001
MAY.2+ 02 18:16 FROM:FP CLARK ASSOCIATES 9149676615
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TO:914 297 4558
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FREDERICK P. CLARK ASSOCIATES,INC.
Planning/Development/Environ menVTransportation
Rye, New York and Fairfield, Connecticut ~':I \It
350 Theodore Fremd Avenue
Rye. New York 10580 ttAl ",..I .
David H. Stolman, AICP, PP
Michael A. Galante
Joanne P. Meder, Alep
Daniel K. Wel}'. AICP
(914) 967-6540 · FAX (914) 967-6615
, 'r,PERV,SOR'SOFFICE
.. . '''.fl' ~'~DOf"'''-:"'
David J. Portman. FA/ep
Howard I. Reynolds. PE
May 21, 2002
Supervisor Joseph Ruggiero
Town of Wappinger
20 Middlebush Road
P.O. Box 324
Wappinger, New York 12590-0324
Dear Joe:
As requested, attached for your review and consideration is a draft set of amendments to
the Zoning Law that would:
1. Eliminate the "Density Unit" calculation.
Dwelling units with fewer than three (3) bedrooms would no longer be counted as
a fraction of a three bedroom dwelling unit, but as the full equivalent of a larger
single-family detached dwelling unit.
2. Define and apply "Net Lot Area" to the RMF Districts.
100% of the areas of wetlands, tloodplains and slopes in excess of 25% would be
deducted from the gross lot area. The maximum development density in the RMF
Districts, (dwelling units per acre, maximum lot coverage and maximum floor area
ratio) would be calculated using the Net Lot Area.
The draft amendments will affect existing and proposed developments in the 9 RMF
Districts (seven RMF-5s and two RMF-3). The vast majority of the 1,070 parcels in
these districts are already developed with multi-family housing. There are 14 RMF-zoned
parcels between 0.5 acres and 39 acres in area totaling approximately 85 acres that have
not been developed for multi-family or mobile home uses. These are the properties that
would be most affected by the draft amendments. The Zoning Law also includes
provisions for Planned Residential Developments where the density unit calculations
Connecticut
(203) 255-3100
Hudson Valley
(845) 297-6056
Long Island
(516) 364-4544
emai\@fpclark.com
www.fpclark.com
.MAY-2~ 02 18:16 FROM:FP CLARK ASSOCIATES 9149676615
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PAGE:03"13
FREDERICK P. CLARK ASSOCIATES, INC.
Plann I ng/Developmen t/Envi ronmentfTranspor tatlon
Joseph Ruggiero, Supervisor
Page 2
May 21,2002
would also count smaller dwelling units as fractions of a three bedroom dwelling unit. To
our knowledge, no one has ever requested to apply the PRD provisions.
The intent of the existing density unit provisions was to acknowledge the relative impacts
associated with different size dwelling units (the per unit number of school children,
vehicle trips, water consumption and sewage generation. etc.) and to eliminate the
deterrent to the creation of such smaller dwelling units. The draft amendments would
treat all dwelling units equally, regardless of their size or their impact.
The net lot area definition would apply to the multi-family districts. The rationale behind
the draft amendments is that the development potential of the property should be based
upon its ability to accommodate development. Therefore, environmentally constrained
and generally undevelopable lands would be deducted from the density calculations. In
this manner, the calculation of the maximum development potential should more closely
reflect the actual capacity of the land.
There are a number of inherent policy decisions associated with the draft amendments. I
recommend that we schedule a meeting to discuss them at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Daniel K. Wery, AICP
Vice President/Planning
cc: AI Roberts, Esq.
Joseph E. Paggi, Jr., PE
Attachments
j :\docs2\SOO\wappin ger\zonearnendmenlS\nn rdensicyunilSnelloIDn::a. dkw .doc
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5/13/02
Proposed Zoning Amendments
Density Unit and Net Lot Area Amendments
[NOTE: Wording to be added is shown in d.OJ,.bJ-'..JI>>.~~rline. Wording to be
deleted is shown in strikeout. A vertical line in the right margin identifies tbe
location or any modifications to existing text.)
The purpose of the following proposed amendments is to simplify the density
calculations and to make the permitted development densities consistent with the
carrying capacity of the lands.
1. fi 240-5. Definitions, of the Zoning Law would be revised to delete the
definition of Density Unit and to add the definition orNet Lot Area as
follows:
DENSITY UNIT A mta&ur~~al to OR0, aH
proportiORMe-GombiRati()fl adding to one, of the follo~NiBg:
/<... One one family d~lliRg \lAit.
B. One d,velling unit containing three or more be~&-ffi-a-p~
type of d\~.'cIliRg other than ORe family detached dwell iag \mits.
