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Owner of 189 Main Street objects to rezoning that would convert business lots to residential
Summary
An owner and other speakers told the Highland Falls board that designating 189 Main Street and an adjacent lot as residential would harm longstanding businesses and reduce owners' ability to rebuild or invest; they asked the board to keep the B-1 designation for those parcels.
Property owners and a longtime business owner addressed the board about a proposed rezoning that would shift specific Main Street parcels from business to residential use. Ned Copele (who identified himself during comments) said the law office at 189 Main Street has been a business use since 1966 and called the proposed reclassification "an improper zoning act" that would "substantially affect the value" of his and neighboring properties.
Copele warned that if parcels now used for businesses are rezoned R-3, property owners would face limits if buildings were damaged and sought to rebuild. "189 Main Street has been used as a business use of law office since 1966... To now make my 2 properties R-3 residential is an improper zoning act, a financially damaging act to my property interest," he said.
Board members responded that they will produce clearer map language and review the affected lots; the board also committed to placing copies of written comments in the record for trustees to review before any final zoning action.
Why it matters: The reclassification of particular lots on Main Street could change whether long-standing business uses become nonconforming, with consequences for property values and owners' ability to repair or redevelop buildings.
Provenance: The discussion and the owner's remarks are recorded in the public-comment segment beginning with remarks by Ned Copele and adjacent speakers.
