Several town of Glenville residents spoke out at a public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 7 on the proposed amendments to the Freemans Bridge master plan. The area is one of the town’s hotspots for future development.
Town Planner Kevin Corcoran outlined the tentative changes, distributing a color-coded map indicating the possible revisions. The four major areas that would be changed are:
Approximately 42 acres of flood plain along Horstman Creek and the Dromme Kill originally targeted for preservation/conservation could be used for multi-family housing on the west side of Horstman Creek, and commercial/mixed use on the east side.
Approximately 30 acres south of the Boston and Maine Railroad and west of Horstman Creek could be changed from office/technology part to multi-family housing.
About 15 acres of land north of the power line easement and east of Freemans Bridge Road changed from multi-family housing to commercial/mixed use.
About 28 acres on both sides of Maple Avenue changed from multi-family housing to traditional neighborhood development.
The total effect of these proposed changes is relatively insignificant, said Corcoran. `About 57 acres would be ‘upgraded’ to a more intense proposed land use classification, while 58 acres would essentially be ‘downgraded.’ This is essentially a change in our blueprint for future development.`
Town resident Neil Turner expressed his concerns over the board’s methodology for setting aside acreage for land preservation, and the impact the new designations would have on the property owners.
`I’m a strong proponent of open space, but as the town changes land set aside for conservation to commercial use, they are trying to make it up somewhere else,` said Turner. `They’re trying to arbitrarily make all the colors come out evenly on the map. This imposes a restraint on someone else’s land. Isn’t there a better criterion for establishing land conservation zones?`
Town council member Valerie DiGiandomenico read a letter from the Pietrusza family of Heritage Parkway, stating the imposition of a land conservation zone on their property, owned since 1936, would have a severe adverse impact.
DiGiandomenico said although the issue isn’t yet up for vote, she does not support it.
`I cannot in good conscience endorse this,` said DiGiandomenico `For this family, out of 20 acres, 16 would be designated for land conservation. When you take that much land, we render their property just about useless.`
Town board members will now take public comments under consideration.
`We haven’t crafted the zoning fully,` said Corcoran.“