Work Session

Alright. Good evening, and welcome to our work session. The first item of business, will be considering the rescheduling of a public hearing on local law 14 of 2026, from 09/23/2026 to 09/30/2026. Do I have a motion? No.

Sorry. You mute that, please? You just hit the mute button.

Whereas the village board of trustees desires to update the language in the village code to provide clarification in the review of land use applications for consistency with the local waterfront revitalization plan. And whereas local law introductory number 14 of 2026 drafted for such purposes. And whereas on 09/02/2026, the village board of trustees adopted resolution number two zero five two zero three of 2026, schedule a public hearing on local law introductory number 14 of 2026 for September twenty third twenty twenty six. Whereas the village board meeting schedule has been adjusted to move the 09/23/2026 board meeting to 09/30/2026, which requires the public hearing to be rescheduled. Now therefore be it resolved that the village board of trustees hereby hereby calls for a public hearing on 09/30/2026 at 7PM in the Georgiana Grant Meeting Room of the Stanley H Kelleher House Municipal Building to consider local law introductory number 14 to twenty twenty six to amend chapter two twenty three waterfront revitalization of the village code to provide clarification in the review of land use applications for consistency with the local waterfront revitalization plan.

Do I have a motion? So moved. Second? Motion by trustee Simon, second by trustee Nicholson. Discussion?

Same great hearing one week later. Mhmm. Yep. Do

you wanna just call out the reason why we're moving?

Because we're moving around work sessions. Yes. We we moved yeah. We moved a couple of dates on the on the calendar. Right? So we we we actually added this evening. This was not originally on the calendar. And then next week, which would have been a regular meeting, is also going to be a work session. Then the twenty third, we have no we're off. We have nothing. And then the thirtieth, which was scheduled to be an off night, is now going to be a meeting. Thank you. Yep.

K. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Discussion of, real property, proposed real property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans. Manager, you have a brief memo on it? I do. Yes. Thank you, mayor.

So this is a a little convoluted process here where the state legislature adopted this exemption. Could you put my memo up, please? And, they adopted this exemption in 2025, and there was a chapter amend amendment, which was an agreement between the governor and the, state legislature where she signed the bill and then they amended it to make the exemption mandatory as opposed to opt in. So it was originally adopted that it was be optional that municipalities had to opt into it, and then this amendment made it mandatory so that it was available automatically, that there was no action needed by, the village board. Then when the state budget was adopted in May, there was a provision contained in the budget to make it opt in again and not make it mandatory. So this this just recently came to light. You know, obviously, state budget is quite big. So Mhmm. You know, there's still stuff that is coming out of it. And so, you know, we just recently learned that it was no longer mandatory and that we had to take action to offer it. So So manager in in that phase

where it was mandatory and therefore we were in the program, how much app how many folks within the village It it was not scheduled to take effect until

October. So it only it would only have was only going into effect for, assessment roles created after October. So nobody there well, it didn't impact anybody before then. Yeah. So, so basically what the exemption is that if you are seriously disabled and that's a that's an actual definition that's set by, the US Department of Veteran Affairs, you would be exempt from all village taxes. So you wouldn't you would not get assuming that you move forward in adopting this, you would not get a village tax bill. So that's basically that's basically what the exemption is. And is it disabled because of your service? Correct. Okay. Yeah. It has to be a service related disability.

And my my reading was that it it also applies to surviving spouses.

Yeah. So most most of these veteran exemptions, and the same thing with, like, the firefighters exemption, if you are married at the time of that you pass away and the house is in your, you know, both names, the surviving spouse can keep the exemption. I saw the phrase repeatedly, surviving

unremarried

spouses. Correct. If you do if you do get remarried, you lose the exemption. Yes. Appropriate.

Can I ask an unrelated question? Sure. Where on the website is the agenda with the backup material with all the backup materials?

So the agenda as you know, we just launched our new website. Yes. It looks beautiful. Thank you.

But I just am having I just am not sure where to because I can see the agenda in a couple places, but not the agenda with the backup materials, which is what was displayed on the screen. Yeah. So that if you

I I don't know exactly where that is. We sent out we sent out the email yesterday Okay. With the link, but I don't know where that is on the

new website. Got it. So So if somebody wanted to access it, they would need to go to the email they got yesterday. They couldn't find it in the place where it will It will be. Right. There's an there's an agenda there's an agenda center on the website, which is where all the agendas will be. Yep. Thank you. Yes. I just thought I was looking in the wrong spot. No. No. Okay. Thank you. Yep.

Okay. So, do we do we wanna move forward with this? Yes. Yes. Okay. Alright. So I will work with, our attorney to draft a law. So I I mean, we have time because, like I said, this would not, this doesn't take effect until assess so assessment rolls after October. Mhmm. So that would be the that would be the 2027 assessment roll, which is going to be used for the 2728 village tax bills. And

then do other

taxing bodies, like the school district and the town? The ability. They have the ability. The ability to offer. And hopefully they will. Yeah. Hopefully they will. Yeah. I mean, generally and I'm not saying this, I'm just stating it matter of factly. Generally speaking, school districts are they don't usually adopt as many of the tax exemptions as municipalities do. So yeah. But I would imagine that the, you know, that other municipal bodies will probably adopt this. So yep. Very good.

Sure.

Alright. Now we proceed to a review of local law seven of, 2026. Be clear or draft.

Welcome. Just in time.

We got through the easy stuff. I know.

Now Now we can This is the one I was saying. I can't miss this. Back and turn

it over to our able council. No. Don't do that. We've

been working on this a while. Yeah. I'm looking forward to getting it going. I am as well. So this is our second round of looking at this. Right? So we looked at it the first time. We got comments from this board. We got comments from the county, the WAC, the planning board. We've worked with our attorney, our attorneys, our planner, and we've now come back with this revised draft, which I, you know, believe is a much better version. It is more user friendly and that it's easier to understand for the general public, which I know was a a key goal of the board. Mhmm. And I think it addresses a lot of the concerns that were raised with the, first version. So, yeah, I don't think we necessarily need to go line by line through this. Mhmm. You know, we can kinda just point out what has changed since the last time. Is there if everybody's okay with that? Yep. Okay.

So it's gonna pull up my red line version because that would also should I I do wanna point out that just having the the the the marked up version like this where we can see all the changes, the original law, the changes, the additions, the deletions Yeah. Is a real help. Yeah. Good.

Sorry. I don't know why my red line is not in red. Uh-oh.

Are you you're not seeing red.

It wasn't on my screen either. No. I know. I but I didn't I thought I had a different version that I would be able to more easily read through.

Okay. So I think starting at section five, you know, there the definitions haven't really changed since the last the last go around, so I think we can skip those over at this point. But starting in section five, which is basically the the beginning of the, you know, of the sign law itself. We've added a section, two and three here, right, that talk about harmonious design. And, you know, basically, sign should complement

Mhmm. What's there. Right? You know, they sec you said two and three. You meant b and c.

No. Oh. It would be They're below. Yeah. B two and b three. Oh, I see. Okay. Yeah. So, yeah, that that's just to give some additional guidance to the planning board and the VEB while they are looking at sign applications. Mhmm. Right? That it should be, you know, they should take those, factors into consideration.

A couple of things. So, you know, just to be clear, this is municipal I'm sorry. This is commercial signage Correct. Not residential. Yes. Yep. Right? So just want that to be clear. Harmonious design, is that, somewhat nebulous intentionally? Like, I mean, it does seem kind of subjective of of what a harmonious design could be when you're giving, you know, the planning board sort of they can interpret that in a variety of ways, I would think. Are we sort of intentionally allowing that or is that specific enough, I guess, is my question? I think I mean and

our attorney can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that is somewhat intentional. Right? I mean, the the planning board has discretionary, you know, authority to deal with these sorts of things. So they are allowed to

they are allowed to do that. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Okay. And I think the the sentence that follows that, I think explains it fairly well. Okay.