C. ORe ami oRe-J:\alf dv.'clliRg uRits cORtaining two bedrooms each iR
permitted dwolliRgs OtRCS: tR3A eRe family aetachcG dwclling YAits.
D. Two dwelling \mits containing one bedroom each in permitted
dwolliBgs ether mall ORG family deUlGhed dweJling units.
E. TW9 stlldio or effici~lIing uRite iR pOt:~~.J4.i.r:lgs ether
than one family detaGhed dwelling YBits.
m!1" k.Q!..~B~A_1]le. grOSS ate.a. Q[a.1lt:O.DcrtY. ro.iJ.U!s...QJ\~~JJ,OOr-~
~gnLQ.f-1b..~_tU'~~ ~t~etlands...lan.ds. witbin the 100-year .t1JWl!n.I.~n, 3.l1tj
ar.e3S .o.f.s.teeD sloDes in excess_of 25% _when measur~(LQY~.1J~; !tl$lm1ce of
fiftY.J:e_~.t. .-.-- .... .. -..
2. fi 240-18.F Building Lots, of the Zoning Law would be amended as
follows:
F. Existing undersized lots. A lot, the area or dimensions of which are
less than that required for the district in which it lies, may be deemed
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to qualify for the issuance of a building pennit. provided that all the
following requirements are met (see also 9 240-38AB):
3. ~ 240-19.C(1) of the Zoning Law would be amended as follows:
(e) The open space development provisions of this chapter do not
result in there being any more deRsity !!wem~Aunits than
would have been allowed under a conventional subdivision.
4. fi 240-38. Multifamily Residential District, of the Zoning Law would be
amended as follows:
In an RMF District, all multifamily uses shall be subject to site plan
approval in accordance with Article IX of this chapter and the tbllowing
special requirements:
fJ.. _ N.eliat area. in the RME~~istricts. the l!.QJW1~,P-n.-~(!b.~Ul_a)CirnJ.!m
Denplq~ nwnb~LoLclw.eJlinsumits. floor area rati~AR)' andJot
coveral!e shalLbeJ)~~A.l:!P..q,n net lo.t3te.a...
AB. Existing undersized lots. Section 240-18F, Existing undersized lots,
does not apply to Multifamily Residence Districts.
Re. Water and sewerage facilities.
(1) Where, in the opinion of the Planning Board, connections to
existing facilities are possible and warranted, sanitary sewers
andlor water mains shall be connected to such existing
facilities in the manner prescribed by regulation of the
. appropriate sewer, water, fire district or other agency having
jurisdiction.
(2) Where connection to existing off-site water or sewerage
facilities is not possible or not warranted, a central water
supply and sewage treatment system shall be designed and
constructed to serve all dwelling units in accordance with the
standard.s and subject to the approval of the Dutchess County
Department of Health and the appropriate state and federal
agencies.
.
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(3) Where future service by off-site water and/or sewage systems
is planned, all on-site water and sewer facilities shall be
designed and located in such a way as to readily permit their
connection and/or conversion to the off-site system at such
time as they are constructed.
GO. Open space and recreation area. At least 50% of the gross area of the
site shall be preserved as permanent open space, free of buildings
and parking areas and shall be landscaped or left in its natural state
in accordance with plans approved by the Planning Board. Within
such common open space areas, a total of not less than 300 square
feet per density fhy~unit shall be improved with common
recreational facilities, such as swimming pools~ tennis, basketball,
volleyball and shuffleboard courts, playground equipment, etc., for
the use of the residents of the premises and their guests, which
facilities shall not be operated for profi t.
I)~. Required parking. Parking spaces shall be provided in number and
design according to the provisions of Article X of this chapter.
5. ~ 240-39. Planned Unit Development District, of the Zoning Law would
be amended as follows:
D. Density or intensity of land use. The appropriate density or intensity
of land use to be permitted in each Planned Unit Development
District and in any section thereof shall be determined in each
individual case by the Town Board and specified on the approved
General Land Use and Development Plan for the pun as set forth in
~ 240-39H. Such determination ofland use intensity and of density
shall be based upon the recommendation of the Town Planning
Board as provided in ~ 240-39H(3) and upon a thorough
documentation of the nature and potential site and community
impact of the proposed development as required to be submitted by
the applicant in accordance with the provisions of ~ 240-39H( 1). It is
further intended that the permitted maximum intensity of
nonresidential uses not exceed that which could be permitted in the
corresponding conventional zoning use districts and that the
maximum gross residential density for the residential or residentially
related portion of any planned unit development not exceed that
which could be permitted in an R-20 District-~aGCorQaRco with tAe
density \lRit fomll:11a, Q€ set fQrtA iA ~ 240 S.
