2003 Planning Highlights
By Terry H. Martin, Ph.D., Chief Planner

Our County’s Growth Strategy Receives Statewide Recognition
New York State has agreed to distribute the Cattaraugus County Design Guidebook by Randall Arendt to every municipality in the state (Volume 2 of the County’s Smart Development for Quality Communities Guidebook Series). This guidebook series presents new ideas, design solutions and demonstration projects that show how the County can promote economic development in a clean environment. Volumes 1 and 2 received the Governor’s 2002 Quality Communities Award for Excellence.

The New Strategy Acknowledges Recent Changes
This strategy acknowledges the following, growth-inducing changes that are occurring in Cattaraugus County:

• The Southern Tier Expressway (Route 17) was recently upgraded to Interstate 86 (creating a major east-west highway corridor from Jamestown to Binghamton, with direct access to Olean, Salamanca, and the Seneca Nation).
• In September 2003, the Federal Highway Administration announced that the Route 219 Freeway would be built through Cattaraugus County (creating a major north-south highway corridor from Springville to Salamanca where it will connect to I-86).
• Community groups are building and improving trails throughout our region, and equestrian groups are becoming active.
• In November 2003, the Seneca Nation of Indians began building a Las Vegas style casino (Class III) in Salamanca.
• The national, state and local economies are showing signs of recovery.

Cattaraugus County is taking the following initiatives to stay ahead of events, and to gain the maximum advantage from these new opportunities. The objectives are to preserve our rural heritage at the same time that we improve Cattaraugus County’s presence in regional markets and work with various stakeholders to create new businesses and jobs.

We Want to Promote New Growth Through Special Projects 
In 2003, the County began implementing its strategy, supervising consultants Randall Arendt and Richard Swist on the following projects (based on the Route 219 Freeway Corridor, Allegany State Park Perimeter and Cattaraugus County Trail studies):

• “Saving Our Village” Demonstration Projects (Revitalizing Downtown Cores). 
     - Randolph Strategic Repositioning (McNallie Block, Downtown Amish Tours and Retail Center, 
       Creekside Trails and Park, I-86 Interchange Area, and trail connections to Onoville Marina).
     - Little Valley Strategic Repositioning (Regional Equestrian Activities Center, START Trailhead at
       Foot of Main Street, Downtown Business Development, and Proposed Indoor Equestrian
       Arena)
     - Franklinville Strategic Repositioning (Mixed Use Development, Park Square Business 
       Development, Demonstration Housing on Second Floor Over Commercial Space, Equestrian
       Festival, and Planned Equestrian Community with Housing and Trails in the vicinity of Case
       Lake).
   
• County Demonstration Projects (Creating a Regional Presence). 
     - Began preparations to market our Villages, Route 219 Freeway Corridor development
       opportunities, and Allegany State Park Perimeter Communities.
     - Proposed the Great Valley Railyard Industrial Park (regional trucking, warehousing at the
       Route 219 / I-86 Interchange).
     - Developing Onoville Marina Expansion (regional equestrian and recreation center).
     - Seven other projects are on hold pending further developments.

• Equestrian Festival. Western New York’s first equestrian festival was held in October 2003 in Franklinville, New York, called “Creek Side Round Up.” It included an “all equestrian parade” from Case Lake to Route 16 where festival events were held: training techniques, wagon rides, trail rides, a country dance, demonstrations with diverse breeds of horses, miniature horse and pony rides for children, wagon rides around town, and displays and vendors at the DeLynns Art Gallery in downtown Franklinville. Guided trail rides into the hills around the village provided great views of Ischua Valley for people who brought their own horses. 
  
• Creating a New Chapter of the NYS Horse Council Local equestrians are forming a new chapter to promote awareness of the horse industry, encourage land and trail use, aid in the protection and care of horses, stimulate interest in equine sports and recreation, and pursue other issues of interest to members. This new chapter specifically targets Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. Once formed, members of this Chapter will be eligible for $1,000,000 in liability insurance for instances involving individual members horses.
  
• Conducting an Equestrian Market Study. A reconnaissance level market study was designed for 2004 to promote new economic development and jobs related to the equestrian community that is already expanding around Allegany State Park and throughout Cattaraugus County. It will look at riding clubs, trails and trail loops, bed & barns, equestrian facilities and events, and proposals for a planned equestrian community and expanding and creating equestrian businesses. 
  
  

We Need to Balance Development with A Clean Environment
The department is developing the following programs to preserve the County’s rural environment and open space:

• Farmland Protection Plan. Proposed that Cattaraugus County develop a Farmland Protection Plan that is countywide, and offers business assistance for farmers and the agricultural industry. This planning effort will study ways to improve farming practices and to start new agricultural enterprises while preserving the open “working” space created by farms.
  
• Cattaraugus Creek/Zoar Valley Watershed. At the request of the County Chairman, a strategy was developed to deal with International Treaties for cleaning up the Great Lakes which are now being implemented for Lake Erie's watersheds, including the Cattaraugus Creek / Zoar Valley watershed. A problem solving, technical assistance approach is being used instead of waiting for state and federal agencies to move in with regulations to straighten things out for local governments. We are developing support among stakeholders and property owners in the watershed, including the Seneca Nation of Indians, Erie County, the Nature Conservancy, the Friends of Zoar Valley, the Western New York Land Conservancy, and the Village of Gowanda. This Cattaraugus County proposal is receiving favorable responses from a variety of stakeholders, and state and federal agencies. Grants will be sought over the next several years to accomplish the following three objectives: Better land use ideas for multi-use, habitat protection, and preservation of open space and trials. 

