Get the Facts

The Comprehensive Plan Update and Zoning Law were adopted by the Town Board on July 19, 2007. Below are some questions and answers that may help in interpreting the effect the changes will have on Amenia.

What are some of the environmental reasons for not rezoning the west side of Route 22 north of Cascade Road to Highway Commercial (HC)?

• HC district allows commercial uses that rely heavily on automobile and truck access

• Stores and businesses can be up to 40,000 square feet (two times the size of Freshtown) and up to 45' in height (considerably more than twice the height of Freshtown)

• In these developments, most surfaces are impermeable (this piece of property could be 10.8 acres of impermeable surface)

• Recent rains demonstrated how the higher property acted as a tilted plane, directing the runoff to the low southeast corner (click here for picture)

• Runoff from the field adjoined with two streams to funnel through the highway culvert to the stream bed on the east side of Route 22, becoming 50 feet wide, flooding property down to the south side of Route 343 in the hamlet of Amenia

• As a paved parking lot, the runoff of antifreeze, oil, grease and road trash would have ended up in the wetlands on the east side of Route 22

• Other environmental impacts include quality of life issues for area homeowners, increased traffic, noise and light pollution

Did Freshtown receive "special" zoning changes?

• No, the zoning maps were in place prior to their purchase of the adjoining property

• On 5/8/07, the Town Board changed the zoning on the adjoining property: the undeveloped portion of the old racetrack became Highway Mixed Use, and the section close to Route 22 became Hamlet Residential

Does the Plan favor special interests?

• No, the plan focuses on how to create a multigenerational town while balancing the need to preserve the rural, agricultural community, the need to create business and employment opportunities, and the need for housing

What does Resort Development Overlay (RDO) mean?

• Designated to encourage resort development that fits into rural character of town while protecting resources

• Requires 80% open space and clusters impervious surface coverage on15% of the site

• This avoids the possibility of 300 homes on 300 acres

Last updated 5/23/10