Alright. So the application process, we you know, this hasn't changed much. We did clarify with the VEB, cause I know there was some discussion going back and forth about whether or not they should review all sign applications or if they should just review things that are not going to the planning board. The way that I have it written here, which if you guys wanna change, that's up to you. But that if it was if it's it's in connection with a site plan application, it would just go to the planning board. It would not go to the VEB. So, again, the reasoning for that was to streamline applications Mhmm. So that it's not, you know, they don't have the VEB only meets once a month. Mhmm. So, you know, if they bring in an application and they go to the VEB, then they have to, you know, potentially wait up to a month to get before that board, and then they have to wait another, they have to wait another month because the the deadline for planning board is fifteen days in advance. So they have to wait another month to get on the planning board agenda for actual approval. Yes. So it was more just of a of a streamlining Right. Thing. And I think I think this board as and and myself as well, we would like to have the VEB do many more things than just look at signs.

I agree. I and so I'm the liaison or I'm one of the liaisons to the VEV, so I've spent a decent amount of time with them over the course of the last eighteen months. And I think they would want to review the signs. They would not want to be passed over, to streamline the process. I can't speak for them, but I think they would be willing to meet an extra time in a month if it meant not slowing down a process or be given the opportunity to do so. I don't think they would want to be cut out of a process of reviewing a sign because we wanna speed up the process. They're they take their role very seriously, and they're that is where that expertise regarding signage exists in the village. So I I would not if we have signage to be approved, I would like them to be or or to be, commented on, I would like them to be included. That is not to say that I don't I think that they should look at other things, not just signs. Right now, they have just been looking at signs. Right. And I think that going forward, not to go too much off on a tangent about the VEB, but there is gonna be an opportunity to have part of the agenda be about signs and then part of the agenda be about other aesthetic areas that they can comment on. I I think there's an opportunity to to change improve the way that that that committee is contributing to the village. But I don't I'm not in favor of taking

commenting on signs away from them. Well, just to be clear, it wouldn't be taking it all away from them. Right? It would only be those that are already going before the planning board. So, like, if, you know, case in point, they did they just looked at two signs for, the Pilates place and the Mondays. Right? Neither one of those were actually before the planning board, and so they would have still had those. But, you know, the one that they had last evening was, the dispensary. Right? And that one is part of a planning board application, so that one would not have gone to them. Right.

Would not have gone to Yeah. Under under the law under the law as it's written the draft So I might be in the minority, but my my preference is to not take away sign removal from or sign review from the VEB. Okay. I I'm happy to hear my colleague's thoughts on that. I don't know who was who worked with the VEB before I was the liaison, so I don't was it I was You were? Yeah. Yeah. So I don't

Yeah. I mean, I I definitely I I feel that there because there was some challenges kind of who had the authority to. Right? So there were some signs that were taking a very long time. The VEB would make recommendations, and then it would get to the planning board, and the applicant would be have made corrections based on what the VEB recommended, and then they got to the planning board, and the planning board had comments. So for the applicant, it was really a hard process. So, I mean, I I do think that there's opportunity to streamline there, especially for the applicant's case of not having to go back and forth.

Yeah. Just having sort of one one authority on the sign. But the VEB doesn't the VEB the planning board has final authority anyway. The VEB is just making a recommendation. Their advice yeah. Think that I think that we should be giving the based on a few of the more recent meetings, we should be we should be clear with the VEB what the task at hand is and not what the outcome should be, but what their what their role is and what's happening next. So we need you to give us some whatever the whatever however that is. I don't but, you know, if we could be more specific with them about what we want and what's happening next and what the timeline is, then I think to trustee Nicholson's point, we could we need to define the process for them so they can be part of it, not remove them from it so that it happens more quickly. We've also had a couple can I if you don't mind, I'd I also we also had a couple situations recently or a situation recently where, more than one, where signs went up that the VEB never nobody saw? They just put like, people put signs up. So I think there is some opportunity for and they weren't. They the signs are beautiful. They there was something wrong with them, but they go up and every you know, these committees are saying and I don't know. I don't think the planning board looked at some of them. I think some so I think there's an opportunity here for us to be communicating with whoever's putting signs up about how it should happen and then utilizing the committees that we have in place to give us the feedback. I mean,

that unfortunately, just that happens. People, you know, people put up new additions on their house without getting permits. They know 100%. I just think people know better and they just do it anyway. So but yeah. No. We can definitely remind the sign you know, there aren't that many sign companies in the area. Right. So we can definitely remind them of what the process is.

Manager, could you just sort of reset where we are? Could could you repeat the circumstances under which Yeah. A signed decision would go to the planning board, but not to the v b b? So bay so there's two approval authorities under

the draft as it's well, and under the current law as well as the draft. Right? Either the village engineer is the approving authority or the planning board is the approving authority. So if it's not subject to a a site plan application or a change of use application, then the signed permit gets approved by the village engineer after the VEP has looked at it. Mhmm. Under the current law, if it is subject to a site plan or change of use, then they start at the planning board with their first initial application. They start at the planning board. The planning board sends it to the VEB. Mhmm. They meet with the VEB, then the VEB sends it back to the planning board, and then they have to get so they have to go to at a minimum, they have to go to three meetings.

Right. And and and what I was starting to say, and I'm I apologize. No. No. No. I do your apologize up. Is this this process that's gonna be included in this new law really came about as a part of a way to streamline and also because we, the planning the planners and the law department, we were looking to assist you with making sure you had enough time internally to review applications. So now there are hard and fast deadlines for submissions, which was kind of loosey goosey for quite a long time. So even if we added the second meeting of the month, there's, a high likelihood that they would miss the submission deadline for that next planning board agenda, so that may even throw you into the third month. Yeah. So so it it came about by that process and by looking closely at the special permits and trying to understand the ways of moving things along to the benefit of the public. So, I don't know if there if the consensus is to take a look at this again, if there's a way to look at sort of the master calendar to determine, like, how you could slot in that extra.

I mean, I think and also I just I'd wanna point out that, you know, this this draft, provision was not created in a vacuum. Right? I mean, I met with the VEB and I and I fully understand that there's new leadership And now with the and makeup of the committee. Yeah. But, you know, we did meet with them in the spring and we went over this with them and there was consensus on on the VEB at that time that they were in favor of the streamlining. So now there are, as trustee Slippen was just saying, there are three new members on the VEB since that time Mhmm. In including a new chair. So perhaps their perspective on this would be different. Mhmm. But, you know, I do just speaking for myself, I I think it would make a lot of sense to just have if they're already going before the planning board, the VEB has the ability slash authority under the code to provide comments on their own initiative. Mhmm. Right? They don't need things referred to them. So if there's an application that's going before the planning board that they want to comment on, they can they can do that voluntarily. Right? They can just they could send a memo to the planning board on their own initiative. So I so I think that's a great point, but that it would be a

pretty that would that's a departure from how things are now. So I think if we're whatever however we fall, wherever we land on this Yep. I just wanna make sure we are communicating to the because the it was it's a it's a much different chair than than was the prior chair. Although, he was terrific. It's just they're it's very different personalities. So I just wanna make sure that we're being clear about how this is gonna work. And I I think that's a that I think since they're not the one signing off on it anyway, they're they are just making comments. As long as we're still saying to them, you know, which I don't think we're saying to them now. Look at what's on the planning board agenda. There might be some things that you wanna discuss at your meeting and and comment on them Yeah. Even if it's not formally being referred to you. I think that's a conversation that is it would be I would feel strongly about making sure that we are having that conversation with them so they don't feel cut out of the process. Yeah. And I think we can, you know, with the we can have the staff member who's assigned to them Fantastic.

You know, have that communication, that line of communication open with them. Yeah. We can be sure that the planning board agendas,

you know, are forwarded on so they'll have an opportunity. Yeah. That would be great. That would be great. It should be part of their agenda. Attachment to their agenda. Yes. Exactly. That would that would be great. I just don't want them to feel these are people who are taking it very seriously. Yeah. And and I appreciate their expertise, so I I want them to be able to

weigh in. And you don't want them to be blindsided by, you know, all of a sudden a giant sign code goes up and groan, and it's like, oh, we never saw this. Right. Yeah. Right? I mean Yeah. And just and, you know, I know I I started out by saying that, but just to be clear that

they would still be seeing many of the signs that are still you know, it would only be signs. But the one they would talk about is the one we didn't give them. I know. I know.

