At the Valley Cottage & Upper Nyack Hamlet Area Workshop, participants were asked to provide ideas regarding seven focus topics, each dealing with a different aspect of the Comprehensive Plan:
Verbal comments were recorded on large notepads as each topic was discussed and during a final “wrap-up” session at the end of the evening. The public also submitted written comments at the workshop.
The following is a list of verbatim comments:
Focus Session |
Comment |
Economic Deve. |
Expansion of Economic zones. |
Economic Deve. |
Allow housing above existing commercial development. |
Economic Deve. |
Relocation of bus (Brega) to provide Open Space/Hamlet Center. |
Economic Deve. |
Alternate (high-end outlet) redevelopment of Nanuet Mall. |
Economic Deve. |
Destination shopping with amenities for children and adults. |
Economic Deve. |
Thru traffic interference with Valley Cottage Hamlet. |
Economic Deve. |
Tax incentive (Pilot programs to provide incentive for business). |
Env. Resources |
Responsible lighting practices (energy usage, aesthetics). |
Env. Resources |
Consider environment in total. |
Env. Resources |
Acquistion of open space for field use to avoid artificial turf. |
Env. Resources |
Water resources - protection, adequacy of supply, linkage of development to available water. |
Env. Resources |
Avoid desalination of Environmental resources. |
Env. Resources |
Require water conservation development/utilization of water regeneration. |
Env. Resources |
More local and regional control of water supply. |
Env. Resources |
Air traffic noise levels. |
Env. Resources |
Train noise levels. |
Env. Resources |
Tilcon noise levels. |
Env. Resources |
Tax incentive for energy upgrades/energy star. |
Env. Resources |
Building renovation/re-use vs. new construction. |
Env. Resources |
Plan for global warming re: drainage/flooding. |
Env. Resources |
Encourage/require LEED guidelines. |
Env. Resources |
On-site renewable energy. |
Env. Resources |
Dust generation (Tilcon) explore local regulation. |
Health S & W |
Nuclear Plant issues - safety/evacuation/terrorist attack. |
Hist. Cult. Res. |
Budget for historic property acquistion/protection. |
Hist. Cult. Res. |
Cemetery protection. |
Hist. Cult. Res. |
Valley Cottage historic properties - Storms Tavern, Mountainview Lodge, Valley Cottage Camp Ramah Buildings. |
Hist. Cult. Res. |
Encourage protection of historic locations by owners/incentives for owners. |
Hist. Cult. Res. |
Post information on Town website. |
Housing |
Consider allowing multi-family on any parcel with a minimum area. |
Housing |
Require green building practices. |
Housing |
Add floors for residential over commercial. |
Housing |
Incentives for affordable housing - seniors, family and volunteer. |
Housing |
Balance green with economics. |
Housing |
Balance density with infrastructure capacity. |
Parks & Rec. |
Park development in Valley Cottage - east side Route 303. |
Parks & Rec. |
Convert pool to year round - indoor. |
Parks & Rec. |
Trail connections between parks/general accessible walking trails. |
Parks & Rec. |
Free recreation options. |
Parks & Rec. |
Walking trail around Lake DeForest. |
Parks & Rec. |
Improved pedestrian routes. |
Parks & Rec. |
Shatemuc. |
Transportation |
Improved pedestrian routes - safety/connectivity Christian Herald Road. |
Transportation |
Route 303/Lake Road intersection - 6 corners. |
Transportation |
Cut-thru traffic from 6 corners on other nearby roads. |
Transportation |
Increase capacity (lanes) on Route 303. |
Transportation |
Review traffic calming measures. |
Transportation |
Truck routes/truck traffic on local roads. |
Transportation |
Route 59/Mountainview Ave. intersection and cut-thru traffic. |
Transportation |
Alternate toll collection for TZ Bridge. |
Transportation |
Town/Police coorindate on traffic enforcement. |
Transportation |
GPS/Map portrayal of street size. |
Transportation |
Railroad quiet zone status. |
Transportation |
Pedestrian Bicycle routes on 303/59/major roads to the mall. |
Transportation |
Train whistles policies/regulations. |
|
Written Comments |
Protection of steep slopes and wetlands through a new Town law. |
Identification of local historic resources - survey. |
TZ Bridge - be proactive in reviewing alternatives proposed by NYSDOT - NOW! |
Provide for affordable/workforce housing in single-family sub divisions - new local law. Multi-family districts. |
Work with NYSDOT and political representative on re-design of Lake Road and Route 303 intersection - make it pedestrian friendly. |
Access local traffic from a volume/capacity perspective. |
Transit oriented development at or near future stations as part of TZ Bridge alternatives. |
A public awareness campaign on how to report street lights that are not working. Example on "Hyperlink" town website "street lights" when clicked it will bring you to the "O&R" website where the information about the defective street light can be entered. |
Improve safety of ingress & egress to the Valley Cottage Library. |
Develop affordable SST housing for seniors who can no longer afford to live in Clarkstown in their homes because they are on a fixed income. Like a SST retirement community. Ciro Guerra |
Officials should read the Union of Concerned Scientists' book, The Consumer's Guide to Environmental Choices - Practical Advice from The Union of Concerned Scientists. It details, based on studies the most effective choices we can make, concerning global warming, water pollution, air pollution and habitat preservation. Linda Rauer |
We need to concentrate on environmental choices that will have the greatest impact. - Linda Rauer |
Nothing should be considered in isolation. One needs to consider "all" the impacts of everything we do. Linda Rauer |
Open Space must be contiguous for habitat preservation. Linda Rauer |
Land use is everything - all of our topics this evening are about land use. Linda Rauer |
We must conserve our environment. For example, conserving oil has a tremendous impact on moving toward energy self-sufficiency. Linda Rauer |
Recycling should be mandatory - both residential and commercial - with large fines for violation. Linda Rauer |
