LaGrange downsizes business district plan
Residents' opposition spurs move

By John Davis Poughkeepsie Journal April 25 , 2005

FREEDOM PLAINS -- Due to public outcry, the Town of LaGrange is drastically scaling back on a planned office district along Titusville and Noxon roads.
The town board announ-ced at a recent meeting most of the 432 acres proposed for the new zone -- intended to generate tax revenue -- will remain residential.
''We listened,'' LaGrange Supervisor George Wade III said. ''Everybody was op-posed to it.''
There remains only a 30-acre parcel on the west side of Noxon Road, about half a mile north of Titusville Road, targeted for the planned office zone, which will also permit senior housing.
Neighbors of the original office zone district turned out in force at several public hearings this year, most overwhelmingly opposing the plan for its possible negative impacts on traffic, scenery and property values.
Judson Long of Clover Hill Road, one of the neighborhood organizers, welcomed the town board's decision to withdraw the bulk of the office district plan.
''They have seen the reaction of the people,'' Long said. ''We gather they are concerned of the resistance of the people to the planned office (district).''
Keep up pressure
Long and his neighbors plan to keep up the pressure on the town board to protect the character of their neighborhood and property values, he said.
This includes asking for safety improvements on Titusville Road and creating a neighborhood park.
''We want to show solidarity,'' Long said, hoping to pack town hall for Wednesday's continued public hearing on the zoning.
Town board members said the concerns raised by the residents, such as increased traffic on the busy, winding Titusville Road, convinced them to withdraw most of the proposed office plan.
''Several of us had taken into consideration Titusville is a bad road,'' Councilwoman Mellina Weiss said. ''The fire department did not think it was a good idea.''
The likelihood of increased traffic on the road leading to accidents was cited by the department, which provides the town ambulance service, Weiss said.
Some residents questioned the need to build more office buildings, in light of the vacant office space in the area.
''I don't think there was enough of a study done to determine need,'' Councilman Jon Wagner said.
Town board members, though, are still intent on finding a way to expand the tax base in LaGrange to lessen the mounting burden of town, fire and school taxes on homeowners.
This could mean permitting more commercial or office development elsewhere in town.
''We'll have to take a long hard look,'' Wade said.
John Davis can be reached at jpdavis@poughkeepsiejournal.com
ZONING HEARING The town board will continue the public hearing on revisions to the comprehensive plan and zoning at 8 p.m. Wednesday in town hall on Stringham Road.

Copyright © 2005, Poughkeepsie Journal .

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