Town of New Scotland. Public Workshop. Visioning / Planning the Future of this Hamlet. New Scotland Hamlet Master Plan.

Public Workshop Visioning / Planning the Future of this Hamlet December 1, 2011 Voorheesville High School Commons

Agenda I. Presentation Project Introduction The Study Area Existing Conditions Outcomes of Previous Studies Food for Thought II. Small Group Brainstorming III. Report Back IV. Wrap-Up

Project Introduction Funded by the Town of New Scotland and the Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC) 2010-2011 Community and Transportation Linkage Planning Program (an implementation program for CDTC s adopted regional transportation plan New Visions 2035)

Project Introduction Town of New Scotland Town Board Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC) Study Advisory Committee (SAC) Local residents and regional agencies Consultant Team Behan Planning and Design Creighton Manning Engineering

Project Introduction The Town of New Scotland seeks to develop a consensus vision about the look, feel and function of the New Scotland Hamlet. Bring together: Town officials Business owners and property owners Residents

Project Introduction The Hamlet Master Plan is intended to provide: Clarity about the type and form of development desired in this area Corresponding zoning language and design guidelines to manage future growth and change in this area Corresponding multi-modal (walk, bike, drive, bus) transportation improvement concepts for this area

Project Introduction Study Timeline Ideas from tonight s meeting will be used to prepare a Draft Hamlet Master Plan over the winter Draft Hamlet Master Plan will be presented at a second public workshop in late winter / early spring 2012 Final Hamlet Master Plan will be completed and submitted to the Town Board in the spring of 2012 For updated information, see the project website: http://newscotlandhamletstudy.wordpress.com

Agenda I. Presentation Project Introduction The Study Area Existing Conditions Outcomes of Previous Studies Food for Thought II. Small Group Brainstorming III. Report Back IV. Wrap-Up

The Study Area Existing Conditions Study Area Boundary

Village of Voorheesville The Study Area Existing Conditions NYS Route 85A Maple Road NYS Route 85 New Scotland Road CR 308 New Scotland Road South

Village of Voorheesville The Study Area Existing Conditions Former Rail Future Albany County Rail Trail Town Boundary (w/ Village) Town Boundary (w/ Bethlehem) Active Rail - CSX

The Study Area Existing Conditions Hamlet of New Scotland

The Study Area Existing Conditions Demographics The Town s population has increased less than 1% from 2000 to 2010 and is expected to continue growing relatively slowly compared to surrounding suburbs o Population within the study area has decreased approximately 7% from 2000 to 2010 The senior population is steadily growing while the schoolaged population is falling The Town s median household income is higher and its unemployment rate is lower than Albany County as a whole

The Study Area Existing Conditions Demographics

The Study Area Existing Conditions Housing There are approximately 3,700 total housing units in the Town of New Scotland. o Within the study area there are approximately 280 residential units with an additional 90 approved units The median home value in the Town is $224,400, Albany County has lower median values. There is a 7% vacancy rate for residential buildings. The majority of the housing stock is single-family, detached homes built before 1980. There is also a mobile home park and a new housing development south of NY 85 which will include two family homes.

The Study Area Existing Conditions Housing

The Study Area Existing Conditions Mobility/Transportation The two main roadways serving the study area are owned and maintained by New York State. These roads serve as both commuting routes and as main roads and potentially as main streets within the New Scotland Hamlet area. Roadways within the study area serve a mix of land uses, with commercial uses concentrated around the intersection of NY 85/NY 85A and primarily residential uses adjacent to both roadways moving away from this intersection and outside the study area.

The Study Area Existing Conditions Mobility/Transportation These roadways serve the current, relatively low intensity, surrounding land uses and through traffic well in terms of motor vehicle level of service and safety. The amount of motor vehicle travel has remained relatively constant over the past decade. Both NY 85 and NY 85A have surplus capacity under traffic current conditions; the current capacity or Level of Service (LOS) for the roadway sections and intersections along NY 85 and NY 85A within the study area are well within acceptable ranges for typical arterial roadways.

The Study Area Existing Conditions Mobility/Transportation

The Study Area Existing Conditions Mobility/Transportation Residential LOC (level of compatibility) ratings are poor where residential use/traffic conflict occurs along NY 85 on the eastern edge of the study area and within Slingerlands, and along the short segment of NY 85 between CR308 and NY 85A. On NY 85A, LOC ratings are also poor where residential dwellings are clustered near the intersection of NY 155. Walking on the main routes within the study area using narrow shoulders alongside travel lanes where vehicles are moving at or over the speed limits of 45 and 40 mph most likely discourages pedestrian activity. However, land uses along the roadway in this area attract pedestrians.

