Village proposes zoning for annexed BT Holdings land
By Ginny Privitar
CHESTER — The Chester village board proposed an amendment to the village's zoning law to assign a new RM-N zoning designation to the 60 acres the village acquired when annexing land held by BT Holdings.
The village annexed the land from the Town of Chester so that the developer, Frank Nussbaum, could increase the density of his proposed subdivision by taking advantage of the village's superior water resources. The current site plan for BT Holdings includes 340 residences.
“Is the zoning that the village is looking to adopt the zoning that the developer prefers?" asked Tracy Schuh of the Preservation Collective. "Does the village still have the power to zone the land any way it wants?”
Mayor Philip Valastro at first said: “Well, yes and no.”
He said the village was handicapped by the 2003 master plan adopted by the town.
Schuh said the prior plan sought lower density at the top of the development. Valastro responded there have been many changes since then.
Schuh asked again.
“My question is simple," she said. "Technically, you don’t have to adopt what the town had. You have control, am I correct? You can vote it however you like?”
Valastro eventually acknowledged that trustees may vote however they want to regarding the site's zoning.
The village board referred to the proposed amendment to the village planning board, which may make its own recommendations and zoning decision.
The board will set a hearing date once the planning board has reviewed the amendment.
Sign code change proposed
The Chester village board tweaked its new sign code to dim the distraction caused by some electronic signs.
The board held a public hearing on other changes before its meeting July 8. The new changes address some commercial requests for flashing and scrolling message signs.
“We’re trying to make the timing longer so it doesn’t flash, flash, flash like you’re in Las Vegas," said Mayor Phil Valastro.
The village board proposes a message be displayed for no less than eight seconds to avoid the distraction of rapidly flashing messages. A date will be determined for a future public hearing on the change.
Fireworks marred by assault
Police Chief Peter Graziano said a man was beaten and robbed of his cell phone at the end of the fireworks show on July 6. The assault and robbery occurred near Main Street and Maple Avenue.
Thanks to the large police presence, the perpetrator was soon caught and the phone recovered, Graziano said. It was the only disruption to the show.
Another crime in the village was resolved when Detective Vicaretti on July 8 arrested a 20-year-old male in connection with a burglary at Dunkin Donuts. The young man was an employee of the restaurant. A safe with approximately $1,200 to $1,300 in cash was stolen. The safe and some of the proceeds were recovered.
In other business
Four positions open up — Up for election in November are the positions of mayor, two trustees and a judge, said Mayor Valastro. Petition signatures are now being collected through Aug. 20. For more information, call the Orange County Board of Elections at 291-2444, email election@organgecountygov.com, or visit www.orangecountygov.com.
No parking in industrial park — Parking in the industrial park will be prohibited, upon review by the village attorney. Chief Graziano recommended that village code be amended for the prohibition. If approved, vehicles will not be allowed to park on Black Meadow Road, along the portion contained in the village limits, and on both sides of the entire length for the following streets: Leone Lane, Elizabeth Drive, and Nucifora Boulevard.
New Dunkin Donuts — A permit was issued for a new Dunkin Donuts, with work already started on the foundation and plumbing, said John Orr, the building inspector. He further reported that the Likuid Lounge is now open at 69 Brookside Ave., renovation permit was issued for a dentist's office at 49 Brookside Ave. (the former Suds and Duds), and a permit issued for post-fire repairs and renovation at 143 Main Street.
Flooding fixes — John Orr and Charlie Bono on July 2 met with John Szarowski of McGoey Hauser and Edsall Consulting Engineers to discuss flooding problems along Brookside Avenue and in the industrial park. Szarowski will be working with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on getting permits. He also submitted a letter of intent for a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to cover the work. Mayor Valastro noted that Assemblyman James Skoufis has been working with the village and the state department of conservation and transportation to try to get some funding. Anything that goes under Route 17 — the land and the culverts — is state property, which is why the department of transportation is involved in the plan.
Chester wants to join Greenway — The board agreed to ask that Chester be designated a Hudson Valley Greenway Community, which will make the village eligible for certain grants. The Greenway helps communities develop land use plans that balance economic development with protection of natural resources. Resident Gene Winters said he is putting together, along with downtown property and business owners, a five-year plan for upgrading the area around Main Street and taking advantage of Greenway grants.
Summer clerk hired — Marra Coffey was hired for the summer as a part-time clerk.
County won't clean park-and-rides — Orange County will no longer clean park-and-ride areas because the state is too slow to pay the county for the work, Valastro said. The responsibility now lies with the state and Coach USA, which owns the bus service.
Water testing continues — Water testing in the village continues, said water commissioner Tom Becker. Both air compressors have been serviced, and there was trouble with the generator starting. Peak Power says the natural gas flow is restricted during startup, Becker said. He scheduled a meeting with Orange & Rockland Utilities and a service representative from Peak Power.
New York Notice of Claims Act — Claims through the New York Notice of Claims Act will now go through the New York Secretary of State, who will then forward them to the appropriate municipality, to replace a patchwork system of local laws. To satisfy a state requirement, the board designated the village clerk — who would have received them anyway — to receive the claims.