COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Village of Croton-on-Hudson COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Village of Croton-on-Hudson January 2003 Prepared by Buckhurst Fish & Jacquemart, Inc. 115 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10003 January 2003 Prepared for the Comprehensive Plan Committee One Van Wyck Street Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520 VILLAGE OF CROTON-ON-HUDSON 2003 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Prepared for the Comprehensive Plan Commit…

Extensive input from Croton-on-Hudson residents was obtained from three public workshop discussions and a mail survey of all Village residents. The public input, along with the research on existing conditions within the Village, helped define the guiding vision and the particular issues which the Plan will focus on. The Plan’s usefulness is therefore twofold: both in the decisionmaking and consens…

tasks to be accomplished over the next five years and to articulate a vision for the Village. Public Workshops. Three public workshops were conducted between August 2000 and March 2001. The workshops, which were advertised in the local paper, on the Croton-on-Hudson website and on local access television, each had an impressive turnout of between 40 and 60 residents. Participants divided into disc…

named for the Indian chief of the Kitchawanc tribe, Kenoten, which means "wild wind." A plaque on a rock at Croton Point Park marks the spot where a peace treaty was signed in 1645 between the Dutch and the Kitchawanc, under an old oak tree. More Dutch arrived in the following decades, at first to trade and then, by the 1660s, to settle in the area. In 1677, Stephanus Van Cortlandt, who later beca…

completed in 1890 and the New Croton Dam, designed to meet the ever-increasing demands for fresh water from New York City, was completed in 1907 after 15 years of construction. Construction of New Croton Dam, 1901 Source: History of Croton-onHudson In 1932, two separate communities, Mount Airy and Harmon, were incorporated into the Village. Each area had a distinct identity that contributed to the…

Hudson River waterfront were described as “essential to the maintenance of the character and distinct life pattern of our Village.” The plan also stressed protection of the Hudson River and its shallow bays (Croton Bay at the mouth of the Croton River, and Haverstraw Bay), as key elements in the ecology of the Hudson River Valley. Protection of lands underwater, limitation (through zoning) of the …

the 44 statewide and 49 local coastal zone policies described in detail, the LWRP outlines a series of local objectives including linking parks and waterfront areas, improving waterfront access, expanding existing recreational areas, protecting scenic views, and updating the Village’s master plan for consistency with the LWRP and the development goals for the Village. (See Section 3.2g for a more …

and additional parking for restaurant use. Several alternative development scenarios were studied for the Village Parcel, including the New Netherland Museum and Interpretive Arts Center. Both schemes incorporated proposed North Cove facilities for passive recreation, including a fishing dock and small boat launch, with beach restoration, scenic overlooks and nature trail. Buffer planting between …

“Manhattan prong,” this series of metamorphic rocks extends from southwestern PAGE 15 Village of Croton-On-Hudson, NY Figure 3.1. Local Context Village Boundary 0 12500 25000 ft Source: New York State Atlas and Gazetteer, DeLorme Mapping Company BFJ Buckhurst Fish & Jacquemart, Inc. 16 CROTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Connecticut, northern Westchester County, south to the southern tip of Manhattan Island…

plants are crucial for slope stabilization. The unstable slopes in the Village can result in “slumping,” which produces cracks and gaps in sidewalks, retaining walls, and railroad ties; many Village roads show the results of frost heaving in the late winter and early spring. d. Water Resources The water resources of the Village define much of its natural character: Hudson River and Croton Rivers a…

River and Bay are very popular for recreational fishing; it is one of the recognized hot spots for striped bass in the Hudson River. Locally significant numbers of waterfowl can be seen in the area during spring and fall migrations. Haverstraw Bay Significant Fish and Wildlife Habitat Haverstraw Bay encompasses both sides of the Hudson over a sixmile reach, in the widest section of the Hudson Rive…

and Recreational Facilities Size (acres) Special Features and Activities Offered Name and Location Dobbs Park Maple Street/Route 129 Duck Pond Park Bungalow Road, off S. Riverside Avenue Senasqua Park Waterfront park along Hudson River Senasqua Boat Basin Adjacent to Senasqua Park 1.9 • baseball field • basketball court • playground • baseball field 2.7 • basketball court • playground • ice skatin…

shall also develop and manage the basic resources of water, land and air. 3. The Village shall create, foster, promote, and maintain conditions under which man and nature can thrive in harmony, while achieving economic and technological progress for present and future generations as follows: a. Assuring surroundings that are healthful and aesthetically pleasing b. Guaranteeing that the widest rang…

people to downtowns, historic sites, parks and trailways. The Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council adopted the Greenway Plan in June 2001. The Village of Croton-on-Hudson adopted the Plan in November 2001, making it the second one to be adopted in the 13-county Hudson River Valley region. Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Croton-on-Hudson and Westchester County are also part o…

lagoon, and components of the original Wastewater Treatment Plant for the facility. Remediation of these elements was undertaken and substantially completed by May 1996. Subsequent investigation and feasibility studies determined that the non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) located around the former wastewater treatment plant lagoon is the only remaining environmental media requiring remedial action. …

