Throughout the public participation program, a common theme was identified among Croton-on-Hudson residents: that of an overall sense of comfort and satisfaction with the Village as it is today. Although many issues were raised and specific suggestions for improvements made by residents, the vision for Croton-on-Hudson shared by most residents emphasizes the following basic goals: preserving Croton-onHudson’s traditional qualities, strengthening its assets, and protecting its resources. Many of these issues and goals expressed by Croton-on-Hudson residents are similar to those identified in the 1977 Master Plan for the Village. That Plan recognized that, “the essential character of Croton-on-Hudson is a community of individual house-owners, residing in single-family dwellings on separate lots.” It stated that “this essential character should be preserved, with a modest increase in the number of town houses, attached dwellings and small apartments.” It also deemed it “desirable that the Village have an identifiable ‘core’ and that this core contain relatively greater density of commercial and residential use, with such density gradually diminishing as the distance from the center increases.” It also stated that “It is the conclusion of the Planning Board that the Village ought not to attempt to function as a regional, or quasiregional focus for shopping, attracting shoppers from outlying towns or villages.” With one or two notable exceptions, the Village has generally adhered to those aspects of the original Master Plan’s vision of the last quarter century and this updated Comprehensive Plan strongly endorses them. To continue to preserve those goals, this Plan makes specific recommendations for improving the Village’s existing commercial amenities, residential areas and natural resources. The Plan also strongly recommends that the Village discourage any further large-scale residential developments and that, in the future, no rezoning should occur which would permit commercial development outside of those areas currently zoned for commercial development (with the possible exception of the eastern section of Grand Street, as indicated on page 83). Both recommendations are vital to preserving the Village’s character, particularly as development pressure in northern Westchester has intensified. PAGE 75 CROTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 4.1 Defining Goals, Objectives, And Issues Through Public Participation One of Croton-on-Hudson’s defining characteristics is the strong involvement of its residents in the life of the Village. The soliciting of public opinion throughout the comprehensive planning process was a critical feature in the development of the Plan. The research and public participation tasks of the first twelve months of the Croton-on-Hudson comprehensive planning process (including review of past plans, interviews, three public workshops, and analysis of residential survey results) provided the basis for the articulation of vision and overall goals for the Village’s planning process. a. Public Workshops The first workshop on August 15, 2000, helped delineate a number of issues to be addressed in the Plan under the following topics: • • • • • • • Environment, Open Space, Trails Transportation Residential Areas and Design Commercial and Office Areas Community Facilities and Services Visual and Historic Character Waterfront The second workshop, held in January 2001, focused on the Village’s commercial areas, developing specific recommendations for each area. The third workshop, held on March 8, 2001, followed up some of the concerns expressed in the surveys and the earlier workshops, and focused on housing, transportation (particularly traffic concerns), and parks and recreation. These open workshops for discussion on issues generated a useful profile of issues, strengths and weakness, objectives and initial recommendations on Plan topics. b. Residential Survey In addition to public workshops, a Village-wide survey of public opinion was undertaken. A survey questionnaire was mailed to all Croton-on-Hudson residential households in August 2000. The primary objectives of the survey were to gain the community’s perspective on all aspects of the physical development and character of the village, opinions on the issues and problems that needed to be addressed by the comprehensive plan, and how to rank them as priorities for the plan. The 25% response rate was very high (typically such surveys average closer to a 15% response PAGE 76 CROTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN rate, based on BFJ’s experience with comprehensive plan surveys). The survey findings can serve as a reasonable (if not perfect) estimate of what the entire population of Croton-on-Hudson thinks about the following range of topics relevant to the Village’s character and future development: • • • • • • Commercial areas and retail amenities Public facilities Recreational facilities Environmental issues Village objectives and spending priorities Strengths and weaknesses of Croton-on-Hudson These survey responses provide an overall guide to residents’ viewpoints and the local issues receiving the most attention. As a general indicator of public opinion, the survey can help further refine the issues and content of the Comprehensive Plan. The thoroughness of public involvement enabled Croton-on-Hudson residents to voice their concerns and ideas for community goals, and to advocate recommendations at critical points in the