LWRP- 2000.pdf

Table of Contents

Local Waterfront Revitalization and Harbor Management Plan Page i

Section One - Waterfront Revitalization Area Boundary 1

Section Two - Inventory and Analysis 3 Preparation of Local Waterfront and Harbor Inventory 3 Natural Resources 4 Community/Cultural Resources 12 Current Land and Water Uses; Existing Authorities 29 Important Economic Activities 46 Significant Coastal Resources and Conditions 46 Footnotes to Section Two 50

Section Three - State Coastal Policies Applicable to the Waterfront Area and Additional LWRP Policies 53 Development Policies 55 Fish and Wildlife Policies 67 Flooding and Erosion Hazard Policies 76 General Policy 80 Public Access Policies 80 Recreation Policies 84 Historic and Scenic Resources Policies 87 Agricultural Lands Policy 90 Energy and Ice Management Policies 91 Water and Air Resources Policies 92

Section Four - Proposed Land and Water Uses and Proposed Projects 101 Proposed Land and Water Uses 101 Proposed Projects 103

Section Five - Description of Local Program Implementation 111 Existing Local Laws and Regulations 111 Proposed Local Laws and Regulations 117 Other Actions Required of Both Public and Private Sectors 119 Local Management Structure and Procedures for Reviewing Proposed Projects (Public and Private) 125 Financial Resources 128 Abandoned and Contaminated Properties – General Information and Principles 131 Footnotes to Section Five 143

Section Six - State and Federal Actions and Programs Likely to Affect Implementation 145 State and Federal Actions and Programs Which Should Be Undertaken in a Manner Consistent With the LWRP 145 Direct Federal Activities and Development Projects 157 Federal Assistance 160 State and Federal Actions and Programs Which Are Necessary to Further the LWRP 163

Local Waterfront Revitalization and Harbor Management Plan Page ii

Section Seven - Consultation With Other Agencies 165

Section Eight - Local Commitment 167

List of Figures Following Page

1a, 1b Coastal Area Boundary Map 2 2a, 2b Water Resources Map 4 3a, 3b Soils Map 6 4 Topography 8 5a, 5b Erosion and Flood Hazard Areas Map 8 6a, 6b Designated Wetlands Map 8 7a, 7b Habitat of Statewide Significance and Locally Important Habitats Map 10 8a, 8b Scenic Resources Map 12 9a, 9b Public and Semi-Public Facilities Map 12 10 OBPA Terminal Facility Map 14 11a, 11b Commercial and Industrial Areas and Facilities Map 22 12a, 12b Historic and Archaeological Resources Map 24 13a, 13b, 13c Current Land Use Map 30 14a, 14b Current Water Dependent Uses Map 30 15a, 15b Proposed Land and Water Uses Map 102

List of Appendices

A Natural Resources Information B City of Ogdensburg Community Development Plan C Relevant Excerpts from City of Ogdensburg Zoning Ordinance D Waterfront Program Consistency Assessment Form E Guidelines For Notification And Review of State Agency Actions Where Local Waterfront Revitalization Programs Are In Effect F Procedural Guidelines for Coordination NYSDOS and LWRP Consistency Review Of Federal Agency Actions G Contact List of State and Federal Officials

I-Waterfront Revitalization Boundary

Local Waterfront Revitalization and Harbor Management Plan Page 1

SECTION I: WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION AREA BOUNDARY

New York State’s Coastal Management Program established statewide coastal boundaries in accordance with the requirements of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended. The Ogdensburg coastal boundary generally follows the linear east-west geographic pattern of the City.

The approved landward boundary of the City’s coastal area is shown on Figures 1a and 1b, and is described below.

Continue easterly from the Ogdensburg City limits on Main Street to Lake Street; thence south on Lake Street to Spring Street; thence east on Spring Street across the Oswegatchie River to Lafayette Street; thence east on Lafayette Street to Congress Street; thence north on Congress Street to Montgomery Street; thence east on Montgomery Street to State Street; north on State Street to the rear property line of the Remington Art Museum (at 303 and 311 Washington Street); thence easterly along the rear property lines of the Remington Art Museum (303 and 311 Washington Street) to Caroline Street; thence northerly on Caroline Street to Washington Street; thence east on Washington Street to Elizabeth Street; south on Elizabeth Street to Ford Street; thence easterly on Ford Street to Morris Street; thence north on Morris Street to Washington Street; thence east on Washington Street to Paterson Street; thence south on Paterson Street to Ford Street; thence easterly on Ford Street to NY Route 37, and northeasterly on NY 37 to OBPA Railroad and the Ogdensburg City limits.

WATERSIDE BOUNDARY

Beginning at the western intersection of the landward boundary at the Ogdensburg corporate limits extending northerly over the St. Lawrence River to the U.S. Canadian boundary; thence northeasterly along said boundary to the easternmost point of the Ogdensburg corporate limits; thence southerly following the corporate line to the easternmost landward boundary at Tibbits Creek.

II-Inventory and Analysis

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SECTION II: INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

This section provides an informational base for determining applicable state and local coastal policies in Section Three and designating appropriate land and water uses and projects in Section Four.

