New Laws and Master Plan Amendments?

We believe these to be the new laws and amendments to the June 2001 Master Plan.

RESOLUTION INTRODUCING PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND
LOCAL LAWS "A" THROUGH "N" OF THE YEAR 2002 TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN,
ACCEPTING DGEIS AS COMPLETE,
AND SETTING A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING FOR MAY 23,2002

Resolution Offered by Council Member WALKER

WHEREAS, for the past several years the Town has been developing a proposed Comprehensive Plan, to update the Town's existing Master Plan adopted in 1982, and

WHEREAS, in the process of developing the plan, the Town has collected substantial input from its citizens, in the form of written comment, and public workshop sessions on the plan, and

WHEREAS, in recent months, the final elements of the Plan have been completed, including the biodiversity study prepared by Hudsonia; the pedestrian study prepared in conjunction with the Dutchess County Planning Department; and the traffic study additions in response to recent closings of the Taconic State Parkway crossings by the Department of Transportation, and

WHEREAS, the proposed Comprehensive plan contains several key elements, including:

reducing permitted densities in the Town's centers, including Hopewell Junction and outlying hamlet centers, including the rezoning of the Twin Creeks property to reduce its maximum density from 6 units per acre to 4 units per acre,
reducing the residential densities in the southeasterly corner of the Town from two (2) acres per unit to three (3) acres per unit,
reducing the densities in large tracts of land throughout the Town, including agricultural lands, from 1 acre per unit to 1 and 1/2 acres per unit,
reducing the development potential of residential and non- residential environmentally sensitive lands (wetlands, floodplains, and steep slopes over 20%), by providing that these lands be discounted by 50% in calculating required lot area or FAR,
reducing maximum potential commercial and industrial density by establishing Floor Area Ratios of 0.35 for commercial districts, and 0.25 for industrial, PRDP and PCP Districts of 0.25, while continuing to encourage high-quality industrial development near the Lime-Kiln Interstate 84 interchange,
facilitating future planning for the Hopewell Junction center, by beginning the planning process for "bypass" roads, which would limit downtown traffic in the center of Town, and make the Hopewell Hamlet more pedestrian friendly, enhancing the shopping experience of residents; and allowing small commercial elements (not exceeding 1% of total area) in large cluster projects, to eliminate unnecessary trips into the center of Town,
encouraging the preservation of open space by enhancing the buffer provisions of the Town's cluster law, and repealing the provisions of the "Average Density" subdivisions, which did not require preservation of open space,
enacting provisions to allow Affordable Housing in the Town, and require that 10% of the units in CRD developments be Affordable units,
enacting provisions for more flexible road design in new residential developments; allowing shared driveways in certain circumstances; placing design controls on creation of "flag" lots; and restricting parking of commercial and industrial vehicles in residential zones, and
joining the Greenway Compact

WHEREAS, the Town Board has now received the proposed Draft Comprehensive Plan and fourteen (14) proposed local laws which would implement the Plan, including:

   Local Law A: A Local Law adopting "Greenway Connections,"

   Local Law B: A Local Law amending the Zoning and Subdivision Chapters of the Code of the Town of East Fishkill to Protect Environmentally Sensitive Lands,

   Local Law "C": A Local Law providing for Affordable housing.

   Local Law "D": A Local Law creating the R-3 Residential Zoning District, and providing regulations for such District.

   Local Law "E": A Local Law creating the R-1.5 Residential Zoning District, and providing regulations for such District.

   Local Law "F": A Local Law amending the Highway Specifications.

   Local Law "G": A Local Law amending the zoning provisions applicable to the Conservation Residential Development ("CRD") District.

   Local Law "H": A Local Law amending provisions of the Town Code relating to Cluster Subdivisions.

   Local Law "I": A Local Law Repealing Section 194.14 of the Zoning Law, which permits Average Density Subdivisions.

   Local Law "J": Amended the Zoning Regulations Applicable to Residential Zones.

   Local Law "K": A Local Law changing the zoning classification of certain properties from the Residential R-1 District to the Residential R-1.5 District.

   Local Law "L": A Local Law changing the zoning classification of certain property from the Residential R-2 District to the Residential R-3 District.

   Local Law "M": A Local Law changing the zoning Classification of an Approximately 114.86 acre Parcel known as "Twin Creeks" from PRD (Planned Residential Development) to CRD (Conservation Residential Development).

   Local Law "N": A Local Law Amending the Zoning Provisions Applicable to Non-Residential Zones.

WHEREAS, the Town Board has reviewed the proposed Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement prepared regarding the proposed Comprehensive Plan and local laws, and, pursuant to the SEQR regulations section 617.6 (a) (4) has determined that the plan and laws may have significant impacts on overall development potential of the Town, and on the land use policies and neighborhood character of the Town, although the primary effects are environmentally positive, and

WHEREAS, the Town Board has accordingly determined that it is appropriate that a Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement be prepared, and a Positive Declaration issued, and

WHEREAS, the Town Board has reviewed the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement and finds that it is complete for the purposes of beginning the public review process, and

WHEREAS, it is in the public interest that the proposed Comprehensive Plan, the proposed local laws, and the DGEIS be jointly set for a public hearing to receive public comment on all aspects of the proposals, and

WHEREAS, it is also appropriate to allow a further opportunity for written comments even after the close of the public hearing:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that

   1. The proposed Comprehensive Plan, and the proposed local laws above listed are hereby formally introduced before the Board, and the record hereby reflects that each of the members have copies of all documents.

   2. The proposed Comprehensive Plan and all of the above Local Laws which would implement it, collectively, are considered "the proposed action" under SEQR, and the proposed action is determined to be a direct action by the Town Board, and a Type I action under SEQR.

   3. The Town Board hereby renders a Positive Declaration, requiring a DGEIS to be prepared.

   4. The Town Board hereby accepts the DGEIS prepared by Buckhurst, Fish, and Jacqemart and dated as complete and adequate for public review.

   5. A joint public hearing on the proposed Comprehensive Plan, the proposed local laws, and the DGEIS is hereby scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. at John Jay High School, Route 52, Hopewell Junction New York, at which time all interested parties will be heard.

   6. In addition, written comments on the DGEIS and the proposed action will be accepted if received at the Town Clerk's office, on or before 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2002.

   7. The Town Clerk is authorized to file and circulate a Positive Declaration, Notice of Completion and Notice of Hearing, and to post, publish and circulate notice of said hearing as required by law.

Resolution seconded by Council Member FERLAND