Planning Board Meeting
Okay. So I will welcome everybody everybody to the Village of Croton-on-Hudson planning board meeting for Tuesday, 03/24/2026, and call the meeting to order. We have a public hearing on our agenda tonight, which was opened at our last planning board meeting. So we're gonna hold it open for this evening. So we don't need to make a motion to open that because it's already been opened. And it's for, the Temple Israel of Northern Westchester, 31 Glengarry Road, and a special permit application whereby we have a wetland activity permit application and an amended site plan application to add a portico entry to the main entrance. So if there's someone here to present, come on up to the table there. Just tell us your name and your where you're from.
I will. I'll I'll introduce myself and the others here. Good evening. My name is Dana Moldova, and I'm chair of the building committee. Can you hear me? I'm chair of the building committee at Temple Israel of Northern Westchester. Thank you to the planning board for taking the time this evening to review our related applications for certain security and other improvements to the Temple Israel building. I'm joined this evening by Travis Schnell of KG and D Architects and Adam Thiber from Insight Engineering as well as congregants and board members of the temple. Temple Israel of Northern Westchester is a reformed Jewish temple that's been located in the Croton-on-Hudson community for more than seventy five years. The temple currently provides a vibrant home for 275 member families from many towns and villages in Northern Westchester, including Croton. Our building houses a sanctuary and other meeting spaces, a nursery school, classrooms, and a religious school. Our clergy have served not only the Temple Israel community over the lifetime of our congregation, but also the Croton-on-Hudson and Northern Westchester communities with leadership and solidarity through times of celebration and times of great difficulty. In light of the need for a variety of security upgrades that are in keeping with contemporary standards for an active temple of our size, we've embarked on design for improvements to our building and will incorporate new secure man trap entrances, perimeter security bollards, and associated covered walkway and other improvements. This evening, we plan to review these design elements which require village planning board approval. And for that purpose, I'll hand the presentation over to KGND.
Okay. And hi again. I'm Travis Schnell, one of the principals at KGND Architects. So we can move on to slide two. I don't think we have control of that. Right? Okay. Alright. So the purpose of this meeting is to review, yeah, the main entrance, right, and the new security vestibule. So the purpose here is to create a more welcoming, secure, and better defined entrance to the temple. That's the reason for all the work that we're doing here. So if you move on to slide three, this is just showing the overall context of of the lot. People generally enter from Glengarry. I don't know if I can maybe point this out. That's not gonna reflect well there on the TV. But they enter from Glengarry. They come up. This is oriented north, and they come into the north lot, and that's the mid that's the primary lot. The secondary overflow lot is on the south side. To just give context, we're not changing any of the traffic flow patterns on the site. So you can go to the next slide. So this is just zooming in a little further just to show how far away that canopy portion is off of the existing roadway on the north on the north side.
And so this shows the existing kinda entry condition. So, currently, the approach to the building and the reason for the project is that the entrance points are confusing. Right? There's no clear main entrance. So instead, there are three points of entrance currently. There's the one in the Northeast, the one in the Northwest, and the one on the South at the lower lot. And the one on the South has the long canopy. So for new visitors there at when I was a new visitor there, you think you go to that southern entrance. And, actually, most people tend to use the Northeast entrance because it does have a small little vestibule there. But the idea is to provide some clarity in this and to focus on a single entrance and to increase security and clarity in the approach. So if we go on to the next slide showing what the proposed solution is, The proposed solution is to create a clear main entrance on the Northwest and to promote that with a new canopy. Right? And then keep the southern entrance as a secondary entrance when there's larger events that are drawing people from the overflow lot from the South, and then changing that third entrance in the Northeast to an exit only, condition.
So this just shows the context of the existing southern canopy, and you can see that this is what we're trying to match with the new canopy just to stay in the context of the existing building. We're not trying to add, like, a new aesthetic feature to the building. So you'll see a rendering later on that shows that. This is just another view of that same canopy. You'll see that we're using similar light features, similar finishes on the ceiling, and similar, aesthetics with the steel structure. This is the current north entrance, the existing photo, and that the entrance is in that corner in the crux there of the two, yep, wings. This is just a zoomed in version of that. That is the current, canopy over the entryway where we'll be building out the vestibule that we'll see later. And this shows the proposed rendering. So you can see that new canopy mimics the existing canopy, keeps it all in context to what's already there. We also increase we have security features there with the planters that are, just acting as bollards, to keep any vehicles from hitting the main entrance, and that we built out the new security vestibule in line with the existing overhang, for that second set of doors. Otherwise, the, the logo for the temple just moves on to that existing north facing wall, and we eliminated an unnecessary piece of steel beam that was there for decoration.
