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Also attached to this agenda item: Memo on Housing

Housing Needs Overview The Village of Croton organized a public listening session to gather input on current and future housing needs. The listening session was held on May 1, 2024 in the Village Fire House and close to 50 residents participated. During the engagement session, residents frequently noted a desire for a new housing stock that can meet the needs of current and future residents. They generally expressed a desire to make the housing stock more diverse and affordable. Session participants also shared a strong need for housing for young people, seniors, workforce, ϐirst responders, and a priority for current residents. Residents were overall interested in various housing typologies. This included mixed-use development, senior housing, more multi-family and accessory dwelling units. Others stated that more market-rate and single-family housing types should be created. Residents discussed the challenges to create additional housing in Croton, including various environmental impacts, including ϐlooding and the need to assess the current open and green spaces in Croton to ensure the natural environment and recreational needs are balanced with housing demands. Many residents also felt that the Village should phase the continued growth to assess any impacts that weren’t predicted and to ensure that development impacts are not occurring all at the same time burdening residents during the development phase (ie: trucks, noise, trafϐic). Others stressed the importance of keeping the scale and architecture of Croton to keep its small-town feel. Some residents wanted demographic data regarding whether younger or older people were living in the current affordable housing stock and whether any of the new developments were serving residents. Finally, some residents expressed a fear of new non-local residents accessing all the affordable housing while other residents pushed back stating that Croton should be welcoming to new residents, as all residents were once non-residents who moved into the Village. Residents also highlighted their fear of infrastructure/services impacts. This included school, noise, trafϐic, sewer and water infrastructure, services and parking. Others felt that the schools could handle additional students and that more housing could help with economic activity at local businesses. Finally, residents expressed a need for the Village to simply move more slowly in the various development activities and to be clear and proactive about communication to the community and have additional informationals and educational sessions. Residents were also asked about opportunities and strategies for additional housing in Croton. Again, residents felt that more housing forums and educational sessions were needed. Other residents felt that various creative ϐinance mechanisms could be used to create housing stability and funding for low-income families. Residents also liked the idea of a shuttle in the Village to support the new developments and to lessen congestion or trafϐic. Various zoning ideas and strategies were discussed, including restriction on heights, short- term rental restrictions, increasing the percentage of affordable housing set-aside in new developments, reviewing parking options for accessory dwelling units, and creating a rental registry program. Finally, residents discussed the value added by creating additional housing in Croton, including the creation of long-term affordability, creating a multi-generational community, creating new sustainable and green housing opportunities, and creating a opportunity to leverage Croton’s identity and economic development. Residents also provided their ideas as to locations and places within Croton that they felt could support additional housing. The summary above is not inclusive of all comments received. For a full list of all comments made by residents in response to questions posed by facilitators, see below. What are some of the housing needs for our Village?/Who are we looking to create housing for? Housing for Everyone Seniors For aging population (some are house rich/income poor) Middle age Young professionals Young adults Young person – how to give them a foot in the door College students First responders First responders Volunteer ϐireϐighters/EMS Essential workers Home health aides Single adults Workforce Workforce seniors Teachers Teachers/Police/EMT Administrators Housing for people in Croton Housing and jobs for the younger people who grew up in village to return 250 units of emergency housing for illegal immigrants. Not limiting families and children (priority) Possibility of homelessness Housing part-time workers can afford Local Preference Housing that is preference to local residents Priority for Croton What type of housing? Mixed-use Local Commercial Mixed use can add to the character Senior development 55 or older community Senior housing Variety of Homeownership and Rental Efϐiciency or shared housing Rental cohabitate Homeownership More homeownership – what is the share of homeowners vs. renters Inventory of rental and SF homes Not substandard affordable housing 1/2 bedroom apartment Multifamily Elevator building Townhouses More market rate apts/luxury More affordable apartments Green housing/Sustainable Small houses Single family homes ADUs Live in homes owned by owner who is aging Challenges Environmental Impacts Water Demand Stormwater Runoff Green Space Natural Character Environmental Tree preservation Runoff Impervious surfaces What open space do we have? Environmental impact Impact on the environment Flooding Increase ϐlooding HR – tracks & housing & when Character Fear of others Overcrowding Growth Myths & fears Character of now Concern – becoming like Manhattan upper side – rich, wealthy Want small village Don’t want a downtown Avoid – skyscrapers that takes away views Do older folks want to move Preference Want Croton residents Flood gates will open – how plan development Volunteer ϐire ϐighters – could growth bring a need Structures – more – with growth Sad Fran – creative, working, all ages – that is gone – now rich, the same – displacement Turning into a city – too urban – because character is not urban Westchester – feels