Temple Israel of Northern Westchester - 31 Glengary Road (68.09-4-42) - Amended Site Plan Application to Add a Portico Entry to the Main Entrance ***Note: It is expected that the Planning Board will adjourn this hearing, at the request of the applicant***
Referral from the Village Board of Trustees to review draft Local Law Introductory No. 03 of 2026, the EAF and the CAF that addresses a number of inconsistencies within the Zoning Code, update certain definitions and amend the number of fowl permitted on residential properties
Referral from the Village Board of Trustees to review draft Local Law Introductory No. 05 of 2026, the EAF and the CAF to amend Chapter 230, Zoning, of the Code of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson to amend the provisions relating to Affordable Housing to allow for certain occupational preferences.
◆Approval of January 27, 2026, draft minutes (as amended): 4–0 (Luntz absent)
◆Applications Reviewed
◆Temple Israel of Northern Westchester, 31 Glengary Road (68.09—4-42): Amended site plan application to add a portico entry to the main entrance. Public hearing opened 3–0 (Krisky recused, Luntz absent), then adjourned to the next meeting at the applicant's request.
◆Public Comments
◆No public comments were recorded during the meeting.
◆Reports
◆*Village Engineer (Vincent Salanitro):* Reported receiving an email from the DOT regarding the design center on Albany Post Road; a further update is expected in approximately one month.
◆*Local Law Introductory No. 3 of 2026 (Village Board Referral):* 27-page draft to correct zoning code inconsistencies, update definitions, amend the number of fowl permitted on residential properties, transition special permits from the Village Board to the Planning Board, and address solar energy systems. The Planning Board requested clarification on whether Metro North would need special permits, the volume of upcoming renewal applications, and requested authority to increase or decrease parking requirements in all zoning districts. The board also flagged a correction on page 22, Section 36, regarding how special permit applications are distributed to the Village Board.
◆*Local Law Introductory No. 5 of 2026 (Village Board Referral):* Draft to amend Chapter 230 (Zoning) to allow occupational preferences for affordable housing. The board raised questions about whether residents must maintain their preferred occupation, whether part-time workers qualify, and whether home health aides can be independently employed. The board recommended including part-time employees and expanding the U.S. Veteran category to include Reservists.
CROTON-ON-HUDSON – The Planning Board took a deep dive into the technical side of village governance Tuesday night, reviewing a proposed 27-page overhaul of local zoning laws.
If adopted by the Village Board, the legislation—known as Local Law No. 3—would largely serve as a "cleanup" operation. It is designed to correct inconsistencies in the code and update definitions to reflect the reality that special permit jurisdiction has transitioned from the Board of Trustees to the Planning Board.
Acting Planning Board Vice Chair sat in for the absent chairman, noting that the board’s role is to review the document and provide recommendations back to the Trustees.
Vice Chair addresses the board
"We're essentially looking at a clean-up to make sure all code sections refer to you guys as being the ones issuing the special permits," said Vince, a village official assisting with the review. {{quote:291}}
While the bulk of the meeting focused on these procedural adjustments, two specific topics drew comments from board members: renewable energy infrastructure and the keeping of backyard chickens.
**Energy Storage and Solar**
The proposed code updates include amendments regarding solar energy systems. Specifically, the laws would allow "Tier 4" solar energy systems and "Tier 2" battery energy storage systems in RA-60 zones, which encompass the largest residential lots in Croton.
Acting Vice Chair explained that this would allow owners of larger properties to install more substantial solar setups and beefier battery storage systems than are currently permitted.
**How Many Chickens Are Too Many?**
In a move that may interest residents with agrarian aspirations, the new law introduces clarity on backyard fowl.
"The code didn't have clarity around this previously," the Acting Vice Chair said. {{quote:726}}
The proposal introduces a table that explicitly ties the maximum number of fowl—primarily chickens—to the size of a property. Under the new system, the larger the lot, the more birds are permitted. Board members reviewed a chart detailing these caps, moving to standardize rules that were previously vague.
**Permit Workload and Metro North**
Board Member John Ghegan raised practical concerns regarding the transfer of special permit authority. He requested data on the volume of special permits in the village to gauge the new workload for the Planning Board.
"I'm just trying to get a sense of... what we're dealing with quantitatively," Giegen said. "Is it 50? Is it 100? Is it 200?"
He noted that since the permits come up for renewal, the board will need a system to track them so they do not lapse. Village staff agreed to look into historical data to provide a clearer picture of the annual volume.
The board also discussed the code's language regarding Metro-North. The proposal suggests the railroad needs to seek special permits from the village for construction. Giegen questioned whether this was necessary given the state entity's autonomy, referencing a large building erected by the railroad near the station seven or eight years ago.
"If they don't have to come to us, it kinda makes this somewhat irrelevant," Giegen said. {{quote:379}}
Board Member Jeff noted that state entities often utilize their own "Monroe hearing" process, effectively bypassing local zoning as long as the municipality does not object. The board decided to flag the section for clarification to ensure the village retains a voice in future railroad projects.
**Next Steps**
Following their review, the Planning Board will compile their thoughts and recommendations before sending the Local Law back to the Board of Trustees for final adoption.
In other business, the board opened a public hearing for Temple Israel Northern Westchester, which is seeking an amended site plan for a new portico entry to its main entrance. Board Member John Ghegan recused himself from the application, disclosing he is a member of the temple and involved in the design process.
As the applicant was not present, the hearing was kept open and adjourned to the next scheduled meeting.
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**Source documents:**
- [Cover Letter Temple Israel](https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2026-02/b57519968a2d6638a9e9ac02ff431b34db1d27d2.pdf)
- [Temple Israel NW Phase 1 Site Plan Application Set compressed](https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2026-02/7439677e334843242be66c63aca7c90a3f093485.pdf)
- [Referral to PB from Village Board](https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2026-02/edb0b383a421edf5a068be4171f7c50e5efad346.pdf)
- [Local Law Intro 3 of 2026 Zoning Code Amendments](https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2026-02/6c136321effaef9cdc982aa1c056a986021dff49.pdf)
- [Coastal Assessment - LL Intro 3](https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2026-02/305ba35cbc1b6d6f1405d09063787d17b4d4c831.pdf)
- [Short EAF Part I - LL Intro 3](https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2026-02/bfb4075c3562df6c21521723d1d2754ce9b44f44.pdf)
- [Summary of zoning law changes in LL 3 of 2026.docx](https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2026-02/acbf9b928ee90eec6b6ee38d01ce689be268822b.docx)
- [Referral to PB LL Intro 5 of 2026.docx](https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2026-02/670f5aa08ce575d7150cdb75c58bc4919c77a7b9.docx)
- [FEB 18th Resolution 33-2026 LL Intro 5 of 2026 Referrals](https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2026-02/8c02524502fed127cc84c7046bf8011dc4296117.pdf)
- [Local Law Intro 5 of 2025 Occupational Preferences](https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2026-02/ffea9a8c0a07d63d7d55644e0810a86cac1f0b41.pdf)
- [CAF - Local Law Intro 5 of 2026](https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2026-02/1fd1340c8aee9aa8b32158ffb05e22665e133f45.pdf)
- [Short EAF Part 1 - Local Law Intro 5 of 2026](https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2026-02/c921b2d247e2415a2722c5c6bb5cd3308736f8a1.pdf)
- [DOC005](https://play.champds.com/ATT/crotononhudsonny/2026-02/afd5597da285b2aead7e033e9b0254c23062de73.pdf)
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