Imagine a place where townhouses, residential homes and parks mingle with businesses like shops, banks and restaurants.
That’s the goal behind Clay’s Planned Development District (PDD) zone, which combines different uses under one zoning code.
“Over the past 10 years or so, we’ve looked at several of our [zoning] ordinances,” said Councilor Naomi Bray, who helped write the code. “A few years ago, we felt that there was the potential to provide in the town some flexibility. Rather than having a parcel here that’s retail, a parcel here that’s office and another parcel here that’s another usage, we would have larger pieces of land – a minimum of 25 acres – with more of a coordinated umbrella usage that would allow flexibility within that specific area. It would provide for continuity in an area rather than little hopscotch-y pieces that have 10 different uses. It would provide a more attractive, better environment for people within that area and would just provide us a better opportunity for development within the town.”
The code allows builders to take a different perspective in developing a property.
“There are situations where a piece of land exists where the board would entertain a unique or different concept,” said Supervisor Damian Ulatowski. “A piece of land may be situated in such a way where a combination of small retail and residential together would complement an area.”
The town is now testing the waters for that zone with a project proposed by developer and former Assemblyman Mike Bragman. The would-be development, Inverness Gardens (formerly called Woodside Runne), is located off Taft Road across from Wegmans.
If Bragman has his way, the 41.2 acres of property, currently zoned O-1 Office, R-10 Residential District, RC-1 Regional Commercial District and HC-1 Highway Commercial District, will soon be home to approximately 40 two-unit townhouses costing about $200,000 and mixed-use commercial businesses. No tenants have yet expressed an interest in the commercial area, but Bragman expects to have a bank or credit union, restaurant, shopping center and/or office.
Residents of nearby Jewell Manor, however, which backs up to the proposed development, are not enthusiastic about the proposal. They have expressed concerns about traffic, safety and drainage should the project be approved.
“I have three young children who are playing outside, riding their bikes,” said Patty Denver of Opal Drive. “We feel our neighborhood is safe right now. I’m concerned about their safety with the increased traffic coming through there.”
Residents were especially concerned about a proposed cul-de-sac separating the new development from Jewell Manor.
“That’s one of our major concerns,” said Paul Phillips, also of Opal. “The developer is saying he’s willing to put a cul-de-sac there. That’s what we want. [The board] still has not given us an indication of what they’re considering.”
If the board does not approve the PDD zoning, Bragman can still put residential homes on the site and develop it according to its current zone.
The public hearing has been closed, and the board expects to vote on the proposed zone change at its Sept. 7 meeting.
To view the plan for the development, visit
Sep
11
Mixed-use zone being examined by town board at Taft Road site
Sarah Hall 09/11/09
CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: Clay, PPD, zoning, board
TAGS: Clay, PPD, zoning, board