Schenectady DRILocal Planning Committee Meeting

December 17, 2019Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative

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Meeting Agenda

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Welcome

Introductions

DRI Overview

Schenectady Study Area Overview

Committee Discussion

Next Steps

Public Comment

6 Code of Conduct/Conflict of Interest

Local Planning Committee Members

LPC Members

Philip Morris Proctors

Ray Gillen Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority

David Harris Union College

Steady Moono SUNY Schenectady

Jim Salengo Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp

Robert Leonard Trustco

Stacey Rowland Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady

Mark Eagan Capital Region Chamber

Mary Ann Ruscitto East Front Street Neighborhood Association

Maria Perreca Papa Little Italy Neighborhood

Mary D’Alessandro Stockade Neighborhood

Mitchell Ramsey Jay Street

Mike Saccocio City Mission of Schenectady

Marcy Steiner The Foundation for Ellis Medicine

Mayor Gary McCarthyCity of SchenectadyCO-CHAIR

David BuickoThe Galesi GroupCO-CHAIR

Local Planning Committee

Roles & Responsibilities• Confirm the vision and goals for downtown revitalization• Brainstorm ideas and provide direction to consultant

team at LPC meetings• Help implement public engagement outreach• Identify and prioritize projects for the plan• Make project funding recommendations• Review draft DRI documents

State Agency Team

Roles & Responsibilities• Help LPC through planning process • Ensure Consultants and LPC meetings

accomplish critical tasks • Ensure program documents meet state

and local goals• Facilitate assistance from other State

agencies

Dave AshtonDepartment of State

Crystal LofflerHomes and Community Renewal

Mike YevoliEmpire State Development

Jeff QuainGovernor’s Office

Consultant Team // Stantec’s Urban Places

Planning & Urban Design

Mobility

Complete Streets

Engineering

Graphics

DRI Round 1: Oswego, Elmira, Oneonta

DRI Round 2: Hudson

DRI Round 3: Albany

Consultant Team

W-ZHA • Economic Assessment• Financial Implementation

Streetsense• Urban Retail Strategies

Zimmerman Volk Associates• Housing Market Analysis

Marc Norman• Affordable

Housing Finance

Consultant Team

Karp Strategies • Economic &

Workforce Strategies

EDR• Zoning• Historic Preservation• Graphics

Middleton Construction• Cost Estimates

Roles & Responsibilities: Consultant Team

• Prepare for & staff LPC meetings • Prepare for & lead public outreach

events• Research & study issues• Help identify projects & prepare

project profiles and analyses that demonstrates feasibility and impact of projects

• Prepare program documents with input from LPC & State Planners

DRI Overview

Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI)

• $100 Million State investment in 10 downtown neighborhoods nominated by REDCs

• Strategic Investment Plans will identify projects funded through the DRI, and ones funded by other public & private resources

Cahill Landing, Oswego DRIHistoric renovation to create 7 riverfront apartments;

Fall 2018 completion

Build on a Successful DRI Application

• Robust public participation to identify priority projects.

• Emphasize capital projects such as public infrastructure or private development.

• Identify strategic matching grant/revolving loan funds to support capital projects.

• Favor projects that leverage additional public and private funds.

• Develop metrics to demonstrate ability to kick-start economic development.

GoalsIdentify conceptual ideas that DRI Plan

should address.

Priority Projects are organized by Goal

to ensure that the DRI Plan addresses core

objectives.

StrategiesSpecific outcomes

that the DRI Plan should achieve.

Strategies can be used to develop

metrics to track the impact of Priority

Projects.

Visions, Goals & Strategies

Downtown VisionGuiding framework for the DRI Strategic

Investment Plan.

Key Ingredients of a DRI Plan

• A clear vision for the downtown.

• Goals and strategies to accomplish the vision.

• An action plan with a timeline for projects, initiatives, and actions.

• A strategic investment plan with catalytic projects to implement the plan.

DRI Strategic Investment Plan Components

1. DRI Area Boundaries2. Downtown Profile and

Assessment3. Vision, Goals, and Strategies4. Downtown Management and

Implementation Strategy5. Projects6. Implementation

Not eligible for DRI: • Planning activities

• Operation and maintenance (include staffing, utilities, rent, etc.)

