Politics & Government

Port Chester Enacts New Guide for Future Development

Zoning laws needed to implement "Comprehensive Plan" approved in 6-0 vote by village Board of Trustees.

Calling it a major step forward for "smart planning" in the village, Port Chester on Monday night approved a set of new zoning regulations to implement the "Comprehensive Plan" already approved to guide development for decades to come.

The village Board of Trustees, acting on its last night in its current makeup, voted 6-0 to approve the new zoning regulations. Today, Port Chester voters go to the polls to select a mayor and fill all six trustee seats on the Board of Trustees - with polls open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The "Comprehensive Plan" has been years in the making. The plan was approved by the Board of Trustees in December 2012, but it required a package of zoning changes to put the plan into action.

Find out what's happening in Port Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"This is the first step in moving the village forward," said Christopher Gomez, Port Chester's village planner.

The last plan for the village was created in 1967, although it was not formally adopted. On Monday night, the Board of Trustees concluded public hearings on the zoning regulations and then voted to approve the regulations.

Find out what's happening in Port Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Comprehensive Plan combined with its zoning changes includes lowering the density and height of developments that could be built in the downtown area, especially near the Port Chester train station. Also included are waterfront development guidelines and guidelines that would make a mixed use development on the former United Hospital property off Boston Post Road possible.

Trustee Daniel Brakewood said the Comprehensive Plan and the zoning regulations fix many problems that existed in Port Chester's zoning rules and eliminates unrealistic regulations that - for example - allowed for development of buildings more than 20-stories tall in the downtown.

As for the most-talked about property in Port Chester, the old United Hospital site, Brakewood said the new plan offers guidelines for redevelopment of the site owned by Starwood Capitol group.

Trustee Bart Didden said he is pleased that the Comprehensive Plan did not bring with it any new major initiatives to encourage development of "affordable" housing in Port Chester.


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