The Village has four commercial centers: the Upper Village, North Riverside, the Municipal Place area, and the South Riverside/Harmon shopping area, which use approximately 2% of Village land uses. These districts are zoned C1 and C2, for central commercial and general commercial uses respectively. C1 commercial districts are zoned for a floor area ratio (FAR) of 2.0, which reflects the developmen…

recreational facilities (swimming, ice skating, tennis, picnic areas) and residential uses. Uses permitted by special permits include restaurants, marinas, ferries and cultural uses (theater, bandshells and museums) (from Zoning Code § 230-31). The Half Moon Bay condominium development (discussed further in Section 3.5) is located there. Parks Recreation and Education (PRE) districts were created …

the county and regional “echo boom” trend, with an increase in the birth rate in the Village between 1980 and 2000. Table 3.7: Croton-on-Hudson Population Fluctuations, 1970-2000 Year Population 1970 7,523 1980 6,889 1990 7,018 2000 7,606 Percent Change -8.4 1.9 8.4 Source: U.S. Census; Westchester County Department of Planning Table 3.8: Population Growth, 1990 – 2000 Total Population Percent Cha…

Race 1.1 4.3 3.2 Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 1990 and 2000 data Table 3.13: Croton-on-Hudson Households and Families, 1990 - 2000 Total Households Families Share of Total Households Non-Family Households Share of Total Households Average Household Size Average Family Size 1990 2,577 1,933 75% 644 25% 2.5 3.06 2000 2,798 2,052 73.3% 746 26.7% 2.65 3.11 Change 8.6% 119 -1.7% 102 1.7% 0.15 0.05 So…

to 25,000 square feet and contained the largest population concentrations in the Village. As of 1977, only 15% of the Village’s population was estimated to live in the northern parts of the Village. Fieldstone house on Old Post Road Two of the oldest residential neighborhoods were originally separate communities: Mt. Airy and Harmon. Harmon, initially th established in the early 20 century as an e…

single-family homes have risen in the past decade. In 1990, the median value for owner-occupied units was $226,600, and the median rent was $796. By 1998, the median value of homes had increased to $255,000. Both the median sale price and the number of homes sold increased between 1993 and 1999. Sales price increased by 29%, from $209,850 in 1993 to $269,625 in 1999. The number of annual sales inc…

and local streets are controlled by stop signs. The following roads are classified as collectors: 1. Mount Airy Road 2. Old Post Road North and South 3. Brook Street 4. Terrace Place 5. Grand Street between South Riverside Avenue and Maple Street 6. Batten Road Brook Street funnels traffic to and from Route 9A PAGE 47 RO UT E9 A ROU TE 9 MA PL ES TR EET GRAND STREET Village of Croton-On-Hudson, NY…

local auto travel. There are sidewalks within the Village’s four commercial centers and in some of the residential neighborhoods. However, pedestrian links between residential neighborhoods and commercial centers are limited, making pedestrian travel between neighborhoods and to commercial areas difficult. In the resident survey and public workshops conducted for this Plan, many residents cited th…

of Yorktown and Cortlandt. The District has three schools, all located in Croton-on-Hudson: Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School, Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School, and Croton-Harmon High School, over 100 teachers and serves approximately 1,350 students, as of 2002. Approximately 75% of its student body lives in Croton-on-Hudson. PAGE 53 CROTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Table 3.17: Enrollment in Croton-…

by Historic Hudson Valley, an organization devoted to historic preservation in the Hudson River Valley. Croton North Railroad Station. The Croton North Station, constructed in the 1890s, is located on the west side of Route 9 south of Brook Street. The Station served as the second MetroNorth railroad stop in Croton-on-Hudson until the mid-1900s. The site is listed on the National Register of Histo…

as the lead agency for the Hudson River. f. Community and Cultural Resources The Croton Council on the Arts, a non-profit group founded in 1976, promotes the arts in Croton-on-Hudson and sponsors events featuring local and visiting artists. The CCoA organizes several annual events, including Photographers of Northern Westchester, the “Local Color” Exhibition and “ArtsJam.” The photography exhibit,…