But I do think the other upside of the planning board, the planning board, as they're looking at a site application, also has a more holistic view of the property dimensions,

etcetera, etcetera. So they're seeing the whole property Right. As opposed to just that one aspect. And how the signage fits into the project. I I don't would need to belabor this further, the the VEB does they are looking you know, the the information that they get, they're not just looking at a sign in a vacuum. They're looking at it on the side of the building in comparison to the buildings around it. They they are they're taking a holistic view at of it. I'm not disagreeing with what anybody just said. I'm just Yeah. We had an hour and forty five minute VEV meeting last night. So this is fresh on my mind, guys.

Well, we're not gonna have an hour and forty five minutes tonight. Well, I could. We could try.

I'll stop. Okay.

So it sounds like we're okay with leaving it as it's written. Are you oak are you okay with

with as it's been described to you?

Or are are you still looking maybe to tweak some of the language? I don't like the word harmonious. I think that it is a it doesn't say it doesn't that's a very, your idea of harmonious and my idea of harmonious, it's it's there's a lot of gray area in there which to trustee Nicholson's point, I think it's too vague a word, but I it will not die on this hill. Mhmm. Yeah. Because I I think, you know I I I think we could probably delete that word and just have it say

design. So yeah. So I think the important thing Yes. I think that I prefer that. The important thing is the description.

Yeah. I think so too. Yeah. Think harmonious is a little Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I would I would prefer to take it out. Yeah. We could just delete the word harmonious. Okay. I was thinking of a musical device. So yeah.

That's b two. B two. Yeah. Under under section five. Okay. Alright. So moving on to, section f, right, placement size and attachment. Again, we're talking about commercial signs here. Right? So there's, and a lot of these things were just in other areas of the code. Right? So freestanding signs already existed somewhere else. The window sign, you know, it's not it can't exceed 25% that was already in the code. Directional signs, there wasn't really any guidelines about directional signs, so we wanted to add that in. Those are those would be like the entrance and exit signs that you see at a driveway of a business, you know, something like that. So we wanted to add regulations about that. And then the wall mounted signs, I believe this is this was also in the code. It was. Yeah. Yeah.

We again, that phrase you use, user friendly, the, the goal was that plus to be sure that, that the constitutionality is clear and so everybody has the guidance they need to enforce it. Yep.

So for the noncommercial signs, and so this would be signs that are not business related. So these these would be on, you know, potentially on residential properties. They cannot be larger than 15 square feet in in sign area. And then that's sign area. Right? So then sign height is that they may not be more than eight feet in in sign height. So they have to and this is a question for the attorney. They have to meet both of those requirements. Correct? Yes. Yeah. Because you to have an eight foot high sign, it would have to be a very skinny

sign. Right. But I think what the what then the next section talks about the height the flagpole height, and you wanna make sure that you have a obtain a building permit to put a stanchion of any kind up just for purposes of safety and making sure that the footings are Yeah. Yeah. That that's fine. Mhmm. But I'm I'm I guess my question was somebody could not have

a eight foot high sign that was also 15 feet wide. 15 feet wide because that would be more that would be more than 15 square feet in sign area. Right. So you could have you could have an eight foot tall sign that was a very, very skinny. Eight by

one and one and three quarters. Yeah. Right. Something like that. Right? It would be very, very skinny. I I still feel like eight feet is a very tall sign on a residential watch. And would prefer to say five, feet, which is in, I think we've got five feet in here for directional signs. What

Can you remind me why we landed on eight?

I think that came that came from the planner. I think the yeah. The planner I think

based upon a a search on general code to look at what other communities are doing. And I think that that that we tried to find a reasonable number. Mhmm. But, again, if if there's another number Yeah. Of course,

I don't recall if you had talked about that the last time we were here. I We talked we talked about it, but we needed more information. Right. Yeah. Okay. Number we had I think the number we had was, like, really big. Right. Really big. So I wanted to say it was, like, 42 square feet It was. Something like that. Right?

So then okay. So now I see it. So it's it's could we just say square feet? Like so 15 square feet would be a three by five sign. Yeah. Well and or just looking at it negatively. Eight?

Did the I just did the math. Eight eight feet Mhmm. By 1.75 Right. Is is 14 square feet. So it's it's like maybe 1.95.

So it would be some very odd Skinnier than It would be it could be it could be like a banner that you would hang on Yep. A column outside your, you know, something like that. Right? That could be that would be a a tall skinny sign. Yep. So if you had a six foot

tall sign in your yard, it would only could only be about two and a half feet wide. And but now we're talking about sign configurations that like don't exist in sign from sign companies. Do you know what I mean? I think that it would make more sense to say, like, what are the standard side side size signs

that a resident would do you know what I mean? Well, I mean, I think you could you could probably order a sign of any size.

You know? I don't I think mean, I guess you could, but I think that we there there, you know, there are some standard size signs. It's like a lawn like, I mean, a lawn sign would fit well within this. Or a big lawn sign is three. Right. Yeah. Three by five is 15. By five fifteen. If it's And maybe extra large. Maybe you can say cannot be

erected higher than eight feet except on a flat except if it were erected on a flagpole, it wouldn't in other words, you can you can use the 15 square feet as the definitive answer. And then Mhmm. You can say you can clarify the sign height. You could say erected no higher. Like the top of the sign can be no higher than eight feet. Mhmm. And then it says if it's flags properly rigged to flag flagpoles higher, then you get the building permit for the flagpole. So maybe you can use the 15 square feet as, like, the answer. Yep. And then you can say because then it could be the top of the sign is eight feet off the ground. It doesn't and it still can be 15 square feet. So it could be it could be at any configuration of 15 square feet, but you just can't have the height height any higher than eight. Can't erect it any higher than eight foot except on a flagpole higher than eight, and you need a building.

Which that's kind of what it's saying now, though. Right? Right. Yep. Yeah. Okay.

So in other words, the physical sign itself is not eight feet, but it can be erected no higher than eight feet. And I think that is obviously for public health and safety. I mean, there's a lot of opportunity for a sign To blow to blow over or to obstruct the view for security or safety or so we can you can clarify that it shall be erected no more than eight like, top of the sign shall not exceed eight feet in height except if it's on a flagpole over eight feet, and then you need a building permit. K. What do you think about that?

I I mean, honestly, I think the way that I think it's written okay the way that it is. I mean, you know, if they want if you wanna add clarification on that, I guess you could do that.

I think the main thing I think the 15 square feet Yeah. Covers you so well.

Question, how much more you need? Yeah. I mean, I think I think 95% of the signs that you're gonna have are gonna be the regular Right. Size lawn signs. Right. Yep. Right? I mean, you know, you may you may have some oddly shaped Which are, you know, you know, thirty thirty inches by 24 inches. Yeah. Mhmm. Well and and this would

if you were going to limit it that the top of the sign can be no higher than eight feet, you wanna this will eliminate the possibility that someone would put a sign on their roof, for example, you know, which is also a dangerous Yeah. That's proposition because then you know? But if if you think it's clear

Well, I kinda like your clarification. Yeah. I like the clarification as well. Just as a as a safety net.

Okay.

So okay.

That's fine. The the no higher then. So then you couldn't hang

something that's the size of a lawn sign higher than eight feet.

You couldn't you couldn't hang any sign.

Right? It would be any sign. That's but that's what I'm suggesting. But if that isn't

Not not except this doesn't apply to commercial signs. Right? So so a store a store could have their sign above their, you know, front door. That's not what this is talking about. Mhmm. It's really what

what you'd like to see in terms of the limitations. Mhmm. You want a 15 square foot sign to be on a roof or a 15 square foot sign to be in a tree or I don't, you know, I don't know all the ways you could

hang a sign. Hang a sign. Yeah. I

I I just think that chances of somebody hanging their sign more than eight feet up, probably.

