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Chazin Master Plan Recommendations Being Readied for January 31, 2007 Public Meeting at PVHS Auditorium
by Edward Paul Greiff
Chazin Engineering Town planners Mike Welty and Jon Johanneson presented to the Putnam Valley Town Board on January 11, 2007 a preliminary look at their Comprehensive Master Plan recommendations. The Town Board and Master Plan Committee are adding their input to the plan and will make copies available to the public by January 24 at Town Hall and at the Putnam Valley Library. They can then be studied by the public prior to the scheduled January 31st public meeting to be held at the Putnam Valley High School Performing Arts Center starting at 7pm.
Chazin organized their recommendations under the following categories: Commercial Areas, High Density Residential Areas, Rural Residential Areas, Parks - Trails - Open Space - Conservation Programs, and Additional Town-Wide Recommendations.
Under the heading of Commercial Areas, for the area of Oregon Corners, Chazin is recommending a re-examination of the CC-1 Zoning District boundary lines and allowable uses and an Oregon Corners business association to promote commercial development and redevelopment amongst property owners and business owners. In addition, Mike Welty said there is a need to improve pedestrian walkways and reduce the traffic congestion at that location. Chazin put forth a new concept to consider partnering with the Town of Cortlandt in the development of a Master Plan for Oregon Corners.
When it comes to the other historic corners in Town, Oscawana Corners, Tompkins Corners, Smith Corners, Adams Corners, and Croft Corners, Chazin recommends developing design guidelines, providing sensible off-street parking, examining neighborhood commercial development, and using the historic locales as information gateways to the community.
Chazin recognized the mixed development that has occurred at Morrissey Drive and recommends the creation of a third commercial mixed-use zoning district along Morrissey Drive. They also recommend a re-examination of the commercial uses for Bryant Pond Road and the north end of Town.
Chazin's recommendations for what they called "High Density Residential Areas" focused on: groundwater management, lake protection, septic maintenance, and reduced construction on nonconforming lots. In addition regulations for existing developed nonconforming lots needs to be re-written. A map was not provided to specify where these areas, nor any of the other residential areas, were located.
For "Rural Residential Areas" Chazin recommended that a conservation subdivision design be required. They suggest establishing a maximum development density of one home per three acres, which is an increase, and a redefinition of buildable area requirements. They also suggest maintaining a maximum development density of one home per five acres in the Conservation (CD) Zoning District, and a re-evaluation of the Preservation (PD) Zoning District. Along with this is recommended rural street design standards, a re-examination of the list of permitted and specially-permitted uses in residential zoning districts, and the allowance of greater housing diversity.
Chazin recommends the establishment of an Open Space Committee and the development of a "lands of Conservation Interests Map." The Town should consider a town-wide referendum to create funding for land acquisition and preservation of open space and parkland. The Town is also recommended to determine the potential build-out of the Town Park and identify future needs. The engineering firm said that the Town should develop mechanisms for creating and funding recreational trails, promoting the use of existing trails within the Town and linking County trails with local trails and a possible loop with Oregon Corners and the CYO Camp.
A major consideration should be to continue to work with adjacent communities and environmental organizations like the Metropolitan Conservation Alliance and the Hudson Institute to develop strategies for protecting bio-diversity throughout Putnam Valley,
In related areas of the plan, Welty and Johanneson recommended that the Town consider redefining the roles of the Advisory Board on Architecture and Community Appearance (ABACA), consider revising the noise ordinance and implementing blasting regulations, encouraging developers to utilize existing vacant or underutilized buildings and addressing home based businesses. They also suggested that the Town re-examine how the commercial properties are assessed and develop management strategies for road de-icing.
Additional recommendations included the promotion of agriculture as a land use, improving energy conservation by promoting the use of alternative, renewable energy sources for public and private buildings, the creation of a town-wide inventory of historic and cultural resources, and the preservation of the Town's scenic roads even if they are windy and hilly.
Master Plan Committee Chairwoman Karen Greenfield-Sanders and the Chazin planners expressed their hope that many residents turn out for the January 31st meeting at PVHS. The greater the turnout, the greater the public input into the plan the more it will reflect the will of the people of Putnam Valley.
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