SHARE

Port Chester Opens Hearing on Master Plan Zoning Amendments

PORT CHESTER, N.Y. - Port Chester Mayor Dennis Pilla called Monday's board of trustees meeting a "historic" occasion as members of the public flooded the village courthouse to weigh in on the proposed zoning amendments in the village's comprehensive plan.

"This is a historic night and a historic time," Pilla said. "We've been on this journey since 2008. The master plan is the vision for the Village of Port Chester that is set by the residents. It is a principal document."

According to the brief summary delivered by BFJ Planning, the overall goals of the plan are to reduce/maintain village density, preserve the character of residential neighborhoods and revitalize areas in the downtown.

In order to achieve these goals, BFJ planning has proposed zoning amendments that restrict and specify the use of various areas throughout the village. Among the proposed amendments is a series of "up" zones, which would reduce the number of zones that permit multiple family homes, subsequently increasing the number of single family zones in the village.

Of the more than 500,000 parcels within the village, only 450 are being rezoned and approximately 200 would be grandfathered as "legal nonconforming" properties.

"Most of the zoning code is being kept intact," Frank Fish of BFJ Planning said. "We're not trying to do a new code, we are trying to amend it to key elements consistent with comprehensive plan."

While the opening of the public hearing was a step forward in the public input process, it was not the final step as the board decided to keep the public hearing open until the July 15 meeting.

"Like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

to follow Daily Voice Port Chester and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE