Area, consisting of lots on the north and south sides of Municipal Place between Route 9 and Maple Street, and the commercially-zoned portion of the block on the east side of Maple Street. The Municipal Place Shopping Area is an important entrance to the Village from Route 9. It connects to the Upper Village via Maple Street and to the surrounding neighborhoods. • North End of Village along Albany Post Road (9A), consisting of the eight lots between Routes 9 and 9A, the Village boundary and Warren Road. This area marks the entrance to the Village from the north along Routes 9 and 9A. The primary purposes of designating these as gateway areas are: upgrading the image and function of commercial areas, defining the entry into the Village, strengthening the overall visual identity of the Village, and improving linkages to adjacent residential neighborhoods. The site plan designs for the Gateway Districts are included in this Plan as Figures 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5. Any future development in an overlay district could follow the plan guidelines. The zoning code would reference the site plan guidelines as provided in the Comprehensive Plan. Descriptions of the gateway overlay recommendations are discussed in context with the overall planning recommendations for all of the Village commercial areas on the following pages. b. Upper Village Most residents recognize the Upper Village as the “heart” of Crotonon-Hudson, and support the need to strengthen its identity and function as a local retail and community center. Historically the Upper Village has served as an important mixed-use area, with “over the store” apartments, single-family homes and local retail stores. The Upper Village has also more recently experienced an increase in the number of professional office uses, such as doctors’ offices and real estate businesses. However, the physical PAGE 84 CROTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN constraints of its small-scale buildings and the existing infrastructure have severely limited its ability to attract traditional retail uses. This suggests that the Upper Village should focus on an alternative strategy that encourages small-scale retail uses such as specialty stores, cafes, personal services and other uses that relate to the scale and character of the area’s architecture and pedestrian ambiance. Revitalization of retail in the Upper Village should be the starting point for a business consultant retained to study this area, as recommended in Section 4.2. These uses would build on the existing modest base of specialty stores such as Wondrous Things, the Book Hut, the Cornelia Cotton Gallery, as well as the mix of cafes and small-scale restaurants that are clustered in the Upper Village area. Achieving this goal will require a commitment from the Village and from business owners to upgrade the appearance of the area in order to create a special and unique sense of place that reflects Croton-on-Hudson’s history and character. The Village should retain a consultant to develop a specific plan to strengthen the identity, quality and commercial mix of the Upper Village. This plan should include proposals for: Overhead utilities in Upper Village mar the image despite other streetscape improvements. • Placement of Utilities Underground Despite the Village’s recent streetscape improvements, the overhead utility lines remain a dominant visual feature in the streetscape of this Upper Village. Pedestrian-scale streetlights are dwarfed by nearby utility poles and equipment. Engineering studies and an examination of potential funding sources should be undertaken to review the feasibility of placing utilities below grade. These studies, and any resulting improvements, could be a forerunner to a broader program of utility replacement along Route 9A. • Extending Streetscape Improvements The existing streetscape improvements, including brick treatments for sidewalks and ornamental street lighting, are concentrated along Old Post Road South, between Maple Street and Grand Street. These improvements should be extended further west along Grand Street, past the Holy Name of Mary Church, and further east as far as Mount Airy Road, to connect with restaurants, the firehouse and other amenities (see Figure 4.2). • Improving Quality of Façade Design, Store Window Display Businesses should be encouraged to upgrade facades and improve the quality of window displays in order to create a consistent and attractive image for the Upper Village area. The recently enacted signage ordinance should be vigorously enforced after giving merchants sufficient time to understand and comply with the ordinance. PAGE 85 HOLY NAME OF MARY CHURCH Parking d Ol UNITED METHODIST CHURCH st Po R th Sou d oa Parking Grand St Maple Street reet Village of Croton-On-Hudson, NY Figure 4.2. Upper Village Proposals Buildings Existing Trees BFJ Buckhurst Fish & Jacquemart, Inc. 86 Existing Sidewalk Improvements Cross Walks Proposed Expansion of Streetscape Improvements CROTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN • Improving Parking and Reducing Traffic Congestion Although the Upper Village shopping area has municipal parking lots and on-street parking, there is still a perceived shortage of parking spaces for shoppers.