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THE FOLLOWING APPEARS IN THE GAZETTE:
Two years ago, against my recommendation, the Village Board passed a zoning amendment to make ‘Lot A’ (and immediate surrounding parcels) a Transit Oriented Development zone. I had indicated my preference for an all-commercial option.
Today, we have a ‘zoning-compliant’ proposal before us, but…is it a ‘Croton-compliant’ proposal?
We’re faced with an all-residential project which is entirely too large; and frankly, the data provided doesn’t fit. I feel we haven’t properly done our due diligence.
One example is the fiscal analysis report: we’re shown tax numbers for what’s proposed as-is (100% affordable condos), and an 80% market-rate/20% affordable RENTAL scenario.
We are NOT shown what an ALL-CONDO 80% market-rate/20% affordable split (as recommended by our Planning Board) would produce, or better still; a 90% market-rate/10% affordable split, as Village law currently mandates.
This ‘apple vs oranges’ analysis evades the question of whether or not another all-affordable development, with no preferences for Crotonites, is financially viable for Croton.
As for additional Public School-Aged Children: to cite three studies that put this number at ‘between 1-22’ is truly insulting to all parties involved. I find it hard anyone would believe a 100-unit affordable condominium complex would produce as little as 1 child. Again, no analysis was done for an 80% market-rate/20% affordable ALL-CONDO scenario.
There are other issues, ranging from traffic to fire safety, which need to be thoroughly addressed as well.
The village’s Planning Board came up with a number of sensible recommendations; a mix of majority market-rate condos allowing for current Croton residents to have a chance at downsizing or starting out on their own being an important one. I’d like to see these recommendations given more credence.
Therefore, I urge our Village Board to decline issuing a special permit to WBP Development, LLC at this time.
I will conclude with a quote from a recent article in ‘Islands’ magazine (a respected travel medium). The article featured the most beautiful overlooked small towns in New York. We were one of the listed towns. It spelled out the reason we’re here and others want in:
"About 9,000 people live there, drawn by the low-rise, small-town ambience,"
…The low-rise, small-town ambience…
Let’s not forget that.
Today, we have a ‘zoning-compliant’ proposal before us, but…is it a ‘Croton-compliant’ proposal?
We’re faced with an all-residential project which is entirely too large; and frankly, the data provided doesn’t fit. I feel we haven’t properly done our due diligence.
One example is the fiscal analysis report: we’re shown tax numbers for what’s proposed as-is (100% affordable condos), and an 80% market-rate/20% affordable RENTAL scenario.
We are NOT shown what an ALL-CONDO 80% market-rate/20% affordable split (as recommended by our Planning Board) would produce, or better still; a 90% market-rate/10% affordable split, as Village law currently mandates.
This ‘apple vs oranges’ analysis evades the question of whether or not another all-affordable development, with no preferences for Crotonites, is financially viable for Croton.
As for additional Public School-Aged Children: to cite three studies that put this number at ‘between 1-22’ is truly insulting to all parties involved. I find it hard anyone would believe a 100-unit affordable condominium complex would produce as little as 1 child. Again, no analysis was done for an 80% market-rate/20% affordable ALL-CONDO scenario.
There are other issues, ranging from traffic to fire safety, which need to be thoroughly addressed as well.
The village’s Planning Board came up with a number of sensible recommendations; a mix of majority market-rate condos allowing for current Croton residents to have a chance at downsizing or starting out on their own being an important one. I’d like to see these recommendations given more credence.
Therefore, I urge our Village Board to decline issuing a special permit to WBP Development, LLC at this time.
I will conclude with a quote from a recent article in ‘Islands’ magazine (a respected travel medium). The article featured the most beautiful overlooked small towns in New York. We were one of the listed towns. It spelled out the reason we’re here and others want in:
"About 9,000 people live there, drawn by the low-rise, small-town ambience,"
…The low-rise, small-town ambience…
Let’s not forget that.
Robert Armanini,
Croton on Hudson
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