TOWN OF CRAWFORD
NOTICE OF HEARING
INTRODUCTORY LOCAL LAW
INCREASE IN MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA OF WAREHOUSES IN THE
THE BUSINESS PARK ZONING DISTRICT
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that there has been introduced before the Town Board of the Town of Crawford, New York, on June 16, 2022, a local law, titled “Increase In Maximum Floor Area of Warehouses In The Business Park Zoning District,” which local law would increase the permitted maximum total floor area of warehouse and distribution centers in the BP (Business Park) zoning district from 200,000 square feet to 400,000 square feet.
A complete copy of the Introductory Local Law is available for inspection at the Clerk's Office.
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 20 of the Municipal Home Rule Law, the Town Board of the Town of Crawford, New York, will hold a public hearing on the aforesaid Local Law on July 21, 2022, at 7:00 P.M. or soon thereafter, at the Town Hall, 121 Route 302, Pine Bush, New York, 12566, at which time all persons interested therein shall be heard.
The Town of Crawford will make every effort to assure that the hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities. Anyone requiring special assistance and/or reasonable accommodations should contact the Town Clerk.
Dated: June 17, 2022
BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF CRAWFORD
JESSICA KEMPTER, TOWN CLERK
Introduce Zoning Amendment Regarding Warehouses in BP Zoning District
TOWN OF CRAWFORD
INTRODUCTORY LOCAL LAW
INCREASE IN MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA OF WAREHOUSES
IN THE BUSINESS PARK ZONING DISTRICT
BE IT ENACTED by the Town Board of the Town of Crawford, County of Orange, State of New York, as follows:
Section 1. Legislative Intent. Warehouse and distribution centers are permitted as a special permit use in the Business Park (BP) and Industrial (I) zoning districts. In the BP zoning district, the size of warehouse and distribution centers is limited to not more than 200,000 square feet total floor area. The Town Board recognizes that warehouse users and warehouse developers seek the benefits of larger warehouse and distribution centers, and that the 200,000 square foot limitation discourages construction of warehouse and distribution centers in the BP zoning district. In addition, the Town Board recognizes that under the existing zoning law, a warehouse/distribution center developer could subdivide a parcel and seek approval for multiple adjoining warehouse buildings totaling 400,000 square feet or more of floor area. The Board believes that one larger warehouse building is better planning and more protective of the environment than two or three adjoining warehouse buildings, and that the Planning Board’s review of individual applications will ensure appropriate site layouts and neighborhood and environmental protection. Accordingly, the intent of this local law is to increase the permitted maximum floor area of warehouses and distribution centers to 400,000 square feet.
The Town Board recognizes that the minimum lot size requirement in the BP zoning district is 2.5 acres, and that 2.5 acres is not adequate to accommodate a 400,000-square foot warehouse/distribution center and associated loading areas, parking, driveways, stormwater facilities and landscaping. Since a warehouse or distribution center is a special permit use, the Planning Board possesses discretion to determine on individual applications whether the site is suitable for a warehouse or distribution center of the proposed floor area, given the site size and physical characteristics, surrounding area and other relevant factors.
Section 2. The Table of Use Regulations for the BP (Business Park) Zoning District, authorized by §137-8, titled “Table of Use Regulations,” of Chapter 137, titled “Zoning,” is amended by amending Item 8 of Column 2, titled “Special Permit Uses,” to read as follows:
8. Warehouse and distribution centers not larger than 400,000 square feet total floor area.
Section 3. This local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State.