READERS GUIDE

City of Binghamton

Local Waterfront Revitalization Program

The City of Binghamton has completed preparation of a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), which is a locally prepared, comprehensive land and water use plan for it’s natural, public, and developed waterfront resources. The Binghamton LWRP provides a comprehensive framework within which critical waterfront issues can be addressed and planned waterfront improvement projects can be pursued and implemented.

The City of Binghamton prepared it’s LWRP with assistance from the New York State Department of State and in accordance with the New York State Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inland Waterways Act and the New York State Coastal Management Program.

The City of Binghamton LWRP is a comprehensive inland waterway management program that is based on the policies of the New York State Coastal Management Program. The Binghamton City Council adopted their LWRP on December 5, 2005. The Binghamton LWRP was then approved by the New York State Secretary of State on December 23, 2005. With State approval, the Binghamton LWRP will serve to coordinate State actions needed to achieve the City’s goals for it’s waterfront area.

The Binghamton LWRP refines and supplements the State Coastal Management Program by incorporating local needs and objectives. It contains seven sections and appendices.

Note: The document and maps can be accessed by clicking on the LWRP Document and Map Gallery links on the left.

The seven sections are:

Section 1 - Waterfront Revitalization Area Boundary - - This section provides a detailed narrative and graphic description of the waterfront revitalization area boundary.

Section 2 - Inventory and Analysis - - This section describes the existing natural and man-made environments and conditions within the waterfront area, as well as analysis of opportunities and constraints to development.

Section 3 - Waterfront Revitalization Policies - - This section presents the coastal management policies that apply to the City of Binghamton Local Waterfront Revitalization Area (LWRA). The policy and sub-policy explanations of the New York State Coastal Management Program have been modified and expanded to reflect the unique conditions of Binghamton, and new sub-policies have been added to address specific issues and opportunities that apply to Binghamton.

These policies are based on the economic, environmental, and cultural characteristics of the Binghamton waterfront area, and represent a balance between economic development and preservation, which will permit beneficial use of and prevent adverse effects on Binghamton’s waterfront resources. The policies shall serve as the basis for local and State consistency determinations for activities affecting the LWRA. No policy shall be viewed as being more significant than another. These policies should be read in conjunction with the specific standards contained in relevant local laws of the City.

Section 4 - Proposed Land and Water Uses and Proposed Projects - - This section describes proposed long-term land and water uses for the City’s waterfront area, including a proposed land and water use map, and proposed short- and long-term projects the City would like to pursue in order to implement their LWRP.

Section 5 - Local Implementation Techniques - - This section describes the local laws necessary to implement the policies and proposed uses set forth in Sections 3 and 4.

Section 6 - State and Federal Actions and Programs Likely to Affect Implementation of the LWRP - - This section consists of a list of State actions and programs which must be undertaken in a manner consistent with the Binghamton LWRP, as well as a description of specific State and Federal actions necessary to further implementation of the LWRP.

Section 7 - Local Commitment and Consultation - - The Binghamton LWRP will affect and be affected by the actions of adjacent municipalities and federal, State, regional, and county agencies. This section summarizes the efforts made by the City to involve and/or inform other agencies regarding the development of their LWRP. This section also summarizes the actions taken by the City to obtain local input and support for their LWRP.

Appendix 1 - Goals and Objectives

Appendix 2 - Public Input Session Summary

Appendix 3 - Focus Group Session Summary

Appendix 4 - City of Binghamton Waterfront Consistency Review Law

Appendix 5 - Procedural Guidelines for Coordinating Notification and Review of State Agency Actions Where Local Waterfront Revitalization Programs are in Effect