Chappaqua Hamlet Form Based Code Project

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Chappaqua Hamlet Rezoning Project

A New Future for Chappaqua….. On June 21, 2017 after a multi-year public outreach process, the Town of New Castle adopted its Comprehensive Plan Update, “A Framework for New Castle”. The Town’s Comprehensive Plan Update sets forth specific goals to “preserve the Town’s bucolic, residential character and its historic resources, while promoting new mixed-use development in the hamlets to meet the community’s housing needs and fostering thriving commercial and civic spaces. The plan recognizes that a healthy 21st century hamlet is much more than a retail destination; it is a place for community gatherings and civic events; a place where residents can live, congregate and spend their time comfortably; a place that is aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles; and a place that offers exciting dining and entertainment options that attract community residents and visitors. Today the Chappaqua Hamlet fulfills some of these criteria but falls short on many others (e.g. limited entertainment options, limited selection of housing types, difficult pedestrian navigation, limited parking). The Comprehensive Plan acknowledges the need to revitalize the Chappaqua Hamlet as a more modern, mixed-use community calling for actions that will help support its goals. The New Castle Comprehensive Plan Update can be found at https://plannewcastle.us

On April 23, 2019 the New Castle Town Board awarded Kimley-Horn, Torti-Gallas +Partners, RESGroup, and Joel Russell, Esq. the Chappaqua Rezoning Project. This project will produce a draft Form Based Zoning Code, a build-out an analysis and a Generic Environmental Impact Statement. Work began in May of 2019 and will end with consideration of final draft legislation in 2020.

We welcome public input and questions. Email or call us at [email protected] or (914)238-4723.

Proposed Zoning Legislation

Below you find draft zoning legislation. This legislation would replace legislation that currently exists within the Code of the Town of New Castle. The proposed zoning is focused on a 72 acre area within the Chappaqua Hamlet. This legislation is the basis for preparation of the Generic Environmental Impact Statement. The draft zoning will remain draft until the Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement is issued. Once the Environmental Impact Analysis is complete, the Town Board may decide to make further changes to the legislation prior to considering it for adoption.

Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS)

A Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) is being prepared by the Town Board in order to determine the significant environmental impacts of adopting the proposed zoning legislation. The State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) requires the Town Board (as lead agency) to study the changes that will occur from the Chappaqua Hamlet today to what it will be under the new Form Based Code. Changes such as building height, visual impacts, traffic circulation, parking,stormwater, drinking water, etc. will be examined to understand the effect of the code changes. There is a lot of analysis that occurs to compile the Draft GEIS. Information will be posted here as it is received and reviewed by the Town’s professional staff.

State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA)

New York State requires all decisions made by an approving authority to be considered under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). Under SEQRA the environmental significance of a project (a.k.a Action) must be assessed. The approving authority (in the case of the Form Based Code , the Town Board) must balance the environmental impacts with social and economic factors when deciding to approve or undertake an “Action”. The documents found below represent the information used by the Town Board to declare that changing the zoning legislation is a Type I Action that requires preparation of a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS).

Downtown Working Group Meetings and Documents

The Downtown Working Group was formed by the Town Board in May of 2019 to work with the Consultant Team to produce the draft legislation. The DTW consists of the Town Board, three members of the Planning Board, two members of the development community, and a local architect. Meeting videos and other information are provided below.