• Pre-award costs

• Property acquisition

• Training and other continuing expenses

• Expenses related to existing programs

Project Types

1. Public Improvements

2. New Development or Rehabilitation of Existing Structures

3. Revolving Loan and Grant Funds

4. Branding and Marketing

Timeline

NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR

Community Engagement

Downtown Profile & Assessment

Downtown Vision, Goals & Strategies

Priority Project ProfilesDowntown Management & ImplementationDRI Strategic Investment Plan

DRI Final Plan 24-Apr

TASK 2019 2020

Public Engagement

• Build on previous community outreach

• Seek input from key individuals, organizations, and entities

• Use variety of methods (e.g., public meetings, workshops, websites, social media)

• Create work groups (if desired) • Develop a public engagement

strategy

Public Engagement Plan

• Public workshop format ideas

• Outreach to community stakeholders

• Online Engagement

• Locally specific outreach strategies

First Public Engagement Event: January 16th

Schenectady DRI Overview & Background

Past Investments, Future Potential

Current• 1.5 million

people/year attending events: #1 Destination in the Capital Region

Future• $128 million of

proposed development to be leveraged

• 15 potential projects already identified

• Potential for hundreds of construction jobs

How We Got Here: Robust Planning

Application Built On:

• Regional Economic Development Strategies

• Comprehensive Plan

• Local Neighborhood Plans

• Tactical Downtown Plan

• Detailed Sector-Specific Market Studies

• Hundreds of Participating Stakeholders

How We Got Here: Strong Foundation of Community Engagement

Public Has Weighed in Directly on:

Vision

Guiding Principles

Development Priorities

Strengths of Schenectady Study Area

• Strong, well developed economic, recreational, and cultural hubs throughout the area

• Potential to build on and increase public and private investment

• Measurable recent and impending job growth

• Characteristics that, once enhanced, increase livability

• Local policies that advance revitalization

• Strong, demonstrated community support

Schenectady DRI Priorities

• Increase linkage opportunities throughout the area to connect Lower State, Proctors, and Mohawk Harbor.

• Develop both the downtown and harbor region into a 24/7 destination

• Celebrate historic and cultural richness through projects like the ALCO Heritage Trail

• Continue to initiate new investment and projects

• Diversify economic capacity and opportunities throughout the downtown

Initial Project Ideas: Public Improvements

Erie Boulevard• Streetscape improvements• Lighting of Amtrak bridge to

show connection from downtown

• Façade improvement through matching grant program

Initial Project Ideas: Public Improvements

The Jay Connector• A proposed road

connection that would extend Jay Street to Nott Street to connect the downtown and the harbor.

• Will connect various sites including Little Italy, Union College, and the Golub Corporation.

Initial Project Ideas: Public Improvements

ALCO Tunnel Trail• A previously existing

connection between Jay St and Erie Boulevard. Has the potential to connect areas for both residents and visitors

• Estimated cost of $350,000• Reclaimed land with the

potential for new bike paths, roads, and footpaths

Initial Project Ideas: New Development

Mohawk Harbor• Utilize existing momentum

within area to develop new visitor attractions, new entertainment development, and a public access dock

• Approx. 100,000 sqft of retail/ entertainment space and 600 foot dock to connect community to river

Initial Project Ideas: New Redevelopment

Vacant Buildings• Redevelop multiple vacant

and underutilized sites within the DRI study area to improve the area.

• Sites include the former Coyne Textile building, the former Pentagon Restaurant/ Sears building, and more

Initial Project Ideas: Branding and Marketing

Improved Signage and Wayfinding• Improve signage between

Downtown and the Harbor in order to guide visitors to major destinations within the area.

• Many opportunities to incorporate important historical elements into the signage.

Committee Discussion

• Confirm DRI Boundary

• Review and discuss Vision and Goals

• Identification of opportunities and issues

• Call for additional proposals / Project Profile Form

DRI Boundary

West: Broadway/ Jay St

East: Lafayette St

North: The Mohawk River South: Smith St

Boundary lines include both sides of the street as shown

The City of Schenectady—already a center for culture, education, commerce, and recreation—is entering the next chapter of our ongoing comeback story. In the next phase we will continue to diversify our job base; increase a full range of quality housing options; celebrate and preserve our historic resources; and make the Mohawk River fully accessible to all; Our DRI will connect our rebounding downtown with our new waterfront to create a dynamic 24/7 destination for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

