|
Residents say keep it small
By
DAVID HULSE
NARROWSBURG — A standing-room-only crowd of about
45 persons packed the Tusten Town Court on March 11, as they questioned
a town board measure to expand business in the town’s predominant
R-1 residential zone.
The board is recommending a change to the special
use provisions of zoning, which would allow eating and drinking
establishments and retail sales in the zone. Supervisor Richard
Crandall said it had only been by oversight that the provisions
had not been included in the town’s last zoning update. Variances
to the current zoning can’t be granted newer property owners now
because the hardship they seek to reverse was legally brought on
by themselves, when they purchased property in the zone, Crandall
said.
If enacted, the new uses would only be allowable
after a mandatory site plan review by the planning board, Crandall
said. The R-1 area, which comprises about 70 percent of Tusten’s
land mass, traditionally had small “mom and pop” businesses and
eateries in areas along Route 97, Lava and Beaver Brook, he said.
Crandall and other officials insisted that there was no intent to
open the door to larger businesses or franchise food operations.
“We can’t absolutely stop growth, but we don’t want golden arches
and ticky tack…. Nobody wants to see a Kiamesha Lake,” he said.
Crandall said the retail language
had been added to allow small business, like a tack shop addition
to a horse riding stable.
But residents were concerned about “size and scope”
of the businesses, and questioned the 5,000-square-foot retail space
allowance included in the measure. “That’s big. Most of the McDonald’s
I’ve been aren’t 5,000 square feet,” one man said.
Franchised businesses, responding to new traffic
flows for planned casinos, were a repeated concern. “It’s inevitable.
If you don’t think they’re coming, you’re crazy,” one man said.
Others felt that new businesses should be directed
to the under-used Main Street area of Narrowsburg, instead of opening
new sites.
Crandall said charging the board with not supporting
Main Street was a “bum rap” as he listed the recent town takeover
of the observation deck property, development of a new park and
paving of the bank parking lot. “Main Street’s problem is parking
and I can’t create more land,” he said.
Crandall said there is little danger of over-development,
noting that the town has a scenic overview district on Route 97
and that, between the Boy Scouts of America property and lands held
by hunting clubs, more than one-third of the town will essentially
remain forever undeveloped.
“That just means that the chances of something
being built next to me are greater,” retorted Susan Cole. “My home
is my collateral, “ she added.
Residents expressed concern that future site-plan
public hearings before the Planning Board would not be publicized
to allow their attendance. “The planning board is not required to
put out public notices, only to those involved,” charged Chris Holden.
Cole noted that there would not have been any hearing
at all in March had not the lack of advertising for the first hearing
been noticed when the board approved this measure in January.
Town Clerk Carol Wingert admitted the clerical
error.
“We rescinded it and scheduled another hearing,”
Crandall said, adding in Wingert’s defense, “The last person I know
of who didn’t ever make a mistake was crucified.”
Crandall said the board would further define “small”
business and require a 10-day notice of public hearings. Based on
the public hearing input, he said several months’ work would be
required to further shape an ordinance the community would support.
|
