This is a reminder for some and a heads up for others.  Monday evening, the Village Board of Trustees will have a public hearing on a new law for the re-zoning of the Harmon business district.  The hearing will start at 8 pm at the Municipal Building.  The hearing will be televised live on channel 78 for cablevision viewers.  Afterwards the hearing will be available for viewing online via the village website.

• Purpose: The purpose of this Public Hearing is to allow the Board of Trustees to hear from the public.  Members of the public may voice their opinions about this local law, or raise facts or issues, which they wish the Village Board to consider.
• Five is fair: Each speaker will allowed 5 minutes time for his or her comments. No speaker will be permitted to speak a second time, until each person wishing to speak has had a chance to speak once. We will give a “Wrap it up” signal at 4 minutes. And a “Stop” signal at 5 minutes.  We have programmed the time clock to reflect this 4 minute warning and 5 minute “time’s up.” We apologize in advance that the 4 minute warning signal and the time up buzzer is so loud, but the clock does not have a volume control.  
• Civil tone: We trust that all the speakers and the members of our staff and board will remain civil in tone and respectful of each other.
• Questions: Members of the public may have questions about this local law and may raise such questions in their comment.  The Board and Village staff will keep track of the questions on substance and fact that are raised.  Depending on the nature of the questions, the Board may be in a position to answer some this evening after the all members of the public have commented.
• Index cards:  If you wish to make a comment this evening, please print your name and address legibly on an index card and place it in the box provided in the hallway. Staff members will pick it up and add it to pool of speakers. We will use the cards to be sure that your name is spelled properly in the record of this Public Hearing.
• Speaker order: We will read three names at a time for speakers, so each person will know when their turn is coming up.
• Overflow seating: In the event that Board meeting room reaches capacity, we have overflow seating available in the Community Room in the basement of the municipal building, which has TV for viewing the meeting. If you are in the Community Room and hear your name called as a speaker, you will have ample time to get to the Board meeting room and the microphone.

The Croton Democratic Committee has not taken a formal position on the zoning law, but we have been very supportive of the board’s efforts on this issue.  The proposed legislation is a response to a question several members of our community asked back in 2007.  Why has there been virtually no change to the occupancy of business premises and to the property tax valuation in the Harmon business district for approximately 25 years.  After much study and careful thought the best answer is a  change to the zoning law.  The changes will:

1.       Give property owners the opportunity to improve their properties to realize more income and increase their property values.

2.       The community will potentially have greater diversity of businesses moving into Harmon, encouraging more economic activity here in Croton.

3.       As the value of the properties increase when improvements are made, tax revenue from Harmon will increase for the village and for the school district and reduce the tax burden on homeowners.

What the zoning law change is not:

1.       It is not a development.  There will be no changes to the area unless property owners undertake to make improvements.  The law cuts red-tape and allows property owners more opportunities to exploit their property.

This is the second time this legislation has come before the board.  The first effort was stymied by a handful of Croton residents who have fought these improvements in the courts.   This very small group appears determined to obstruct any improvements to the village.  A strong showing of support for the village board’s efforts to improve Harmon (and the efforts of many other people and boards as well) will send a message that Croton wants to move forward with making our community a better place to live, a better place to do business while keeping the cost of living here affordable.

John McBride

Chair

Croton Democratic Committee

The Croton on Hudson Village Board will soon be considering passage of the Harmon Revitalization Rezoning Law. Please let them know you support Harmon Revitalization by signing this petition. When you sign, an email will automatically be sent to the Board indicating your support.

For more information, click here.