Presented herein are brief descriptions of the coastal resources, existing land and water uses, and important economic activities of the Ogdensburg waterfront and harbor areas.

PREPARATION OF A LOCAL WATERFRONT AND HARBOR INVENTORY

This inventory is an update of the inventory prepared for the City of Ogdensburg’s 1986 Local Water Revitalization Plan (LWRP). The 1986 inventory was based on the review of NYS Coastal Atlas maps in conjunction with aerial photographs, tax maps, field surveys and numerous publications containing mapped and textual data concerning the City of Ogdensburg, its environs and, in particular, its waterfront. Pertinent information gathered from these sources was summarized under four topics:

natural resources, community/cultural resources, current land and water uses, and important economic activities. The topic of Significant Coastal Resources and Conditions summarizes the section's highlights. This inventory also incorporates harbor-related information to be used as an informational base for the development of the Harbor Management Plan, incorporated in this document. The City's Harbor Management Law is provided in Appendix H of this document.

Natural Resources

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NATURAL RESOURCES

A. Water Resources

Existing Conditions

The surface waters of the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie Rivers are Ogdensburg’s most significant water resources. While the former provided a navigable route for early exploration and trade in the region, the latter offered, at its mouth, an attractive site for fortification and settlement. Tibbits Creek is the only other watercourse within the waterfront boundary area. It drains a large area of low-lying lands in the eastern and southern parts of Ogdensburg. It empties into the St. Lawrence River along the City’s easternmost shoreline. Refer to Figures 2a and 2b.

A view of the St. Lawrence from the City of Ogdensburg.

From the early 1800’s, growth of the City of Ogdensburg paralleled the growth of shipping through the St. Lawrence Valley until the St. Lawrence Seaway project was completed in 1959. Today, the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority (OBPA) shipping terminal and other facilities provide a major basis for economic activity in the City and the region.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration navigational charts (1990) for the Oswegatchie and St. Lawrence Rivers record depths of between 16 and 19 feet at the mouth of the Oswegatchie. The identified shipping lane in the St. Lawrence River has depths ranging from 21 to 79 feet. The most recent OBPA information records the depth of the port area at 27 feet.

The St. Lawrence River is also important to the City as a water supply. Its waters are designated as Class “A” by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Class “A” waters are considered suitable for drinking and food processing if proper treatment is applied. From the area just west of the vacant former Diamond International site to the tip of the former car ferry pier on Lighthouse Point, the St. Lawrence River is classified as Class “C”. The Oswegatchie River is designated as Class “B”. The classes for the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie Rivers were upgraded in the early 1980s to reflect improved water quality and enhanced capability to support a fishery resource. Tibbits Creek is classified as Class “D”. See Footnote 1 at the end of the Inventory for a description of these water quality classifications.

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Ogdensburg’s two principal water bodies contain state- and locally-designated significant habitats, scenic vistas and recreational values. The St. Lawrence River is foremost in giving the City its coastal setting and in supporting fishing and boating activities. Sport fishermen from the area and from elsewhere in New York State and Canada are attracted to the lower Oswegatchie and the Ogdensburg stretch of the St. Lawrence River for small-mouth bass, walleye, northern pike and muskellunge. Shore fishing is popular at various points along the shoreline, including the municipal docks. Three private marinas and one public marina accommodate approximately 260 watercraft, which use the two rivers.

The Oswegatchie River provides hydroelectric power generation at the site of the Ogdensburg dam.

Trafalgar Power, Inc. has a lease agreement with the City for rights to the power generated. Power is currently sold to Niagara Mohawk.

The two rivers justify and support a variety of uses ranging from recreational to commercial to industrial. These uses often overlap. An example of this is the private marinas which are both recreational and commercial. These water-dependent uses are described in detail in this inventory section.

Analysis

Ogdensburg’s water resources are unquestionably one of its most important assets and provide the basis for the City’s very existence and its continued economic growth. In the past ten to twenty years, several waterfront industrial uses closed and were sold or abandoned. These properties present unique and significant opportunities for the City. In essence, the properties provide the City of Ogdensburg with the opportunity to reshape a significant portion of its waterfront and redefine its character. A fine balance between use of the rivers for water supply and scenic and recreational purposes versus port-related, commercial and residential activities must be maintained.

Care should be taken to consider and accommodate the recreational and environmental resources along the Oswegatchie and St. Lawrence Rivers in future planning and construction projects. Ogdensburg’s tourism industry depends on the continued quality of the area’s fishing, boating and recreational resources. New shoreline uses should be assessed for their potential impact on water quality since any changes are likely to affect the wildlife habitats and recreational resources of the water.

Although no specific water quality issues were identified as being problems in the waterfront and harbor inventories, sites with potential for affecting water quality do exist. Point or “end-of-the-pipe” discharges exist at the City’s sewer treatment outfall and 12 storm overflows. See Figures 14a and 14b.