The Study Area Existing Conditions Mobility/Transportation

The Study Area Existing Conditions Mobility/Transportation Bicycle level of service analysis and walkability surveys (lack of sidewalks and pedestrian signals at NY 85/NY 85A) give the area poor marks. Despite the low Bicycle Level of Service scores, roadways within the study area are known as popular recreational rider and cycling club routes.

The Study Area Existing Conditions Mobility/Transportation The ability to add roadway capacity and/or to provide future standard bicycle and pedestrian accommodations in some areas along main routes (NY 85 and NY85A) is somewhat constrained due to limited right-of-way width, as well as the proximity of adjacent structures and the location of utilities. The Albany County Rail Trail presents a future opportunity for accommodating pedestrian and bicycle travel (both commuting and recreational) across a section of the study area.

The Study Area Existing Conditions Mobility/Transportation

The Study Area Existing Conditions Mobility/Transportation Transit service is seen as an asset to the study area providing an alternative to driving/enhanced mobility for those without access to a car. However due to the poor pedestrian and bicycling environment, limited frequency and timing of service as well as current lack of bus stop amenities, taking transit may not be an attractive option for some potential riders, with ridership decreases in recent years.

The Study Area Existing Conditions Historic & Cultural Resources The area now known as the Town of New Scotland was settled in the early 17th century but wouldn t be established until April 25, 1832. The Town s earliest economy was based on agriculture. New Scotland was the largest provider of hops to breweries in the City of Albany. The Town s most popular farm product was the Bender Melon produced on the Charles Bender Farm. The single greatest impact on the town was the establishment of the railroad, which increased markets for farmers and other merchants.

The Study Area Existing Conditions Historic & Cultural Resources

The Study Area Existing Conditions Land Use & Recent Development Three (3) major residential subdivisions have been approved in the last few years within the Study Area. The Study Area is predominantly zoned [COM] Commercial. The Study Area is largely a mix of vacant, residential and commercial land speckled with community service-type uses.

The Study Area Existing Conditions Land Use & Recent Development

The Study Area Existing Conditions

The Study Area Existing Conditions Sewer & Water Infrastructure & Community Facilities Sewer capacity is limited According to the Town engineer, current information on the hydrogeology in the area indicates that there does not seem to be much potential for large scale water supply. There are physical, fiscal and administrative constraints to providing additional public water and sewer infrastructure in and adjacent to the study area under current arrangements.

The Study Area Existing Conditions Sewer & Water Infrastructure & Community Facilities

The Study Area Existing Conditions Environmental Features The Study Area straddles two watershed areas: the Vly Creek- Normanskill and the Vloman Kill. Sections of the Vloman Kill and Phillipin Kill waterways are found in the vicinity of Youmans Road and south of NY 85; along these streams steep slopes can be found. Soils within the study area range from well drained to very poorly drained. Some of the larger, currently vacant parcels have soils classified as somewhat poorly drained.

The Study Area Existing Conditions Environmental Features

Primary Area of New Development Potential

Primary Area of New Development Potential ~12.1 Million Square Foot Area 277 Acres

For Comparison: Slingerlands Price Chopper Plaza ~100,000 sq ft

For Comparison: Delaware Ave. Plaza ~150,000 sq ft

For Comparison: Stuyvesant Plaza ~235,000 sq ft

For Comparison: Bethlehem Town Center ~435,800 sq ft

For Comparison: Crossgates Mall ~1.9 Million sq ft

For Comparison: The Mansions at Delmar

For Comparison: Voorheesville High School

For Comparison: Broadway in Saratoga Springs

For Comparison: Empire State Plaza

For Comparison: Downtown Albany

For Comparison: Downtown Albany This is a BIG area

Agenda I. Presentation Project Introduction The Study Area Existing Conditions Outcomes of Previous Studies Food for Thought II. Small Group Brainstorming III. Report Back IV. Wrap-Up

Outcomes of Previous Studies Town of New Scotland Comprehensive Land Use Plan - 1994 Residents Planning Advisory Committee (RPAC) Route 85/85A Corridor Development Recommendations to the Town Board - 2005 Traffic Impact Study, Kensington Woods - 2008 Commercial Zone Advisory Committee (CZAC) 2008

