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First, I would like to applaud the Planning Board for your sensical recommendations to the Board of Trustees when it came to the development of Lot A. I am confident that much fewer residents would oppose the development if it were reduced in size, to 60 - 80 units, as you suggested AND offered at 80% market rate with 20% set aside as the RFP requested. My hope is that you will continue to listen to the legitimate concerns of residents and that you will help enforce your recommendations. When Maria Slippen was running for the trustee seat, she also said 60-units on that site is what she envisioned.
I would like to remind the board and anyone who may be listening, the Katz Property, now Maple Commons, was also village-owned property. It was sold and developed into 32-units of all-affordable housing and was given a PILOT – payment in lieu of taxes. Additionally, this project was a bait in switch in many forms, including the change in adjusted gross income requirements needing to qualify - they presently range from as low as 30% AMI to 80% AMI.
Lot A is also village-owned property. The proposed 100-units of all affordable housing means that we will miss out on literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in Parks and Recreation fees and given that it will have a lower tax bill, it’ll generate significantly lower taxes, forcing the current residents to make up the difference.
The one other alternative bid for Lot A offered 2600 sq. ft of community space on the first level accessible to all residents and was going to be 80% market rate / 20% affordable.
The people of this Village should have a say in what gets developed on village-owned sites - it’s literally our land! There should be incentives to the village community at large, instead, we’re offered no community space, no green space, $0 in Parks and Recreation fees and THE largest development since Half Moon Bay and it’s all affordable.
I cannot comprehend the logic behind these extreme decisions. 32 units all affordable at Maple Commons, 40 more affordable units that have been approved across several other projects AND 100 units at Lot A. From a purely economic standpoint, it is clear that affordable housing can be offered in moderation – this is not moderation! As a taxpayer burdened with exorbitant taxes, I am outraged that this administration blatantly ignores basic market principles and the far-reaching consequences of their actions on all those who currently live here.
The Mayor insists there is an acute need for housing. What there is an acute need for is for an administration that serves its constituents and not themselves, their boss, or their wife and their political aspirations.
To the planning board, I ask that you continue to fight for what we as a community deserve, especially since its village-owned land.
I would like to remind the board and anyone who may be listening, the Katz Property, now Maple Commons, was also village-owned property. It was sold and developed into 32-units of all-affordable housing and was given a PILOT – payment in lieu of taxes. Additionally, this project was a bait in switch in many forms, including the change in adjusted gross income requirements needing to qualify - they presently range from as low as 30% AMI to 80% AMI.
Lot A is also village-owned property. The proposed 100-units of all affordable housing means that we will miss out on literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in Parks and Recreation fees and given that it will have a lower tax bill, it’ll generate significantly lower taxes, forcing the current residents to make up the difference.
The one other alternative bid for Lot A offered 2600 sq. ft of community space on the first level accessible to all residents and was going to be 80% market rate / 20% affordable.
The people of this Village should have a say in what gets developed on village-owned sites - it’s literally our land! There should be incentives to the village community at large, instead, we’re offered no community space, no green space, $0 in Parks and Recreation fees and THE largest development since Half Moon Bay and it’s all affordable.
I cannot comprehend the logic behind these extreme decisions. 32 units all affordable at Maple Commons, 40 more affordable units that have been approved across several other projects AND 100 units at Lot A. From a purely economic standpoint, it is clear that affordable housing can be offered in moderation – this is not moderation! As a taxpayer burdened with exorbitant taxes, I am outraged that this administration blatantly ignores basic market principles and the far-reaching consequences of their actions on all those who currently live here.
The Mayor insists there is an acute need for housing. What there is an acute need for is for an administration that serves its constituents and not themselves, their boss, or their wife and their political aspirations.
To the planning board, I ask that you continue to fight for what we as a community deserve, especially since its village-owned land.
Time to think about lawyers I think.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why Croton must solve the national housing shortage by itself. We give away projects with no return in terms of taxes to the bloated village govt., poorly manage future liabilities and seem Hellbent on pleasing the governor. All this destroys our supposed "quaint village" with no relief in terms of taxes on already burdened residents. Enough already!
ReplyDeleteAnd what is considered affordable? Publish some numbers of what the tenant or buyer is expected to pay for their affordable housing. Why is the single family homeowner always asked to foot the bill for these "affordable" housing projects .
ReplyDelete