If you’re a Clarkstown resident, a few moments of your time can help shape the future of
our town. We’re looking for your input on future development and land preservation
through a survey that is now posted on the town’s website.
Preserving and protecting our quality of life and natural resources while allowing for
responsible development has always been a top priority goal of my administration.
Achieving this is a challenging and delicate balancing act that often elicits strong and
passionate opinions from all sides of the equation. In the time since I took office, the
Town has acquired and dedicated over 40 acres of land for parks and open space. At
the same time, we continue to see high demand for commercial development space in
Clarkstown. We’re also facing a nationwide housing crisis, to the point where New York
State passed legislation waiving state-mandated environmental reviews on projects of
up to 300 units.
Navigating through these issues isn’t easy. Recently, the Town Board and I took two
actions with an eye on planning for a sustainable future.
The town adopted a six-month building moratorium prohibiting the approvals of
multifamily housing, large scale residential subdivisions and commercial/industrial
developments that have the potential to negatively impact the Town’s transportation
network, environment, and public safety. During this pause, the town will seek to amend
land use regulations for responsible and controlled growth, preserve open space, and
plan for a proper mix of residential and commercial development.
The Town Board also recently passed the Clarkstown Community Preservation Act,
which will be put to a voter referendum next year. This will establish a dedicated fund for
the acquisition of lands containing open space, scenic resources, historic landmarks,
critical agriculture and natural resources. As part of this process, the Town will form the
Clarkstown Community Preservation Board, which will be tasked with creating a
prioritized list of properties for acquisition and developing policies and regulations for
the protection of these lands.
Public input is an important part of both of these initiatives. We’re looking for your
feedback on what types of future development you want to see and where it should go.
We’d also like to hear your thoughts on what types of land you think should be
prioritized for preservation and how those spaces should be used.
The survey asking these important questions to Clarkstown residents is available now
on the town’s website: clarkstown.gov. A postcard mailer with links to the survey will
also be mailed out.
If you live in Clarkstown, please take a few moments to participate and share your
thoughts on the town’s future.