Outcomes of Previous Studies Overlapping Themes A desire to maintain the hamlet character and encourage mixed-use development Commercial development, while desired, should fit in with the hamlet in terms of scale, and should serve the local population not be a regional draw Note: Language in the Comprehensive Plan is not crystal clear in terms of the type of commercial development appropriate here

Outcomes of Previous Studies Overlapping Themes Residential development some inconsistency: comprehensive plan tends to support the idea of new residential development in the hamlet RPAC report indicates that certain types of residential (condos/townhomes and/or rental units) less desired There are no pedestrian accommodations in the hamlet and conditions are dangerous for pedestrians Traffic volumes, while not ideal, are not viewed as problematic and there is no immediate need for roadway improvements

Outcomes of Previous Studies Visual Preference Survey (part of RPAC process) Conducted by Community Planning and Environmental Associates Targeted toward aesthetic preferences for the Commercially Zoned area images were limited to building types and landscapes that were or could be in that area (did not look at residential subdivisions and single-family homes) Participants rated each image on a scale of -5 to +5

Outcomes of Previous Studies Visual Preference Survey (part of RPAC process) In general residents: Preferred the typical architecture and landscaping that characterize a small town or hamlet Had strong negative feelings about non-descript and corporate-style architecture, areas with little green space and landscaping, multi-lane roads, and large parking lots in front of buildings

Outcomes of Previous Studies Visual Preference Survey (part of RPAC process)

Agenda I. Presentation Project Introduction The Study Area Existing Conditions Outcomes of Previous Studies Food for Thought II. Small Group Brainstorming III. Report Back IV. Wrap-Up

Food for Thought What is a hamlet? Not simply referring to the town s existing Residential Hamlet (RH) or Commercial Hamlet (CH) Zoning Districts In NYS, Hamlets are unincorporated settlements within towns. Hamlets are usually not legal entities and have no local government or official boundaries A hamlet could be described as the rural or suburban equivalent of a neighborhood in a city or village. (Wikipedia) A small village. (Dictionary.com)

Food for Thought What is a hamlet? Hamlets have distinct identities, are identifiable in the landscape, and often possess a defined public space. In addition to residential sections, a hamlet has a compact nucleus that draws residents. (Anton Nelessen)

What is a hamlet? Traditional Pattern of Growth from crossroads hamlet to village Bristol, Vermont. From Above and Beyond: Visualizing change in small towns and rural areas (2002). Used with permission.

What is a hamlet? Bristol, Vermont. From Above and Beyond: Visualizing change in small towns and rural areas (2002). Used with permission.

Shelburne Road, South Burlington, Vermont. From Above and Beyond: Visualizing change in small towns and rural areas (2002). Used with permission. 1930s

Shelburne Road, South Burlington, Vermont. From Above and Beyond: Visualizing change in small towns and rural areas (2002). Used with permission. 1995

Shelburne Road, South Burlington, Vermont. From Above and Beyond: Visualizing change in small towns and rural areas (2002). Used with permission.

Development B Development A

Connected Open Space

Food for Thought Abstract Terms: Residential Single-Family / Multi-Family Commercial Retail / Office Mixed-Use Open Space Sidewalks / Trails

Food for Thought Residential Single Family

Food for Thought Residential Multi-Family

Food for Thought Commercial Retail

Food for Thought Commercial Office

Food for Thought Mixed-Use (Horizontal / Vertical)

Food for Thought Open Space

Food for Thought Sidewalks / Trails

Agenda I. Presentation Project Introduction The Study Area Existing Conditions Outcomes of Previous Studies Food for Thought II. Small Group Brainstorming III. Report Back IV. Wrap-Up

Small Group Brainstorming Eight (8) Groups / 45 minutes Tasks: Brief introductions Discuss ideas for land use and transportation in the study area (mark up the maps, avoid abstractions) No right or wrong ideas make note of different ideas Last five minutes sum it up. What were the group s 5 or 6 big ideas. Write these down and select a spokesmodel

Agenda I. Presentation Project Introduction The Study Area Existing Conditions Outcomes of Previous Studies Food for Thought II. Small Group Brainstorming III. Report Back IV. Wrap-Up

Wrap-Up For updated information, see the project website: http://newscotlandhamletstudy.wordpress.com Questions / Comments: Jennifer Ceponis (CDTC) jceponis@cdtcmpo.org, 458-2161

Thank you. For updated information, see the project website: http://newscotlandhamletstudy.wordpress.com Questions / Comments: Jennifer Ceponis (CDTC) jceponis@cdtcmpo.org, 458-2161