We have a case right now. Yeah. Yeah. That's yes. I mean, I think think I can somebody who's I can picture a sign the tongue between two trees that's more than eight feet above the ground that would fit these size

that's that's size wise. Are we sure that's more than eight feet above the ground? I would say so. That would be my I

yeah. I I I think so. I I so I mean, I don't. Yeah. I mean, my concern was the the height was really the width and the height. Right? So now I understand that it's 15 square feet, so that that is helpful. So maybe it is just fine the way it is. Okay. We don't need to create a limitation on was thinking, you know, that I'm not I'm not suggesting anyone would do this, but if you if you take a sign

and hang it above your door, which is, you know, maybe your door is six more than six feet high. Yeah. The top of that sign and you have you have the room,

the top of that sign could be Eight feet. More than eight feet. Right. If I have a two story house and I put my sign in a window. Right? Okay. Right. Yeah. Looks good, Lori. We keep it the way it is. I I I don't think need do it. So I'm happy to do whatever it is. Yeah. Think it's okay the way it is. But that that should go in the keeper file. Just Okay. We may need that somewhere. And then just to be clear, there's no limitation on number of signs anymore. All of that has been stricken from Yep. Our

no prohibition on any or or even no regulation on content, you know, like they're, you know, Or they're time of year or Correct. Number number of days or No. Yep. That's all going. Okay. So So we're gonna leave it. We're gonna leave it. Yep. So attachment to trees, I know this was talked about at the first time we had this year. Right? So there's signs are allowed to be, you know, as we were just talking about tied between a tree, that's fine as long as it does not injure the tree or restrict its normal growth. Mhmm. Right? And you and and you can't nail things to trees, screwed, stapled, or another way of fix it directly

to the tree. Right. But you can to a pole?

If you had a pole in your yard, I guess you could. If you wanted to I don't know how you would if you screwed it into a pole. If had a telephone pole in your yard. Well, it says so the section right above that says, attachment to utility poles prohibited. So but, yeah, like, if you had a clothesline pole, I guess, you know, and you wanted to, you know, screw something onto that, that would be fine, I suppose. I don't know. Does anyone have a clothesline anymore?

There you go. I've got some clothes clothes. I grew up on a farm, so I

have some clothes pins. There you go. Okay.

For theatrical.

My landlady loves me, especially on sheet day.

Yeah. So this is all, things that we talked about already. The temporary sign section, that's all crossed off. That's just what we were talking about, all the different rules and regulations that apply to that. There's a new section k that deals with temporary commercial signs. Right? Again, so these are signs related to a business. You know, those would be limited to, forty five days. Yeah. They could be, you're allowed one temporary sign without a permit. If you want more than one, you would need to come and get the signed permit. Yeah. That the examples that they give are, you know, balloons, banners, flags, pennants, that sort of thing. So, I mean, mainly, this would apply to if somebody was having a grand opening or if somebody was having a going out of business sale or, you know, something like that. That's mainly when you would see the temporary commercial Yeah. Signage.

What about the you know, I know there was some discussion from, you know, like the like the Mayfair sign or a craft fair sign. Mhmm. So those wouldn't be, you know, that so that had typically been put

in the past. Well, those so like

Event?

Yeah. So, like, we'll use Saint Augustine's here at their Junefest. Right? So, I mean, that's not a commercial sign because that's not a business. So it these these regulations wouldn't apply to it. They could, As long as it meets the regulations we were just talking about 15 square feet and no more than eight feet tall, it would be it would be fine. Yep. Alright. So the exempt signs. Right? So these this is just saying these don't require permits. Yeah. Mainly, the big thing here, right, is the noncommercial signs. Mhmm. So, again, you know, if you're on a residential property, you don't need a permit. As long as you maintain the sign, it's not in the public right of way. It doesn't block any site distances or any other and, you know, any sort of traffic. It's not illuminated and meets those requirements we were just talking about. So oftentimes, the interdepartment of health has you post

that that is exempt. You know, if it has a grade that you have to post Mhmm. In your restaurant, that doesn't it's exempt.

So and if somebody and it says here. Right? If somebody wanted to put up a banner that was 25 square feet Mhmm. You know, they absolutely had to have a banner that was 25 square feet. They can go to the zoning board to get a variance. To get a variance. Yeah.

Okay. Noncommercial signs provided such signs and their supports are maintained in a clean and safe condition. So talking about clean for a second. Someone's got a sign on their lawn. It's battered. It's not Falling apart. Not clean Yeah. Falling apart. They're still allowed to have that sign. Right? Like, but according to this language, there's some

Well, it would have to be you know, it can't be what's the word I'm looking for? Rubbish. Right? I mean, there's other provisions of the code that prevent the accumulation of rubbish in your yard. Right? So that, you know, that's that's a determination that the code enforcement officer would need to make. Right? Right. If it's, you know, if you have yeah. If you have signs that are, you know, talking about something from six years ago and it's got holes in it and it's, you know, falling apart and and you can see the the Weather weather beaten. The supports are all rusted and, you know, that Yeah. It might be worth a knock on the door to say,

by the way. Got a new one? Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

So yeah, it's not it's not that, oh, you know, there's a leaf next to the sign and that's not clean, you know? Right.

So The sort of example I'll say it out loud. There is a sign in town that is a it's an American flag that is disgracefully torn and filthy dirty and hanging from a flagpole right now, which, you know, from my perspective Not a sign. It's not a sign. Flags are exempt. Yeah. So flags are exempt. So they could they can still do whatever they want with them. Thank you. Clarification?

Yep. Yeah. It's against sort of the sign, you know, the treatment of signs. Mhmm. You know, I hung a temporary sign on the barn during the fourth of July holiday, but I also put up spotlights because you're only supposed to have them up after dark with a light on them. But not everybody follows

that The flag code. Length of

yeah. It's it's unfortunate, but it happens. Mhmm.

Alright. So section m are the prohibitions. We pretty much discussed these at the last at the last time. Right? These are Mhmm. You know, a lot of the same things that have previously existed. Section n is consistent signage that hasn't changed. The window signage section o, we moved up to the, previous section. Alright. And then the new section oh, these are the district standards. So these are regulations that apply to the specific zoning districts. Right? So, you know, mainly for the residential districts, the big change here, which is not really a big change, but it's just more of a clarification, right, is that, you can have a non illuminated commercial sign. Previously, it just said nameplate or professional sign, so we're trying to, be consistent with the language here. So it's you can have one non non illuminated commercial sign as well as one externally illuminated bulletin board or other announcement sign. So think of, like, you know, the sign in front of holy name of Mary as a as a bulletin board.

The non illuminated commercial sign would be like the little tiny sign in front of the funeral home. Mhmm. So so that that would be what would be permitted as an accessory use in the residential zones. Same thing with the office districts, for the commercial districts. Right? So this talks about the commercial signs, and a lot of this is the same. Right? You can only have one sign for each tenant. They can't the sign area can't be greater than two times the length of the wall. It can be either parallel or perpendicular. None of this none of this information really changed. No. So

And, again, keep in mind that it absolutely have to have a larger sign than that that the ability to go to the zoning board Is not foreclosed Yeah. With this, with the clarification. Okay. And that's sort of equal protection just to provide the ability to beat your case. Mhmm. Yeah.

So, I mean, I think we can see at this point, I think we can skip down to section r, right, which deals with the nonconforming signs. And this is this is new since we were last here. So this is this is basically giving people a deadline for when they have to get their signs in order. So for any sign that lawfully existed in the village prior to the effective date of this new law taking effect, They would have to have a signed permit submitted within six months, and then any sign not lawfully existing in the village prior to the effective date shall be removed or brought into conformance within two hundred and seventy days, which I believe is nine months after the effective date. So that's the first well, actually, skipped I'm sorry. I skipped over the first section. The first section says, any temporary signs that are nonconforming must be modified, altered, or removed within thirty days in order to comply with the sign code.

Yep. And I'm sure with your social media, and I'm sure with your Yeah. Newsletters and email blasts Mhmm.

People will be notified of that. So they have plenty of time. And, I mean, it's really your only your only nonconforming temporary signs would be businesses for the most part. Right? So it's not

that's that's that's that's referencing. Yeah. Yeah. I'm remembering that communications with the ABC and Yep. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. And it's always

that that long standing joke that, you know, the going out of business sign that's been Yeah. Right. For three years. Yeah. And

then the yeah. So those are pretty Last chance for that. Yeah. Those are pretty noncontroversial, I think. I mean, the other section here, section three, right, so these are existing signs that are going to now be made nonconforming. Right? So if you have a sign that's lawful at the moment, and now because you've adopted these regulations, you've now made it unlawful. You have you're proposing that they have two years to get into conformance. Right. So so how do people feel about those timelines? So you have thirty thirty days for temporary signage to be altered or removed. Right. You have six months for a sign that is lawful, but they haven't applied for a signed permit for whatever reason. Mhmm. Right? They have six months to get a signed permit. They have nine months for a sign that is not lawfully existing, but can be can lawfully exist. And then for a sign that is currently lawful but will no longer be lawful, they have two years.

