Brewster's Urban Renewal Plan: Highlights, Hearing

Brewster’s Urban Renewal Plan, finalized Dec. 30, will be the subject of a public hearing Jan. 12 by the village Planning Board.

The planning board is seeking public input about the plan for the area identified in the village’s earlier Blight Study: along both sides of Main Street -- including the Garden Street School property -- bounded by Peaceable Hill Road on the east and Railroad Avenue on the west.

Here are some highlights:

The land use strategy consists of creating a mix of residential, neighborhood retail, parking, community facilities, and open space uses at targeted locations. To achieve the redevelopment envisioned, acquisition of properties, relocation of tenants and demolition of buildings and improvements will be required.

The Village intends to enter into a Land Acquisition and Development Agreement with a designated redeveloper.

The Plan may require the relocation of businesses and/or residences. The private entity acquiring such properties will be required to relocate such occupants in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Roads will be constructed and closed accordingly to serve vehicular traffic in the Urban Renewal Area. Specifically, these roadway improvements may include de-mapping Park Street and establishing Progress Street as pedestrian only.

The Village will amend the B-1 District to encourage development of higher density mixed-use buildings in the vicinity of the railroad station.

The Plan will be implemented in several phases over a minimum 10-year period.

The objectives of the plan are:

1. To eliminate substandard conditions within the Project Area as identified in the Blight Study for the Brewster Study Area, dated February 18, 2015.

2. To redevelop deteriorating and underutilized properties with residential, retail, parking, and open space uses designed to serve local area residents, visitors/shoppers and commuters.

3. To create new housing opportunities within the Village;

4. To provide support for local retail and service establishments through the development of new housing and new resident population;

5. To help support the use of the Metro-North Brewster train station and improve its surrounding environment;

6. To enhance the aesthetics and overall image of the Project Area;

7. To improve public safety;

8. To increase local employment opportunities; and

9. To help generate economic activity and revitalization.

The planning board’s public hearing will take place at Village Hall, 50 Main Street, Brewster, NY, at 7:30 p.m. on the 12th.

Anyone wishing to be heard may do so as time permits. Anyone requiring special assistance and /or reasonable accommodations should contact the Village Clerk.

The village Board of Trustees will hold its own public hearing on the plan. Both hearings precede consideration for adoption of the plan as a local law.

The plan is available in Village Hall or online at www.brewstervillage-ny.gov