2016 SUSTAINABLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FINAL ADOPTED MARCH 15, 2016 ii Town of Cortlandt 2016 Sustainable Comprehensive Plan CORTLANDT TOWN BOARD Linda D. Puglisi, Supervisor Richard H. Becker, Councilman Francis X. Farrell, Councilman Debra A. Costello, Councilman Seth M. Freach, Councilman/Liaison Prepared by: MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE James Creighton David Douglas Michael Fleming Seth Freach Dani Glaser Barbara Halecki Adrian Hunte Michael Huvane Theresa Knickerbocker Maria Slippen STAFF Ed Vergano, P.E., Director, Department of Technical Services (DOTS) Chris Kehoe, AICP, Deputy Director of Planning, DOTS Rosemary Boyle Lasher, DOTS Planning Thomas Wood, Esq., Town Attorney CONSULTANTS Anthony Russo, AKRF, Inc. Michelle Robbins, AICP, AKRF, Inc. Flaam Hardy, AKRF, Inc. Other Assistance Provided by: Lt. Nick Alongi, Westchester County Police Department Mary Breining, Town Receiver of Taxes Jeff Coleman, P.E., Director Department of Environmental Services Joann Dyckman, Town Clerk Justin M. Costable, Director Cortlandt Regional Paramedics Holly M. Haight, Town Fire Inspector John Palmiotto, Department of Recreation & Conservation Sgt. James Kranik, New York State Police Thomas J. Waitkins, IAO Town Assessor Peter Feroe, AKRF, Inc. The Town of Cortlandt received $175,000 towards Envision Cortlandt, the 2016 Sustainable Comprehensive Plan, from the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) under Governor Cuomo’s Cleaner, Greener Communities Program. The Cleaner, Greener Communities program is a major statewide initiative that encourages communities to incorporate sustainability goals and principles into local decision-making and then form partnerships to transform markets to reduce emissions and generate economic development. iii iv The Town of Cortlandt’s identity is strongly linked to its historical roots and the Hudson River. The Town wishes to embrace and enhance these strengths while planning for its future as a diverse, vibrant, economically strong, and interconnected community. The 2016 Cortlandt Sustainable Comprehensive Plan, also known as Envision Cortlandt, provides a roadmap towards an economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable future. The Plan promotes the enhancement of a dynamic local economy with mixed-use town centers, multimodal transportation options, a revitalized waterfront, and a strengthened sense of place. v Page Intentionally Left Blank vi Table of Contents Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Sustainability 7 Chapter 2: Commercial Land Use & Economic Development 21 Chapter 3: Residential Land Use & Housing 39 Chapter 4: Infrastructure 55 Chapter 5: Traffic & Transportation 67 Chapter 6: Open Space & Natural Resources 85 Chapter 7: Community Character & Visual Quality 93 Chapter 8: Community Services & Recreation 101 Chapter 9: Historic Preservation & Cultural Resources 121 Acronym List 137 Glossary 138 APPENDICES Appendix A Master Plan Survey Results Appendix B Master Plan Committee Presentations Appendix C Montrose Enhancement Plan, Verplanck Enhancement Plan, Roundabout Enhancement Plan Appendix D Public Meeting Presentations & Materials Appendix E 2004 Master Plan Implementation Status Update (2013) Appendix F Verplanck Waterfront Master Plan vii Page Intentionally Left Blank viii Introduction Envision Cortlandt is a Sustainable Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Cortlandt designed to provide a set of recom- mendations to help guide the community, Town Board, Planning Board, Zoning Board, and other boards, committees, and Town staff for the next decade and beyond.Envision Cortlandt evolved out of decades of community planning efforts and policy initiatives ranging from small neighborhood plans to larger Townwide plans and programs. Developed over a two and a half year period, Envision Cortlandt brought together a diverse group of stakeholders known as the “Master Plan Committee” (MPC) to lead development of the Plan through numerous workshops, public meetings, and presentations. Envision Cortlandt presents a framework and strategy for the Town to achieve its vision: to grow in a more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable way. “Sustainability is the promise to our children and grandchildren that they will inherit a tomorrow that is at least as good as today and hopefully better. Achieving this promise will call for the par- ticipation of each and every one of us. Our Town has a long-standing record of environmental stewardship exemplified by our leadership in protecting open space, natural resources, and smart growth practices. The Town Board and I are fully committed to this important effort and we look forward to your participation in becoming a sustainable community.” - Linda D. Puglisi