And this just shows it in drawing form. Upper left is an elevation, and then you have the plan on the right and then an elevation of the doorway itself.
So how does the, new doorway situation where you clearly create a vestibule, how does that, actually, increase security for you?
Oh, we can get into the later slides where we show the secure vestibule, a double set of doors. So people enter the first set of doors, and then there's a security office there that they interact with, and then they can get buzzed in to the secondary set of doors. Okay. And we'll see that in detail in a minute. And this is just showing these are the new, proposed lights, the proposed planter bollard, and the proposed tongue and groove soffit that you can see all resemble the existing conditions on the southern canopy. Alright. So this is showing the overall floor plan just to have your your the context. We're gonna zoom in on the two vestibules in the north and the south, but here you also see the new canopy, extending out with the new columns. And if you go to the next slide, we'll have a better zoomed in version of this. So on the left is existing. You can see both the north and the south have a single set of doors. This is also the main lobby of the building. So the purpose also here that these two entrances bring you into the main lobby versus the Northeast entrance, which is further away from the main entry point. So you see on the right, we added the exterior doors slightly bumps out the space to create that secured vestibule condition. So then you have to get buzzed in to the second set of doors. So the security office let's move on to the next slide. I think we even go into yep. So here, these just show part plans about the North and the South components. You'll see in the North one, which is now acting as the main entry point, has the security office. So this is the daily entry point. There's a security window that opens onto that vestibule. So people enter the vestibule, they interact with the security desk, and then they get buzzed in to the primary space. On the South, there's no need for the security check-in point, because that's only gonna be used during events. And, usually, at that time, it's manned by ushers anyway, and so that's how that space would be used. And that other previous entrance, again, is being converted to exit only.
Oh, that that was the, the balance of, of the slides. Open to questions, but we feel that adding the canopy and adding the vestibule just enhance the security there, help clarify where the entrance is, and just create a more welcoming condition.
Yeah. I've got a few. So in addition to the entryways, there's also some internal renovation that you're making, some demo with looks like that stairway is going away. I'm opening up the lobby. Mhmm. Is that seven I've seen there?
Yes. Yeah. That's not yeah. That's separate from this application, but, yes, part of same project. It's all part of the same project. Yep.
and then you've got a second floor as well. Is there anything planned as far as renovation on the 2nd Floor?
And if there is, we would bring it in as part of the permitting process. So, I mean, we're we're going with this. Well, the reason I'm asking is that the certain amount of demo material that comes out, you got a wetlands buffer right nearby. Just wanna make sure there's a staging area
Noted. We just want that included in the in the plan. We're gonna stage all the demo material. We just had just going into the renovation a little bit. Just wondering about access to the 2nd Floor. Is it on with that stairway going away, is it only gonna be that stairway that's by the elevator?
Is that the only way to get to the 2nd Floor? There that's the There's another set of stairs on the east side of the building. Those stairs in particular, they lead up to a single classroom right now, or I guess it's more of a multiuse space right now. It's a smaller room. And we're gonna demolish those stairs. We're going to infill that floor, and there'll be a door added in the 2nd Floor just to access that once classroom space. It's now as a storage space. Yeah.
Could we see where the stairs are to get to the 2nd Floor? I'm just curious how that that's gonna work out. Connect to the overall plan.
it's next to the elevator. There's a staircase next to the elevator. Yeah. Those are the stairs. Those are the the main stairs now, and those will continue to be the main stairs. And that's it. That's the only place where That's the only place. Yeah. There's an exterior stair. There's an exterior set of stairs. That's the egress from that block. Very end of the building.
For clarity, from the audience, if you wanna come speak, just come up and introduce yourself as part of this process. As I said, public hearings generally work a certain way. Presenters speak, open to the public. Public can speak and comment. They address the Chair then ask any questions for the person.
Yeah. One set of stairs. Yeah. We would check to make sure that it's it's conforms with the building permit plans. Mhmm.
There's no flight of stairs to the nursery. I'm not sure what you're referencing.
There's a flight there's a flight by the, you know, by the nursery, there's a flight of stairs that goes up to looks like a bathroom?
Where are you show me where you're at. Yeah. Those stairs go down to the basement.
There is a small bathroom back there on that on that same floor, but the the stairs that you're seeing there go down to the basement. There's a small existing powder room as part of one of those classrooms.
Did we test on that yet? I don't think we did our We'll we'll test and make sure that Yeah. You know, we're taking care of it according to code or that Yeah. All that will be tested. There'll be a hazmat report if, we'll do the testing. As needed. Due diligence. Yep.
