There are various historical and cultural resources in

each town named that offer those visitors to the Byway additional activities and


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enjoyment opportunities that should be promoted in the context of a scenic

byway. US 219 offers an easily accessible route by which these assets can be

enjoyed, and NY 240 and NY242 offers a tour of nature’s splendors as it winds

through forested areas and farmlands. The extension would naturally link Erie and

Cattaraugus Counties with a common identifiable feature, which would allow for

the common promotion of the area. Chapter IV provides numerous examples of

the resources and attributes the area affords.

In order for this extension to become a reality, the Towns and Villages involved

with this extension have had to welcome the Byway designation and accepted the

legal requirements that come with the designation.

III.2 Participation and Support of the Local Communities

The WNYSSB Board of Directors, as a matter of record, has decided that to move

the proposal forward, both the communities involved, and the Counties involved,

would need to agree by resolution to accept Byway expansion. WNYSSB support

for advancement of this proposal is based on the unanimous resolutions of

approval of all for whom the Byway extension would pass through.

Appendix A contains instruments that each municipality have executed,

indicating their legal agreement to support the Byway. They have come forward

and unanimously agreed in writing to this extension, and to the legal ramifications

and benefits that accompany a New York State Byway. The following

communities and counties have agreed to this proposal:

Erie County

The Town of Concord

The Village of Springville

Cattaraugus County

The Town of Ashford

The Town of Ellicottville

The Village of Ellicottville


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The prospect of bringing the WNYSSB to Cattaraugus County was subject to

significant public debate. WNYSSB, when necessary, facilitated to educate and

inform the communities who were interested in the Byway as to the benefits and

stipulations of Byway participation and membership. The full cooperation and

assistance of the representatives of the NYSDOT was useful in assisting the

communities to make an informed decision to approve the Byway action to move

forward. It is most important to note that this expansion proposal would not have

moved forward if it were not for the overwhelming support of the local

municipalities. This is clearly a ground up effort.

The following is a brief chronology of events that have taken place to result in this

Amendment to the Original WNYSSB Nomination Study being prepared:

1) October 2013 to November 2013. Contacts were made to arrange a meeting of

community leaders. This included Charles Coolidge, Mayor of Ellicottville; the

Supervisors of the Towns of Ashford (Chris Gerwitz) and Ellicottville (John Burrell); Brian

McFadden, the Executive Director of the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce; Dennis

Eshbaugh, the President of Holiday Valley Resort; and Dave Riley, the General Manager

of Holimont.

2) December 5, 2013. A meeting is held at Holiday Valley where the WNYSSB program and

expansion was presented to the persons noted above plus: Chrystal Abers, the Director

of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism for Cattaraugus County; Bill Krebs, the

Mayor of Springville; and Dan Brown, Supervisor of the Town of Great Valley,. The

WNYSSB was represented by Bob Lennartz, President of the WNYSSB, and Ron Klinczar,

Vice President. The presentation was well received. The municipal leaders showed a

great interest in the program. The restrictions on offsite advertising signs generally

were not a concern as current town and village regulations were already strict. A

number of handouts were distributed including an outline of benefits that could accrue

from joining.

3) January 30, 2014 to January 5, 2014. This edition of “The Villager” which is a

Cattaraugus County community newspaper, gives a front page article that explains the

Byway program, and notes the solid cooperation that the WNYSSB is receiving,

especially from the Chamber of Commerce.

4) February 22, 2014. An article in the Buffalo News confirms the support for the WNYSSB

expansion by the Cattaraugus County Legislatures Development and Agricultural

Committee. This put the issue on the March agenda for full consideration by the

Cattaraugus County Legislature.


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5) March 10, 2014. WNYSSB made a presentation to the town of Great Valley’s Town

Board. The reception was positive, but after a few weeks of debate the Town Board

decided that a 3.5 mile section of US 219 through the town, ending at NY 98, should not

be included in the Byway expansion proposal.

6) February 2014 to April 2014: The Towns of Ashford and Ellicottville, the Village of

Ellicottville, the Town of Concord, Village of Concord, and Erie County approve, via

resolution, the expansion proposal.

7) March 2014 to June 2014. With the support of Ashford, and the Town and Village of

Ellicottville, WNYSSB sought the position of Cattarugus County on the expansion

proposal. Significant debate transpired on the requirements regarding restrictions on

offsite advertising signs. The Cattaraugus County Legislature referred the decision on

the Byway Support resolution to the County’s Finance Committee. All resolutions need

to clear the Finance Committee. Considerable assistance to provide clarity on

regulations is provided by Ron DiRienzo and Nancy Alexander of the NYSDOT. The

Supervisors of Ellicottville and Ashford, along with the Mayor of Ellicottville, express

support to the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee approves the measure,

which forwards the proposed resolution to full 21 member County Legislature.