A grace period. I I think, you know, the thirty days is appropriate for what it what it's addressing, and I think the the rest of them are are generous. You know? Yeah. Mhmm. I think fine. You know, particularly since new provisions, you know, it'll give, you know, give everyone the opportunity to understand how how the system works.

Is there a reason to say two hundred and seventy days instead of saying nine months?

I I believe in talking with Genette, who was the author behind this, she actually want she actually wants to have it be an actual date. Okay. So I figured there was a reason. I just know what That's why they're highlighted because it's going to once we have once we kinda know you know, assuming that we move forward with this, once we know what the actual date would be, we'll change that two hundred and seventy days to be, like, January 1. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Right. So

So it's sort of a placeholder until you Well, that was I just Yeah. I I as I said, I knew there had to be a reason for that randomness, but

No. We just want you to have to count. It's just

should I know that that's nine months? That was sort of what I was thinking.

When is Christmas? There is a When is Christmas? It's a method to the madness here. I I knew there had to be.

And, like, I think just to, you know, be clear that there are the variants, going to the zoning board would be sort of option for anyone that For anyone. Yep.

Okay. So if there's no further comments on this, I think we can actually move this ahead to the next step, which would be scheduling a public hearing. And

and really the just to review, the change is to remove Harmonious.

Harmonious.

Yeah. I think that honestly, think that was the only thing. Right? So

Is there a this is not the you know, we were talking manager, were talking earlier about the, like, the film. I know this is not a it's not a sign, but we were talking about the opaque covering of the window. So is that There was discussion yesterday at the VED about there are certain rules in the I just wanna explain to my colleagues why I'm asking this question. At the VEB last night, there was discussion about the having a like a transparent translucent or opaque covering film, UV protectant, sun shade type of thing on windows, in commercial businesses. And the rules in the Gateway District are different in than rules,

I think. I mean They they could they could I don't They know

could be. Yes. But also Yeah. Certain types of stores, specifically the cannabis store Mhmm. Has there are state rules that might be that that might supersede whatever our rules are. So there was a lot of discussion about this because there was a little bit of

it wasn't exactly clear. So there was some discussion that I think Yeah. We'd have to we'd have to look to see you know, it goes back to right? Because under section l, the exempt signs, right, it says any sign required to be posted pursuant to New York state law Mhmm. Is exempt. Yes. So,

you know, they There was something about 60 covering. I just I didn't it's a current conversation that's happening, and I wanna make sure that we're aware of it and not

Yeah. I mean, there was Making not this is not the same because it wasn't required by state law. But when Metro you were thinking the same thing. Yeah. When Metro PT opened up, they said, oh, it's our company, you know, policy at all our locations that we have most of our windows covered so that people can't see in to see the people getting physical therapy. So I know the planning board worked with them Mhmm. To make that happen. So, you know, I think they I think they ended up having just, like, the very tops of the windows open so that people could see in or something. That's right. You know, or just let more light in. So, you know, so the planning board has looked at that in the past. So I'm gonna say that that cover that those types of things are probably covered

as some sort of sign. Yeah. But if that's if if it is and and it's required by the state, then it would just be exact. I don't I'm not sure. Yeah. I mean, I may be misspeaking by saying that, but there was part of the discussion last night and I just wanna Yeah. No. We're

dealing with it, you know, for dealing with signs, we should deal with the clinging. I feel like that was a planning board comment.

So it has to do with the making it opaque? Mhmm. What level of opacity?

Well, that was the question too because there was something about, yeah, I don't I can't speak very specifically or intelligently to it, but it did come up last night. It was something about 60% Uh-huh. Of covering. But I didn't I didn't really know if it was 60% coverage or 60% the word is opac opacity. Yeah. Because I because you

that's like the, the film or covering you put in your car can only be a certain level. Right. So it's something like that. It can't be

completely opaque. But Yeah. You know, how will we know that the covering that they're doing, which this particular business was saying was standard in all their stores. Yeah. But we have specific rules about the gateway. Let's

we'll look at that. Okay. Yeah. I just want Yeah. If we need to if we need to add that in, we we'll do that. Yeah. The yeah. The planning board said, additionally, language should be added to the permit application

that applicants must comply with any state laws applicable to their signage, and the cannabis dispensary would be cited as an example of this. So I was thinking of something different. Okay. But don't think it's a problem. I just wanted to mention to comply with their Yeah. Right. With state law in terms of their signage. Yeah. And that's in here. That's it. Yeah. Was gonna say that's in here. Yeah. That

was when I was describing, the Department of Health sign that has to be in your window. Right. Yes. That's not included in the percentage of coverage.

Like, the cling signs is in in the law. Yes.

I mean, we if it's I think we cover that because if it's anything that's affixed to a window Right. Right, that's considered a sign. Correct. So the, translucent material, you are affixing that to the window. So that would be considered a sign even though it's even though it's just Privacy screening. Privacy screening. Yeah. That's yeah. But it's still being affixed to the window. Yes. So it would be under under the definition of what a sign is. It would be a sign. Mhmm.

Yeah. In no event, Chella window sign exceed 25% of the window Right. On or within which it is located.

But, again, if if that, screening is required under New York state law Right. It becomes an exempt sign, and so then it it doesn't need any sort of permit. Right. So but we oh, you know, we're not gonna know the answer to this right now. Have to look it up. This one no. Absolutely. Yeah. But I No. No. Yeah. Worth bringing up. Absolutely. And also, I think this one uniquely, since you're dealing with, you know, individual

merchants stores, I think this is one where the engineer and the enforcement folks can work with them to make sure they're Oh, yeah. Doing the right thing. Yeah. Yeah.

Now, this this is being this is being looked at very closely. Yep. I'm sure. So, okay. So any other comments on this? So I think we're ready to schedule this for a public hearing so we can bring it so it could be on the agenda for the next meeting. To set? To set the public hearing. So that would be on September 30, we would schedule the public hearing and but we wouldn't it would probably be the second meeting in October because we won't have enough time to get it noticed Mhmm. For October 7. So it would be October 21.

Okay. Very good.

Good. Thank you, everyone. And this is a zoning code change, so it has that extra layer of

Notice. Notice. Yeah. That's right. And and, yeah, we wouldn't be able to get into the paper in time. No. Yeah. So This has already been to the county? Yes. So

sounds like you you're ready to set a public hearing. I think so. Okay.

Alright. Now we proceed to a review of the New York Ford town hall and next steps.

Up the town hall go? Yeah. Valerie was very positive. Oh, it was great. She did great. Yep. We had this this superstar guest, the mayor of Sleepy Hall. Sleepy Hall? Yeah. Did a wonderful job.

Wonderful.

So keep keep moving through through the presentation. I think Yes. What would you like how would you like me to proceed? Yeah. Sure. I think it would be useful to just go over the application process, which is not just to say the application process, but also the subsequent process project selection process. Because those are two different things, and I think that's important to emphasize here is there's Procedurally. Yeah. There are kind of like, we are putting together a package, a portfolio, a set of concepts here. Those are concepts. And then if the grant is awarded to the village, there will actually be a process where projects are specific. We go from basically front fund, you know, discussing concepts to funding specific projects on concrete. And I think that's Okay. Important to understand. Provision of of state. Yeah. Exactly. And going to that process. So I think if before we even start that, I think it's important to say that

although the funding for this program has been allocated in the state budget, there has been no formal announcement of this grant as of yet. Yep. So we don't know if the we're assuming that the regulations and the requirements and the application are going to be the same, but we don't know that for certain. So at this point, we're just in a preparation mode. We've already had one public, town hall meeting, which was last Thursday, and the video is available on the website for anyone who wants to watch it. But we're gathering information. We're looking to hear from the public on, on their thoughts about the project area and the potential projects. But as the mayor was saying, you know, we are putting together this list of projects. We're working with our planner who is also our, grant writer. And, you know, we're we're using the history that and the experience that we had from 2024 about what we learned and what we, needed to do to improve our application. So, you know, we're we're we're putting all that information together. We're gonna have more, town halls in the fall, additional opportunities for the public to, comment and share their thoughts. You know, I assume that the application will be due at some point towards the end of the year, Mhmm. At which point, if we are selected, basically, everything that we've done up until that point is then kind of put to the side. Right? And they say, okay. Thank you. We think that you have a good vision. So now we're going to work with you to actually figure out what the projects should be. So they're gonna come in and and when I say they, I'm talking about the state. It's gonna be Empire State Development. It's gonna be the Mid Hudson Regional Economic Development Council.