Yep. If you go back to the rendering, yeah, those planters, those are big concrete bollards intended for security purposes.
No. There's there's bollards They're just decorated as planters, but they're intended for security.
Can I ask just going back to the the wetland question? I took a look there. I was there in your parking lot this afternoon, and it it is a very lovely and close by wetlands. And this the from the north entrance there, there is a a slope sort of down in that direction. Can you talk through how the construction process will protect it?
You should have a separate PDF, called SP one that was sent over. Just like we have the drawing too. So if you don't mind bringing that up if you have it available. If you quickly run through submit it? I think Sarah sent it over today or yesterday. I have a couple. We have copies. Reduced scale of copies if anyone needs.
Yeah. Maybe just bring those to the board members. I'm not I don't think I saw that. No. That's my desk. Yeah. I'm not I got 05:30.
So you can see here, this is the site plan we submitted, with the wetland permit permit application. So you can see the, the gray footprint of the building there. The green hatch that you see, these are the wetland and watercourse buffers. So you can see a significant portion of the building itself sits within the buffers. So by virtue of doing anything outside of this part of the building, we we need to come in for, for a wetland permit. So we are showing to to your question, we are showing some silt fence between the construction area and the wetland just to provide a little additional protection. But just a couple things to to to keep in mind. One is that the the area the total area of disturbance associated with this, and Travis had shown it in the renderings, It's it's essentially the columns that support the canopy in two very small additions that come off of the two vestibule areas. So our total disturbance associated with this is something in the in the low hundreds of square feet, a very small area. And in addition to that, there's no new impervious surfaces associated with this work. So all of the the canopy, the vestibule additions, these are all being done over areas that are already impervious surfaces. So, again, we are showing some silt fence just just outside of this area for some additional protection. But, again, this is just a a very small amount of work that will have no material impact on the wetlands. Right. Technically, we're hardly even increasing,
the building area by definition because a lot of the addition, those little vestibules are already under canopies, which technically count towards building area anyway.
I just have a question from the engineer. In terms of, like, the staging area, do you know where it would go or have any idea where you would put it?
It it would likely be in the the parking area Yeah. You know, north of where the work would be.
Yeah. I have a question, regarding the entrance. Currently, there are three entrances, and one of them you are converting to exit only. Now, in the case of emergency, when the other two entrants are inaccessible, our emergency personnel can access through that exit.
Oh, I mean, you would still be able to get buzzed into that exit. But for a daily use, it's not gonna be set up and people are gonna know not to you it'll be signed that, you know, this is really just an exit only, but it'll still be accessible. Like, you can still get buzzed into that. It'll just be sort of programmatically
I think you guys have done a very, very nice job. I think that architecturally, it's feels very compatible with the existing building. And I think that the entrance confusion when I've been there before is real and and and not good for anybody, really, a visitor or even people that come on a regular basis. I think cleaning up that the sort of sequencing of how you get in and out of it is really smart. I like the opening up of the the the sort of public area in the middle so that it's clear that that's more of a kinda lobby space and more public and and then that other exit slash entrance, you know Yeah. Becoming exit only seems like you really are thoughtful about how to control in entrance and exits so that it does seem to provide that that security, that you're looking for, and I think is is just a, well thought out smart, way to deal with it. I was I I was curious about I didn't really realize the buzzing in and buzzing out. I mean, I guess that, when you have services or something like that, right, the doors are just open and people can come in and out, but this is more for a kind of I mean, you're not gonna get buzzing buzzing in 200 people to come to service. Right?
Typically, we would have security, hired for the evening specialized security hired for the evening for high for the the the really large services. And so we would have, And we have ushers. And we have ushers. In the form of volunteers, you know, entering in and out, watching people. So yeah.
I like the flower pot slash I like the flower pot slash bollard idea. You know? It seems like, again, something that's aesthetically adding to the what what is a, you know, could be an ugly thing. Right. You know, you look at the ones around, let's say, Empire State Building. You walk around these Jersey barrier almost things, and so that's a nice solution, I feel, as well. And I think the questions regarding, you know, proximity to the wetland is are valid and and and, you know, being careful about how the construction actually happens and particularly, you know, demolition and you got the silt fencing there. It it feels, like, very limited, but I don't think it's really necessary to be much more than that. It actually seems pretty smart, the layout. And so, you know, I'd be very much in favor of in support of the application. I think it's well thought out and and nicely presented. You guys did a great really nice job. Thank you. Thank you.
