From: Clifton Patrick Sent: Friday, July 07, 2017 4:50 PM To: Linda Zappala Cc: Alex Jamieson Subject: Comments for July 12, 2017 public hearing on a proposed local law entitled: A Local Law Amending Articles I, II, V, VIII and IX of Chapter 98 “Zoning” of the Town Code Attachments: Comments - NTRODUCTORY LOCAL LAW OF 2017 - CHAPTER 98 - ZONING AMENDMENTS copy.pdf.pdf Dear Supervisor Alex Jamieson and the Town of Chester Board of Trustees: Attached, as a pdf, please find my comments on the proposed Zoning Code changes. The most critical ones are: Several terms require definitions: “Amusement park,” “Outdoor recreation,” “townhouses,” and “condominium.” Amusement parks are prohibited uses in all districts (§ 98-17 B), while outdoor recreation facilities and areas are allowed in some places. These terms need clear, unambiguous definitions so that citizens, applicants, zoning and planning boards understand precisely what the Town Board prohibits versus what is allowed. The terms townhouses and condos are often confused, and the definitions in many references are no longer as clearly stated as they were several decades ago. These terms are often used to refer to construction style as well as a type of ownership. Our code needs to clearly define unequivocally how these terms are used in our code. Light control/pollution/spillover controls for should be uniformly applied throughout the code. For example, there are controls applying to property illumination (§ 98-15), but those controls are lacking for signs and billboards. SCHEDULE D 98-21 Signs. H. Billboards (allowed in Zones GC, OP, LB, I, IP and AI). (1) General requirements. > (a) Only those existing billboards, installed prior to the effective date of the amendment to this chapter, are permitted in the Town of Chester. Such billboards must be maintained, repaired and upgraded in accordance with the standards set forth herein. > (b) Any double-faced billboard having back-to-back surface display areas, no part of which is more than two feet apart, is considered to be a single billboard, except for preexisting signs. If only existing billboards are allowed (a), why does (b) except for preexisting signs? Makes no sense! > §98-29 Special requirements for specific uses. > F. Religious Institution. Church or similar place of worship and related uses. > (a) Whenever practicable, primary ingress and egress to and from the lot shall be via the highest service level adjacent road, such as a County or State Highway. This increases the number of curb cuts, congestion and potential accidents on the highest service level adjacent road. I suggest adding provision for reducing the number of curb cuts by allowing cross parcel parking lots to share curb cuts. See: Smart Growth Parking Best Practices 2.1.3. Shared Parking §98-30 Site Plan Approval. E. Procedure. (d) Notice. Neighbors often appear angrily at public hearings which are typically scheduled late in the process. I suggest Chester institute the “Certified Local Government Program” which provides for public involvement early in the process, when the public’s concerns are easier and more economically addressed, than the current process, which schedules public input much later in the process. The Certified Local Government process will also help promote Town of Chester’s development and progress while preserving our community’s unique sense of place, our wonderful heritage and our town’s visual integrity, in addition to goals stated on page 53 of the “Town of Chester, New York Comprehensive Plan: 2015 Update.” Notes #1 & 2 from 03-01-2011 SR-6 bulk tables are not listed on the “Town of Chester SR-6 - Suburban Residential District” table. Note #2 requires fee simple ownership, and prohibits condo ownership. Respectfully submitted, Clifton Patrick Town of Chester Historian 119 Brookside Ave. Chester, County of Orange New York 10918 direct phone/fax 845-469-7645 chester-ny.gov/town-departments/historian/