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2-07-2007 By JIM AUSTIN Editor "The development aims to provide much-needed affordable housing for young families and active adults within the village," Galati said. "At the same time, it will increase the village tax base and improve the village infrastructure along Grove Street." Galati said the plan he intends to submit is a revised version of a proposal he submitted last year to the planning board and zoning board of appeals. The major difference is that he now seeks to create a coordinated development district. A coordinated development district zone allows for residential groupings that may otherwise not be feasible within the framework of the village zoning law. Galati's previous efforts to develop the property were hampered by the current commercial zoning that does not allow for residential development, and the required setbacks that would be difficult to maintain because of the long narrow shape of the property if rezoned residential. A coordinated development district would provide the flexibility required to develop the property. The plan Galati will present to the planning board calls for 15 single story, three-bedroom, two-bath townhouses of 1,159 square feet. The board of trustees has looked into the possibility of rezoning the railway property, and asked the planning board, which had already recommended a change to a residential zone, for a more specific recommendation. Charles Hill, a member of the planning board, told the trustees two weeks ago that despite the fact sliver of land, a considerable amount of development could take place. ‘'If kept as commercial, a person can do a number of things," he said. Hill said the planning board was looking at what was best for the village when it made its general recommendation for rezoning as residential. ‘'We didn't get into R-3 or R-2," he said. Hill said the planning board believes residential development of the property is preferable to other commercial uses, including a restaurant, self-storage warehouse and paid parking, which Galati had under consideration. ‘'Going the residential route is very positive. I think he's heading in the direction the planning board feels he should be," Hill said. Although the mayor and some members of the board favored rezoning the property residential, trustee Paul Kuhn said he favored a coordinated development district because it offers more flexibility for the difficult piece of property. The R-2 and R-3 districts are too restrictive, and he is not in favor of granting a number of variances for the development of the property if it zoned residential. The planning board scheduled a public hearing for its next meeting, Tues., Feb. 12, the same day Galati plans to make his presentation to the board. The public hearing is intended to gather input about rezoning the property residential before making a specific recommendation to the board of trustees. The board also plans to answer questions about coordinated development districts and cluster development. The meeting begins at 4:30 p.m. and the hearing is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. in the village meeting room. |
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