You know, they're gonna work with the village. They're gonna set up a a local planning committee. Mhmm. And that committee will be made up of, you know, stakeholders from the project area, right, which is Harmon. It's going to be made up of village officials. It'll be made up of other, you know, REDC and Empire State Yep. Development officials. And, you know, they're gonna delve into the I think I was just gonna businesses and and residents as well. Correct. Yeah. Those would be the pub the public participation. Yes.

So And the state will review your nominations for that, and you'll have a committee that really touches all Yeah. That represents Yes. Wide ranging. Yes. We did this last year, as you know, in Dobbs Ferry.

Yep. And so they're gonna take a hard look at the projects. They will likely remove some of the projects. They may add some of their other projects. Because the other thing to remember, right, is they want you to submit projects between, like, 8 to $10,000,000. Mhmm. But they're only giving you 4.5. Yes. Right? So just by the very nature of it, not all the projects are gonna be funded. So they're gonna look at it and, remove some of the projects. They may even add their own project that they think is something that you missed, you know. So they will

It's the Yeah. Have you ever thought of this concept? Yeah. They'll they'll they'll they'll come to Croton and they'll say, you know, have you ever thought of, Okay. Well Yes. Exactly. All of a sudden, it's a new project. Yeah. So

Yeah. And I think that it's important to frame this in the context of the feedback we received for our 2024 application. Yes. And one of the kind of the gold stars we received was for doing that initial town hall, which is why we did we've conducted one kind of prospectively because, it is often sometimes the case, let's say, that the the deadlines on these can be rather tight, matter matter of a few weeks. And rather than rush to put together a public input opportunity, we wanted to get one scheduled and conducted preemptively. And, you know, obviously, we're still soliciting comments and suggestions, but we wanted to get that process started sooner rather than later. And then one of the points where we were, let's say, flagged for improvement, is the the area of focus geographically. And, manager, I think it might actually be helpful for you to skip to that slide real quick. Yep.

Yep. Right there. So,

originally, in 2024, our project area was kind of like a hybrid. It was it started, on North Riverside Mhmm. Right in the area of, Brook Street and kind of snakes its way up through the north, Old Post Road, North Grand Street into the Upper Village. And so, yeah, they they liked our projects. They thought that they were very, you know, unique and interesting, but they basically said that there wasn't enough, private development opportunities here. And also, you know, they're just there was not enough housing potential as well in that area. So, you know, it was a lot of the a lot of the projects that we had were public that involved, like, doing renovations to Visalia Park, upgrading the parking lot here, and the Staircase. Staircase, which I hope I hope we can do at one point. That would be a great project. Find a lot. And then rebuilding the parking lot at the bottom of Brook Street and, working on the,

pedestrian walkway across Route 9. Mhmm. So, you know, a lot of great public projects, but just not a lot of the other types of projects they're they're looking to see. And like you said, I think all of them are viable projects, and and I think, you know, we'll eventually get to most of them in one way or another. Yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah. I mean, we've even started with the Brook Street Yeah. Right. Working. Yeah. That one's happening. Yeah. That's happening. Yeah. There's there's there are various

funded pots of of grant funding available. So, in this case, you've you've taken the comments and you've tailored it now so with the with the understanding of of what makes it more attractive to the reviewers. Mhmm. So this is this is good that you've had the opportunity to learn from that. I like when you can get a debrief and understand. I know they do that with CDBG and they do it with Europe Forward. They do it with the DRIs. It's important. And kudos to you because this is an interesting list.

Yeah. I'm so interested. Nicholson, to your point, as you noted, you know, we are moving ahead with the Brook Street parking. Mhmm. And so that is to say just because, you know, the New York forward is not the be all and end all. We are just looking for the right tool for the right job. Right? And there might be other resources to support other investments in other sections of the community. But in order to prep this application, we have to have it, you know, oriented towards the the program goals, and that includes, you know, catalyzing additional private sector investment. Right. And, while there are definitely a lot of amenities and improvements that can be made in the Upper Village in terms of catalyzing that kind of investment, You know, we bump in very quickly into the principal limiting factor of this neighborhood, which is parking. And, you know, we have a fantastic, parking study that's older than I am. Pre COVID. Yeah. Well, yeah, more than pre COVID. You know? But to get the kind of the investments that they're looking for, I mean, it would be basically

entirely parking oriented program, and that's Right. That Bumps into other issues. Yeah. They like a variety. They like the public and private investment. So

yeah. But I do you know, I just wanna comment on the town hall and that there was a very palatable sense of you're just giving us lip service. We're not really giving, you know, we're not, you're not gonna be listening to our feedback. You're asking us to have one, and this is it. So, village manager did a very good job, I think, of, you know, illustrating that this was the first of many opportunities. But I guess my question is for you, from your experience in Dobbs, what other public input opportunities do you think would be, appropriate for folks? I mean, town hall meetings, we can only get a certain number of people out. Right? And it's Of course. A certain group of people that can actually make these meetings, because of time of day? I mean, did they do surveys? Like, how can we sort of They they did do surveys, but, again,

oftentimes with a survey, people say, well, you're just gonna put this in the drawer. Mhmm. But the other thing, once the committee's in place, they involved charrettes or small meetings with business owners and stakeholders and to just to get the word out of what's available and what, you know, what you can do. So, you know, it really depends as you move through the process Yep. How you can encourage more input. And, you know, at some point, there has to be a limit to how many projects you can involve. And Mhmm. Not only do they eliminate when in the it's all very secretive because you never know until, like, they call you the week before. Would you come to an event at press Yes. Event? Like, what? Okay. We'll be there. It's difficult, in that you'll ask for a million for this particular project, and then they might actually fund 600,000 for that project. So, again, the concepts are really that. They're concepts. And later, the design comes into place and and, you know, the public works aspect, the public involvement, and whatever they are. Yep. So it it's tough because you want you want to do the detail. But, again, it's the concept that goes into that application that goes up, you know, in the strategic investment plan. It's a broad concept and the supporting language and is important. This is why this concept works with economic driving driving this economic development, driving the public input and investment into the the the private properties as well. And, I mean, Sleepy Hollow did a number of but, again, they didn't get a 100% of everything they asked for per project. Mhmm. Yeah. I'd

say also there's been a lot of ongoing interaction with some of the stakeholders within the map. Yes. Whether it's nonprofit or individual merchants or businesses along the way, you know, very, very much focused on on treating it like a learning experience. Mhmm. If we were to get this, how would this help you? Or if we were to do this, is that something you would like? Mhmm. And, you know, we try to incorporate that into our thinking. Yeah. And, you know, there's a that that's that's a process that you know, here we are in, you know, mid September almost, and, you know, maybe we'll get maybe we'll get a green light for an application in October, application due in December or January. So we still we we still have, you know, I think a fair amount of time to to be talking to people. But then, you know, maybe as as the the attorney said, maybe organize, you know, a couple of more sessions of of some kind, not necessarily

one like Thursday night, but but maybe others that that are more more focused on particular issues. Right. And I I think sort of giving people a longer lead time. Right? So doing a, you know, the nexTeatown hall, just giving, you know, a four week sort of notice so people have time to think about it and maybe have, like, maybe, like, it's sort of more of a works I mean, unfortunately, the the the most controversial project that exists in the village right now is part of the plan, and that was a lot of people Well, on that point, the opportunity

on that point. Yeah. Go ahead. I think I mean, I think that needs to be taken out, not least of which is because what is current the current proposal that exists, this is, of course, 425 South Riverside. Right. It's not zoning compliant, which is not to say that it can't be done or whatever, but it's requires a variance, and that is such a highly contingent process. Yep. And also given where we are in terms of timelines and the recent history of the pace at which that project moves, whether or not it would have its approvals in place by the time Mhmm. This is funded is very much an open question. Yep. And, again, because it's not zoning compliant, I think that's distinguishable from Robins, which at least facially is. It obviously still needs a special permit, but it is not requesting any variances.

