Broome County’s abundance of peaks and valleys make it one of the Southern Tier region’s pillars of natural beauty. This geography, however, makes it challenging to develop large tracts of land for economic development.

 

For decades, Broome’s site development needs were supported by the 600-acre Broome Corporate Park in the Town of Conklin. With initial construction beginning in 1984, the Broome Corporate Park is home to national companies such as Dick’s Sporting Goods Distribution Center, Amazon, Trivium Packaging, Lineage Logistics, and Universal Instruments Corporation. As of today, there is only about 50-acres remaining which is across several tracts of land.

 

In addition to the Corporate Park, there are several scattered development areas, but none that can accommodate the density and scale of a traditional business park. In 2021, the IDA commissioned Elan Planning & Consulting to conduct a county-wide Site Inventory Assessment for the purpose of identifying potentially new development areas, with the goal of assembling larger tracts (minimum of 100 acres or larger).

 

This process provided great value and identified three target areas for development: 1) 200 acres in West Windsor, Broome, NY; 2) Areas of development in and around the Greater Binghamton Airport; 3) Acreage identified off Airport Road in the Towns of Maine and Union.

 

With additional analysis the following challenges were identified with the first two sites:

 

West Windsor – Useable acreage would be significantly reduced due to the parcel being built “into the hillside”; lack of infrastructure at the site; challenging private landowner.

 

BGM Airport Sites – Scattered acreage with wetlands throughout most; FAA restrictions on ownership; less desirable transportation infrastructure and distance from highway exchange.

 

The third site located off Airport Road was highly ranked for several reasons:

  • Access to highway exchange (less than 2 miles)
  • Potential to assemble +/- 500 congruent acres
  • Generally flat conditions with areas of steep slopes able to be mitigated easily
  • Previous investment by County to extend all necessary infrastructure on Airport Rd.
  • Acreage in the “center” of the tract held by own owner amenable to sale
  • Airport Road corridor is considered “regionally significant” including more than $40 million in state funds to upgrade the Greater Binghamton Airport

 

Overall, the IDA identified more than 500 acres of interest in this area and in 2022, secured an option for purchase for more than 300 acres. Following that, the IDA conducted a preliminary engineering analysis and phase 1 environmental review to identify any physical or environmental barriers to advancing the development of this land. Finding none, the IDA subsequently applied, and received an award of $500,000 from the FAST NY program to complete the necessary State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process, and even further, a complete Generic Environmental Impact Statement that would require and provide for significant public engagement.

 

In 2023, the IDA exercised its option to purchase the 300+ acres and in January 2024 entered an option for purchase for an additional 130+ acres. It is in the process of securing option agreements for an additional +/-100 acres.

 

One of the goals of this development is to make it a showcase park that utilizes the latest in green building technology and works to achieve the highest ranking in LEED design. This aligns with the goal of attracting global companies in the areas of battery and semiconductor supply chain and/or manufacturing that would be attracted to a “green park.”

 

The IDA has educated ESD and NYSERDA of the vision of this park that would help NYS achieve its goals of 1) creating new and larger development sites 2) attract targeted industry sector companies within the clean energy sector 3) develop a park that is visually attractive and physically sustainable to address the state’s stated climate goals.

 

The IDA has set aside $3 million in funds, which will be used for the purpose of acquisition of land. The $500,000 FAST grant will be used to cover costs associated with site design and engineering and to complete the SEQR/GEIS process.

 

To achieve the vision of this project, it is imperative that this next phase is done with the highest caliber of design and deliberation. The IDA has identified a project team that includes experts in sustainability and green design.

 

This project will require significant collaboration between the IDA, the Towns of Maine and Union and other key stakeholders. We anticipate that a joint-planning committee will be formed as the land crosses both municipalities. We also expect that inter-municipal collaborations will be formed to address critical service and infrastructure needs at the site.

 

Current status:

 

  • The IDA has provided the NYS DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos a response to the Town of Maine’s challenge to our SEQR Lead Agency status. This was provided on 2/26.
  • The IDA expects to publish a survey tool to the residents of the Towns of Maine and Union on their feedback on the proposed park. This feedback will inform the SEQR/GEIS process of concerns and aid in the design of the park.
  • The IDA expects to launch an educational landing page that will outline the vision of the park, the status of progress, and offer a link for public engagement meetings and public documents associated with the project.
  • We hope to begin SEQR upon the successful naming of Lead Agency by the DEC and expect the process to take 12 months to complete.

 

 

SD 2/28/24