Town sets presentation on comprehensive plan update

HURLEY, N.Y. >> Town Board members have scheduled a June 6 presentation on a proposed comprehensive plan update that seeks to have land use regulations updated based on goals within the hamlets and overall community sustainability needs.

The session is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Town Hall at 10 Wamsley Place.

The draft revision seeks to turn the 2006 comprehensive plan into a document that can meet state requirements and which can be the basis of future changes to the zoning code.

“The (proposed revisions) are based on that 2006 plan,” Supervisor Melinda McKnight said. “That 2006 plan was not written by a planner, it was written by a group of volunteers. … And now we’re a Climate Smart community, which we weren’t back then. The other difference is the 2006 plan was not adopted until 2018.”

Among the most significant differences is having a plan makes recommendations to achieve aspirations. In the plan, officials hope to reinforce land patterns, foster community connections, protect the environment, preserve the community character of hamlets and agricultural areas, and provide better mobility for connections between neighborhoods and resources.

Recommendations in the draft comprehensive plan include:

• Creating a residential zoning district for the Ohayo-Tonshi Mountain areas; a new agriculture district to encompass Hurley Flats; merging the NC and B-1 districts into a neighborhood mixed-use district; creating a floating light industrial district; creating a historic design overlay district; and increasing the number of uses in the existing historic district to allow antique shops, coffee shops, small restaurants, and artisan craft shops.

• Developing code that allows senior housing opportunities; reviewing accessory dwelling regulations; requiring additional land area for new two-family dwellings; adopting regulations for multi-family housing; and revisiting planned residential development regulations.

• Considering whether rules can be developed for adaptive reuse of residen

tial and non-residential buildings for new non-residential uses; having more specificity in regulations for non-residential uses; refining regulations that impact small-scale overnight accommodation; and considering a floating zone for larger tourism-related overnight accommodations.

• Updating the town telecommunication facility regulations; creating regulations for battery storage; and revising solar energy system regulations.