The number of discharge points has decreased from 17 to 12 in the past ten years as the City has separated once combined sewer and water systems and as several industries closed. Overflow sites are under permit by DEC and five of the twelve are monitored on a regular basis. Past industrial uses of several sites along the St. Lawrence River create potential sources of non-point pollution. These sites include, but are not necessarily limited to, OBPA port facilities, former Augsbury and Mobil tank farms, Lighthouse Point and the proposed site of the recreation pavilion. Potential contaminants include, but are not limited to, petroleum and petroleum-based products, storm water runoff containing products associated with bulk cargos, and leachate from landfilled items. The redevelopment of these sites should include sub-surface investigation to determine what, if any, contaminants exist and to identify an appropriate remediation technique. Close coordination between City, former and current property owners, and appropriate state and federal agencies will help mitigate the problems as they arise.

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Potential threats to water quality also stem from discharges of shipboard wastes from commercial and recreational watercraft and the potential for oil and hazardous substance spills in the City and in the St.

Lawrence and Oswegatchie Rivers. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has record of approximately 150 oil spills (of varying severity) in the City of Ogdensburg in the years 1982 to 1996. Because of the City's location on the St. Lawrence River and Seaway, the City is subject to the dangers which may result from the discharge of untreated vessel wastes and hazardous substance spills. The jurisdiction over the discharge of such pollutants lies with state and/or federal regulatory agencies. The City should ensure that marinas provide facilities for pumping out marine holding tanks.

It can also encourage the installation of such facilities through the review of new marina development or expansion proposals.

Storm water runoff is also a cause of non-point source pollution. If storm water bypasses the City's treatment facility, it enters the Oswegatchie River or St. Lawrence River and degrades water quality.

Minimizing impervious surfaces and directing attention to drainage patterns can mitigate the volume and improve the quality of storm water runoff and decrease demand for treatment.

The current practice of dumping sand- and salt-laden snow plowed from City streets into the Oswegatchie River also degrades water quality and hampers current efforts to restore walleye spawning activities.

B. Geology, Soils and Topography

Existing Conditions

Blue and gray dolomites with granular fine-grained structure (called the Ogdensburg formation) underlie the St. Lawrence Valley where the City is situated. This sedimentary bedrock dates from Lower Ordovician origins during the latter part of the Paleozoic Era and tends to slope to the northeast. More recent sedimentary deposits dating from the Cenozoic Era overlie the dolomites in the eastern third of the City. Bedrock to the south and southwest of Ogdensburg dates to earlier geologic periods and gradually changes from sedimentary to metamorphic and igneous formations running from the Adirondacks to the massive Canadian shield through a narrow belt in the Thousand Islands.

During the closing stages of the glacial period, most of the St. Lawrence Valley was inundated by marine waters given passage as the huge ice sheet melted away. A thick mantle of glacial drift was deposited under the standing waters with considerable amounts of gravel, sand, silts and clay. Near the St. Lawrence River’s present shoreline, the silts and clays reach depths of 50 to 60 feet. Moving away from the River, however, the glacial drift and marine deposits become increasingly shallow.

In general, the soils of the Ogdensburg waterfront area may be described as deeply laid soils comprised of either made lands (cut and fill) or post glacial material formed of lake laid, deltaic or fluvial sediments deposited principally from glacial melt waters. The made lands (termed Udorthents) are mostly loamy soils occupying all of the port and most of the developed City area west of the northern end of Linden Street. Post glacial soils, on the other hand, cover the areas east of Linden Street with six soil types or series being most prevalent: Flackville loamy fine sand, Croghan sand and loamy fine sand, Hailesboro silt loam, Raquette variant sandy loam, Matoon silt loam and Elmwood fine sandy loam.

These and other less prevalent soil types are described in detail in Figures 3a, 3b and Appendix A.

The Udorthents are mostly loamy, poorly to well-drained and moderately to very rapidly permeable soils. Flackville, Croghan and Elmwood soils tend to be moderately well drained with rapid, rapid to

Local Waterfront Revitalization and Harbor Management Plan Page 7 slow, or rapid to very slow permeability, respectively. The Raquette soil is excessively drained with moderate to rapid permeability. Hailesboro and Matoon soils are somewhat poorly drained and exhibit moderately slow or slow permeability, respectively. Most of the waterfront area’s soils present severe limitations to septic tank absorption fields and dwellings with basements. The erosion hazard of these soils is slight.

Topography along the waterfront and in the City as a whole is mostly level to slightly rolling with the only distinctive changes in elevation occurring along the banks of the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie Rivers. The terrain rises gently away from the shore of the St. Lawrence River with sections of the City situated 25 to 50 feet above the level of the river. From southwest to northeast, there is relatively little change in elevation in the waterfront except at the Oswegatchie River and, in a broad sense, in the lower lying depressions along NY Route 37, east of the more developed parts of the City.

Topographical information appears in Figure 4.

