News
Friday, February 17, 2006
Editorial - Poughkeepsie Journal
By Michael Valkys
Town amends its building moratorium
Environmental reviews affected
Developers in the Town of Poughkeepsie can proceed with rezoning applications, but environmental reviews on residential projects of 11 lots or more will likely stop at least until mid-June.
The town board Wednesday night made adjustments to its residential building moratorium, approved last year and recently extended until June. The board's action was good news for developers of the former Hudson River Psychiatric Center site.
Another company that wants to construct 468 homes at the Casperkill Golf Club property may not be as happy.
"We're very pleased," said Arnold Moss of Hudson Heritage CPCR Ventures, which wants to convert the 156-acre psychiatric center site off Route 9 north of Marist College into a combination of residential and commercial uses.
Hudson Heritage has asked the town to create a new historic revitalization zone for the property. The developers feared work on the rezoning application would be shut down, but the board's vote Wednesday allows that process to move ahead.
"We think the studies we're doing will be highly educative to the town in making a final decision" on the zoning change request, Moss said.
Supervisor Patricia Myers has called Hudson Heritage's project "very positive." She noted Thursday that the plan is in its early stages, and that the moratorium will be over by the time Hudson Heritage is ready to begin work.
The town board must approve any zoning change.
Hudson Heritage's plans call for about 700 housing units on the property, a small hotel, shops, office space and more. Construction would be phased over a 10-year period once approvals are granted.
The moratorium comes as the town works to update its master plan for the first time in 15 years. The town board is expected to adopt zoning changes to go along with the updated plan after it receives recommendations from a consultant in March.
Hawthorne-based Ginsburg Development wants to build 468 homes at the Casperkill site in the southern part of Route 9 in town, but will preserve the 18-hole golf course.
The town board Wednesday night removed a previously approved clause in the moratorium allowing developers to proceed with environmental reviews before the planning or zoning boards during the ban.
Officials said those reviews can continue only if the town board is lead agency, which rarely occurs.
Ginsburg officials spoke against the moratorium last year and urged the board to add the clause allowing environmental reviews to continue. Company officials attended Wednesday's board meeting at town hall with a stenographer to record the session.
Ginsburg officials could not be reached Thursday.