Great Sodus Bay Harbor Management Plan

1
Great Sodus Bay Harbor Management Plan

• Presentation to the
• Town of Huron
• 22 September 2008

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To Quell Rumors

• NOT proposing any speed limit.
• NOT proposing any additional no-wake zone
• NOT proposing a ban on power boats
• NO ONE is going to take your land and cottage

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Great Sodus Bay Harbor Management Plan Steps

• Harbor Management Area Designation
• Inventory and Analysis of Existing Conditions
• Water Surface Use Plan
• Harbor Management Plan
• State and Federal Agency Review
• Revise based upon comments
• Adoption by Towns/Village

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Opportunities

• Location and features make it world class for
  recreational boating.
• Capacity available for expanded boating use,
  especially for non-peak periods.
• Weekday and week-long tourism during the summer
• Expanded winter activities and tourism
• Location and features could also support world
  class research, ecotourism and enhanced large
  vessel use.

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Economic Impact

• Direct Spending due to vessels docked on Bay
  estimated at 7.2 13.0 million per year.
• Does not include related spending at restaurants,
  stores, gas stations, etc.
• Using a conservative 2.5 multiplier, total
  economic impact of Bay boating could range
  between 18 - 32.5 million annually to the local
  economy.

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Issues

• Better boater education and navigational markings
• Lack of public destinations
• Limited public access to shoreline other than for
  fishing and boating.
• Limited public launch capacity - can not meet
  current peak demand
• Winter use support

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Public Destination(s)

• Public Pier
• Minimum Elements
• Close (walking distance) to shops and
  restaurants.
• Adequate water depths.
• Tie ups with room for a minimum of 10 vessels.
• Public restroom facilities.
• Information board or kiosk.

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Optional/Future Elements

• Centralize all or a portion of the law
  enforcement vessel docking at the public pier.
• Link to permanent, fixed pier with pedestrian
  access.
• Provide paved parking area.
• Provide some transient, overnight slips.

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Public Access/Parkat Crescent Beach

• Long-term project.
• Goal is to protect sand spit and eventually have
  a public park accessed only by boat.
• Would be a unique, natural area.
• Properties to be acquired as they become
  available, from willing sellers.

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Public Launch Capacity

• There is demand for public launch capacity on the
  Bay, especially for weekend periods
• There is excess capacity within the Bay to
  accommodate additional vessels on the water, even
  during peak weekend periods.
• Two solutions proposed
• Increase the capacity of the public launch at
  Harriman Park
• Provide a new launch site in an area not
  currently served

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Increase Capacity of Harriman Park launch

• Upgrade the launch ramp and associated docks.
• Improve the parking lot.
• Institute on-site management, at least for
  weekend periods.
• Upgrade entrance and install control booth.
• Provide a marked and signed pedestrian crossing
  of Route 14.
• Install a restroom facility with running water.

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Potential New Launch Site

• Recommending a new public launch in the southeast
  portion of the Bay near the bay bridge.
• A two-lane launch should be provided.

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For Both Launch Facilities

• Institute a launch fee to fund management and
  improvements.
• Suggest 5 to 7, consistent with other public
  launches.
• Have season permits, perhaps free, for residents.
• Design and maintain facility to also support
  winter use.

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Boater Education and Navigational Markings

• Dissemination of information.
• Local navigation rules.
• Location of the no-wake zone.
• Locations for and availability of services.
• Primary method recommended is signage/kiosks.
• Posted on the west jetty of the channel.
• Smaller versions of the signs at marinas, launch
  ramps and public dock.
• Also utilize printed pamphlets.
• Future possible use of a low-power FM broadcast.

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Harbor Master

• Anticipated as a paid position, initially
  seasonal.
• Responsibility to provide a presence on the
  Bay, greet boaters, provide information and
  manage the public launches, dock, and moorings.
• The Harbor Master may also administer Docking and
  Mooring Laws.

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Other Proposed Actions

• Navigational Markings
• Obtain and install four new buoys to better
  delineate the bounds of the no-wake zone.
• Large Scale Events
• Require permits, with or without a fee, for
  organizers if launches are used.
• Channel Fog Horn
• Re-activation easily done if a local agency or
  non-profit takes the lead.

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Winter Use

• Enhance winter use by providing appropriate
  winter access locations with support services
• Discourage the use of other, non-designated
  access points by controlling parking
• Six access points to be created and/or enhanced.
• Municipal parking lot in the Village of Sodus
  Point
• Harriman park
• Saw Mill Cove (Third Creek)
• New launch site near Bay bridge
• Lake Bluff Road at an existing restaurant or
  marina parking lot
• Hog Island

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Regulation of Deicing Equipment

• Recommend minimal regulation on location and
  provision for day and nighttime visibility.
• Recommend these be incorporated into the Town of
  Huron docking and mooring law and the Town of
  Sodus docking and mooring law as that is
  developed or through Zoning ordinance.
• Sodus Point already regulates deicing equipment
  under its Docking and Mooring Law. Recommend a
  revision on lighting.

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Expansion/Enhancement of Public Access

• HMP Supports Previous Recommendations
• Shoreline Access Recommendations for Village Area
  contained in Village LWRP.
• Sodus Waterfront Initiative Sites.
• Funding is needed for all.