8) Jun 25, 2014. The County Legislature approves the resolution with a vote of 20 to 1. The

attached articles from the Buffalo News and Olean Times Herald document the

significant support. Note the strong positive public comments from the municipal

leaders.

9) October 27, 2014: Addendum to the Nomination Study (this document) submitted to

NYSDOT Main Office Albany with a request to have the Byway extended.


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IV. PROPOSED BYWAY EXPANSION RESOURCE

INVENTORY

This section provides an inventory of the resources of each of the communities

included in the expansion proposal. The descriptions represent a majority of the

resources of value in the municipalities described, but, by nature, additional

resources can always be found by the observer. By highlighting those key

resources that contribute to the communities’ value, reasons for inclusion in the

WNYSSB are found. Assets highlighted include:

Recreational Quality

Cultural Quality

Historic Quality

Natural and Agricultural Quality

Scenic Assessment

The Proposed Byway expansion route is characterized by Village development in

Springville, transitioning to rural and agricultural land use as one travels south on

US 219, then entering a major tourist destination in Ellicottville. The NY

242/NY240 loop is mainly rural, with rolling terrain and numerous natural sights,

with a hamlet setting found in West Valley.

The resources identified form sort of a compatibility argument that Cattaraugus

County is not only a natural expansion for the Byway, but it adds to the value of

the Scenic Byway by nature of its many characteristics.

The resources and characteristics of each of the communities, and they assets

they bring, are found in the following sub-sections.


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Town of Concord/Village of Springville, Erie County

The Town of Concord and its included Village of Springville are communities

through which the current WNYSSB runs. This route includes US 219 from the

north to NY 39, and then east to NY 240, thence north to the town line.

The proposed scenic Byway will extend through the town from each of its two

main intersections south along US 219, and south along Route 240. In each case,

the route will run to the town (and County edge) at Cattaraugus Creek, and along

the eastern and western borders of the Village of Springville.

Since the resource inventory of the town and village were presented in the

Original Nomination Study dated August 1, 2007, this section is limited to a brief

re-listing of only those resources within the vicinity to the proposed Byway

Expansion. Refer to Volume 1 of the Nomination Study for a complete description

of Concord and Springville’s resources.

Public Parks and Open Spaces:

Scoby Dam Park, off of

US 219, north of

Cattaraugus Creek: The

dam, across Cattaraugus

Creek, is listed on the

State and National

Registers of Historic

Places.

Sprague Brook County

Park, approximately 5

miles north of the NY

39/NY 240 intersection

Erie County Forestry Preserve, located throughout the town of Concord,

627 acres, of which a majority is non-recreational preserve space.

Fiddlers Green Park, Springville, and Colden Town Park

Shuttleworth Park on Spring Brook in Springville

Scoby Dam and Park


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Future Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail at intersection of Rte. 39 in Springville

Concord Community Park on North Buffalo Street.

Private Recreational Facilities:

Springville Country Club, located off US 219 about ½ mile north of

Cattaraugus Creek, is a full service golf facility.

Springville Youth Incorporated pool and recreational facility in Springville

Attractions:

The Pop Warner Museum, Village of Springville, tribute museum to the

college football legend Glenn “Pop” Warner.

The Mercantile Museum and blue grass music venue on Franklin St.

Springville Center for the Arts, non-for-profit organization featuring a

gallery hosting regional exhibits. The Springville Players perform here.

Civil War Museum on East Main Street in Springville

The Joylan Theatre, historic art deco movie theatre featuring prime release

family motion pictures.

Special Events:

Genter’s Auction and Flea Market,

Village of Springville, held every

Wednesday

Springville Pageant of Bands (May)

Western New York Dairy Agricultural

Festival (June)

Fiddlers Green Gazebo Concert Series

(summer)

Pop Warner Homecoming (October)

Halloween Parade (late October)

Concord Country Christmas (December)

Springville Merry Main Street

(December)

Springville Art Crawl (May)

Springville Country and Blue Grass

Music Festival (July) Statue at Fiddler’s Green Park,

Springville

http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=c0f1086f-efce-4707-850c-63c0d6b8cb54&gid=3


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Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony

Veterans Day Ceremony

Historic Quality:

Civil War Monument at Fiddler’s Green Park, Springville

Springville Academy, pre-1840’s

Concord Historical Society, headquartered at the Pop Warner museum

Springville Post Office, listed on the State and National Register of Historic

Places

Citizens National Bank Building, listed on the State and National Register of

Historic Places (now the Village Office)

