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HYDE PARK - A heated exchange between residents
and elected officials about zoning overshadowed a rather
mundane town board meeting. Monday's board meeting turned
up little of consequence but residents challenged Supervisor
Yancy McArthur for a toasty 45 minutes before the board
ended the public comment session and adjourned.
The
usual format for the public comment session at the end of
board meetings gives residents three minutes to speak on
any matter close to their hearts. The board traditionally
does not respond as a courtesy to residents.
On
Monday, however, residents' concerns about zoning issues
launched back and forth banter that became increasingly
pointed, especially toward McArthur.
Targia
and Linville promise
As a result of residents' questions, two board members promised
to vote against any zoning plan that would allow a proposed
development to proceed to final approval under the 1974
zoning code now under review.
Councilmen Angelo Targia (R-Ward 3) and Robert Linville
(D-Ward 1) said that they would not approve a plan that
permits projects, such as the Hyde Park Commons, a proposed
360-unit apartment complex, to move to final approval under
the old zoning code.
Their
promises came in response to residents' distress over several
large development projects on Hyde Park's horizon that could,
if approved, bring more than 800 new residents to the community.
The
Zoning Review Committee is working to formulate and update
a new zoning code. The committee has posted minutes of its
meetings on the town's Web site.
It's
the committee's minutes that elicited a strong reaction
from residents during the public comment session.
Targia told residen ts these large projects would be subject
to the new zoning code, if they have not received final
approval by the time the code is in place.
The
audience, however, called back to him about the possible
inclusion of a "grandfather" clause in the new statute that
would permit developers who have submitted site plans to
be permitted under the prior code.
When he realized it would be possible to write zoning regulations
to "grandfather" in pre-approved projects, Targia said he'd
be opposed to such practices.
"I would not vote for that," Targia said. "Absolutely not."
"And I'm the second," Linville said.
"What about you, Yancy?" a resident called out to the supervisor,
who was careful not to respond.
Calls
for moratorium
The
two councilmen's promises came at the end of the lively
public comment period and the unscheduled and unorthodox
discussion immediately following.
About
a dozen residents, mostly from Ward 1, called for a moratorium
to slow developments, particularly those in "the rectangle"
in Staatsburg, which is land north of East Market, south
of North Cross, west of Route 9G to the Hudson River.
Several
residents also voiced displeasure about the Zoning Review
Committee's proposed code changes, which are posted on the
town's Web site. Staatsburg resident Jonathan Smith complained
that the proposed amendments to the zoning code "change
quite a few elements" of prior town plans.
"They are not in line with the plan this town developed
10 years ago," Smith said referring to the 1997 Comprehensive
Plan.
Smith
demanded to see the work of the committee, but meanwhile
asked the town board to impose a moratorium on any residential
development until a new zoning law is in place.
Most residents' worries, however, concerned changing the
language of the zoning code, for example, with regard to
sidewalks and bike paths, the plan on the Web site altered
the words "shall have" to "should have."
Of additional concern is that the concept detailed on the
Web site that would reduce the minimum density requirements
within the Greenbelt from three acres per dwelling unit
to two-and-a- half acres per unit.
The
Greenbelt is defined as the zoning district for all town
land east of the center line of Route 9, outside the hamlets,
neighborhoods and town center.
Some
residents clearly see the proposed language as relaxing
zoning standards that they already think are not stringent
enough.
The on-line language in the Zoning Review Committee's minutes
were not addressed by the board at its meeting. But, several
residents said they were pleased that Targia and Linville
had agreed, as a result of the public comment session, to
oppose a zoning code that would allow projects with submitted
site plans to proceed to final approval under the 1974 zoning
code.
"I
really respected what Angelo Targia said," Hyde Park resident
Aileen Rohr said. "He promised not to grandfather any projects,
that he is going to protect the rights of the homeowners
in Hyde Park."
Staatsburg
resident Bill Houghtaling agreed.
"That
was the best thing about the meeting," he said. "To get
them to pledge to stop grandfather clauses."
The
Zoning Review Committee will present an update on its progress
at the Oct. 4 workshop at 7 p.m.
Townies v. preppies?
McArthur did some challenging of his own, posing a question
to the audience during the public comment period. "How many
of you were born in Hyde Park?
Could you please raise your hands," he asked. Five or six
audience members raised their hands, while others responded
verbally.
"What is this? Townies v. preppies?" called out a resident.
"What
does it matter?" asked Houghtaling. "I don't see the point.
We're all residents here," he said, then asked, "Where were
you born, Yancy?"
"Stanfordville, New York," the supervisor replied. "Many
of us are creating our own sprawl," he said, which opened
the board to another volley from the audience.
"Sixty
votes, Yancy," a voice called, referring to the small margin
of votes which brought McArthur back into office in January.
"Actually, it's 400," McArthur responded. "The 340 I lost
by last time, plus 60."
The hubbub died down when Rohr asked McArthur why zoning
is such a controversial topic in town.
"It's a very sensitive issue," McArthur said.
He
said the town has been trying to agree on zoning for the
past six administrations over an 11 year period.
"Some
towns can pass it in three, four, five years," he said.
"As for us, it's more difficult."
With
residents still demanding answers from the board, council
members adjourned the meeting.
İHyde
Park Townsman 2004
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