Vision (Draft)

• Increase linkage opportunities to connect Lower State, Proctors, and Mohawk Harbor

• Become a City with a firmly established 24/7 downtown environment

• Diversify our economy and job base

• Build on and celebrate our historic and cultural richness

• Expand access to our green- and blue-ways

• Make sure Downtown and the Waterfront are attractive and a source of pride to ALL residents

Goals (Draft)

Strengths of Schenectady Study Area

• Strong, well developed economic, recreational, and cultural hubs throughout the area

• Potential to build on and increase public and private investment

• Measurable recent and impending job growth

• Characteristics that, once enhanced, increase livability

• Local policies that advance revitalization

• Strong, demonstrated community support

Project Profile Form

• To be completed by project sponsor

• Must be able to demonstrate ability to implement

• Tentative Due Date: 1/17/2020

Code of Conduct

• Members of the DRI Local Planning Committee must always serve and act in the public interest, regardless of their affiliation with, or relationship to, any business, municipality, not-for-profit, agency, program, entity, or interest group.

• Code of Conduct addresses potential conflicts of interest of between Local Planning Committee members and their interests that do not serve the public.

• All Members must read and sign the Code of Conduct.

Members should use the Code of Conduct to guide service and actions while on the Local Planning Committee• Remember DAD: Disclose conflicts of interest Act in the public interest Disqualify if necessary

Code of Conduct

• A Member shall exercise his or her duties and responsibilities for the primary benefit of the public and in such a manner where any benefit to the Member, or a Family Member or Relative of the Member, is incidental only.

• For purposes of this Code of Conduct, a conflict of interest arises if such an exercise results in any benefit to the Member, or a Family Member or Relative of the Member, that is more than incidental.

• A conflict of interest may occur when the personal interests, financial or otherwise, of a member has the potential to interfere with, or appear to interfere with, the member’s independent advice.

Conflict of Interest

• Any potential conflict of interest must be disclosed at the earliest possible time, which should be prior to the meeting in which the matter will be discussed or as soon as the conflict is noted.

• Even an appearance of impropriety or an appearance of improper conduct should be avoided.

• If unsure of conflict, please request an opinion from NYS DOS Ethics Counsel.

Disclosure

• A member may not vote, or attempt to influence a discussion or vote, where potential conflict exists.

• Members may provide factual information in a public forum about a project from which they have recused.

Recusal

• Members must identify a potential conflict at the first meeting in which the matter giving rise to the conflict is discussed.

• A list of recusals together with the recusal form completed by each recused Member will be maintained for each project for the duration of the DRI planning process.

• The recusal list will be updated at each meeting.• The LPC co-chairs will remind members of their obligation to recuse at

each meeting of the committee.

Documenting Conflicts

• Unwarranted Privileges: No Member should use or attempt to use his or her position as a Member to secure unwarranted privileges or exemption(s) for him or herself or others.

• Confidential Information: No Member should disclose confidential information acquired by him or her in the course of his or her duties as a Member or by reason of his or her position as a Member or use such information to further his or her personal interest(s).

Acting in the Public Interest

Contact the NYS DOS Ethics Counsel:Linda Baldwin, Esq.

(518) 473-3365Linda.Baldwin@dos.ny.gov

Questions?

Next Steps

• Set dates for upcoming committee meetings and public workshops

• Issue Call for Projects Form• Finalize Community Engagement Plan• Confirm Vision, establish Goals and Strategies

Key Dates

• LPC Kickoff Meeting: 12/17

• Stakeholder Interviews: 1/10

• LPC Meeting #2: 1/9

• Public Kickoff Event: 1/16

• Public Meeting #2: 2/20

• LPC Meeting #3: 2/13

• LPC Meeting #4: 3/12

• Public Meeting #3: 3/19

• LPC Meeting #5: TBD

• Draft Downtown Profile: 1/15• Final DRI Area Goals: 1/31• Preliminary Project List: 2/21 • Final Downtown Profile: 2/21• Final Strategies: 3/6 • Draft Project Profiles: 3/10• Final Project Profiles: 3/20• Draft Plan: 3/31• Final Plan: 4/24• Edits Complete: 5/22

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Public Comment

Public Comment

Visit Schenectadydri.com to enter your priorities or ideas for this process