Areas of critical erosion were identified in Ogdensburg near the area of the OBPA port facilities, the municipal dock, and shoreline areas of the Greenbelt Park System. Ice damage, the effects of high water levels, and wave disturbances from the St. Lawrence Seaway shipping channel contribute to erosion action. The St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation has established and enforces speed limits for commercial vessels. The OBPA maintains cribbing and a bulkhead northeast of the port, near the former site of the grain elevator (see Figures 5a and 5b). There are no Coastal Erosion Hazard Areas (CEHAs) along the City’s waterfront.

Areas of special flood hazard were identified and mapped in Ogdensburg by the Federal Insurance Administration. Soil limitations and high water tables frequently preclude land development in flood hazard areas. Currently, development is subject to City flood control regulations (see Figures 5a and 5b).

Analysis

The area’s level topography throughout most of the coastal area presents little problem for development. However, geologic and soil conditions, including poor drainage, high water tables, areas of special flood hazard and poor quality fill present development constraints in several sections of the coastal area. The constraints these conditions impose must be taken into account when any new development is considered in these areas. Development should not occur in special flood hazard areas unless it meets requirements of the Ogdensburg floodplain ordinance. Erosion along the shoreline presents a lesser problem than those mentioned above in most of the coastal area. If the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation identifies CEHAs in the future, the need for additional regulation may be necessary.

C. Vegetation

Existing Conditions

Terrestrial vegetation in the developed sections of Ogdensburg’s waterfront is severely modified and limited due to the intense recreational, commercial, industrial, vacant industrial and residential land uses. Along the shore, such vegetation is generally restricted to sparse undergrowths or herbaceous and woody plants, with occasional stands of black willow. Pockets of deciduous trees and brush

Page 8 City of Ogdensburg overgrowth characterize the undeveloped areas of the waterfront further inland. Various species of wetland vegetation are present in the low-lying, poorly drained areas along Tibbits Creek.

A 1976-77 survey of aquatic vegetation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) indicated that shoals and the littoral (near shore) zone adjacent to the harbor channels were areas where vegetation was most dense and where the submergent aquatic plant species were dominant. It was assumed that vegetation is sparse or absent in the existing channel where depths range between 21 and 79 feet. Most rooted aquatics occur in waters with depths less than 12 feet in the Ogdensburg harbor area.

The New York Natural Heritage Program identifies four species of vascular plants deserving special attention. The sensitive nature of this information prevents its release to the public without permission from the New York Natural Heritage Program. Two of the four species have an Unprotected Status;

one species has a Rare Status; and, one species has an Endangered Status. The City has specific details regarding the species.

Since most of the Ogdensburg coastal area is developed, vegetative cover is minimal in most areas.

Some vacant or underutilized areas, such as Lighthouse Point, the west bank of the Oswegatchie River, lands adjacent to the port facilities, Ford Street Extension, and the railroad tracks, contain excessive vegetation and overgrowth. Small, scattered wetlands and low-lying land identified in the southeastern section of the coastal area were not deemed significant. The mature trees lining the Oswegatchie River and on the grounds of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center area are a valuable resource and should remain, with improved landscaping augmenting these scenic viewpoints.

Prior to site disturbance and/or new construction, the New York Heritage Program should be consulted to bring any species warranting special consideration to the City's attention.

D. Wetlands

There are portions of two State-designated wetlands in or immediately adjacent to the coastal area.

Wetland area OE-7, designated Class II, extends beyond the boundaries of the coastal area and in the towns of Oswegatchie and Lisbon. Wetland area OE-41, designated Class II, is immediately adjacent to the coastal area but is considered within the Town of Lisbon. Figures 6a and 6b identify the state-designated wetlands. See Footnote 2 for a description of these wetland classifications.

E. Fish and Wildlife

The coastal area is best known for its significant fisheries resources. Small mouth bass, walleye, northern pike and muskellunge constitute the most fished species in the area. Both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation have identified May 15th through July 1st as the critical spawning period in the Ogdensburg area. Spawning and adult fish habitats vary by species, and, various habitat types are present.

The underdeveloped and overgrown areas of the waterfront serve as habitat areas for a small number of mammals such as rabbits, raccoons, skunks, gray squirrels, rats and mice. Over 265 species of birds have been observed in the Ogdensburg region, some native and other migratory. Shorebirds and

Local Waterfront Revitalization and Harbor Management Plan Page 9 waterfowl are the dominant species close to the River. Although the immediate waterfront area offers little suitable habitat for the numerous migratory birds which follow the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River flyway, open waters of the St. Lawrence upriver from the mouth of the Oswegatchie River do serve as waterfowl wintering habitat.

Endangered or threatened (as designated by New York State fish and wildlife species present or observed in the Ogdensburg area include the bald eagle (endangered), the lake sturgeon, and the common tern (threatened). Lake sturgeon are found in Ogdensburg Bay and the other nearby river areas on occasion. Fish enthusiasts hope the lake sturgeon will use the newly constructed walleye spawning bed in the Oswegatchie River. The bald eagle has been noted in the Ogdensburg-Prescott Pool and areas downstream of Ogdensburg during the winter. The common loon and the black tern are species of special concern. (See Appendix A for a detailed listing of fish and wildlife in the Ogdensburg coastal area.)

