Rye committee frames a "binary decision" on whether to pursue sewer planning for Route 1

Chair John Shaw told the Master Plan Implementation Committee on Feb. 3 that the group faces a "binary decision" about long-range planning for Route 1: either organize now to pursue sewer infrastructure or accept that a sewer plan will not move forward for the next decade and recalibrate expectations accordingly.

Shaw said that if the committee decides to pursue sewer, it should begin organizing around that choice; if not, the town should reassess municipal planning assumptions tied to density and development. He referenced prior steps taken by former Select Board member Epperson as context for a phased approach.

Members recommended concrete next steps before making a commitment. Pat Losik urged a Planning Board workshop to surface technical details and stakeholders, while consultants from Resilience Planning & Design (sample materials circulated by Losik) were cited as examples for structuring phased municipal assessments. The committee discussed developer outreach and a developer-class or workshop environment to test density calculations and municipal capacity.

The discussion also noted the implications for zoning and the master-plan matrix: without sewer, current zoning yields a predictable density outcome; pursuing sewer would change municipal infrastructure, budgeting and permitting considerations. Committee members said more detailed analysis—RFPs, phased studies and cost estimates—would be needed to move from discussion to action.

No formal vote or motion to commit to sewer planning was recorded during the meeting. The committee asked members to review the master-plan matrix and come prepared to discuss priorities in coming months.