East Main-Mechanic Street Historic District, listed on the State and National

Register of Historic Places

Buffalo Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad Station, built 1911, listed on the

State and National Register of Historic Places (now Spring Creek Pharmacy)

East Hill and West Main Street Districts, potentially eligible for listing on the

State and National Register of Historic Places

Natural Resources:

Zoar Valley gorge and cliffs, Cattaraugus Creek – featuring whitewater and

14 waterfalls, access from Mill Street and Scoby Dam Park

Spring Brook with its access from Shuttleworth Park as a trout fishery

Zoar Valley vista from South Cascade parking area, and the South Cascade –

Miller Road Bridge

Genesee Road Vista

of the Boston Valley

from Genesee Rd

near Rte. 219

Genesee Road Vista,

Concord


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Town of Ashford, Cattaraugus County

Ashford was first settled around 1816, and the Town was founded in 1824 by

Henry Frank Sr., a Revolutionary War Veteran from Philadelphia, Pa. The north

boundary is formed by Cattaraugus Creek, and the north town line is the border

of Erie County, New York. The south border is created by the Towns of Ellicottville

and East Otto.

US 219 forms the north-south link of the western side of the town with Erie

County and the City of Buffalo, and NY 240 forms a similar north-south link in the

eastern part of the town. The proposed extension of the WNYSSB involves the

two major roadway routes from southern Erie County into Cattaraugus County,

through the Town of Ashford.

Western side of the town

Entering from the north, the recently completed US 219 expressway extension

crosses the grand and majestic Cattaraugus Creek via a new arch signature bridge

constructed by the New York State Department of Transportation. This bridge in

itself (featured on the cover of this document) is an aesthetic monument that will

certainly grow in

stature with time.

The entire Cattaraugus

Creek ecosystem has

many attributes,

including its beauty

and majesty, its gorge

features, and its

dynamic stream

characteristics with

dramatic ebb and flow

tendencies. The

erodible soils in the Cattaraugus Creek, Erie and Cattaraugus Counties


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valley give the creek an ever- changing streambank, resulting in sand pockets,

mini-wetland ecosystems, and a host of vegetative covers. The creek is a fishing

and rafting paradise.

Continuing to travel south, the

new US 219 expressway

extension to Peters Road has

resulted in the creation of some

of the most breathtaking views

found on US 219. A steep

descent grade opens up the

Ashford hillside to the driver and

passenger. Steep cuts have

created the feeling that one is

softly descending from the high gorge area of Cattaraugus Creek to a more subtle

rolling terrain that Ashford offers. These views are in character with what the

original intent of the Scenic Byway was founded on…to allow the traveler to

experience the US 219 corridor and its majestic scenery.

At the Peters Road interchange, the traveler is taken onto the mainly 2-lane US

219 highway. Along this way, various roadside stands sell their harvest. Streams

cascade into ponds along the way, and a variety of open land, wooded areas, and

farmlands are found.

The terrain remains

rolling and ever changing,

but a relatively flatter

area is found as one

enters the hamlet of

Ashford Hollow. A small

rural character

community, the 1 mile

stretch offers services to

the traveler without


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overbearing signs, and in keeping with the context of the area. The traveler

knows they are in Cattaraugus County community that sits nestled in between the

scenery of the surrounding hills.

Griffis Sculpture Park

One of the main attractions in all of Cattaraugus County comes into play as the

traveler reaches the Griffis Sculpture Park. This park is located south of Ashford

Hollow, via Plato Road off of US 219.

Since the early 1960’s, the steel sculptures of founder Larry Griffis, Jr. and other

international artists have been residing in the woods, fields, and even ponds of

Griffis Sculpture Park. The 450 acre Ashford Hollow park is not only a tremendous

regional attraction, but holds the distinction of being one of America’s largest and

oldest sculpture parks.

Sculptures at Griffis Sculpture Park,

Ashford


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The park features over 250 large scale sculptures dispersed through miles of

hiking trails. Each sculpture was placed with the natural setting in mind, creating a

truly unique experience between art and nature.

The park is actually split into two sections: Rohr Hill Road Site and Mill Valley

Road Site. The Rohr Hill area is characterized by towering sculptures set in fields

and woods just off the road. The Mill Valley Road Site features both a smooth

walk area, as well miles of trails through a variety of terrain. Whether you have

five minutes or five hours, one can always get a flavor of the park.

The Griffis Sculpture Park is open from May 1 to October 31.

As one continues south along US 219, the terrain grows somewhat steeper.