Croton Aqueduct System and borders the Croton River, it does not tap into the reservoir system for its water. Instead its water supply comes directly from sand and gravel aquifers pumped from three deep wells under the Croton River Basin. Well water provides a very pure source of water because it requires only a minimum amount of treatment and avoids the potential problems with pollution run-off t…

Route 9/9A corridor. The North End area is the entryway into the Village from the north along both Routes 9 and 9A. North Riverside is linked via Brook Street to the Upper Village. The Municipal Place shopping area is bisected by Maple Street, which runs north to the Upper Village. The Harmon/South Riverside/Harmon shopping area is located at the approach to the train station from Croton Point Ave…

offices, and provides space for Village meetings and events. Dobbs Park, situated between Grand and Maple Street east of Old Post Road, hosts recreational and other local events. These public uses, combined with the mix of residential and commercial Municipal Building, Upper Village PAGE 63 ST A T E R O U T E 9 A 2. Upper Village 3. Croton Commons/Grand Union 4. Harmon ST 1. North Riverside AT OU …

(the Katz property covering 2.4 acres) is situated adjacent to the automobile dealership. Van Wyck II shopping plaza, on the east side of Maple Street The complex of shopping plazas along Maple Street are characterized by groups of single-story buildings set back from the street and fronted by surface parking lots. Although there is a pedestrian path on the east side of Maple Street, the layout en…

Waterfront Land Uses The Hudson River stretches the length of the Village’s western perimeter. Although historically used for mostly industrial and railrelated purposes, the land along the riverfront today is primarily characterized as residential, recreational, and vacant. The major land uses are described as follows: Croton Point Park, at the south end of the waterfront, is a 504-acre Westcheste…

in 1997, which reviewed potential uses and improvements to waterfront lands, and made recommendations concerning land use strategies for specific waterfront areas. Land use and design recommendations for the waterfront included such elements as: designing the entrance to Half Moon Bay as a two-lane road with an adjacent sidewalk, signage, a boulevard PAGE 69 CROTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN treatment and…

be constructed in addition, or in lieu of, the converted CSX owned building PAGE 71 CROTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN • A 3,000 square foot bandshell for cultural/community events • Beach/boat launch: Enhancement of the small existing beach area for a boat launch for small non-motorized watercraft • Stone Rip-rap: retention and enhancement of the existing stone rip-rap structure for shore stabilization. •…

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 Croto…

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 in…

to relate such design and appearance to the site and surroundings of such structures, to permit originality and resourcefulness in building design and appearance which are appropriate to the site and surroundings, and to prevent such design and appearance as are unnecessarily offensive to visual sensibilities. The Planning Board should be given the powers of an Architectural Review Board to avoid …

golf course property, the Village should review the option of PAGE 80 CROTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN upzoning the property to create larger-scale lots that take into consideration the topography and slopes of the site. The Village and County authorities should also explore the option of rezoning the Croton Point Park parcel as a Parks, Recreation and Education (PRE) district to reflect its use as a pub…

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…

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 o…

of Maple Street A landscaped parking area set back from Maple Street with buffer planting to isolate it from nearby housing. • Create a Pedestrian Network The current layout of the Municipal Place shopping area discourages pedestrian access and instead requires shoppers to drive from one plaza area to another. A network of pedestrian routes should be established that provides safe and attractive l…

river. e. South Riverside/Harmon The South Riverside/Harmon area acts as an important imagedefining gateway to the Village due to its strategic location on Route 9A and its accessibility to the railroad station, Route 9 and Croton Point. A key section of this area is proposed as a “Gateway District” subject to special zoning district overlay regulations related to signage, landscape and other desi…

west side of Route 9A and is only partially developed. Additional office use should be encouraged given the good access provided by Route 9A and the attractive, wooded nature of this section of the Village. The Village should therefore ensure that future office development is appropriately sited and attractively designed, and that generous landscape planting is provided in order to maintain the ru…

updating the Village’s master plan for consistency with the LWRP and the development goals for the Village. Other LWRP objectives address parking, traffic and roadway conditions, air quality, and stormwater: • • • improve the parking situation at the railroad station assess the air quality of the Croton-on-Hudson area study the stormwater system of the Village The following projects, noted in the …

to protect the viewshed and its character. c. Trails and Links A common thread in comments in workshops and in the survey was the “walkability” of the Village, and the need to further enhance connections between parks, shopping areas, and residential neighborhoods. In addition to the poor condition of many sidewalks, there is also the safety concern where the lack of sidewalks forces pedestrians t…