Within the coastal area, there is one Department of State-Designated Habitat of Statewide Significance and four Locally Important Coastal Habitats. The information below is derived from the New York State Department of State, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the former St. Lawrence-Eastern Ontario Commission.

Lighthouse Point from the mouth of the Oswegatchie River.

1. The Oswegatchie River - Department of State Designated Habitat of Statewide Significance

The significant habitat area incorporates the one-half mile stretch of river below the Ogdensburg dam and approximately 270 acres of the River’s mouth, encompassing much of the Ogdensburg Harbor area.

Immediately below the dam, the River is relatively shallow with a rock and rubble bottom causing a sizeable area of riffles. Farther downstream, the River is wider and deeper and extensively bulk headed in conjunction with waterfront development. A jetty west of the River’s mouth creates a sheltered harbor area. Water depths in the harbor are generally less than 10 feet. Habitat disturbances occur in the Oswegatchie just below the dam where power generation discharge facilities have degraded portions of the river bottom and along the jetty and St. Lawrence shoreline where dredging has occurred. More general habitat disturbances include discharges of storm water and wastewater runoff into the river and potential flow alterations and river bottom disturbances caused by upstream hydroelectric operations.

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The Oswegatchie represents the only significant area of riffle habitat on the lower St. Lawrence River.

This enhances its potential for a walleye spawning area and attracts a major run of white sucker. Runs of chinook salmon became established in the mid-1980s. Resident smallmouth bass also spawn in the riffle area.

The Oswegatchie River supports significant fisheries resources. There is habitat for a variety of warm water fish species including northern pike, walleye, muskellunge, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, rock bass, pumpkinseed, black crappie, brown bullhead, channel catfish, and white sucker. The St. Lawrence Valley Sportsmen’s Club, in cooperation with the Canadian government, sponsors a walleye stocking program. Fish raised in a nearby hatchery are released into the St. Lawrence near Ogdensburg. The Club has built a spawning bed near Robby’s marina. Records of lake sturgeon (T) and mooneye (SC) exist for the area but the extent of their use of the area has not been adequately documented.

This area attracts substantial recreational use by anglers from throughout the region. The Department of State’s Habitat Narrative, rating form and map are provided at the end of the Inventory and Analysis section.

This habitat is also depicted in Figure 7a.

2. Ogdensburg - Prescott Pool - Locally Important Coastal Habitat

This large open water pool, present during the ice-in period in varying extent and dimension, extends between Ogdensburg and Prescott, Ontario.

Several species of diving ducks, dabbling ducks, gulls and herons use this pool in the winter. It is also a wintering ground for bald eagles. A few river-wide common fish species have been recorded in the area. Little, if any, spawning occurs in the deep water area. Limited spawning occurs along the shoreline edge of the upper ground shoal area.

This habitat is depicted in Figure 7a.

3. Chimney Point - Locally Important Coastal Habitat

This habitat includes the area between the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge and Tibbits Creek Bay, including portions of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center property.

Dabbling ducks, diving ducks, herons, geese and hawks have been recorded in this area.

A few river-wide common fish species, including northern pike, have been recorded in this area. A few species such as small mouth bass, rock bass, sunfish and yellow perch spawn in a narrow band approximately two to fifteen feet offshore. The area includes an artificial spawning ground for lake sturgeon and is, therefore, highly significant. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will be listing this area as a significant habitat in the near future.

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This habitat is depicted in Figure 7b.

4. Tibbits Creek and Tibbits Creek Bay - Locally Important Coastal Habitat

This habitat is a small, shallow bay containing open marshland. (Tibbits Creek forms the eastern boundary of the City limits; Tibbits Creek Bay is in the Town of Lisbon). Because portions of the creek are in the coastal area, its description is included herein. Corporate boundaries will be recognized in program application.

A diversity of dabbling ducks use the area for breeding and post-breeding activities. Fair numbers of diving ducks use the mouth of the bay and nearby areas in migration. It is also a very productive spawning and use area for a wide variety of fish species. Northern pike and muskellunge are present in the area. A wide diversity of mammals has been recorded in this area.

This habitat is depicted in Figure 7b.

Analysis

Local efforts to protect fish and wildlife habitats should include monitoring future intensification of land use activities which may impact this resource. Activities, particularly those directly impacting the habitats described above, should be monitored for their impact on the City’s fish and wildlife resources.

Through the expansion and improvement of existing public access and recreational facilities, the City can promote increased use of its fish and wildlife resources. The St. Lawrence River currently ranks third in total angler-days fished (up from fourth in 1986). The cooperative efforts of municipal and county officials and private business operators to facilitate sport fishing in the River can enhance local tourism.

These designations and their implications for potential future development are described in Policies 7, 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D in Section Three.

F. Scenic Resources

Existing Conditions

Ogdensburg’s location at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie Rivers provides a setting of natural scenic beauty associated with the spans of both rivers. However, much of Ogdensburg's waterfront is occupied by industrial, vacant industrial, port, or state facilities which limit scenic access to these resources. Over the past several years, the City has expanded and improved its “Greenbelt” recreation area. Today, this area provides the highest quality scenic access in the City. The presence of several industrial and shipping related facilities on the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence River interrupts the natural scenic vistas of the River but nevertheless provides man-made points of interest for the viewer’s eye. The Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge dominates the landscape at the eastern end of the coastal area. Scenic resources are identified in Figures 8a and 8b.