Truck climbing lanes have been installed along some sections of US 219 in

response. This transition marks the ascent into the sharper, wooded, and

spectacular terrain of the approaching town of Ellicottville.

Eastern side of the town

The entrance into Cattaraugus County from Erie County on the eastern end of

Ashford is also spectacular, and is clearly defined by the landmark of Cattaraugus

Creek. As previously mentioned, the Creek provides an ideal spot for trout &

sport fishing, and affords an opportunity for appreciation of the area scenery.

Bigelow Bridge

NY 240 crosses the creek in this area in a much more subtle way. The crossing

affords a view of the creek and of the adjacent and historic Bigelow Bridge.

Painted a distinctive powder blue, one cannot help but glimpse at this beautiful

structure, which has been preserved by the NYSDOT. The bridge is limited to

pedestrian activity, and is used to view the creek, to fish, and to relax. A parking

area has been created to allow visitors to safely walk the bridge and read of its

history. The date marker on the bridge clearly dates the structure to 1928.


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The historic Bigelow Bridge crosses Cattaraugus Creek and into Ashford. NY

240 is directly east. The bridge is no longer used for vehicle traffic. Its date

plate is shown below.


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This history of the bridge can be found on a historical marker that was installed at

the site.

“The Bigelow Bridge over the Cattaraugus Creek is significant as an intact example

of a “Pennsylvania (Petit)” truss. This is a Parker truss modified with the addition

of sub struts, resting on reinforced concrete abutments. This is an unusual bridge

type in New York State and may represent the work of a Pennsylvania bridge

builder rather than the typical New York bridge company. This type of truss

structure was more commonly employed by railroads. Built in 1928 this single-

span steel bridge is also important as a prominent element in an unaltered rural

setting.

The bridge was designed for very heavy live loads which may relate to the historic

use of this road as a motor, truck route. Between the southern tier and the

Niagara Frontier by 1928 the motor truck had become an indisputable factor in

the total economic system of Western New York. At the same time the farm

products of the rural southern tier were transported along NY 240 crossing

Bigelow Bridge by truck to Buffalo to sustain the inhabitants in a growing

economy. Bigelow Bridge retains a high degree of historic integrity.

The adjoining areas of Cattaraugus Creek are also listed on the Nationwide Rivers

Inventory because they possess areas of significant topography, diversity, and

variation. These sections of Cattaraugus Creek have outstanding remarkable

geologic value and are eligible for inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers

System.”

Cattaraugus Creek is listed on the National Park Services’ Nationwide Rivers

Inventory. The attributes of the Creek are well noted by virtue of this listing.

“The Nationwide Rivers Inventory” is a listing of more than 3,400 free-flowing

river segments in the United States that are believed to possess one or more

"outstandingly remarkable" natural or cultural values judged to be of more than

local or regional significance.” Cattaraugus Creek is an attribute worth adding to

the WNYSSB.


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Hamlet of West Valley

The municipal center for Ashford is located in West Valley. It is a hamlet in the

Town of Ashford. It does not have any autonomous government separate from

the town of Ashford. The population was 518 at the 2010 census. It is located at

the intersection of Cattaraugus County Route 53 and NYS 240. The hamlet is

dotted by many older, well-kept homes that date back to the turn of the last

century.

Images from West Valley,

Town of Ashford, New York

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_United_States_Census


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Traveling along NY 240 takes visitor through miles of hills intermixed with

agricultural areas, open spaces and much to support the categorization of a scenic

byway drive.

From West Valley the traveler proceeds south to the NY 240 junction with NY

242, which continues into the town and village of Ellicottville. This route coincides

with railroad development which brought goods and services, including coal, to

Scenes from Ashford


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the burgeoning economies of the WNY Southtowns. An important railroad

junction is Ashford Junction. The Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway was

primarily a coal hauling railroad which ran from the coal fields of central

Pennsylvania to the ports of Rochester & Buffalo. In Western New York, the lines

formed a "Y" shape connecting Buffalo, Rochester, and Salamanca. The line ran

north from Salamanca to Ashford Junction where it split and continued to

Rochester and Buffalo. One of the main stations of this railroad is celebrated in

one of WNYSSB’s interpretive signs that were installed in the Village of Orchard

Park. The photo below is of the Ashford Junction Station, which recently

celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013.

Ashford Junction


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Town of Ellicottville/Village of Ellicottville, Cattaraugus County

There is no other place quite like Ellicottville. Nestled in the low rise foot of the

Alleghany Mountains, the community is an all season resort that provides the

visitor with glorious scenery, quaint history, and cultural activities. It could be

described as a “little Lake Placid” minus the high peaks and the Olympic

experience.

