LET THE RECORD SHOW The March 1 “My View” article on Open Space for the Town of Wawayanda re-opens a topic critical for us all, no matter what our political leanings may be. Let the record show that the Town’s first Master Plan & Zoning Committee (MPZC 1) helped to bring into focus those important ideas that we must continue to move forward with today. Attached is the final Recommendation Memo prepared by MPZC 1 and presented to the Town Board before that bipartisan committee was summarily dismissed by Supervisor Razzano who stated on 11/17/05 that there was “a new Sheriff in Town.” The “NEW SHERIFF” has NOT given us: Movement forward on Open Space. Water/sewer codes (already previously prepared by the Skinner Administration). Environmental protections or cataloging of Critical Environmental Areas. Historic preservation or listing of important historical homes, barns, etc. or areas we wish to preserve as we continue to lose historic buildings at an alarming rate. Cultural Resource Management Law to protect our community’s rich heritage – he rescinded that recently after it was put into place by the Skinner administration. Weight limits for Town Roads – Overweight, noisy trucks traveling our town’s rural roads even at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings--as many as 80 per day! Enforcement of our town laws – only 2 infractions have been cited in the past year, town wide ! An excellent Cluster Law. Protection of our number one critical resource – water. A Noise Ordinance requested by citizens who presented a petition.
The "NEW SHERIFF'S” deputies, i.e. MPZC II, gave no consideration to even a single one of these items. The group as a whole had no passionate self-direction, no original thoughts to help move our town ahead, there was no research done, no speakers, no comparison of what neighboring towns are doing by reading THEIR master plans. In short, not a single one of these members (excepting the very knowledgeable and able Dr. Yates who was also on the first committee) attended a previous MP meeting EVEN ONCE. They did not follow the recommendations left for them by MPZC 1 based on their SURVEY results of town residents. It is doubtful whether they even read them. The make-up of the second committee was not fair to the townspeople, who had stated vehemently what they wished to see happen with the town. Our town spent $180,000.00+ for the Saratoga firm of planners to work with MPZC II; and all we basically got was a density zoning change of 1/3 acre up from 1/4 of an acre in areas with available water and sewer. You have to ask yourself – what is preventing this administration from moving forward with these community driven mandates? It must be obvious to the meanest intelligence that this “sheriff” will never get these jobs accomplished. It is apparent that any outside influences with money in hand and interested in developing this town THEIR WAY will be given a green light at the cost of our open space, the environment and the very quality of our lives in Wawayanda. The economic futures of several town board members are tied inextricably with what is not happening now. Their ethics, what is best for our residents and for our non-replaceable environment are too seriously conflicted. Please read the Town of Wawayanda Comprehensive Plan on the Town’s website: TownofWawayanda.com and read Appendix C dated April 19, 2006 to view the community’s comments to the new plan after most of the recommendations made by the first committee were NOT included in the final plan. Master Plan Review 7-6-2005 FINAL RECOMMENDATION MEMO OF MPZC 1 Activities of Wawayanda Master Plan Committee since inception: Review of Existing Master Plan and Zoning Manual – Discussion of MP Goals Our original mandate was to see whether the 2000 Comprehensive Plan and zoning laws were compatible and in keeping with the current needs of the town. The committee found that the Comprehensive Master Plan needed updating and that the zoning manual was not aligned with the Master Plan. The former Master Plan expected town wide growth for a ten year period to be 20%. We are approaching the 10 year growth projection, five years into the plan. How we educated ourselves: Many speakers were brought in to address the group about important issues facing the town: Programs and Staff Development -Orange County Planning Department, David Church -Orange County Water Authority, Jay Beaumont -Cooperative Extension, Lucy Joyce -Orange County Land Trust, John Gebhards, Dr. Douglas McBride -SEQRA, Ted Fink (Greenplan) -Orange County Partnership, Mile Torrelli -Affordable Housing, David Church -Minisink Valley School, Superintendent Murray, Board Pres. John Lenane -Conservation Subdivision (Cluster Law) Ted Fink. This presentation was also made to the Town Board at the request of MPZC 1. -Town Historians, Betty and Charles Kirby and Gladys Hall The very next speakers were to be builders