Community/Cultural Resources

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The St. Lawrence River with the International Bridge in the background.

Although a great deal of Ogdensburg’s waterfront is occupied for land uses that conflict with the scenic beauty of the area, potential exists for improved scenic quality in the coastal area. Areas that hold particular potential for improvement include the east and west banks of the Oswegatchie River shoreline, the former Diamond International site, the Shade Roller property, the former Mobil tank farm, the former Augsbury tank farm, and Lighthouse Point. These locations are currently marred by underutilized land uses and excessive vegetative growth which hampers visual access to these significant coastal features. Consequently, the scenic resource policies correspond closely with the development policies (Policies 1-6), in particular with Policy 1, Development of Deteriorated and Underutilized Areas.

COMMUNITY/CULTURAL RESOURCES

A. Public and Semi-Public Facilities

The public facilities inventoried in Ogdensburg’s waterfront and harbor are divided into two categories:

(1) governmental operations/services and (2) public access and recreation. Semi-public facilities include those facilities providing community services or cultural activities. Such facilities are open to the public and are generally operated or supported by private, non-profit organizations. Figures 9a and 9b identify both public and semi-public facilities.

1. Public Facilities

a. Governmental Operations/Services

Existing Conditions

Governmental operations/services are described for the City, County, State and Federal levels of government.

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City: The City water treatment facility is located outside the coastal area on Ogden Street and Jefferson Avenue. The sewage treatment plant is in the coastal area near the juncture of Denny and Railroad Streets. These are described in greater detail in Section F of this chapter. An unused pump house, dating from 1868, is situated on the east shore of the Oswegatchie. The City is considering a number of uses for this site including, but not limited to, a recreation office, equipment storage, outfitter rental operation (canoes, bicycles), and a visitor/interpretive center. Trafalgar Power, Inc. has a lease agreement with the City for use of the Ogdensburg dam to generate power. The dam dates back to 1910. Trafalgar Power sells the generated power to Niagara Mohawk. Also within the project area, the Ogdensburg Housing Authority owns and operates two senior citizen high rise apartment buildings (210 units) on Washington Street. There is a third senior citizen apartment building outside the project area.

County: The County owns no governmental operations or services in the project area.

State: Facilities within the coastal area under New York State jurisdiction include the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority, the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, and the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility.

The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority (OBPA) is a public benefit corporation created by the New York State Legislature to provide a broad range of transportation and economic development functions in the Ogdensburg area. Within the coastal area, the OBPA owns and operates the Port of Ogdensburg, the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge, the light industrial Commerce Park, and the St.

Lawrence Railroad (partially in the coastal area: leased to an operator). The OBPA also operates the Ogdensburg International Airport (outside coastal area).

The Marine Terminal (port) in Ogdensburg was constructed in 1970 and currently has a wharf capable of berthing two vessels. See Figure 10. Cargo handled at the Port has increased from 5,000 tons in 1971 to 69,500 tons in 1980 to between 165,000 and 175,000 tons per year in the mid 1990s. Liquid bulk receipts ceased in 1981 when the adjacent Augsbury tank farm closed. Estimates for future annual cargo range from 40,000 tons to in excess of 200,000 tons. Approximately 387,000 s.f. of paved outdoor storage area is located contiguous to the berth, with 16,700 s.f. paved and 490,000 s.f. unpaved storage area available away from the berth. The port is capable of handling both bulk and general cargo. The majority of the cargo handled is dry bulk commodities including zinc, wollastonite, salt, marble chips, and powdered milk. Steel rails, aluminum ingots railroad wheels and forest products are also shipped through the port.

Other port facilities include:

• direct pier-side rail service with accommodations for 150 rail cars

• a 30,000 s.f. bulk storage structure contiguous to the berth

• a 20,000 s.f. transit shed contiguous to the berth

• a 20,000 s.f. warehouse away from the berth

• a 15,000 s.f. warehouse away from the berth

• a 40,000 s.f. warehouse away from the berth

• a 23,000 s.f. bulk storage structure away from the berth

• a truck scale

• a port maintenance and office structure

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The Ogdensburg Marine Terminal.

The port’s Master Plan and Development Study established a three-phase port improvement program, with each phase tied to a range of port use tonnages.

Phase I, which includes the following, has been implemented.

• a 600 ft. extension of the existing berth enabling the port to offload two ships simultaneously

• dredging of the channel, the basin and the area along the wharf extension

• relocation of the second transit shed to a point just south of the Downing Building

• construction of a new bulk storage shed on the site of the existing second transit shed

• acquisition of a crane, with clamshell buckets and hooks and slings, possibly to be shared with other ports

• acquisition of a truck loader/stacker for handling bulk commodities

• relocation of the Marine Terminal’s security fence

• paving of a road to the relocated shed’s new location, and to the trunk scale

The OBPA is currently negotiating with New York State to proceed with Phase II of the port’s master plan. Phase II involves additional dredging that will permit cargo tonnage above 200,000 tons per year.

