Hyde Park must resolve growth

Editorial Poughkeepsie Journal April 29 , 2005

Hyde Park has good zoning plans -- it just hasn't adopted them. After years of wrangling to get zoning in place, the town board this week proposed adopting a building moratorium. But halting development for nine months is a drastic action that reflects a town in planning tumult. Hyde Park is not in that situation.
Instead, the town should modify, yet again, the proposed development plans.
The town's growth plans have already gone through many revisions. The latest overhaul was opposed by county planners, who advise local jurisdictions on zoning. That opposition required Hyde Park to have a super majority, or four out of five votes, to adopt the development plan. It only has three of five votes.
Rather than fix the zoning conflicts and work with the county to develop a palatable solution, it seemed Hyde Park was willing to pursue a building moratorium.
Although that plan of action passed the board, it is not a done deal. On Monday, the town board will hold a special meeting, in conjunction with the county, to review modifications planners made to the zoning plan this week, Supervisor Yancy McArthur said. Hopefully, a more responsible plan that upholds the town's charm and limits strip malls, will be presented.
If this new version corresponds with the town's comprehensive plan, the board should make a commitment to finalize it in coming weeks. This is a better option than an unnecessary moratorium.
A halt on residential construction for nine months would continue the issue into the November election, when all five seats are up for grabs. Even the time frame of enacting the moratorium is flawed. The public hearing would be May 11, yet the workshop on implementing it isn't until May 16. That is backward. The public needs to know how the town board would proceed on the moratorium before it can comment on the proposal.
Delaying action until after the election may be a tempting way out of such a high-stakes process that's been going on for too long. But zoning should be decided by the people currently in office. They have had two years to address the situation. The people of Hyde Park deserve to have comprehensive laws that address responsible development in their community and developers have a right to know how to proceed.
Hopefully, the zoning plan presented Monday will follow the county's professional advice and create zoning that will enhance the town now and for the future. Adopting a moratorium would only delay a decision that is long overdue.
MEETINGS SET - The town board special session will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at Hyde Park town hall.
- The public hearing on a building moratorium will be held at 7 p.m May 11 at FDR High School, South Cross Road in Staatsburg.
- The workshop on the moratorium will be held at 7 p.m May 16 at Hyde Park town hall, 4383 Albany Post Road.

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