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CPSB Recreation Survey Shows Town’s Residents Desire More Hiking Trails
Community Center comes in second in questionnaire
by Brian O’Donnell
Prior to the Monthly Town Board meeting on Thursday, April 2nd, the Philipstown Comprehensive Plan Special Board presented 3 updates from individual work groups to the public. Justine Bruno of the CPSB’s Recreation work group reported the results of a survey of Philipstown households last month that showed the strongest support for more biking and hiking trails. Ms. Bruno revealed the results from the 578 usable responses to the survey in reverse order, from least important to most. After biking and hiking, the 2nd most important item was a community center. Indoor and outdoor pools took 3rd and 4th position in the tabulations.
Another survey question sought to determine the willingness to pay a fee for the recreational opportunity. While not many were willing to pay for hiking, most were willing to pay fees for the community center and swimming pools.
Ming Wang reported investigating community centers including one in Mt. Pleasant that cost $5.8 million dollars and one under consideration in New Paltz that would cost $700,000. She listed the amenities each one provided.
In support of the community center concept, Ms. Wang said that she had found in literature detailing a list of the top 100 best towns in America and they all shared one thing in common — a community/town center. She also said that if the town determines to move forward with the concept of a town center, NYS could provide assistance in planning and funding options.
Mike Gibbons, who is also the Chairman of the Philipstown Greenway Committee, gave a review of the work group’s inventory of trails. He reported approximately 20 miles of trails excluding the ones within Fahnestock State Park, which contains 112 miles of trail.
The work group also reported that there were comments garnered from group discussion that indicated there was a need for a seventh ball field. Mr. Gibbons stressed that public participation was essential to the successful outcome of the boards work and encouraged the public to communicate with them.
The Business and Economic Development Group, headed by Nat Prentice, has been charged with articulating a vision for Rt. 9, and recommending changes in zoning and land development ordinances for that road that would further economic development.
Joe Giachinta, a member of the work group, talked about work that was done over 5 years ago when the Town Board had looked at the issues along Rt. 9. Giachinta said that not much had changed in the intervening years and that the current group was trying to pickup where that committee had left off. He suggested that a telephone survey would be helpful.
Julie Scanga reported on the efforts to look into zoning issues and schools. She recommended that the current 3 zoning categories be expanded to 9 or 10. She advocated scattered use designations, rather than concentrated uses throughout the Rt. 9 corridor.
With regards to schools, she felt that school students who live in Philipstown but attend school districts outside the town should somehow be brought back into the town school districts. She felt that tax dollars could be brought back to the town in this manner. She also said, "If [the students] are not part of our town as far as school districts, they are not part of our recreation department."
Anita Pidala showed a map of their inventory of undeveloped parcels in the town.
Referring to the work group’s area of investigation, Joe Frisenda who reported on guidelines for code enforcement, asked for public participation. "This is a very tricky subject — some have said that ‘we don’t want any development at all’, and that’s a point of view we have to consider as well."
The Open Space Committee was the final group to report, with Susan Bates introducing the members. She said that they had focused on the working definition of open space and the 4 functions they perform for the town: shaping community character; supporting active or passive recreation; protecting public health and preserving natural habitat. Bates said that the recreation aspects had already been covered by the other group and introduced Jordan Dale to talk about community character.
Dale presented a large map display showing ridgelines and trails throughout Philipstown. He said both were mostly protected already, via state parks or private lands with easements. Dale is seeking input from the public concerning the "scenic places" designation that is also considered a component of the community character. An open space work group meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14th at 7:30pm at the Hudson Highlands Land Trust office on Rt. 9D.
David Lukens reported on Natural Habitats stating, "On an emotional level, Philipstown is endowed with a large number of plant and animal species. And preserving those, I think, is something that a lot of people consider a high priority." Lukens explained the importance of biodiversity and its connection to natural habitats. "Fragmenting habitats is the best way to destroy biodiversity," said Lukens, who added that running roads through un-fragmented areas would negatively affect the biodiversity.
David Brower reported on the public health aspects of open spaces, indicating that they are defining "public health" as those attributes that the town has that refer to water quality.
Brower presented a map showing the aquifers in Philipstown, based on well yield information. He also noted that the County is conducting its own countywide aquifer study.
He reviewed the status of steep slope designations in the town and the part that the slopes play in recharging the aquifers.
He closed by saying, "As we go about developing in the future, our biggest concern has to be water, because without it you can’t develop."
The CSPB will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, April 8th at 7:30 at Town Hall. At that meeting they will continue to discuss the format for an upcoming town-wide forum. They will again present an update to the public prior to the next monthly Town Board meeting on June6th. More information about the CSPB can be found at the web site www.philipstown2020.org.
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