And then you have the doors, the same doors you can keep, probably. You know, something like that.
I think that's a great idea. I know I've seen on occasions where people will open the door for somebody waiting to come in.
You walk in or you stand inside and you look at them and you're banging on the door and you're just looking at them. You won't let them in if you don't know. But I think that dove ideas is a great idea.
Thank you. Yep. It's something, you know, we utilize for schools all the time in our school designs. Sure. Yep. Yeah. You guys are experts at that. Yeah. So a lot of the retrofits we do are enhancing the main entrances. Interesting.
So we have a a draft resolution for the project, and it has some of the our standard sort of whereas clauses indicating the zoning district and that this would be considered a type two action under SEQRA, and the the drawings presented are listed. And and this is a public hearing. I I should stop myself because
The public. Remind myself that we need to, hear from the public. Should there be anybody who would like to come up and speak on this application, now would be the time.
Okay? Just to be clear, because the applicant's still there, you don't have to get up. But does anybody from the audience wish to speak on this application?
Looks like no. Okay. So, having, having heard no one, I would entertain a motion for closing the public hearing.
so as whereas the planning board reviewed all the, documentation from the board's consultants and considered testimony, during the public hearing process, It goes on to say that we considered health's safety and welfare and that the land disturbance activity is under 5,000 square feet. And as such, stormwater will be approved by the stormwater management officer. And whereas no trees are being removed, therefore, tree removal permit is required. And, therefore, let it be resolved. The planning board hereby determines that the application for site plan amendment, wetlands permit, special use permit for the construction of a new covered walkway and vestibules is approved subject to the following conditions. Number one, the the approved plans would be the ones that were submitted this evening or for this evening's meeting, and that there weren't any additional site plan conditions except we may want to add something about the demolition, or would you have would you have some language for us, Jeff? You could say right in because it's approved plans
subject to also a staging area being included in future plans to the building department.
Actually, it's right there, I guess. Site plan by and so yeah. Those yeah. We're good. That that makes sense. Okay. So if we can include that language
Mhmm. Regarding You understand? I was saying that the the final plans will be submitted shall show an appropriate staging area for materials coming out of the building to the satisfaction of the building department.
Perfect. Thank you. And then we have a a site plan, expiration unless building permit is issued and work is commenced and diligently prosecuted within three years of the data resolution, that this becomes null and void. And, and the special permit, includes authorizing the use. It includes a wetland activity permit, storm water, and it also says that the that the conditions must be met before the issue the following conditions must be met before the issuance of a building permit. That three three sets of sign and sealed site plans revised as required by this resolution shall be submitted with the building permit application, and the applicant receive all approvals and permits required by other government approving agencies without material deviation and evidence of compliance with conditions and any such approvals must be submitted to the village building department. And then there's requirements for a certificate of occupancy being issued prior to the issuance of a final CO, all inspections and documentation as required by village code sections be completed to the satisfaction of the village engineer and that prior to issuance of CO, the applicant must prove compliance with all conditions as set herein. Any issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy must, at a minimum, meet the requirements and follow the procedures of the village code, and that's that's pretty much it. And so,
I mean, that's the material, I think, aspects of the resolution. Does anybody have any comments regarding the resolution?
Thank you. Very excited for you guys. Looks like it'll be a nice improvement. Okay. Thanks, Zach. Thank you. So the only other item we have on our agenda this evening is a review of the a draft of our minutes from the February 24 meeting. And Steve's gonna join us now for that review.
Thanks everybody for coming out tonight. So I was absent from this meeting, but so I'll let you guys argue over the minutes.
Which should surprise nobody. On page two, the first full paragraph, second sentence, the planning board also requested to know the approximate number of existing special permits. I didn't wanna press you guys too much. Just trying to get a general idea. And as that sentence continues, that will require renewals and and, again, approximate average of how many special permit applications to expect to review each year. Just looking for a, you know, ballpark number so we sort of knew what we were getting into.
I did ask Brian that question. He sent me back an email with, I guess he dug into this a few years back, actually. There were, like, maybe 15 of them.
Well, can finish the minutes first? Oh, I'm go on to the Then answer. Oh, sure. Yeah. Vincent
Alright. Sorry. Yeah. No. I have, I have nothing to add. We can act on the minutes then if you want to make a motion.
did did I would, Do you wanna follow-up on this? We could we could follow-up on rest of that question. Yeah. I have a couple of follow ups from the minutes as well. So
Yep. So, yeah, in in the last meeting, we did make a couple recommendations on things that were before us, and I I didn't know how if that gets communicated up to the village board or if that happened or what the mechanism is from there. Because we have several comments on proposed local laws.