There is little dispute that the ski slopes in Ellicottville afford some of the best

skiing in Western New York, as visitors are attracted from Canada, Pennsylvania,

Ohio, and beyond. But Ellicottville has been becoming a summer destination,

and the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce reports that the summer now draws

more tourists than the winter. Even the fall affords a huge fall festival that draws

in crowds to see the changing color leaves.

This aerial view conveys some of the towns’ attractions which draw in enthusiasts

during all seasons. These include golf, skiing, shops and restaurants, and

mountainside accommodations, among others. This section will convey some of

the attractions that, together with its obvious charm, draw tourists in and make

Ellicottville a natural southern termination for the WNYSSB.


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Traveling south into Ellicottville

As the traveler heads south, from Ashford

into the Town of Ellicottville, the rural

roadway continues as Route 219 bends

through the hillsides and trees. Shortly

after entering the town, a clearing on a

ridge spine opens to views of nature, as

shown in the photo on the right.

From this clearing, a right turn onto Plato

Road will take the visitor off the beaten

path a bit, to the respite of a country road,

winding its way past horse and cattle

farms, ponds and lakes, en route to one of

the hidden gems of the county, Rainbow

Lake, home to camping and fishing. In

reality, the lake is in the town of East Otto,

but is only a few miles of a drive off the

Route 219 corridor. Camping facilities,

fishing spots and boating lakes are

abundant.

From Route 219 south from Plato

Road the trip continues to the top of

a hilly ridge. As the descent begins

and the trees offer a bit of an

opening, rolling hills extend for

miles. As the traveler meanders

down the hillside, the US Route 219

roadway winds to the left and then

The view above looking to the East as travelers

head south on Route 219 just into the north

boundary of the Town of Ellicottville

One of the lakes visible from Plato Road


Page 28

right. Once the turn at the bottom of the hill is rounded, an immediate right into

a parking area offers visitors the chance to view a wide array of ecosystems in the

Hinman Valley Wetland Complex. The wetlands have been protected, and are

furnished with an interpretive sign co-sponsored by the New York State

Department of Transportation and the state Department of Environmental

Conservation.

As tourists approach the Village of Ellicottville, Route 219 joins with NY Route 240.

At this intersection, the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery stands guard with older

stones and statuary. A right turn toward the village, and a slight upward gaze,

greet the traveler with views of the slopes of one of Ellicottville’s two ski resorts,

Holiday Valley Resort and HoliMont.

Once entering the village, a right turn onto Filmore Avenue about a half mile off

of US 219 leads to a blend of nature and relaxation. The Nannen Arboretum is an

eight-acre site, donated to the Cornell Cooperative Extension by local

businessman, William O. Nannen. The arboretum offers space for reflection. The

facility also offers space for outdoor lectures and events such as weddings.

Situated on the space is a pond, dubbed Lake Nipponica. A Zen rock garden lends

itself to visitors. It is based on a garden in Kyoto, Japan that was built by Zen

monks 800 years ago. The arboretum has a paved path and every plant is labeled

for visitors to get a better understanding of the grounds and what would grow

well in the Cattaraugus County and Western New York Climate.

An interpretive sign marks the

high points of the Hinman

Valley Wetland Complex, just

off Route 219, Town of

Ellicottville. The sign describes

the complex of natural

systems and what each offers

to the area.


Page 29

(Above) The entrance to the

Nannen Arboretum in

Ellicottville

(Right) The Historic Herb

Garden at the Arboretum

(Left) Zen Garden on the

Arboretum grounds

(Right) The Bridge at

Lake Nipponica


Page 30

One travels southwest into the Village along US 219, greeted with unique

shopping choices and a village that is full of history and historically significant

buildings. On the eastern corner of Monroe and Washington Streets is a building

known as The Market Place. It was built in 1885 by a Civil War officer, Alexander

Bird, A First Lieutenant in the Union Army. He fought alongside General Sherman

in his famous March to the Sea, as well as at Chancellorsville, Pine Mountain.

Bird was a member of the famed 154th N.Y. Volunteers, serving in Company ‘G’,

and was wounded in the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge.

From this point, a visitor continuing south on Route 219 will pass through

architecture dating back to the 1800s that has remained untouched, preserving its

19th Century allure. At the traffic light at the intersection of Washington and

Jefferson Streets, a look to the right will reveal what now stands as the Town

Historical Downtown, Ellicottville


Page 31

Museum. The building has been the County

Clerk’s office, in the days of Ellicottville being

the County Seat, a German Protestant Church, a

volunteer fire company, a library and even a

school. The structure, built in 1853, stand across

the street from what began life as the town

school. Built in 1887-1888, in a Romanesque

Revival style, the building was a school until

1978, when the current Ellicottville Central

School was built just south of the village.