Additionally, Phase II entails:

• additional storage space including an extension to the main storage building

• a new transshipment shed, and other renovations

• additional material handling equipment including a larger crane, additional forklifts and front end loaders, a hopper/stacker, a mobile truck dumper/conveyer, and walls and dividers to separate bulk cargo storage

• utilities and other incidentals

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Phase II projects are premised on dry bulk cargo remaining the dominant cargo form handled at the port. It is anticipated that Phase II will be implemented before the year 2000.

Phase III of the Master Plan is intended to allow the handling of 500,000 tons of cargo annually. This phase would include another berth extension, the acquisition of a whirly gantry crane, additional transit sheds and/or silos, inside conveyors, and other major material handling equipment items.

Ultimately, the pace of the Master Plan’s implementation depends on the availability of state and federal funding. Currently, New York State is attempting to implement a $350 million multi-modal program that will assist ports, airports and rail facilities in the state.

The OBPA also operates the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge. Bridge crossings in 1996 totaled 551,000, up from 443,491 in 1984. The toll is $2.00.

In recent years, industrial operations have been locating in one of the OBPA’s two industrial parks located at the City’s northern edge. The light industrial Commerce Park site contains approximately 70 acres. Of the 70 acres, approximately 40 acres are developed and 30 acres are undeveloped. The property is bounded on the north and east by the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, on the west by the Bridge Plaza and approach road, and on the south by NY Route 37. OBPA began developing Commerce Park in 1975. Since then fourteen buildings containing 21 businesses and approximately 256,000 s.f. have been constructed. Utility systems including sewer and water lines and a storm drainage system have been installed. Businesses include both public and private sector entities.

The heavy industrial park is outside the coastal area.

The light industrial Commerce Park is a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ). Foreign trade zones are deemed outside customs territory and inside international commerce. Goods entering the FTZ, therefore, do not need to undergo formal entry, pay duties or government excise taxes. FTZ designation is intended to attract and promote international trade and commerce.

The St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center is operated by the NYS Department of Health. As techniques and methods of treatment have evolved and some of the Center's buildings have aged, the number of Resident consumers has decreased significantly. As a result of these changes, the Center no longer utilizes all of the buildings and grounds. Currently, the Center has ten major buildings, six of which are partially or fully occupied. The hospital serves a six county area and services 140 inpatients and an estimated 1,150 outpatients. It employs 542 people. The Center’s current plans call for the Trinity building to be vacated and the Bridgeview building to be used for Adult Inpatient Services. The Center also plans to build a support annex contiguous to Bridgeview and locate all the support services in the Bridgeview building and the new annex. In May of 1997, the State announced plans to auction off the unused portion of the Center, grounds and improvements thereon.

The St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center

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The Ogdensburg Correctional Facility is a medium security operation located at the southwestern end of the grounds of the Psychiatric Center. The complex contains thirteen buildings covering 31.5 acres, is capable of housing 810 inmates, and employs 399 people.

Federal: The only federally owned facility within the coastal area is the U.S. Customs Office at the Robert C. McEwen Customs House (127 N. Water Street). The U.S. Post Office, formally located at 431 State Street, currently leases space at 400 Ford Street, outside the coastal area. The St. Lawrence Seaway is a federally operated entity partially located within the project area.

Analysis

The waterfront area of the City of Ogdensburg has 6.5 miles of shoreline. With much of the shoreline in public ownership, significant opportunities exist for waterfront development and enhancement. Analysis of the various governmental operations/services is by level of government.

City: The City’s water and sewage treatment facilities, discussed in greater detail in Section F, are functioning adequately. Upgrades are being made on an ongoing basis. The water and sewer demands of potential future uses and the related ability of the infrastructure to adequately meet those demands should be at the forefront of review-related discussions. Consideration of potential future uses should include the various costs and benefits to the City and its residents.

County: The County owns no governmental operations or services in the project area.

State: The OBPA is responsible for several diverse operations, all of significance to the City’s and the region’s continued economic development. While the port is subject to many factors beyond its control, certain known factors can be adequately addressed. The Ogdensburg Port Master Plan, in providing a guide for port development for the next ten years, cites several advantages and disadvantages of the port.

Advantages include the fact that Ogdensburg is the easternmost U.S. public port and has a large, natural hinterland containing deposits or ores and minerals which require water transportation. The port’s 27-foot Seaway depth channel and strong state and local support are also seen as advantages.

Disadvantages include a sparsely populated hinterland with limited market expansion potential, and proximity to competitive Canadian ports. The port’s initial design as a general cargo port with only one berth is also a disadvantage to overcome in light of the demand for dry bulk cargo facilities.

Completion of Phase I has enabled the port to handle up to 175,000 tons of cargo per year. As noted, the OBPA is in negotiations with New York State to proceed with Phase II.

