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Town Board seeks lead‑agency status for comprehensive Chapter 285 zoning updates
Summary
Town staff told the Planning Board the Town Board circulated a SEQRA lead‑agency notice for comprehensive Chapter 285 zoning text and map amendments, including a new multifamily district and the removal of an urban‑renewal district; the Planning Board signaled no objection and staff said the work will be iterative and likely stretch through the year.
Deputy Commissioner Schmidt told the Planning Board that the Town Board circulated a memorandum on March 16 asking to be the lead agency under SEQRA for proposed comprehensive revisions to Chapter 285 of the Town Zoning Ordinance. "The Town Board's preliminarily classified the proposed action as a Type 1 action," Schmidt said, "and at this time, it seeks to establish itself as Lead Agency."
Schmidt said the text and map amendments would support comprehensive‑plan goals including affordable housing, mixed‑use districts, open space and compact development, mobility for a range of users, clearer regulations, and sustainability initiatives. He listed three map changes described in the memo: removal of an existing urban‑renewal district, creation of an M‑30 multifamily residence district and creation of a Tarrytown Road mixed‑use district.
Chair and staff said the referral was expected to result in an extended review period. The chair noted the Planning Board will likely meet with Town Board members and hold public discussions over several months: "This will likely be in front of us for a number of months," the chair said, and the board agreed to coordinate one‑on‑one briefings with the town board liaison so members could review details.
Deputy Commissioner Schmidt recommended that the Planning Board not object to the Town Board's lead‑agency notice; the board voiced no objection during the meeting. Staff and commissioners emphasized the process will be deliberative, with opportunities for public discussion and future public hearings as the draft amendments are developed.
Next steps: staff will arrange briefings for Planning Board members and follow the Town Board's lead on SEQRA, with additional public outreach and workshop sessions anticipated as the ordinance text and maps are drafted and refined.