Preservation efforts to prevent the building

from being demolished began almost

immediately as the Ellicottville Public Library

took the structure as a home until 2006. The

building is currently under re-development into

residential space.

The Northwestern corner of the intersection is

home to the Village offices. The building was built in 1829 as the center of

Cattaraugus County government until 1868, when the County Seat was moved to

Little Valley due to lack of railroad access in Ellicottville at the time. The building

was purchased as a Town Hall but also functioned as an odeum, housing plays,

concerts and lectures on a second-floor stage. After a fire destroyed much of the

building in 1969, renovation efforts

restored the Federal Period architecture

of the facade. Until 2013, the building

housed both town and village

government. In 2013, the town moved to

the former Cornell Cooperative Extension

building, off Filmore Drive, in the Village’s

east side. The Village offices remain in

the building today.

The Town Museum Building, Washington

and Jefferson Streets, Ellicottville

The Town Hall Building, Ellicottville


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Directly south of the Town

Hall building sits St. John’s

Episcopal Church, an

example of Gothic Revival

church architecture. The

church, built in 1837,

holds many interesting

artifacts. One is its bell,

named Gabriel. The bell

was cast in 1788 in

Malaga, Spain, and

transported up the Hudson

River, through the Erie

Canal, and to Buffalo on

water. The bell finally made its way to Ellicottville by way of ox-drawn cart.

Gabriel was bought by subscription for $125.

Unique feature within the Church is that the interior lacks a center aisle. Instead,

the church features two side aisles. As is common place in the Gothic style, all

elements, from windows to buttresses, are all designed to draw the worshipper’s

eye upward, toward God.

Next door to St. John’s

Church is the oldest frame

structure to be built in

Ellicottville. The Leonard-

Ellis-Harrison Residence, at 8

West Washington Street, was

built in 1817 by Baker

Leonard for the Holland Land

Company as an Inn for land

prospectors. The land

company rejected the

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Ellicottville

9 West Washington Street, Ellicottville


Page 33

building on the high expense. Leonard kept it, transforming it into a tavern,

trading post and home. Not only did it serve such retail and lodging use, but the

building served as the county court house.

Across Washington Street, at 9 West Washington Street, stands what was once

the home to Stanley N. Clarke, a subagent for the Holland Land Company. The

structure, built in 1822 was remodeled in 1909 with the addition of a Classical

Revival portico, complete with three-story columns. The building has been

renovated to house apartments and offices, to include the Ellicottville Chamber of

Commerce and Visitor Center.

A self-guided walking tour of the Village of Ellicottville has been created to

showcase these structures, as well as well as others, nearly 30 in total. Visitors

can pick up a map at the Chamber of Commerce at 9 West Washington Street.

From this location the visitor has two options. A traveler can continue up West

Washington Street as it becomes NY Route 242, just off of the proposed scenic

byway route. The trip ascends up a hill adjacent to some of the ski slopes, and

reveals rural scenes that make the Enchanted Mountains the gem of Cattaraugus

County. Just out of the Village of Ellicottville, to the left, the road winds between

cottages and condominiums to the area’s semi-private ski area, Holimont.

A second option involves

visitors traveling south on US

219 along the proposed

byway route. A small

cemetery is off to the left.

The Jefferson Street

Cemetery has been placed

on the National Registry of

Historic Places in 2012. The

hallowed grounds are the

resting place to many of the

very first settlers of the Jefferson Street Cemetery, on the National

Register of Historic Places, Ellicottville


Page 34

Ellicottville area. The headstones of the cemetery have been cleaned, giving the

yard a pristine, sacred look to honor those that are interred there.

(Below) Examples of the stones at the

Jefferson Street Cemetery


Page 35

Traveling south from the Village proper, the slopes of Holiday Valley emerge on

the hills off to the right, as they start to rise above the trees. Approaching the

traffic light at Holiday Valley Road, the slopes that provide winter skiing, and the

summer golf course come into view. Accommodations and other activities are

found here.

Approaching the southern border of the Town of Ellicottville, on the right, the

Ellicottville Central School campus plays host to statues that make up a small

garden. The statues are the creation of Simon Griffis, son of Larry Griffis, the mind

behind the Ashford sculpture park that bears his name. In 2003, Simon took a

group of students at ECS under his wing to teach them about creating bronze

(Above) Winter Skiing in Ellicottville


Page 36

statues as a part of what he called Inferno Project. The final product is a total of

five statues that represent children in different forms and states of learning.

