If you could gaze into a crystal ball, what would downtown Malta look like in 20 years?
About 60 people turned out Monday, Dec. 10, to view some possible future snapshots presented by specialists commissioned by the town’s planning department. Malta received a $50,000 grant and kicked in an additional $12,500 to hire the consultants to scrutinize every angle of future downtown build-out.
Monday night’s program was run by planners from Synthesis Architecture in Schenectady and Riverstreet Planning in Troy, who completed the Downtown Green Space and Economic Development Plan.
The plan contained three primary components: identifying where green space should be located within the downtown area; establishing an economic development plan to assist developers to understand what amenities the town has to offer and what types of businesses the town would like to attract; and giving more attention to the Parade Ground Historic District and the possibility of developing a niche market.
The springboard for the plan comes from recently adopted town legislation, including the comprehensive master plan and the downtown architectural design standards.
Monday night wasn’t the first night for public input: The consultants met with many Malta residents during earlier presentations, workshops and scoping sessions.
During their one-hour presentation, followed by an hour of questions and comments from the public, consultants said with the possibility of a future Tech Valley looming, it’s not a question of whether or not businesses will come to town, but instead, how the town will handle it.
Development pressure is going to continue, whether you like it or not, and future land use must be based on an economic perspective as well as visual impact, said Margaret Irwin of Riverstreet Planning. `You have a big bull’s-eye painted on your back here as a target for developers.`
Residential development may seem to be a way to maintain the rural character of the town, but the planners urged people to keep in mind commercial development will bring a bigger payback to Malta.
`The more residential use, the more it costs the town,` said Ian Law from Riverstreet. `With residential properties, for every $1 contributed by the owner, it costs the town $1.42. With commercial sites, they need fewer services, so for each $1 contributed, it costs the town 10 cents. This is why towns welcome new business development, to help shift the tax burden.`
Based on meetings with residents, the list of what people would like to see come to Malta include coffee shops and cafes; stores to buy books, clothing and sporting goods to prevent people spending their money elsewhere; a YMCA or other museum or cultural center; a downtown amphitheater; a pond for ice skating; and possibly an elementary school.
`Schools provide a major hub for a downtown and create all kinds of recreational and gathering opportunities,` said Irwin.
With three major developments set geographically apart, including the already-approved Ellsworth Commons and Park Place, and the pending Kelch Drive project, all with housing, retail, commercial and professional space, the word `connectivity` quickly rose to the surface of discussions.
`Individually, they may meet the town’s vision for walkability, for mixed use, for retail, but how do they work together?` said Irwin. `They need to work as a complete package. Adding dead-end development is really just a different type of sprawl. Three nodes of mixed-use development do not make a downtown. In our opinion, this downtown is far too big; there is isolation in the proposed developments.`
Audience members expressed concern about the projects, particularly Ellsworth Commons, which includes buildings several stories high.
`The planning board approved Ellsworth, and we can’t rescind that approval,` said Malta town Planner Anthony Tozzi.
Other residents said they worry about development along Route 9 causing safety problems, both for cars attempting to drive north and for people using the sidewalks proposed to connect downtown areas.
`They said the roundabouts would help relieve traffic, and that’s the farthest thing from the truth,` said resident Karen Goodstein. `If people are going to walk around, where are they going to park? Not on Route 9. I moved here to feel safe, and I no longer do. It just gets worse.`
Mark Luciano, who lives in Luther Forest, said he would like to see the concept of a walkable community start in the forest.
`Shouldn’t it be walkable for people already here, not just those coming in with future development?` said Luciano. `It’s foolhardy to do it this way; this isn’t being designed for people who live in town being considered first.`
Town Historian Teri Gay said the downtown plan must also address the historic Parade Ground district, and how to allow property owners to renovate or replace their buildings without penalty.
`What’s actually historic about the area on Dunning Street is the land, which was military training grounds; the homes there are not on the historic registry,` said Gay. `We must keep preserving this property from Michael Dunning in 1775, but we could allow those homes more lenience to make improvements.`
William and Christine Connolly own business property on Dunning Street, and said from their slate roof to the foundation, the building is sinking.
`We keep making new businesses for new people, but you forget about people already here in properties with no historic value,` said William Connolly. `We’re stuck in a historic zone, and we want to be considered part of the business district. This proposed downtown is a mile away; a fictional town being built down the street. We can’t keep laying out the red carpet for new developers.`
Resident Steve Gottmann praised town officials for taking steps now to address Malta’s future.
`I’ve lived in many places that experienced tremendous growth, and this town and planning board is way ahead of where other towns are as far as looking down the road,` said Gottmann. `Malta has a plan for the growth we know will happen. We’re fortunate these steps have been put in place.“