The approval is the first since 2002 and follows a series of public hearings and visioning sessions that were held, according to an approval resolution. The Town Board held a public hearing for three meetings earlier this year and an earlier hearing in 2012, according to the resolution, which also notes three visioning sessions that were held in March and April 2013.
Prior to adopting the update, the Town Board unanimously approved a negative declaration, which meant that no environmental impact statement was required for the update.
Four of the board’s five members were present for the vote. Supervisor Tony Hay, Councilman Robert Cullen and Councilman Edwin Alvarez voted in favor while Councilwoman Lynne Eckardt voted against the adoption. Councilwoman Elizabeth Hudak was absent.
Before voting, Eckhardt read a letter explaining why she would be voting against the update, saying that it “fails to properly address many residents’ concerns.”
“While the Comprehensive Plan update has been a transparent process it had become apparent that those who spoke loudest, and often in anger, were those who were heard loud and clear,” the letter states. “Thus the changes made in this update may be at the ultimate expense of our residential real estate values.
"The residents and business owners of Southeast deserve the highest and best uses of our remaining commercial property. I believe that our updated plan does not serve either group as well as it could.”
Eckhardt’s letter brings up concerns about protection of ridgelines and permitted outdoor storage percentage, along with opposition given during the process to car dealerships being allowed along the east corridor of Route 6.
Hay voiced his disagreements with Eckhardt. For example, he alluded to a special permit issuance for ridgeline disturbance, which was recapped by a planning consultant for the town. He also defended development of the Route 6 corridor.
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