Yeah. And And by removing that, I don't I don't think our approach suffers at all by removing that. I think clearly it's, it's it's logical that at some point in the future, there'll be something that occurs there, whether it's the current project or or something else remains to be seen. But and I think we can reference that, you know, that we're open to to dealing with with whoever whoever is involved in that in the future with respect to New York Forward. But removing the focus from the specific proposal, think, is is is very helpful.

And as I was saying earlier, you know, if we do end up getting selected for this, and at that point, they have a a zoning compliant project or even a project that's approved with Mhmm. Whatever variances they needed, but it's approved, at that point then that could potentially be added

Right. Back in. They would be welcome to apply as anyone else would. Yeah. And that's the other thing is to note that while we're doing the grant application, once the announcement and award is made, there

will be the the real round, the real funding round will be kind of open. And Yep. Yeah. Anyone can. Anyone we will be applying, but so we'll Private. Private. As mayor as mayor Hsu taught us on Thursday night, there's there's no once once we if we were fortunate enough to get it to get selected, once we get selected, there's no real shot clock, you know, on on the process. It could take two, three years, maybe longer for that last thing to to be agreed to. Yeah. So when we're thinking through, like, sort of these housing development projects, like, are they just placeholders

then that we're talking about? So when we're pitching so there are are lots that are privately owned currently where more residential could go in this particular zone. Right? Could we say that we wanna do a placeholder for, housing development

in this area? I think you could I think you could I think you could mention, right, that there is the development ability. But one of the things that Valerie was saying at the meeting last week, which I think is important, is that they take it they take into account the development that's already occurred. Mhmm. Yes. Right? So I mean And that's how you get credit. As a matter of and as a matter of fact, when we when we did our project review from 2024,

even though this was sort of perspective because it was a year and a half ago, but they just love the idea that you had a lot a, but also a samurai development.

Or something very small and, you know, something a little bit larger there that that that the map could accommodate that that kind of, diversity Yeah. In size. Yeah. And I mean and even going back a little further, right, you've had the baked by Susan Building, you have the 370 South Riverside. I mean, there's been there's been a a recent history of development there. Right? And so I think even if you went into if you submitted an application that didn't explicitly have a housing project, you could, you know, cite all the development that has occurred Right. Already.

And then if you were awarded, then the private individuals

who are proposing housing development could make their applications. Nothing that would be I think that's an excellent point, attorney. And I think, you know, not to put words in, Valerie's mouth, but I think, you know, part of the reason why we wanna highlight some of the development. The read the area is to show that it has, you know, momentum and is going on an upward trajectory and that this investment will, you know, further accelerate that rather than throwing good money after bad, so to speak. And the other is that, you know, I think that a lot of Tristan Nicholson, as you noted, there are, like, this a lot of private property here. And, you know, when it when we're at this stage where it's like, well, look look, they haven't even announced the grand opportunity yet. I mean, so for if you're a private business person, you might think that this is too pie in the sky or not really focused on this right now. But if we're a designated New York Forward community and we're actually factually having this round of funding available that might inspire people to sharpen their pencils in a significant way. Right. And, again, that goes back to kind of the whole thesis or or or theory of having this two stage

structure anyway Mhmm. And that that the board makes recommendations on the public projects. The private individuals will make applications on the private, and then that goes to the committee that that has been formed, which includes the representatives from the the various agencies and also usually a a chairperson assigned by Albany as well. So so you'll have an opportunity to talk about the public stuff, and you'll come to a consensus Mhmm. To submit that. And then the private individuals will certainly have all the opportunity to submit their own project.

So speaking of the public projects, well, speaking of the projects period, I'm sure people have seen it in the backup, but can we just scroll up two or three slides to the eligible eligible and ineligible projects. So let's go eligible first.

So, manager, very quickly, would you mind summarizing the eligibles? Yes. I just can't see off there, so give me one minute. I didn't bring my glasses in with me. Alright. So the eligible activities, you have, new development or, rehabilitation of existing downtown buildings, public improvement projects, the small project fund, which we've talked about that would be helping the local businesses, and branding and marketing.

Those are those are the main categories. Mhmm. Okay. There are examples there of the kinds of activities that have been funded through the New York Forward Mhmm. Programming. It many of the communities here are listed and examples of those kinds of projects that were included in the award.

Alright. And can we go to ineligible?

Yep. So, stand alone planning activities, yeah, they don't fund additional planning activities once you get the award. Operation and maintenance, that's not that's not funded. Those are, you know, routine expenses. Pre award costs, you know, you can't get reimbursed for costs that you've incurred prior to getting the award. Property acquisition, they're not gonna pay for property, and training and other program expenses. So, again, any sort of continuous or recurring costs, they're not going to pay for. Mhmm.

Yeah.

And, can we go for the again, back down three or four slides to where it was where it was the map plus the possible projects? Yep. You know? And so we have you'll see a lot listed are basically would be private projects and will ultimately be in the hands of the private businesses that may or may not wanna seek funding at some point. But I think of relevance to us are the the public ones.

And, manager, would you like to go over the public ones very quickly? Yeah. So, the first one is the upgrades to the parking lot at the train station. As I talked about last week, as everybody knows, our parking lot is susceptible to tidal flooding. It's happening with increasing frequency as the ground continues to settle from the last time that it was, raised. And so, you know, we've been doing some resiliency studies down there. We completed phase one of a resiliency study, which came with the recommendation that we explore, the installation of a seawall with a pump system. And so we're, currently working, with Valerie to apply for a grant to the county to move on with phase two of this project. And, you know, ultimately, the goal is that we would be able to go out to bid for this project and have it completed. You know, if we can it is gonna be it's gonna be a costly project. Right? It's probably you know, in today's dollars, it's probably about $7,000,000 to to do this project, you know, but the other alternative is we abandon however many number of spaces at the parking lot that we don't you know, I don't think that's really something that we wanna that we wanna do.

Streetscaping around Riverside Avenue and Benedict Boulevard, this is your upgrades to tree pits, to benches, to trash and recycling cans, the street islands. Just all sorts of this all sorts of street infrastructure would be upgraded as part of this project. It could also include Croton Point Avenue, although that's not listed there. If there was any sort of street infrastructure on Corbin Point Avenue, we could we could upgrade that as well. And then lastly, bike lanes from Oneida Avenue to Corbin Point Avenue. This is the missing link of our bike lane right now. Yep. You know, we currently have a bike lane that goes from Maple Street to Oneida. Yep. And then we have bike lanes on Croton Point Avenue already. So we want to fill in that missing link and, specifically, on South Riverside in the area of Samurai and Pedego, the idea would be to, narrow the very wide sidewalk there. Yep. Mhmm. And that way you'd be able to have the bike lane as well as keep So you wouldn't lose the parking. Yep.

You know, you you would lose unless you most likely would lose the second travel lane that goes down to Croton Point Avenue from from Benedict, unless unless we were able to figure out a way to widen that. Right. But that's something we'd have to look at. Yep. But you would not lose the parking on South Riverside. Mhmm. So those are the three those are the three public projects that we have listed.

Alright. So I'd like to, open it up to the rest of the board if people have reached out to you since the town hall, if there are any other suggestions.

Well, I can start to synthesize some of the ideas that I heard at the town hall just so working on the marshlands around the Croton River areas, environmental project, beautification of the station and repair of the stairways. So that would be, you know, with with cooperation with Metro North, but, you know, having kind of more of a welcoming

feeling when you arrive by train in Croton. Yeah. And I would just expand that to say there might be a way for us to just invite Metro North into the process, you know, with us. And Yeah. With, I I think, what trustee Nicholson said is a very high priority in terms of the stairs. Someone actually mentioned that to me Mhmm. That had no idea we'd had the on yesterday, that had no idea we'd have that conversation on on Thursday night. So and there may be a couple of other enhancements that Yeah. That we can help them do through this through this process. Yeah. That's something we can absolutely look at. Yep.