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Shoreline Access Improvements

• Several recommended locations
• First Creek
• Saw Mill Cove at Red Mill Road (Third Creek)
• Stub end of Spiegel Drive
• Bay bridge area
• NYS DEC Wildlife Management Area
• Hog Island and Le Roy Island Bridge
• Funding will be required for improvements and,
  perhaps, some minor right-of-way acquisition.

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First Creek Bridge

• Replace existing two bridges with a single bridge
  with protected pedestrian walks on both sides.
• Provide sidewalk or trail connections to Harriman
  Park.
• Prohibit parking on the road at this location.

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Proposed Saw Mill Cove Improvements

• Paving striping
• Guardrails
• Cross-walk
• Walkway
• Benches
• Concrete ramp
• Cost 40,000

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Proposed Spiegel Drive Improvements

• Paving striping
• Guardrails
• Concrete ramp/steps
• Cost 14,000.

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Existing Bay Access At Spiegel Drive
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Proposed NYS DEC Wildlife Refuge Improvements

• Access roadway grading
• Drainage improvements and gravel or stone surface
  on parking area.
• All-weather walkway and ramp to shore for car top
  launching.
• Cost 18,000

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Proposed Hog Island Improvements

• Paving striping
• Guardrails
• Walkway
• Benches
• Concrete ramp
• Cost 14,000

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Bay Viewpoints

• Important Bay viewpoints were identified
• Recommend that these be officially .designated as
  important viewpoints within the Harbor Management
  Area.
• Recommend that these be designated visual
  resources of local significance by the
  municipalities. Provides additional review
  pursuant to SEQR.

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New or Expanded Marine Facilities

• A Build-Out analysis indicates that further
  growth can occur and can be accommodated on the
  Bay surface.
• Could include potential research, commercial
  transport or expanded recreational marina uses.

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New or Expanded Marine Facilities (continued)

• The area on the south and southwest side of the
  Village of Sodus Point is the most advantageous
  for such growth
• Recommend amendments to the Village Zoning
  Ordinance to allow such future growth.
  Specifically, recommend allowing stacked storage
  with appropriate setbacks and buffers.

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Area for Further Marine Growth
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Marine-Related Public Infrastructure

• Dredging of the Channel
• Corps of Engineers responsibility
• Lacks funding for recreational harbors
• Recommend participation in Regional Dredging
  Management Plan (RDMP) or similar program
• Maintenance of Jetties
• Maintenance of Sea Wall
• Both Corps of Engineers responsibilities
• Address future breeches in Crescent Beach barrier
  bar
• Use acquisition program recommendation

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Uniform, Substantive Standards for Shoreline and
On-Water Structures

• Key Features
• Maximum number of docks and boat slips per parcel
  based upon frontage and land use.
• Minimum setbacks from property line extensions
• Maximum dock lengths and surface areas.
• Eliminate new boathouses. Grandfather existing
  ones as non-conforming uses.

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Bay-Wide Perspective in Development Reviews

• Establish Intermunicipal Review Mechanism
• Provide review and advice to the municipalities
  regarding large land use decisions in the Harbor
  Management Area.
• Would provide bay-wide perspective without
  infringing on local authority.
• Managed by the County similar to 239-m referrals.

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Funding Needs

• Many of the HMP recommendations require funding
• Some Require a One Time Expense Usually for a
  Capital Improvement or Purchase
• Others Will Need a Continuing Operating Budget

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Items - One-Time Funding

• Development of a public pier
• Signage and/or Kiosks for boater
  education/information.
• New no-wake zone buoys
• Expansion and improvements at the Harriman Park
  launch
• Establishment of a new launch on the south side
  of the Bay
• Expanded public shoreline access facilities
• Vessel office for Harbor Master
• Public acquisition along Crescent Beach
• Upgrade and repair of fog horn.
• Radio transmission equipment for boater
  education/information.
• Improvements for winter access

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Items - Continuing Operating Funds

• Operation and maintenance of a public pier
• Harbor Master position
• Maintenance and update of boater
  education/information signs and materials
• Operation and management of Harriman Park launch
  and second launch site, if developed
• Management and operation of an event permit
  system
• Summer and winter law enforcement focused on the
  Bay surface areas and access points
• Maintenance dredging of Channel
• Maintenance and repair of Sea Wall
• Town and Village expenses for implementation and
  enforcement of docking and mooring law
• County expenses (if any) for a continuing
  Intermunicipal Committee

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Potential Funding Sources

• One Time Funding Sources
• Grant Programs such as under the Environmental
  Protection Fund
• One time Congressional appropriations or NYS
  Assembly/Senate member items
• Bonding directly by local governments and/or
  utilizing a Section 190 Harbor Improvement
  District for repayment
• Funding sources for continuing expenditures
• General municipal and/or County tax revenues
  (general fund) including the budget of the
  Sheriffs office
• User fees for launch sites
• User fee assessed on a per dock basis for
  commercial and/or residential berthing
• Section 190 Harbor Improvement Districts set up
  within each municipality

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Process to Finalize and Implement Plan

• Submit to NYS DOS to commence 60-day agency
  review
• Modify, add, or eliminate elements
• Adoption by Village and Towns
• Implementation actions by local, county and State
  governments.

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Questions Discussion
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