We Need to Provide Quality Services 

• Advance Planning. Organized monthly business meetings of the County Planning Board, gave special reports, and conducted zoning referral reviews pursuant to NYS General Municipal Law Sections 239 l, and m. Created an Interactive Trails Forum so that our region’s trails advocates can share ideas and information (go to www.co.cattaraugus.ny.us, “Advance Planning, Trails Forum). Researched ways for the County Legislature to adopt vision guidebooks as a first step towards a 21St Century Comprehensive Plan. Prepared a detailed analysis of cumulative effects related to a proposed landfill.
  
• Grantsmanship. Supervised the completion of a grant application to help ten villages gain new computer mapping of infrastructure (through the Appalachian Regional Commission and STW Regional Planning and Development Board).
  
• Public Outreach to Promote Cattaraugus County.
  - Advance Planning Website. Organized and updated the planning section of the Cattaraugus
    County website. The 2003 visitor listing is shown in graphic form on the next page. The list of 
    county studies that are available for free download as PDF files is also shown on the next page.
  - Appraisal Seminar. Organized and provided speakers on Cattaraugus County assets for the 2003
    Appraisal Seminar for the WNY-Ontario Chapter of the Appraisal Institute at Holiday Valley,   
    February 28, 2003 for approximately 50 appraisers. 
  - STW Workshop. Co-sponsored the STW Planning and Zoning Workshop held November 13,
    2003 at the Chautauqua Institution, and co-presented on zoning referrals to county planning
    boards.
  - NYSDEC Management Plan for the Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area. Gerard Fitzpatrick, Chairman
    of the County Legislature, and Crystal Abers, Chairman of the County Legislature’s Development
    and Agriculture Committee presented Cattaraugus County’s proposal for Cattaraugus Creek and
    Zoar Valley Protection at a public scoping session held at the American Legion in Gowanda
    (proposing new land use techniques, habitat protection, and preservation of farmland and open
    space).
  - NYS Horse Council Annual Meeting. Presented keynote on the County’s Equestrian Initiative to
    the New York State Horse Council, in Binghamton, New York, on December 6, 2003.
  
• Technical Assistance. Technical Assistance was provided to Franklinville, Ellicottville, Gowanda, Humphrey, Limestone, Machias, Randolph, and the Cities of Olean and Salamanca.
  
• Representing Cattaraugus County. Represented Cattaraugus County and the department as a
  - Emergency Services All Hazards Planning Program (2003 – present)
  - Allegany State Park Trails Study Group (2001 – present)
  - Lake Erie Bi-National Forum (1998 – present)
  - Rt. 219 Development Committee (1996 – present)
  

The Cattaraugus County Planning Board presents this award annually to one or more community leaders who exemplify the outstanding spirit and example that Torrance Brooks set during a lifetime of dedicated service to his village, community, County Legislature, County Planning Board, and regional agencies. The recipients of these annual awards are chosen to give countywide recognition to leaders and volunteers who make lasting contributions to the people and communities of Cattaraugus County and its region.

List Of Studies And Documents Available On Cattaraugus County’s Web Page

The following Guidebooks, published for Cattaraugus County's Smart Development For Quality Community Series, can be downloaded as PDF files from Cattaraugus County’s Web Page (go to Advance Planning, Click on Guidebooks):
- A Planning Guidebook - Elements of a Countywide Vision - Volume 1 
- A Design Guidebook for Towns and Villages in Cattaraugus County (Randall Arendt) -
  Volume 2
- A New Vision for Enchanted Mountains Recreation Trails in Cattaraugus County (draft) -
  Volume 3
- Saving Our Villages (draft) - Volume 4
- Summary & Analysis of Similar Initiatives for Park-Community Economic Development -
  Volume 5
- Economic & Market Analysis for Communities in the Perimeter of Allegany State Park -
  Volume 6 
- Economic Development Strategy - Linkages Between Allegany State Park & Nearby
  Communities – Volume 7

The following Documents are also available as PDF downloads or for viewing on the County’s Web Page (go to Advance Planning and Click on Advance Planning Activities or Agricultural Districts or Fact Sheets):
- A New Look at Gravel Mining in Cattaraugus County
- Self-Portrait of Cattaraugus County
- Agricultural Districts Status Report Cattaraugus County, New York
- Agricultural District Map Composite
- Agricultural Data Statement Requirements of New York State Law
- Farmersville Freedom Agricultural District Eight Year Review
- Persia Agricultural District Eight Year Review
- Applying Design Standards Through Overlay Zoning
- Land Use Survey for Municipalities (2002)
- Record of Decision for Route 219 Freeway Alternative
- Funding for Proposed Route 219 Freeway in Cattaraugus County 
- Annual Report for Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning
  and Tourism
- The Enchanted Mountains of Cattaraugus County Visitor’s Guide
- Cattaraugus County Economic Resources Profile

The following Industrial, Business, Tourism and Recreational Development Projects are also available for viewing (go to Advance Planning and Click on Route 219 International Trade Corridor): 

Industrial And Business Development Projects 
- Ashford Business & Education Park 
- Ellicottville Business Park 
- Great Valley Railyard Industrial Park

Tourism And Recreational Development Projects 
- Ellicottville Tourism Development
- Franklinville Park Square & Planned Equestrian Community
- Limestone Recreational Motor Sports & Hospitality Center
- Little Valley Regional Equestrian Center
- Onoville Marina Park & Horse Trail Staging Area
- Randolph Amish Retailing & Touring
- Salamanca State Park Village
- Salamanca Trailhead & Connections

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