The proposed scenic Byway expansion would end at the Ellicottville town border

on US 219.

******************

A special thank you to the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce, who provided

much of the material found in this section.


Page 37

V. BENEFITS OF THE BYWAY EXPANSION

The original WNYSSB was legislated under the premise that it provides for a

Byway corridor with cultural, historic, and scenic resources, and therefore

consolidates a set of attractions within an area into a definable feature that is

promotable and desirable for public visitation and enjoyment.

The WNYSSB has been successful in its mission, but the breadth of the Byway in

its current configuration tends to be local in nature, as it is geographically limited

to Southern Erie County. The opportunity to expand geographically would create

a more regional Scenic Byway that would represent two counties and more

closely tie the Southern Tier of New York State with the Buffalo Metropolitan

area.

The argument for this geographic expansion becomes more compelling when

consideration is given that the proposed corridor is vibrant, with numerous

cultural, scenic, tourist, recreational, and historic activities present within it, as

documented in the previous chapter. The resources present in Ashford and

Ellicottville complement the Scenic Byway nicely. They do not compete, they add

to the experience. Forming a single Byway between Erie and Cattaraugus

Counties connects a real tangible set of assets, which should result in a synergy

and a common identity and purpose.

Furthermore, for many, this Byway would formalize what is a natural corridor

along US 219, originating from the Buffalo Metropolitan area. It is well known

that Ellicottville in itself attracts Canadian and Buffalo Metropolitan area tourism

via the International Bridge crossings, the I-190 and I-90, and US 219. The Scenic

Byway in its current configuration intersects this traffic, but is not much more

than a curiosity to those who have a real destination in Cattaraugus County. The

expansion of the Byway naturalizes the experience and helps the traveler from

Canada and Buffalo to realize the extent of the Byway and its resources, and will

result in the ability to better educate this tourist base about the Byway, and


Page 38

increase the opportunity for them to extend their visit. This is beneficial to both

counties and their municipalities.

In summary, the proposed Byway expansion into Cattaraugus County offers a

natural extension that offers synergies and opportunities to promote the entire

Buffalo area, its Southtowns, and the Southern Tier under a single umbrella

entity. The support of the area adds to the reasons for this extension to be

legislated.

http://wnysouthtowns.smugmug.com/Landscapes/A-multi-seasonal-experience/i-gSqQ8Pz

http://wnysouthtowns.smugmug.com/Scenes-from-Cattaraugus-County/A-tour-of-Cattaraugus-County/i-VqkS7w6

http://wnysouthtowns.smugmug.com/Scenes-from-Cattaraugus-County/A-tour-of-Cattaraugus-County/i-Q4xkSHF


Page 39

VI. ROADWAY AND ROADSIDE CONDITIONS

VI.1 Roadway Infrastructure and Its Capacity to Function as a Scenic Byway

The proposed route consists of the following roadways:

US 219, Springville to Peters Road: Four lane divided highway, with limited

interchange access.

US 219, Peters Road to the Ellicottville southern border: Two lane rural

arterial, except in the Village of Ellicottville, where the road is constructed

to urban arterial standards

NY 240: Two lane rural arterial

NY 242: Two lane rural arterial

All roads are under the jurisdiction of the New York State Department of

Transportation. As such, they are subject to state standards for improvements,

and are under state maintenance jurisdiction.

In 2011, NYSDOT invested $100M into the construction of the US 219 divided

highway from Springville to Peters Road. This road is in new condition, and

extends the divided highway from its northern terminus with I-90 in Lackawanna.

It is a primary route for travel to the southern tier from the Buffalo area and from

Canada.

Directly north of Springville on US 219 (along the current Byway route) NYSDOT is

undertaking a pavement rehabilitation project in 2014. This will bring this section

of road to be comparative with the new section of expressway.

The balance of the state roads proposed for the route typically consist of two

travel lanes with either 11 foot or 12 foot travel lanes, and shoulders that vary

from 4 feet minimum to 10 feet.

NYSDOT is undertaking a project to replace the US 219 bridge adjacent to the NY

242 intersection, and just northeast of the Village of Ellicottville. NYSDOT


Page 40

routinely undertakes projects such as this to maintain the roadways along the

proposed corridor.

In summary, the road and transportation conditions of the entire route is

conducive to a Scenic Byway, and are appropriate in condition, type of

construction, and maintenance.

VI.2 Roadside Signage

Scenic Byways in New York State are denoted by signs that depict the Byway

name and its logo. These are known as route designation signs. The New York

State Department of Transportation installs and maintains these signs along

scenic byway routes. Figure VI.1 denotes a sign that is found along the Western

New York Southtowns Scenic Byway.