I know some changes were incorporated already in terms of the the referral process back, forward, forward. And I know Karen and Vinny and I sent the memo over to the board of trustees. Obviously, the parking issues that you guys raised might be there's some other discussions that are happening around parking, which are a little premature to come back to you for discussion, but I think there'll be something in the future on on parking.
It's not open before them yet, though. There are options that are being presented.
Okay. Because I think they're a little antiquated at this point, but, yeah, that's good. Okay. Glad to hear that. Yeah. So we also had some comments on the
local law that had to do with affordable housing and occupational preferences. Yeah. We we had mentioned several things. So I just I'm unclear what the process is. We we come up with these recommendations. Do they get written up a letter that we review and say, yep. That captures everything. Send it send it onward. Or how how does that you know, we're being asked to review these things, make our recommendations. I just wanna make sure that the output of our work is being used.
Yeah. I mean, Karen, to confirm as well, she made memos and drafted them and sent them to the board of trustees, based on the discussion. Correct?
I don't think I did either. Maybe that just got missed, and it does seem like part of the process that I I I I'm pretty sure I definitely reviewed it. Well, I know, but the board, I think, is the one that board should have reviewed it. Yeah. Especially
because it would be coming from us. Thought one you guys did, but maybe that didn't happen. Maybe Either way, we could follow-up on it. Typically, it does. That's not that would be unusual that if it didn't. No. Absolutely. Josh. You reviewed go ahead.
Oh, yes. I I thought you did a great job, and Oh, we've done it pretty much. Usually, They're pretty much Usually, we get to look at them. Yeah. Yeah. They were just I mean, if
they were accurate descriptions of what you guys said. Let me take a look. I I mean, I believe you. But to Jeff's point, I think the process is that it comes back to us before they go to us. As of the entire board. Or at least to me. At least to Rob. Yeah. And,
just a follow-up question. Would they If I'm not there, then obviously I think that's how it usually would would it it. Be. Yeah. Is the expectation that they would be taken up at a working session of the board of trustees for discussion once we
Well, the the board of trustees doesn't have to take it up. They could they could do whatever they want. They can just receive it. It's up to them. They they have statutory control.
I only I I use the word expectation very specific. Okay. It doesn't mean they have to, but that would be a reasonable expectation.
I'm pretty sure they Yeah. Look at it all. Yeah. The idea is that they would review it in some way, shape, or form. K.
I can give a quick up engineer's report update on this. Sure. Because some things actually apply if people are listening in the audience as well somewhere. Rental registry letters went out. I'm not sure if anyone's aware or has one, but if you rent your house out or anything, please apply to the village for getting a registry going for that. If you know anyone else that rents their house out or multifamily apartments, let them know. They should be getting a letter soon. As far as the special permits, I got an email from Brian that listed the ones that he's aware of. I will try to compile that and make it into, like, a clean Excel spreadsheet and send it to you guys so you guys are aware of Thank you. What's existing out there and what you might be able to foresee coming to us. And then last but not least, 52 Mount Airy is a subdivision application was before the zoning board, and the zoning board has referred them to you. So we are expecting them to apply for the planning board coming soon. So just something to be on the lookout for. Yeah. Let's say, the subdivision that they need a variance for and Right. They've referred here. So
Okay. Vinnie, may I ask a question? The, apartments that are being rented Mhmm. You're gonna send letters to the owner of the house, I guess, who should be in in that house. Yes. Weren't there permits given to do this?
There must yeah. There probably were permits to do this stuff, but, this is, a like, a registry just so that we'd know, like, how many there are in the village and where they are and just to keep track of them. We don't have an actual, like, formal registry at the moment. Yeah. Not only related to accessory apartments. It's for renting any building throughout the village. It's it's kinda more broad.
Usually fire code compliance, other types of issues or Mhmm. You wanna know where people are renting property.
Thank you. Is there a threshold on the number of apartments before they get asked to be participate in the registry? Is it like
Yeah. There's there's language on the on the website that kinda outlines it all. But yeah, I think there's there's a few other specific requirements that the website kinda just lays it out.
One one more question. When the apartments being built in it permits Mhmm. There was a number that they were supposed to stop at. 50. Have we reached that number?
Everyone's serving accessory apartments, but Yeah. It's really accessory dwelling units. ED is
So, I would move to adjourn the meeting, and, we would like to have a session with the attorney, advice of counsel session. And since we're gonna be talking about I mean, the Well, we gotta make sure everything's off for you. Yeah.