Commerce Park is the site identified for light industrial firms. The OBPA, working in conjunction with the City, has managed to attract 21 businesses to the park and is actively pursuing additional firms.

Proximity to Canadian markets is a definite advantage for the Ogdensburg park. Its designation as a Foreign Trade Zone in 1985 adds to the park’s attractiveness. The firms in the light industrial park seem stable and the attraction of additional firms in the near future is a distinct possibility.

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The St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center is a large and sprawling campus whose presence goes back to 1890. The Center represents a job market for many who live and work in the Ogdensburg area. Most recently, the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH) has undergone significant downsizing in consumer population, staffing levels and facilities. NYSOMH intends to improve efficiency with consolidation of facilities and services. Various and numerous buildings and vacant parcels are now, or soon will be, considered surplus and will provide an exceptional opportunity for development or redevelopment.

The Ogdensburg Correctional Facility employs close to 400 people and contributes greatly to the City’s employment and economic stability. It, and the Riverview Correctional Facility, represent a steady source of employment for hundreds of Ogdensburg area residents.

Federal: The U.S. Customs House is both a visual- and employment-related asset for the City. The City should work closely with the federal government to ensure the continued use and maintenance of the site.

b. Public Access and Recreation

Existing Conditions

The main public access and recreation facilities in the coastal area are the Greenbelt Park, the Maple City Trail, a municipal marina, two City boat launches, the Trafalgar boat launch, and the Ogdensburg dam canoe portage.

The City’s Greenbelt Park system extends from the Library Park area, through Morissette Park, beneath the arterial bridges, through Crescent Park, to the Pump House. Library Park is a 2.8-acre site on Washington Street and is part of the Library Park Historic District. Library Park contains the 1905 Soldiers and Sailors Monument and a gazebo. No picnicking is allowed on the grounds. Morissette Park contains picnic and playground facilities, benches, and tennis courts. The more recently developed section of the Greenbelt includes Dobisky Community Center offices, restrooms, a twin boat launch, 77 slips, approximately 200-225 feet of transient dockage, picnic facilities and a paved shoreline trail with benches and trash receptacles.

Crescent Park is a linear piece of land along the east bank of the Oswegatchie River. It extends from the pedestrian Lake Street Bridge to the Pump House.

The Maple City Trail, funded with Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) funds, is a 1.8 mile paved multi-purpose recreation trail. Its route extends from Department of Transportation property on the east side of the Oswegatchie at its confluence with the St. Lawrence River along the east side of the Oswegatchie through Crescent Park, to the Spring Street Bridge. A stand of mature trees lines the riverbank and provides a point of scenic interest. The trail then crosses the Spring Street Bridge and follows the abandoned Penn-Central railway corridor. The trail provides linkages to several City streets, the pedestrian Lake Street Bridge, the County Route 3 bike route, the Black River Trail, and the Seaway Trail in downtown Ogdensburg.

The City owns and maintains a marina near the end of State Street and two boat launches. The City marina has 77 slips. Half of the slips provide power and water. 1998 seasonal rates for slips with and without power and water were $20 per foot and $17 per foot, respectively. 1998 transient rates for slips

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The Greenbelt Park.

with and without power and water were $.85 per foot per day and $.75 per foot per day, respectively.

In 1998, 44 slips were rented for the season. The marina’s 1996 occupancy rate was estimated at 60%.

This figure is misleading, however, due to the fact that boats sometimes occupy two slips but pay for one slip. Due to the increased number of privately owned and operated marinas in the City and the services they offer, the number of transient boaters utilizing the City marina has decreased. Prior to the opening of two additional private marinas, approximately half of all City marina slips were occupied by transient boaters. In 1996, for example, an estimated 90% to 95% of all boats docked at the City marina at any given time were owned by City residents. In 1998, the marina generated $17,800 for the City. This is down from recent years, reflecting the increased number of marinas and options for boaters.

The Paterson Street boat launch, constructed in the early 1990s, can launch four boats simultaneously and provides parking for 40 cars and trailers. The original twin boat launch, located off Riverside Avenue, can accommodate two boats with parking for 25 cars and 5 trailers.

The City is planning to construct a multi-use recreation pavilion on the western bank of the Oswegatchie at its confluence with the St. Lawrence River. One of the pavilion’s primary uses will be ice skating. The arena will have a natural ice surface.

Analysis

Tourism and recreational activities have become a vital component of the City’s economic development efforts.

As such, further development of both public and private facilities, in balance with the appropriate protection of natural resources, will enhance further economic growth.

The majority of the City’s water-dependent recreational facilities are publicly owned and operated. Several public facility developments projects are ongoing.

Public Park Space

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Over the last decade, the City has invested considerable effort in expanding public access to the waterfront by developing linear recreational areas on the St. Lawrence River and Oswegatchie River shorelines. The existing public access and recreational activities are attractive and should serve as a catalyst for additional development. The underutilized state of key waterfront areas such as Lighthouse Point, the former Diamond International site, the former Augsbury tank farm and the east and west banks of the Oswegatchie River provide great potential for increased visual and/or physical access to the water.