If approved, NYSDOT would commit to installing similar signage along the

expanded Byway Route. The location of the signs would be generally agreed to

between the Department and the WNYSSB, to a certain extent.

The Scenic Byway, by its legislation, prohibits off premises signs (billboards) along

the Byway route, and these would be restricted by the legislation. However,

those off-premise signs that exist along the proposed route today are

“grandfathered” and may remain in their current configuration. If the sign must

be replaced due to condition, it may be replaced in kind, as long as permitted in

the municipality it resides in.

On premise (business or other locally permitted signs) are not regulated by the

Byway legislation.

To document current conditions, NYSDOT has completed a sign inventory,

documenting the location and type of signs that exist along US 219, NY 240, and

NY 242 in Ashford and Ellicottville. This NYSDOT sign inventory may be found in

Appendix B.


Page 41

Figure VI-1 Typical WNYSSB Route Designation Signs


Page 42

VII. Stewardship and Implementation Plan

The WNYSSB Organization takes pride in its Byway and cares, promotes, and

manages activities as a non-for-profit organization. The organization exists under

a set of Bylaws and meets 5 times per year or more to develop programs and

invest funding it obtains. The Byway organization would oversee the new Byway

extension and would promote the extension as equal to the current Byway.

The above photograph epitomizes the mission of the WNY Southtowns Scenic

Byway. It shows the 2013dedication ceremony in Springville for one of the 14

Interpretive Signs that the organization installed along the Byway routes. The

signs, which represent a partnership between the Byway and its government

entities, discuss the culture, history, and scenery of the surroundings. This sign,

dedicated in the Town of Concord, gives a history of the Town Hall, which was

formerly Godard Memorial Hall. This hall was visited three times by William

Jennings Bryan.


Page 43

The celebratory meeting in Springville, noted above, included an introduction to a

reporter from one of Ellicottville’s newspapers. The reporter invited Byway

members to discuss the prospect of expanding the WNYSSB to Cattaraugus

County. This initial outreach resulted in a subsequent meeting with the Executive

Director of the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce, which set the path for this

expansion request.

Procurement and Stewardship of Funds

The WNYSSB organization has demonstrated a clear track record of success and

stewardship of the WNYSSB. In the past two years, this has included the

expenditure of an obtained grant to develop the Interpretive Sign project. The

cost of the project was $82,000, of which $66,000 was obtained in a federal grant

with the matching funds resulting from fund raising efforts of which Erie County,

all towns, and all villages which the Byway is located in were contributors. This

project and everything the WNYSSB does is focused on bringing towns, villages,

and counties, together to join efforts to benefit the Southtowns communities.

The interpretive sign projects goal was to create a 10 stop self-guided tour of the

Southtowns. Due to careful use of the funding, 14 signs were able to be designed,

fabricated, and installed. The grant also allowed the Byway to produce

brochure/maps of the byway route that detail the 14 sign locations. A celebratory

booklet on the project was also developed. Both are available online at

www.ISSUU.com/wnyssb.

The results of these efforts brought Western New York the benefits of:

• Interpretive Signage: Community pride signage that each entity is proud of.

• Regional Multimedia Advertising: Visit Buffalo Niagara website, WNYSSB

brochures.

• Scenic and Historical Branding: The Beauty By Way of the Byway campaign.

• Promotion of Towns and Villages: Promotions as scenic destinations and

centers of history and culture.

http://www.issuu.com/wnyssb


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Our success was recognized by Visit Niagara, the successor to Buffalo’s

Convention and Visitor Bureau. They named the WNYSSB, “The Tourism Initiative

of the Year”. A copy of the certificate that was presented is included in this report

in Appendix C.

The WNYSSB remains committed to securing funds for marketing, community

involvement, and the further expansion to its interpretive sign program. WNYSSB

has received official notice that a request to New York State for support funds

amounting to $30,000 has been identified. The funds would be used for

additional interpretive signs and marketing materials.

The Byways mission statement to “promote economic development and

community pride through the thoughtful stewardship of the natural, scenic,

cultural, historic, and recreational resources of the byway region” will continue to

be its mission moving forward.


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APPENDIX A: GOVERNMENT RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT


Page 46

APPENDIX B: NYSDOT SIGN INVENTORY


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APPENDIX C: COMMUNITY RECOGNITION

wnyssb nomination study expansion october 2014

Documents

byway proposal

byway expansion vi

wnyssbs alternate byway

proposed route

ny 240ny39

springville us route

original nomination

village of ellicottville