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State's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program May Figure in Cold Spring's Planning Future
by Claudia Gibson
In tandem with the recently announced move towards updating its Master Plan, the Village of Cold Spring is looking into the State's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), a waterfront planning program that has attracted nearly three dozen other Hudson River communities in recent years, including Peekskill, Dobbs Ferry and Newburgh.
At the May 9 meeting of the Cold Spring Village Board of Trustees, Cold Spring resident and Hudson River environmentalist John Cronin indicated that a LWRP would be feasible for the Village.
"The application is doable," said Cronin, Executive Director of the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, and director of Pace Academy for the Environment at Pace University. Cronin said a recent conversation with officials at the Department of State, who administer the LWRP, was encouraging.
"It's a different program than when it was first launched," said Cronin. "It was more onerous then. There is a strong bias now for communities to be involved."
Cronin said that Cold Spring was in a unique and favorable position in that for planning purposes, the State considers the entire Village and part of the Town up to Route 9 as part of a waterfront community.
Cronin said that one feature of LWRP is 50/50 matching State funding. The money could be used towards funding the Village's Master Plan revision, and the State would allow two years for matching funds to be raised. Volunteer and volunteer professional in-kind services could be used towards the matching funds, as could services provided by the Village, Town, County and non-profit organizations. Cronin said that the maximum amount that can be asked for is $50,000.
According to the DOS website, a LWRP is both a planning document prepared by a community, as well as the program established to implement the plan.
The LWRP might include, for example, items for tourism, educational programs, transit, parking, docking and piers, and mass transit for visitors. Issues addressed by a LWRP include waterfront redevelopment and land use, historic resources, scenic resources, flooding and erosion, water quality, fish and wildlife habitats, public access and recreation.
Cronin felt that the bulk of the money received from the grant would be used for hiring a consultant.
Another grant possibility, said Cronin, is a program called "Quality Communities," another small community planning program, which is a 20% matching funds program. The Quality Communities grants program for 2006-2007 is expected to be announced by the State shortly.
Cronin said that DOS officials recommended applying for the LWRP and the Quality Communities grant, and then making the LWRP part of the Master Plan. Cronin offered to help put the applications together for the Village.
Detailed information on the LWRP process can be found at the NY State Department of State Division of Coastal Resources website: http://nyswaterfronts.com/aboutus_LWRP.asp
The Village Board decided not to put forth a motion to move forward with the LWRP application at the May 9 meeting, but to delay the motion until the May 23rd Village Board Workshop, and vote on it then. The Board would also consider the creation of a Waterfront Committee.
In other news, Trustee Karin Dunn reported on the progress of the Trolley Buses that will soon be seen around Cold Spring. "They're almost finished," reported Dunn, who said that a promotional plan for the trolley service should be developed and published. Mayor Anthony Phillips said that completion of this project was moving slowly, in order to allow input from the County, who is footing the bill. "Start slowly and expand," counseled the Mayor, who said the service route for the trolley had not been decided yet. Trustee Dunn also reported that a tentative date for introducing the process of the Master Plan update to the public was being set.
"We will be making use of facilitators and disinterested parties," said Dunne. "The initial meeting is simply an introduction."
Trustee Ed Mancari thanked the Village and the Highway Department for their help in making Kids Fishing Day a success. Over 200 people and 125 children took part in the event on May 6, with 284 trout released into the lower reservoir for the event.
Mancari also said that during the budget process, the Board had discussed making a slight increase in the sewer service rate. A hearing will take place on this topic on Tuesday, May 30 at 7:30 pm at the Village Hall.
Trustee Seth Gallagher reported that contracts for lawn care were recently signed. There were also suggestions for changes to the signs on Village properties, with more extensive sets of rules to be listed.
Trustee Gallagher also recently met with former Trustee Bruce Campbell regarding the Route 9D safety plan and crosswalks, and spoke with DOT engineer Greg Hart. There may be more safety work done on the school crosswalk at Craigside Drive to make it safer.
Prior to the regular meeting, CLG Financial representatives Owen McKane and Edward Carpezzi presented a proposal for insurance coverage to the Village Board. The CLG reps reviewed recent claims against the Village and made risk management suggestions, as well as a summary of potential policy coverage. CLG's proposed total yearly premium for all lines of insurance, including property, general liability, automobile, inland marine, public entity management liability, employment practices liability, police professional and umbrella would be $90,452.
Trustee Ed Mancari questioned the exclusion of coverage for the Village of Cold Spring Fire Department, noting that the fire company's relationship with the Village is unique, given that it was one of the first fire companies incorporated within New York State. The fire company does not have its own funded fire district.
The representatives said they would check on coverage for the Fire Department members and report back to the Village Board.
Building Inspector George Tompkins reported that he was completing 29 hours of State Code training. At Mayor Anthony Phillips' request, Tompkins said he would get copies of the Code revisions to Village Clerk Mary Saari. Phillips said the Village needed to know about the State Code changes as part of the Master Plan revision.
Water Department Superintendent Greg Phillips reported that while reservoirs were currently at 100% capacity, conservation was encouraged in order to avoid water restrictions this summer. Trustee Dunn proposed having Phillips and the Board come up with formal suggestions for water conservation, to be published in the PCN&R.
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