Origin of the Plan The Town’s first Master Plan was prepared in 1974 and amended in 1981 with the North Cortlandt Planning Study. In 1987, the Master Plan was amended with the South and Central Cortlandt Study. New Master Plans were updated, developed, and adopted in 1991 and again in 2004. In 2013, the Town conducted a thorough review of the 2004 Master Plan and prepared an updated report titled, “2013 Master Plan Implementation Status Update.” The report concluded that, of the 154 policies adopted as part of the 2004 Comprehensive Master Plan, 109 policies were fully implemented, and 20 policies were partially implemented. In August 2013, the Town Board authorized the preparation of the 2016 Sustainable Comprehensive Plan, Envision Cortlandt. Master Plan Committee The MPC was established by Town Board resolution in July 2013. The Town Board thought it was important to enlist a committee of citizens that would represent a cross-section of the community, including several representatives from various boards and committees. The MPC was dedicated to meeting frequently to develop recommendations and a framework for Envision Cortlandt. The MPC included ten volunteer residents, the Town Supervisor, four Town staff members, and planning consultants from the consulting firm AKRF, Inc. as facilitators. Envision Cortlandt Introduction 1 Master Plan Committee (Town of Cortlandt) COMMITTEE MEMBERS: STAFF MEMBERS: Linda D. Puglisi, Chairperson Ed Vergano, P.E., Director, DOTS James Creighton Chris Kehoe, AICP, Deputy Director of Planning, DOTS Rosemary Boyle Lasher, Assistant Director of Planning, DOTS David Douglas Thomas Wood, Esq., Town Attorney Michael Fleming Seth Freach CONSULTANT TEAM: Dani Glaser Anthony Russo, AKRF, Inc. Barbara Halecki Michelle Robbins, AICP, AKRF, Inc. Adrian Hunte Flaam Hardy, AKRF, Inc. Michael Huvane Theresa Knickerbocker Maria Slippen Public Participation and the Planning Process The MPC began meeting monthly in October 2013. All MPC meetings were open to the public. The first six months of meetings focused primarily on providing the MPC members with background information (i.e., “base studies”) consisting of socioeconomic, demographic, housing, geographic, infrastructure, and other data, which provided the basis for developing the goals and policies of the Plan. Presentations were given by the Town Department Heads as well as Police, Fire, EMS and other community services. The MPC also reviewed existing codes, regulations, and previous Master Plans during this initial phase. 2 Introduction Envision Cortlandt In December 2013, Cortlandt was awarded a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Cleaner, Greener Communities (CGC) grant in the amount of $175,000. This grant provided Cortlandt with the funds to complete its first Sustainable Comprehensive Plan. The goal of this grant is to support the adoption of sustainable planning and development practices that are innovative and create multiple community benefits. Cortlandt is one of the first com- munities in Westchester County to develop a Sustainable Com- prehensive Plan. After receiving the grant, Cortlandt retained AKRF, Inc., an environmental, planning, and engineering consulting firm, to assist the Town with the development of the Sustain- able Comprehensive Plan. In April 2014, the MPC and staff began meeting with the consultant team at monthly evening Master Plan Committee Meeting, December 2014 (Town of meetings. AKRF’s role included acting as facilitator for the Cortlandt) MPC, assisting with community outreach, developing policy recommendations, and refining MPC and public recommen- dations. After developing a vision statement to help guide the process, the MPC studied the different comprehensive plan topics and created corresponding goals and policies. In between meetings, the MPC, AKRF, and Town Staff used Google Groups to continue discussions regarding each of the Plan topics, disseminate information, and solicit feedback on the goal and policy recommendations. The MPC also developed a survey that was accessible to residents on the Town’s website and in paper form between September 2014 and February 2015. The survey contained 28 multiple choice and open-ended questions. A total of 725 survey responses were recorded (see Appendix A). The survey feedback was used to inform the planning process and Public Meeting 1, January 2015 (AKRF, Inc.) produce a more inclusive Sustainable Comprehensive Plan. The first Public Meeting on the Comprehensive Plan was held on January 15, 2015, at Town Hall from 7 pm to 9 pm. The goal of this meeting was to introduce the public to the Sustain- able Comprehensive Planning process and encourage par- ticipation in the survey. The format of the meeting included a presentation which outlined the framework of the Plan, introduced the vision