of Warwick Grove, a Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) Outreach to the Community: Recognizing the need for input from the community, a Survey was developed to gain feedback regarding important issues facing the Town. Community Wide Survey – -Development of a Survey -Issuance of Survey -Analysis of Data -Presentation of Survey Results to the Community -Results in Power Point form and available at Town Hall Major Subdivision Moratorium: Results of the Survey clearly indicated a need for the Town to consider implementing a Moratorium. Public hearings held 12 Month Moratorium enacted The Goals of this Master Plan: Existing Goals should be realigned to suit priorities of the community survey: 1. Expand the Tax Base: · Identify specific strategies to be implemented to attract high quality ratables. · ie: Survey, Industrial Development Board 2. Maintain Wawayanda’s character as a rural community. ie: PDR, TDR, Term Easements. 3. Preserve the Town’s natural environment and Open Space while providing for both active and passive recreational opportunities. Committee will look at state and federal programs to set aside Open Space. Protection of natural features, open space and environmentally sensitive areas (PDR, TDR, Term Easements). Include a Biodiversity element in the Plan, Develop a Town Natural Resource Inventory which catalogs wetlands, special habitats, stream and river corridors and other resources to be protected from the potentially adverse impacts of development.
4. Develop a comprehensive list of historic structures and sites. The Town Historian is currently working on a list of sites and will present them at a future meeting. Establish buffer zones/compatible and sensitive uses to historical context. Provide regulations for the rehabilitation and preservation of historic structures in the Town which are deemed significant: ie: architectural review
5. Provide and improve public services. Identify the elements of infrastructure: water, sewer, transportation, access to health care, shopping, schools, libraries.
6. Continually improve the transportation system. Seek grants for dial-a-bus service, etc. for Senior Housing areas. Require developers to upgrade rural roadways impacted by proposed developments. Pursue Federal, State and Local grants and aid to enhance our transportation system.
7. Minimize pollution of Town’s land, water and air. · Identify sensitive areas (aquifers, wetland, soil types). · Adopt DEC draft legislation for addressing erosion control and storm water management. · Develop and maintain high standards for plumbing and “Package plants.” · Identify existing problems and seek solutions through grants, enforcement and legislation. · Review Wastewater treatments ie: Centralized vs. Decentralized. 8. Acquire and use the most current information about geology, hydrology, topography and soils to influence future land development. Regulate development in environmentally sensitive areas. Protect soils used for farming. Develop creative incentives for farmers. Identify and act on current, existing problems.
9. Promote the Town’s public health, safety and general welfare. Strictly enforce the Federal Flood Plain Program. Control through zoning and other town laws those nuisances attributable to noise, odors and unsightly uses and infringements of property rights. Establish FINE AND FEE schedule for violations. Strict Enforcement of town laws and zoning.
10. Provide a mix of housing types. 11. WATER has been identified on the community survey as our single most important natural resource. The Committee also felt that it is imperative to preserve this critical natural resource. Please compare this set of recommendations left by the MPZC 1 to what actually ended up in the new Master Plan. The first committee worked assiduously to bring the thoughts, hopes and wishes of the community to the forefront after first surveying the residents. This process belongs TO ALL OF US! This MUST be a COMMUNITY PROCESS by LAW!!!!!! How much of a community process was used by the second MPZC after the first group was unceremoniously fired?? LET THE RECORD SHOW - WE MUST TAKE OUR TOWN BACK! MAKE YOUR THOUGHTS KNOWN! Only Councilwoman Soro continues to fight for your interests, not those of the special interests of elected officials or their financial supporters. To contact Councilwoman Soro or have your email delivered to her, send it to
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. To comment or express your concerns call Razzano at 355-5072 or email him at
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. Keeping you informed is necessary but expensive. Please help us to continue getting the information out. A $20 donation will allow us to send out 50 letters. Or send any amount you wish to: Wawayanda Democratic Committee PO Box 231 Slate Hill NY 10973 Please attend Town Board meetings; it is your right and your privilege. | 