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H. (1) (a) [7] A numerical analysis of the development proposal including
the total number of dwelling units and donsity uait&-proposed
for inclusion within the development and the proposed
breakdown of these units according to size and type, the total
amount of floor area to be devoted to each type of
nonresidential use, the approximate extent of building and
paved area coverage in each section, and an analysis of the
development proposal in relation to the maximum permitted
dcmsity CQ,umber of=dwelling and density units~ as set forth in
~ 240-390, Density or intensity of land use.
6. ~ 240-50. Designed residential development, of the Zoning Law would
be amended as follows:
D. Development standards and controls. All improvements within
designed residential developments shall be required to comply with
the following specitied standards and controls in lieu of those
comparable requirements for other residential developments which
are specified elsewhere in this chapter and in the Land Subdivision
Regulations:
(1) DtwelGpmeRt density. Because 9fthe f3ct that tFaffiG
gooeratioA, water supply, se'JJage disposal and other types of
demands ,laCe"p9R G9RUR\lRity resoW'GU and facilities are
related mGl'e t9 luunbers 9f paop)c tAM R\U1~9ef~
units and since popwlation varies for different sizes aRd types
9f residential dwelling units, the density \:Jail., as defined in ~
240 5 her0in, r3tger than Ute dwelling WAit, is hereby
mHlished as the hasic mea8lK'e sf development density
withiR QesigR~8iQGntial EhwelepmeRts.Dwelline: Unit T~
mMlPensit,y.
(a) Density formula. The maximum permitted number of deflsity
dw_eJlinJt.units in a designed residential development shall be
determined by dividing the total land area by the nonnally
required minimum lot size for the zoning district in which it is
located and subtracting 20%.
(b) Number of bedrooms. The Planning Board shall be
responsible for determining the number of bedrooms in each
MAY-21 02 18:18 FROM:FP CLARK ASSOCIATES 9149676615
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dwelling unit in connection with its review of site plans in
accordance with Article IX of this chapter.
(c) Dwelling unit mix. For the purpose of assuring that designed
residential developments will broaden the range of available
housing types within the town, not more than 25% of the
permitted dmsi~ d...welliDK. units within any such development
shall be composed of detached one-family dwellings.
E.(l)(a)[S] A numerical analysis of the development
proposal including the total gross acreage and
the approximate acreage to be occupied by each
type of permitted use, the total nwnber of
dwelling units and OOasity \:lRits proposed for
inclusion within the development and the
proposed breakdown ofthese units according to
size and type. The analysis shall include the
total floor area devoted to each type of
nonresidential use and the extent of paved area
and building coverage.
E.(3) Amendments. The Town Board, after public hearing with the
same notice and referrals as required for the original public
hearing and approval, may consider and act upon an
application to amend the design concept shown on the
General Land Use and Development Plan for a previously
approved designed residential development or upon an
application to change or enlarge the limits of such
development to include contiguous acreage subsequently
acquired by the applicant. However, no public hearing shall
be required where a proposed change or enlargement does not
result in any significant modification to the design concept
shown on the approved General Land Use and Development
Plan or where less than a five-percent increase in the number
of initially approved ~units is involved,
provided that all density and other requirements of this
chapter are complied with and such modification does not
affect the findings of the Town Board with respect to the
Town and State Environmental Quality Review Laws.
MAY-21 a2 18:18 FROM:FP CLARK ASSOCIATES 9149676615
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7. The Town of Wappinger Zoning Law, Schedule of Dimensional
Regulations - Residential Districts, shall be amended as shown in the
attached schedule:
See attached schedule
.....
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6. g 240-25. Multifamily and nonresidential uses, of the Zoning Law
would be amended as follows:
(necessary?, limit to RMF, apply to all res an DOD-res, including trailer,
etc. ??]
A. Landscaping of unused areas. All portions ofmultifamily and
nonresidential properties which are not used for locations tor
buildings, structures, off-street parking and loading areas, sidewalks
or similar purposes shall be landscaped and permanently maintained
in such manner as to minimize erosion and stormwater runoff and
hannoniously blend such uses with the residential character of the
town as a whole.
B. Buffer requirements. In connection with the review of any site
development plan or special permit application tor multifamily and
nonresidential use abutting or directly across a local street from any.
property in a residence district, a buffer strip shall be required along
all such property lines. Such buffer strip shall comply with at least
the following minimum standards:
(l) It shall be of evergreen planting of such type, height, spacing
and arrangement as, in the judgment of the Planning Board,
will effectively screen the activity of the lot from the
neighboring residential area. NonevergClen planting may be
included to supplement evergreen planting, but not to take its
place.
(2) It shaH be at least 20 feet in width.
(3) A wall or fence of location, height, design and materials
approved by the Planning Board may be substituted for part
or all of the required planting and butler area.
(4) Where the existing topography andlor landscaping provides
adequate screening, the Planning Board may modify the
planting andlor buffer:area requirements.
