Bending zoning rules in Woodbury might have benefits

Bending zoning rules in Woodbury might have benefits

By Chris McKenna
Times Herald-Record
cmckenna@th-record.com

Woodbury – The controversy du jour in a town full of them is known as "the zoning changes," in the shorthand of some of the people arguing about them.
It refers to requests by two developers to loosen the town's zoning rules to increase the number of homes they can build in two gated communities they want to erect on opposite sides of town.
Among the purported benefits offered in return are large tracts of dedicated open space and improvements to the town's water and sewer systems.
Since the requests surfaced in November, the Town Board, which must decide on them, has held hearings to field initial concerns and begun overseeing environmental reviews for each project that could take months, if not years, to complete.
Officially, the board has no position on the projects, which would total 731 homes. Supervisor Sheila Conroy assures residents the reviews will be thorough and open to the public and must answer any major concerns, such as traffic.
"This is going to take time, and it guarantees input from the public," she said at the end of the board meeting last Thursday. "Let's go through the process and see what it says."
But critics have been flaying the board.
In their view, the board has already signaled its support and is rushing toward a foregone conclusion. They've called for more public hearings, a referendum, a delay while the town revises its master plan – anything to stop the process trudging forward.
"It smacks of back-room politics," said Aimee Fitzgerald, who lives in Central Valley near one of the projects involved – 450-home Woodbury Suburban. "And the public was never consulted about whether it wanted high-density changes in their master plan."
The Woodbury Suburban developer asked for a zoning break to allow 450 homes, instead of the 175 allowed under current zoning. The developer behind the Legacy Ridge project in northern Woodbury wants to build 281 homes instead of 164.
Conroy said in an interview yesterday that the board had no legal obligation to consider the requests but saw enough potential benefits – such as senior-citizen units in the Woodbury Suburban project and open space in both – to go forward.
"We said we were willing to look at these projects because there were some things we liked about them," she said.
She pointed out that, on a personal level, she lives near one of the proposed communities – Legacy Ridge – and would prefer to keep the unblemished view she's had for 26 years.
And she emphasized that the projects could shrink as the developers go through the environmental reviews and adjust to various limitations.
Critics, meanwhile, are unmoved by the perceived benefits, especially open space.
"Land you can't build on," Fitzgerald said with disgust. "You put it behind a gate and call it a gift to the people of Woodbury."

To Run or Not to Run

Rant: Its that time of the year again when we can throw our hat in the rink and run for office. This year Woodbury has two Council seats, Highway Superintendent, Town Clerk, Tax Collector and Supervisor. In the county Woodbury now has three County Legislators, yes three. www.co.orange.ny.us/orgMain.asp?orgid=3&storyTypeID=&sid=&
So the race is on, who is running, who may be thinking of running and who is running again? It’s that time again when people come out to the Town Board meeting just to be seen. To make positive comments because they support someone and make negative when they don’t. But now is a good time for Woodbury to see where the future will take us. Will new faces and new names surface to run, or will it be the same old faces with the same old issues. But for some of us in our mid term we have nothing to lose. When you are in your mid term you can test the waters take a set up and still keep your seat. So who will it be this year, we know the issues there is really just one. If there was ever a time to run now is the time because it’s going to be a one-issue race. This time around its not going to be about party it’s going to be whom do you want to lead the town? The board we have now and the road they have put new leadership or us on and take us off that road? For me it’s a midterm so I have options …

Camp Rez

Rave: We just signed up for Cam Rez again and my daughter was so excited. One of the reasons we moved back here seven years ago was the Pond and The Rez. Growing up in Central Valley some of the best times where summers at the Pond. This is her second year going to camp and wanted to thank the Park commissions past and present for their work on this. The parks are the why Woodbury is a great place to live and with Summer coming I am looking forward to the bands on Saturday night. Its nice to know that some of my childhood memories and my kids will be a the parks of Woodbury. No other towns have what we have, two great parks to spend the summer at with your family.

Woodbury 2005 better then 1979?

As I drive from the now Famous Wal-Mart sign to Trout Brook Road , I cant help but to think back to when I just starting driving. I would get gas at Richie's Mini market where BTW he knew me and everyone else by our first names. Across the street was Brushes where I bought my baseball cards, Big Buddy gum and candy. The lawn across now fenced in would be and group of teens hanging out . Well Brushes is gone the lawn is fenced in and no one knows my name at the Mini Mart. Does anyone remember the Pontiac dealer across from the sunoco which has become Bergs. BTW I always like Bergs he was one of the good guys! There was Rockies P to get a hero and a costa soda. That's right Costa Cola all for $2.10 . Ah the good old days when he would write down your order and send it threw that little window to Mrs P. It would take a lifetime to get your order but that's the way it was. He had newspapers with names written on them and he made sure you never took one of them.! The small little liquor store right next to the Drug Store by the circle. Then there was the Central Valley Diner that never seemed to make it, I even worked their washing dishes for 2 bucks a hour and played pinball in the back! If you wanted Pizza it was Rennes , your car was fixed by Pat or Duke. We had a Grand Union, now the Post Office. I can go on and on the way it was now we have Shopping Centers, Big Box Retailers, Fast Food, restaurants. So I ask you which do you prefer the Woodbury of today or 1979? Please click and answer http://mikeaforwoodbury.com/questions/survey.php?s_id=6

If your 55 and older please let me know.

Rant
The question I keep asking mysel if I where 55 or older living in Woodbury would I sell my house and buy a active adult home . I may if my kids lived here but then again with a new home my taxes would most likely increase so why move. What if my kids moved here would I relocate here to be close to them, maybe but why pay MW school taxes which are a Mortgage payment that would buy a nice home down south. Looking at the current make up of the town now:As of the census2 of 2000, there are 9,460 people, 3,117 households, and 2,546 families residing in the town. The population density is 101.0/km² (261.6/mi²). There are 3,358 housing units at an average density of 35.9/km² (92.9/mi²).
There are 3,117 households out of which 46.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.9% are married couples living together, 8.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% are non-families. 15.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.03 and the average family size is 3.39.In the town the population is spread out with 30.9% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years
With only 7.4% of the town 65 and older would adding active adult homes fly? Please let me know your thoughts?

Last night

I would like to hear some feed back from lasts night meeting. For those of you who not do have channel 22 you should go to the library, get copies of the tapes and watch the last few town board meetings to get caught up on what has been taking place. Let the truth be told I am not happy with last nights agenda and do not like when town board meeting are used for work sessions. So now that I have become a blogger please get used to hearing rants and raves from me. Some rants no reason to leave off last nights agenda Discussion - Dunkin Donuts Fire Lanes /Discussion - BOCES Agreement Discussion /-Women of Woodbury Request / Discussion - Terms of Offices for Committees/Commissions and add Discussion/Review - Conservation Cluster Law / Discussion/Review - Senior Housing Law . Raves Camp only $360.00 per session

Meeting 3/3/2005

I hope to see everyone at tonight's meeting. If you know anyone who would like to run for office please contact me. Its that time of year and we need to find good people to run. I will have a few thoughts after the meting tonight and will post them Friday.

Welcome

Please welcome to my blog