Ellicottville Officials Plan Expanded Revitalization in the Village
Ellicottville Officials plan Expanded Revitalization in the Village
Ellicottville officials expressed the hope for continued Village revitalization and have notified the State of New York they will apply for the upcoming round of NY Forward and Restore NY funding initiatives. Consultants are also starting work on an application for the 2023 Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
Mayor John Burrell told Board members during the Aug. 16th Village Board meeting that several local projects might attract grants. "Smart lighting" could be part of an application for a NY Forward grant serving communities with small downtowns, while restoration possibilities at 24 Rockwell and the 1887 Building fit the Restore NY criteria for joint municipal and private property improvements.
Another option for NY Forward funding is the Iskalo Property, the location of the former Signore industrial manufacturing facility on Jefferson Street, which has been cleared and cleaned and could be redeveloped.
"We definitely want to be a part of it," Burrell said, noting that Iskalo has pressed for construction of a public street there.
Improvements in and around the Ellicottville Village Park are the focus of the Town and Village Engineering Department's planning efforts to accommodate more activity and recreation in and through the Village Park. Engineer Ben Slotman has been meeting with consultants to come up with conceptual design to manage traffic and pedestrian flow, parking, a focal entrance point, trails access and the new skatepark. Officials told Slotman they're interested in coordinating the design with an eye toward long-term management of the flow of auto, pedestrian and bicycle movements, with parking and encouragement for alternatives to auto travel. Placement of a dozen bike racks, donated by GoBike to accommodate up to 24 bicycles, was part of the discussion.
Public-private partnerships for shuttle access options should be examined, suggested Burrell, pointing to the existence of seven current private shuttles now in use. He also noted there are about 3,000 workers who commute to support businesses in the area.
"It's our job," said Trustee Sean Lowes, who urged Village Board involvement in planning and who chairs the Parks, Beautification and Sidewalks Committees. He urged future budgeting for traffic flow plans.
Trustee Doug Bush, who heads the Streets, Parking and Special Events Committees, agreed plans should refine access to the Skatepark which has a target date of completion in October.
"Parking, walkability, cycling," Bush listed as priorities, noting, "we need to look at what our residents need."
"Summer is becoming more important to the community," commented Trustee Jolie Newpher, adding that more people are riding bicycles on the trail.
"We need to think about how to get (visitors) off the trails and into the village," said Slotman, pointing to the need to connect the trail system and skatepark with access to the business district, and an organized system of shuttle stops to move visitors, workers and residents in and out of the business district, the large parking lots at the ski areas and to amenities such as nearby trails, green space and other attractions.
He said he would be meeting with consultants on this topic to rough out a concept and cost estimates. He urged the Board to plan infrastructure that would open the door for future funding and proposals to support the variety of activities the community is hosting.
Several asked about routing through the Park and trailhead locations for the EVGV and GoBike Trails. In general, the EVGV trail will lead to the Ellicottville Library, Elizabeth Street and points beyond. The Ralph Wilson-funded GoBike Trail will route cyclists from Buffalo to Parkside Drive.
The new Village Park signage, to prohibit parking on the south side of Parkside Drive and create diagonal parking adjacent to the north lane, has eased traffic flow between the Park entrance and Fillmore. Mayor John Burrell said he received one citizen complaint that a sign had been placed too close to a hydrant, but he has been informed by the Water Superintendent that it poses no problems.
Discussion turned toward Village Planning Department issues, including needed updates for the Village Master Plan, which should reflect current zoning regulations. Planner Greg Keyser said he anticipates the "very busy" summer calendar will slow in the fall with fewer applications for Planning and Zoning Board. Keyser said customer service could be improved with an update of the 1100-page Village Zoning regulations that amount to a cumbersome PDF download from the Village website at ellicottvillegov.com. He said he hopes to have more time to devote to the update, which he has already begun.
"The bicycle thing is huge, said Lowes. "Other villages and towns are moving ahead with it. I want to commend the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Boards. Both are doing a very good job. They are extremely important, and they make some very tough decisions and listen to the facts and follow the law.”
In other matters, updates to the Town Center on Parkside Drive are nearing completion, and the offices for Planning, Engineering and Code Enforcement have returned to operations there. Beginning in September, Planning and Zoning Boards for both the Town and Village will return to open meetings there, with a few details remaining to complete construction.
Officials reported that the Mill Street speed limit signs are correct, at 30 miles per hour on the Village side of the bridge, and 40 miles per hour on the Cattaraugus County side of the bridge. Slotman reported that a large excavator will be brought in to remove and replace materials that have caused longstanding drainage problems beneath the underpass and the nearby knoll. Repairs will be made to problematic drainage ditches along the railroad tracks. Finally, the County will repave the area and drivers could see the road closed from time to time while this work is completed.
During the meeting, the Board approved the Mayor's attendance at the New York Council of Mayors (NYCOM) fall training, and accepted a check for $124,320.98, which is the local share of Cattaraugus County Sales Tax for the second quarter of 2022. The payment is an increase of $494.68, or .4%, over the same quarter in 2021.
Also approved were the Chamber's Sept. 16-18th Rock N’ Roll Weekend and Car Show, and the Ellicottville Half Marathon and 5K in October. There will be a Route 219 detour from 5:00am-7:00pm to accommodate the Fall Festival Oct. 8-9th. Traffic will be detoured around Washington, Monroe and Jefferson Streets.
The Board will next meet at 6:00pm on Sept. 20, 2022 in the second-floor conference room of the Village Hall, 1 W. Washington Street.