Washingtonville- Trifecta in June- Comp Plan Done, NY Supreme Court Win on 61 E. Main Lawsuit,Police Contract Done

Washingtonville wraps up its Comprehensive Plan and Other Matters

Village of Washingtonville - During an extended Village Board meeting on Monday night, June 2, the Public Hearing on the Village's new Master Plan that took 2 years of blood sweat and tears by its Committee, the Mayor, the Town Board, Planning Board, Planner Bonnie Franson and Public Participation was declared DONE. While there are still a few matters that will require future exploration and a few possible amendments, its completion opens the door for the Building Moratorium to soon expire in a timely manner. As far as questions about the few remaining issues, Mayor Tom DeVinko went to great lengths assuring the public that closing the Public Hearing and Approving the Comprehensive Plan documents will not mean that remaining concerns won't be addressed. DeVinko said "It is always evolving", he and Trustee Donna Jacaruso explaining that Amendments will be added as we move forward, but there is a time for a pause, a stop for this group of changes." And as far as ensuring "transparency", and having a chance for the public to be aware of any changes to the plan during the past month, Donna Jacaruso reassured the public that there have only been a few relatively minor changes to the plan since their last open discussion. First, per Vinny Lang's request, the stats about storage of RV's and motor homes was changed to be consistent with the New York State regulations, which currently are a max. of 35 ft., 20 yards back, 45 ft. for a motor home, 48 ft. for tractor and 13.5 ft. in height. It is absolutely NOT permitted for them to be lived in. 2. For clarity on so-called "short term rentals", i.e. Airbnb's, VRBO's and such, they are NOT permitted. 3. For clarity on grandfathering of auto repair shops along Rt. 208's Southern Gateway - They will now become "Pre-existing, Non-conforming" use, meaning that they can continue operating unless abandoned/closed for an extended prosccribed time. 4. A small structure on Arrowpoint - operating hours are according to New York State.

The entire Comprehensive Plan is available to review on the Village of Washingtonville website, as is video of Monday's meeting.

Aurochemicals photo op several years ago

One significant issue was raised in public for the first time Monday Evening. Attorney Charles Gottlieb spoke, representing Aurochemicals, a research facility in the areas of food flavors and perfume scents. It is a chemical facility in Washingtonville's small Industrial Park. Despite earning a Safe Quality Food Award for 6 consecutive years, and a NY Senate Empire Award for contributions to the community, there are residents in nearby homes who are concerned that a major expansion into a large empty lot adjacent to their existing site, might pose additional safety and air quality risks.

Gottlieb said that they already have an existing project application for the expansion in front of the village's Planning Board, that is stalled by the Moratorium, and they feel that new regulations in the Zoning portion of the Comprehensive Plan could kill the project and/or would devalue the property because of the new "net" figuring of wetlands. This, he said "Could be considered 'a taking'. " Additionally, he argued that the algorithm for determining required number of parking spaces is unsuitable for their site since they have a large building but not many on staff daily, and they rarely have visitors. He requested that the Planning Board be given flexibility in determinning required number of parking spaces. Gottlieb further warned that unless it is modified, the new wetland algorithm could seriously affect further growth in the Village. While the intent was not to say that businesses should be built in wetlands, the algorighm could and should still be modified as to a fair amount of allowable square footage.

While some neighbors are against the expansion, others say that Aurochemicals has been a very good business neighbor to the Village, financially and otherwise, and should be allowed to expand.

61 East Main Street Now

Developer's Plan for 61 E. Main - Lawsuit Tossed by NY Supreme Court

One of the other colonial homes along East Main St. that was converted to both home and office space.

CHEERS NY STATE COURT TOSSES LAWSUIT ON 61 E. MAIN STREET

Toward the end of the meeting, Village Attorney Charles Pavlacka announced that this week the New York Supreme Court tossed out the lawsuit filed regarding 61 E. Main Street. In the midst of a mile or so of Early 19th Century colonial historic homes, and with the Village's longstanding goal of maintaining its historic appeal, the Village contended that a 28-unit apartment complex proposed at 61 E. Main would create a traffic nightmare in addition to being vastly different from all of the other homes along that many of which generally have large lots with wrap-around colonial porches. and have a portion designated as a business, and yet they all still give the appearance of single-family historic homes.

A drastic diversion from that, the public believes, would ruin the impact of the Village's North Gateway. The site, they say is simply not suitable for multi-family housing. Another reason the site is problematic for a 28-unit apartment complex is its past propensity for flooding.

While this is an important step forward for the Village, and sets a local legal precedent, it was also brought to a Federal District Court for consideration, and that is still pending.

MORE CHEERS - Police Contract Signed

The Washingtonville regular Police Department Contract was signed. However, the Part-Time Police portion has not yet been signed.

As it has just been accomplished and expected to be given to the Village this week, the details are not yet available.

The other significant topic of discussion on Monday was a new code that will regulate Sidewalk Cafes. That discussion took on a life of its own, between the battle of the Board wanting to encourage business and not micromanage a new community favorite activity, and a few residents who felt that tighter regulation should be put in place, permits should cost more, and reminding the Board that "the village streets belong to the public". Also, there is apparently a separate State Liquor license that those businesses need to know is required for a business to serve drinks outside. More on that later!

The new "Saturdays in the Square Event with Outdoor Cafes

BUDGET - The next Village Board Meeting, on June 16, will review its budget status with the public. The state loan that was taken out when they were elected with the Village in a large financial deficit has been partly paid, and it is time to convert the remaining "BAN" funds to "BONDS", which are generally lower in interest.