Open space protection considered
Draft zoning may be ready for July vote

By John Davis Poughkeepsie Journal May 5, 2005

Town officials say they have begun addressing county concerns that proposed changes to the town's zoning codes do not preserve open space, prevent sprawl and concentrate development in the town center enough.
That could lead to a vote in July on enacting new zoning and subdivision ordinances, town zoning consultant Chuck Voss said.
"I think it's possible," said Councilman Robert Linville, one of the board's two Democrats who say the zoning draft would permit too much development. "It's reasonable if we can get our act together in the next few weeks."
In an April 14 letter to the town board, the assistant commissioner of the Dutchess County Planning and Development Department criticized the proposed land-use rules and offered a slew of recommendations. Richard Birch warned that if the town ignored the recommendations, it would need a super majority — a majority plus one — of the five town board members to enact the zoning.
3 of 5 back proposal
With only three of the five town board members supporting the zoning draft, the Republican majority members have agreed to work with the county to make revisions.
The town has been working to update its zoning since 1997, when it revised its comprehensive plan. The process has been mired in controversy as residents debate the merits of further restricting property rights to protect Hyde Park's rural and historical character.
Town Supervisor Yancy McArthur and Voss have met twice since April 14 with county Planning Commissioner Roger Akeley and Birch.
Voss said the county is willing to consider allowing large subdivisions in which lots sizes would average a minimum of 2 1/2 acres — less than the three- to five-acre lot sizes recommended in the county letter.
As a condition, Voss said, the town is willing to meet another county recommendation: To eliminate a proposed "double-density bonus" in which developers would be allowed to build subdivisions with average lot sizes as small as 1 1/4 acre, as long as they agreed to cluster the homes, provide central water and sewer and preserve 40 percent of the land as open space.
In his recent letter to the town board, Birch said the density bonus would "encourage a 'sprawl-belt.' "
"It was that double-density bonus that was really making the county feel skittish," Voss said. "They could live with 2 1/2-acre average density."
Birch said Tuesday no such agreements were reached during the recent meetings and won't be until the town resubmits its revisions in writing.
"They wanted us to clarify what we were saying in our letter," Birch said of the meetings. "There's no agreement."
Town board members remain divided on how much new home construction should be permitted.

John Davis can be reached at jpdavis@poughkeepsiejournal.com

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