that it has been pointed out Council for environmental initiatives – 20 or 22 places in Westchester Croton, New Rochelle, Yonkers, Bronxville, other villages, why are they not on the list Challenges – change – how will that happen Community – how that happens Younger people – what that does for the community Challenge – build support for things outside of housing – those things that create a place Falsehood – certain historic bills Lottery- for place – how much they make, where are they from Challenges – emotional – strong connection to Croton Younger people – might be going to NYC/elsewhere Remote workers has increased – can be mobile – cause for drop ‘Look’ – is there a concern for the poor and less fortunate? A warning of what could happen A desire to do the right thing for people Worried re number new units/impact Occupational priority across county Anxiety re too much at once – what will impact be? Those with need but pride issues Concern – growth, activity, emotional, connection to place Concern – Big $$ people coming in a ϐlipping homes that do exist Concerns: Multi-family Spoil community if multi-unit Sounds, noisy, music Infrastructure & Municipal Services School impacts Schools – can Croton handle it Coming impact from new families with kids – need to pump the breaks Pressure on schools – more services already needed regardless of capacity Noise from train station Construction impacts (noise/dust/trucks) Impacts of waste/sewage from new development Transportation Trafϐic Trafϐic increase – lights are on timers Work with DOT to ϐix and address trafϐic concerns (smart lights) Congestion Concerned about village a small city – trafϐic increase Crowding, trafϐic, infrastructure, water main break Not enough infrastructure Croton is on a well water system Inadequate infrastructure Parking Lack of parking Less parking not ideal Concern of SF becoming MF because of parking, etc. Growth – big concern – particularly parking and handicap park is not adequate Tax impacts Taxes – has increased year after year Putting burden on tax payer in village Activity – more theft Growth – cost – more ϐireϐighters, cops, - more schools, general structures Transitioning out of people like ϐireϐighters Current Planning & Efforts Tendency to move too quickly 2 under construction currently 3rd being considered Proactive communication Guidelines Currently Take that land and develop multi-story building This could happen – concern – what happens when everything is fair game That despicable land was a playground Unhappy with current trends Bad practice? Projected ideas? The need for it to be done in the right way! 8 years here – multi-unit concern – changes the look Concern – who pays for those subsidized units – who fronts that Grey single story buildings – nice turned to not so nice Town law doesn’t protect Timing of meeting, more frequent and hear from the people, listen! Essential! Administration is in pursuit of state recognition Cost & Implementation of Housing Strategies Concern of having tenants with senior landlord Government policy – inϐlation, cost of materials, insurance Regulating rents is disincentive for builder/landlords and reduces the amount of housing Most expensive county in U.S. because government policies Maintain AH of sub-stand housing while updating Opportunities/Strategies Education More Housing Forums Additional education Locations Riverside Ave High Street – single family zone – could shift Place by hardware store 20 acre land with one house Near high school Shyview – nursing medical CSX RR – area for temporary housing for immigrants Support for allowing reuse of commercial spaces as housing and the needed zoning changes Identify properties that can be subdivided and incentive oeners to build/sell Opportunity for more density – Mt. Airy Road with new sewer system and other areas where sewer capabilities added 50 family units – emergency housing at Highlands, county property – Indian burial ground, teller’s point Create opportunities to diversify and build in the SF zones SF – 2 family should be included It works at train station Finklestein property question Lot A, close to transportation Finance Mechanism Subsidize where people currently live Who subsidizes - when there is a deduction Tax – units that are more than 1 Tax break for ADU with rent reg Funding for homeowner for ADUs Work with other towns with tax structure Tax breaks for low income Transportation/Connectivity Enough population to support a shuttle Route – shuttle – route is an ideal route Shuttles on future development Connect to nature – waterbodies, beaches Reconnect new development to walking Not congested – supportive of more housing Transportation connecting natural areas Value Added Through Housing Opportunity to welcome and create more vitality Multigenerational – young help old Support businesses – growth Create long-term affordability Value of younger people coming in Connecting young and old Local resident beneϐit to building in the community All new housing has positive impact on the market Env. Friendly buildings can be created Walk safely, friendly, like to know each other – this is keeping how it is Celebrate the Hudson through new development Zoning Strategies/Ideas Restriction heights (Ethan) Apartments – greater than 4 ϐloors not okay Max of 3-4 stories frts aesthetic Short term rental regs to restrict Increase AH % Create parking options for ADU growth Support for the all zoning and housing strategies presented Registry to match people with space and without space in Croton Stage the future housing development so not all projects are happening at once Disperse the affordable housing Development Concerns Not more housing Doesn’t need to be in the village No apartments in certain areas Likelihood of resistance Education and Outreach Talking one on one Connect people – so people talk, work through disagreements Croton housing network Questions for the Village Can the Village set the AMI local? What is the housing goal for the Village? Know there is a need, but what is the goal Are there parcels currently available in the Village? How does this align with the Comprehensive plan? Do the schools see this as an issue? Does the Village have the historical data compared to other municipalities regarding the amount of housing created?