C. Maintenance. All plantings shown on an approved site development
plan or special permit plan '~hall be maintained in a vigorous
growing condition throughout the duration of use and plants not so
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maintained shall be replaced with new plants at the beginning of the
next immediately following growing season.
D. Outdoor storage. The outdoor storage shall be suitably screened
from all adjoining streets and properties in accordance with a plan
approved by the Planning Board.
ApplicablelRelevant Sections of the 1988 Comprehensive Plan:
Goals:
"7. Encourage the provision ofa range of housing types an styles to meet a
wide variety of housing needs.
Obiectives:
. Include a variety of housing types in large, new developments.
. Encourage a sufficient supply of homes in suitable environments within
economic reach of all town residents.
. Ensure that housing densities reflect required services and amenities."
Recommended Land Use Plan - Hi~h Densitv Residential: (page 18)
"The high-density category includes areas currently devoted to multi-family
apartmentl\ and condominiums, Its purpose is to allow for continued lIse of
existing high density attached housing. Multi-family housing is not recommended
for any undeveloped areas except as one means of providing affordable hosing, as
discussed below in the section entitled Affordable Housing Mechanisms."
The proposed amendments will affect _ vacant properties zoned RMF. These
properties are/are not recommended for high-density residential development in
the 1988 Comprehensive Plan. The effect of the proposed amendments will be to
reduce the nominal maximum development potential to a figure which more
realistically approximates the number the property can accommodate based on
environmental constraints and the application of specific dimensional and other
design constraints.
Schedule of Dimensional Regulations - Residential Districts
TOWD of Wappinger
3:
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District R-8D Jt.-'Of8Ij R-40 R-1.014O' R-lAI R-15 R-IO R-2F IlMF.J IUfF-S
Minimum 101 II11:II (sq~ ~ unless 80,000 - 40,000 - 20,000 15,000 10,000 15,000 - -
nolUl)
Wilh public \YB!I:r IIld seweI - 40,000 - 20,000 - - - - 5 arns 5a:acs
With public \YilItr or SI:\'~ - 611,000 - 311,000 - - - - 15 am:s 10 &:reS
Widlolll public water iIIId sewCl - 80,000 - 40,000 - - - - IS acres 10 &ae5
Minimum 101 wiltth (fceI) 200 See NOlie I JlS See Nolie 100 is 60 85 100 100
I
t\fmimlDn 10\ deptIl (feel) lDO S::.: Nott 1 12S Sa: Nott 125 100 80 100 ISO ISO
I
Minimum lot lionlllge (feel) SO SO so SO SO 50 SO SO SO SO
MmWnum ~ ~1IIIi1s pel - - - - - - - - 3 5
auc _Clt~o.1..!!1g
Minimum liolII yard (fllCf) Iiwo:
COllllty/st&k highway 75 15 15 75 75 75 75 75 75 75
~nlU Iw of other Slretl 75 75 75 7S 6{) 60 SO 60 7S 75
frOnl Jot line of other JIIU1 50 50 SO 50 35 ]S 25 3S SO 50
l\flninuun iidc yanl (fed) 40 40 2S 25 20 15 12 IS SO 2S
AocmoJy buildilll <IS fcc:a hish 10 10 10 10 10 5 S 5 10 10
C1d <UlD squan: ftd
Minimmn rear)'8!d (fi:ct) SO SO SO SO 40 30 25 30 SO SO
AcccI$ory buildin& < I S fCcC hif1I 10 10 10 10 10 5 5 S 10 10
and <200 square fi:ct
Mainuun "Building Height" 1_5135 2.51JS 1.51J5 H135 15m 2.5135 H/35 2.5I.l5 31JS 3/35
(JIDri~fea)
Maximum 101 (lOve:,. (percenl) 10'"4 10% 11% 12% 15% 20",," 25% 20"-" 30~ 45~
Maxirnwn Boor area l'IIio 0.1 0.1 0.12 0.12 0.15 OJ 0.25 OJ O..3! 0.4"
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'The pUlJlOSt oflflesc dis1ricts is co allow lhe devclopmc:nJ 81 II higher density 'm:n public (or common) se"<:r and/or WAfa supply is used. ~ foUol\'ing 10\ \l,idth5 and yanl requirements
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MinimQm Lof Aru l\finimam Lot Widtb 1tlinimam Lot Depth I\llnimllID Fronf Yard Minimum Sid~ }'an! Minimum Ihu Yard
(5quare r~r, (flldJ (rret) (wI) (reel) (ree.t)
80,000 200 200 SO 40 50
6Q,000 ISO ISO SO 30 50
~,OOO 125 125 SO 25 50
30,000 liS 125 40 20 45
20,000 100 125 3S 20 40
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