New Town Center

Several years ago the LaGrange Town Board made changes to the Town Zoning Code which paved the way for La Grange to realize a long time goal of creating a Town Center. LaGrange has evolved as a bedroom community with little or no commercial tax base. The tendency has been to create commercial space through the sprawl educing methods employed by strip malls. Today the LaGrange Town Board has embraced “Smart Growth” methods to combat sprawl. The Town Center zoning combined with our new Master Plan give us the tools to develop LaGrange using 21st Century methods. An area roughly bordered by the Taconic State Parkway, Dr. Fink Rd, Freedom Rd, Lauer Rd., and Todd Hill Rd. makes up the entire Town Center area. A Major project planned by Ginsburg Development and Reiger Homes makes up a major portion of the area. (www.lagrangetowncenter.com) The LaGrange Town Center plan is consistent with nationally accepted Smart Growth techniques. The plan fits into La Grange’s commitment to the Hudson River Greenway concepts. The elimination of sprawl, and ecologically sound building principals are paramount. The plan combines shared use techniques, clustering, and a pedestrian friendly design. John Clarke, a Planner with the Dutchess County Planning Department has been involved in the plan from the beginning and remains a strong supporter. LaGrange has eagerly teamed up with Dutchess County to ensure the creation of an appropriate plan. You can read up on what Dutchess has to say about Smart Growth at; Connections, Greenway Compact Program and Guides for Dutchess County Communities. http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Planning/ELPgreenwayguide.htm#greenwayGreenway The Pace University Law School Land Use Center is a highly acclaimed center for the promotion of modern land use methods. Pace University sets the standard for Land Use training and certification for regional Municipalities. The LaGrange Town Center Plan is often referred to during these training sessions. La Grange’s concept plan is included in a training manual used in this training. The manual is available through Pace University’s web site. An excerpt from the manual can be viewed at: Town Center: LaGrange New York. (http://environment.yale.edu/documents/downloads/o-u/report_5_growth_planning.pdf The Town Center plan will provide LaGrange with a “sense of place” that we have never had before. A vibrant Town Center complete with a Town Green at which we can hold community events will make us a destination, rather then just an obscure and misnamed exit off the Taconic. Our goal is to also create a commercial tax base within this center. Shops with apartments above, boutiques, restaurants, and even an inn are anticipated. There will be a positive tax impact as a result. Initial projections show us that the tax income will far out way any burden that the residential segments place on the Arlington School District. A preliminary document outlining these projections has been reviewed by the School District and the projections are consistent with their own projections. The Town Center will include new housing opportunities as well. While there will be a segment of single family homes, they will be unlike any we have seen in our Town. Smaller lots, tree lined streets, service roads, carriage houses and apartments above shops will all be included. The prospect of an not for profit agency on the horizon in Dutchess County to administer work force housing issues, makes the Town Center an area where work force housing options could be realized. The Supervisor, LaGrange Planning Staff, LaGrange Town Center Consultants (Clark Patterson Associates), and the Developers have been working to provide Route 55 traffic solutions. The New York State Department of Transportation is an active partner in working toward these solutions. Planners from Dutchess County associated with the Poughkeepsie Dutchess County Transportation Council continue to facilitate the partnership. Current plans, although not finalized, call for new traffic patterns to move Arlington High School traffic off of Route 55 as quickly as possible. The elimination of High School traffic reduces the traffic by as much as 50%. The consultants are working with professional traffic engineers using state of the art computer models to visualize the traffic pressures today and into the future. Supervisor Wagner has spoken to Staffers at Senator Chuck Schumer’s office regarding the plan and the potential for Federal assistance. The Senator’s office was eager to learn more and hopefully direct LaGrange toward Federal appropriations money to assist. A similar response was received from Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand when Supervisor Wagner recently met with our newest Representative. Follow-up conversations and correspondence will occur to keep the project fresh in their offices, and on their minds. Smart Growth techniques, ecologically sound building practices, an identifiable LaGrange center, improved traffic flow on Route 55, a positive commercial tax flow to assist with our School tax burden, and housing to meet the needs of our residents. These are all identifiable and verifiable results of the Town Center. The project is currently before the Planning Board. The process to review the plan is open and transparent. Public participation is crucial. Please attend the Planning Board meetings and provide input. Issues like the environment, water, sewer, traffic and the implications that the project might have on your taxes are being addressed. We are striving to use the best and brightest consultants and resources to address these issues. Let us know what you like about the concept.