FROM THE MAILBOX--WHAT DOES IT MEAN EXACTLY---THAT CROTON IS A "PRO-HOUSING COMMUNITY"

There seems to be some genuine confusion about what Croton's status as a 'PRO-HOUSING COMMUNITY" actually means--and what one can expect as a result.

Google AI provides the most concise explanation but of course you should confirm this all with officials and/or staff:

When a municipality applies to become a certified New York State Pro-Housing Community (and the village just re-certified itself as such), it must officially adopt the Pro-Housing Communities Pledge by passing a local board resolution. 

Through this pledge, the community formally acknowledges that NYS is facing a critical housing shortage and commits to taking specific, measurable steps to remove local development barriers.  HERE IS WHAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO DO--INDEED WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED:

The Core Commitments

By adopting the state-vetted resolution, a village, town, or city commits to endeavoring toward five key actions: 

1. Streamlining Permitting
   The community must pledge to simplify and accelerate local permitting processes for various housing types. This includes multifamily housing, affordable housing, accessible housing, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and supportive housing. 
2. Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
   Localities commit to implementing policies that actively promote fair housing choice, reduce residential segregation, and ensure equitable access to housing opportunities. 
3. Incorporating Regional Housing Needs
   Instead of viewing development purely through a hyper-local lens, the community commits to factoring regional housing demand and broader market requirements into its local planning and land-use decisions. 
4. Increasing Residential Development Capacity
   The municipality pledges to maximize or expand its local zoning capacity to allow for a higher density and volume of residential uses. 
5. Enacting Diverse Housing Policies
   Local governments commit to passing zoning codes and rules that incentivize a wide range of development projects rather than restrictive single-family-only zoning. 

The Data Sharing Requirement

In addition to signing the policy pledge, a community must make a operational commitment to data transparency. To achieve certification through NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), the locality must submit comprehensive historical records to the state, which include: 

• Local zoning maps and land-use codes.
• The past 5 years of municipal housing planning documents.
• Detailed building permit data tracking local construction approvals over the previous 5 years. 

Why Communities Make This Commitment

While the pledge represents an intentional effort to ease local zoning restrictions, it is financially incentivized. Municipalities that fulfill these commitments earn certified Pro-Housing status, granting them prioritized or exclusive access to up to $750 million in highly competitive state discretionary grant funds