I'm also a big supporter of the looking at Parkland and looking at the Echo Canoe Landing as a possibility of enhancing that space. When you think about, like, what isn't in this space, you know, there like, we think about reducing the width of that sidewalk. Right? But, like, are there opportunities sort of we own that space at the end of Benedict. Right? Like, could there be a green space, a playground, like, somewhere in this area? Because for people that live in this area, there really isn't a playground or a play structure. But, like, if you go sort of at the end of Wayne Street where we own a couple of parcels down there. And I know we're always looking for parking opportunities, but, you know, is there a parkland opportunity here as well? But what I also heard from people was trying to do a connector trail that would run from the Van Cortlandt Manor property up into the Harmon area.

And then Shopright Plaza.

Yeah. That's that's one that's not on the list that we've had conversations already about, so that could be one that could potentially be added. Pedestrian access.

Yes. Those those last two are definitely I mean, I've the things that were at said at the town hall, I was there, so I heard all those things. And then the last two items you've mentioned are things that I've heard, you know, before and after. And I to broaden the trail connection through HHV, I think that just more broadly, I think there would there there is interest in some kind of pedestrian connection just to South Riverside through, you know, hypothetically, again, especially if they're being offered money to build it. A a business might agree to have a pedestrian pathway Mhmm. Through their property, which would improve Right. Access for customers too to them. Right. Right. And but but also, again, the the an additional phase would be reaching the ShopRite shopping center.

Well, and we saw at the reenactment, we saw historic Hudson's Plaza area for the first time in its completion there, at least that section of it. And I think that's got some great potential for partnership with them on some things where that we could do there. And, you know, I think they've they've been very open to a a broad conversation. Yep.

And, you know, I'll leave it up to Valerie whether or not she thinks it's worth putting it or not. But electric vehicle charging. Know we have a lot of charging capacity slated to be added to the train station, but that is for, basically, for commuters Mhmm. Which they I mean, it's a great place for charging. But in terms of the commercial district, I don't think that that has a major impact. What you want is something that where it's in the commercial area, and so while the vehicle's charging, people walk around and buy

things. Mhmm. Would the Benedict Lot

That be a That that would seem the logical locate or a possible location, but, you know. I think I mean, we don't have to have we don't have to make a decision on this right now, but that lot is heavily used. There are a lot of there are a lot of people that live in apartments that don't have off street parking, And it's also a lot of the business owners. I mean, the zoning board has required and the planning board have required business owners to buy permits for their employees.

So, I mean No. I I I There's a there's a lot to take into consideration. But I think finding a a public EV charging facility for that area would be very valuable, especially because, as you noted with the, you know, the tenants who park there and so on is how I mean, maybe a private building will add a charging station, but it may not. It probably wouldn't add a a faster charging station. So That again, that could that could be a shop rate project. Right? Yeah. It could be. Could be. I would Right. That's we could do. Work. Perfect. As was Yeah. This morning. It's And again, this goes back to the two stage nature of this. Like, we can have the idea of adding EV charging somewhere in the zone, and then we can have someone who actually makes it their projects. Yeah. But but, I mean,

I I would like to see more EV chargers. There's there's separate from this grant opportunity. There's grant opportunities for EV chargers to be added. Mhmm. And, you know, in the Merwin lot or wherever else we could

these are very popular because Yeah. Now these ones yeah. They get used a lot. I you know, as an aside, yeah, adding some here would be fantastic, but adding some everywhere else. We have 18 that are coming to the train station. I was just we just had our site meeting this morning. So, I mean, so that it it is unfortunately,

you know, I feel like I say this all the time, but these things take time. So Right. But adding it to the to the mayor's point, adding to the train station is would be great, but adding it where somebody would come and charge their car and walk around and visit business, it takes a half hour or so to do to do so.

Well, that that's if you get a fast charger. Those Right. Or even long, Even longer. Yeah.

Right? So I I don't I, you know, I watched the town hall and I appreciated everybody who came out during the last week of summer. And I was you know, the people who were there had a lot, you know, had strong opinions. I am really interested in capturing more feedback from the community. I'm interested in where this is gonna live on the website. There is a space on the projects page that is empty in your little grid. So maybe but whatever we do with that, I would like to see more town halls planned. I will give mister Riley a shout out because I'm pretty sure he was at the town hall and at the school board meeting that night. Wow. But our our friends on the school board were not able to participate because there was a school board meeting that night. So I am just interested in but not only having a public a a town hall is a great way for people to have their voices heard. I would like to make sure that we're using other mechanisms. If people just wanna submit comments by email, I wanna capture them. If we want to have a, you know, a a be able to the nexTeatown hall have a Zoom, element to it where people can participate, I don't have I I would like to have more discussion about how we get more participation, you know, so that people can have their voices heard because we had people who were skeptical of this. And I think that we can capitalize on that because we do wanna hear from people. And every idea is not gonna be an idea we can move forward, but I think hearing from a lot of people and there were people who live right in this area who spoke and people who live very far away,

who spoke. And there are also questions about, you know so there's this, you know, I don't wanna it it was well attended for when it was scheduled, but I think that a lot of people and, you know, we talked about it at the town hall. We're talking about it now. There's still the vast majority of Croton does not know we're talking about this. So I think that putting together an FAQ with some of the questions that we heard at that, you know, why did you pick this area, whatever those other questions were that we could easily pull off the video, you know, and sort of have a lot of some different elements so people who and then be driving people to the spot on the website where this is so they can review it and then send us their comments. I think we need to be thoughtful about our strategic approach to getting feedback. This proposal will be made better with the the voices from residents. So I I don't, you know and I think asking other communities, as trustee Nicholson just did the attorney, you know, how you know, what some of those ways are. I think there are a lot of mechanisms for gathering information from the community. So I would like to be and, you know, as your staff as you're re continue to rebuild your staff, there will be more capacity to do that. But I think to me, that's really the next step. These are great ideas, and we but but how do we capture because people aren't gonna watch it's great to put the video out, and actually, I did talk to somebody today who watched the video. People wanna I am people. I wanna read a short FAQ. I don't wanna watch a whole, you know, hour and a half video to to get the information. So if we could be thinking about that,

you know, it sounds like a good assistant village manager project. Yep. So do you is did you do you have a thought about where this is like, where this was gonna if people wanna go to this right now, they have to go to the

agenda where it Or they can go to the the livestream. Or the livestream. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. No. I mean, I think we could probably add a button on the That would be that would be really good. Right? On the front the action. I don't want people to have to dig. Yeah. Yeah. We just have to figure out which one we're gonna take off. Okay. And I love the idea of just submitting

ideas.

Yeah. We had when we when we we put together a form that we sent out, right, as part of the reminder email, yeah, I think we only I think we got one person who did that. But, no, we can keep Keep pushing that there. Yep. And making sure that people understand

the permitted and unpermitted. You know what I mean? Like, the FAQs is a good idea. Yeah. I think So Yeah. The responses you'll get back or the comments or suggestions you get back are are actually

relevant to what you can do. Mhmm. Right. And I I think you should be a living document. There were some great questions that I heard asked at the town hall, but it's not when we get questions, we should add them so people can use them as a resource. I don't want it to just go into a form and not be available. The more people can interact with the information we're getting, the more feedback we're gonna get. Yep.

Thank you.

Alright. Anything else? Well, now that we've added more to the manager's workload, I think we've done our job.

Thank you. But,

know, Valerie's a really good resource for FAQs and and Forever. Reinventing the wheel. So a lot of this information has been disseminated in these other communities that went through this process. So we can we can a point. Thank you. And I should say the the

PowerPoint lends itself to an FAQ. So Yeah. It should be, hopefully, not too too difficult to translate one to the other. Mhmm.

See how I assign that to Valerie right away? Yeah.

Hi. Hi, Valerie. If you're watching if you're watching. Alright. This is Laurie. Very good. Thank you. Thank you.

Thanks, everyone.