Ossining to the south, utilizing the walkway portion of the Croton River Bridge. If possible, easements should be obtained to enable the trail to run north of the new waterfront park along the shoreline. • Utilize Senasqua tunnel for bicycles and pedestrians only The one-lane Senasqua tunnel, located under the Metro-North tracks, is approximately eight feet wide with a vertical clearance of 6 feet…

major entry points. These entrance gates act as “pinch points” and slow down traffic as they enter into the village core. Neckdowns (or curb extensions) can be provided at those locations with pedestrian crossings. Where there is on-street parking, the neckdown can extend the full width of the parking lane. Where highway width allows, on-street parking can be encouraged along the commercial areas …

Croton-on-Hudson, the diverse and visually appealing housing styles, mature trees, and winding residential roads help create the sense of small town character and natural beauty for which the Village is known. Many Croton-on-Hudson homes have a historic or architectural significance as well, and serve as a visual link to the Village’s history. In the Resident Survey and public workshops conducted …

and scale of new homes built on the remaining lots as well as expansions of existing houses. In cases where large new residential structures have been erected within the Village, the visual and aesthetic integrity of the local neighborhood surrounding these large homes has been harmed and the individual lots look overwhelmed. PAGE 107 CROTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN The current zoning code controls resi…

creation of affordable housing. To that end, 20 units have already entered the marketplace, with four additional units now planned, towards the suggested goal of 32 units for the Village. The Village should build on its successes by continuing to maintain and improve on the existing economic diversity of housing stock The Village, in partnership with the Croton Housing Network, has identified and …

bicycling trails, additional playing fields and an ice skating area was frequently expressed in the Resident Survey and public workshops conducted for this Plan. The need for skateboard facilities and additional fields for soccer and Little League practices was also expressed. Village government should work with the community and Recreation Department to prioritize needed facilities, identify new …

Plan, the Village will review the existing zoning code for consistency with Plan goals PAGE 113 CROTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN and recommendations, and consider rezoning certain areas of the Village to reflect these, as appropriate. • Public Improvements The plan recommends a series of public improvements, including the preferred alternative for the creation of a waterfront park on the Village property…

on a list of Croton households compiled by the Village that is used for official mailings to Croton residents. The return date specified in the survey was September 25, 2000, which was later extended by two weeks to October 12, 2000 to allow as high a return rate as possible. By the final cut-off date, the Village had received 956 completed surveys, representing a 25% rate of return. The 25% respo…

Years in Croton Distribution by Age 38.8 4 0.6 Number of Years in Croton Residents were asked how long they have lived in Croton. To facilitate analysis, year categories were created of five-year increments. Of the 97% who responded, most (21%) have lived in Croton for less than five years, followed by 15% of respondents who have lived in the Village between five and ten years. Age Residents were …

appearance. The write-in issue cited most frequently by residents was the high Village tax rate, followed by commercial amenities and issues relating to environment and open space. Residents complained of a lack of commercial diversity and amenities, noise from the train and highways and the deer population. Village Neighborhood: Strengths and Weaknesses Respondents were asked whether they liked o…

us that the Village center is “in the hearts of people who love Croton.” Commercial and Retail Development Residents were also asked whether Croton should pursue additional retail development. Responses were fairly evenly split among those who answered “yes” (42%) and “no” (46%); 12% said they didn’t know. However, the need for careful retail and commercial development came across in responses to …

then Sewer/Water Improvement (19%). • The over 65 population group, representing 18% of respondents, selected sidewalks most frequently (31% of respondents), followed by Streets/Roads (25.5%), and then Sewer/Water Improvement (18.5%). Parks/Open Space and Riverfront Development followed at 17% and 18% respectively. • Under 25: those respondents under the age of 25 (who only constituted .6% of the …

rate. In general, objectives related to Village character and the environment were selected the most frequently. Rank Characteristic 1 Protecting the natural environment 2 Preserving Croton's historic character 3 Improving the appearance of the Upper Village 4 Providing park/recreational areas along waterfront 5 Improving access to the Hudson riverfront Frequency Percent (%) 546 58.5 455 48.8 326 …

on preservation, maintaining the small-town and historic character of the Village and preventing overdevelopment, both along the river and throughout the Village. Residents stressed the need for maintaining the quiet, quaint rural nature of the town. On related comments about socioeconomic conditions, respondents cited concern over the cost of living and the impact on population diversity in the V…