Dear neighbor, Here is the 541st installment of Decoding Village Agendas to keep Croton residents informed of the actions of the Village Board at their meetings.  I continue to add recipients to this email update on agendas so you may be receiving it for the first time. I enjoy getting your feedback and hope to continue to hear from you.  If you do not wish to receive these periodic email updates from me, please reply to this email and your name will be removed from the email list.

Ann Gallelli

Decoding Village Agendas –   June 14, 2021

Work Session of the Village Board

6:00 p.m.

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1. Review the proposed Indian Brook-Croton Gorge Watershed Overlay Zone. 

Five municipalities, Cortlandt, New Castle, Town and Village of Ossining, and Village of Croton   formed the Indian Brook-Croton Gorge Watershed group many years ago to protect the water supply in these watersheds.  The group has issued an RFP to undertake the study and development of a Watershed Overlay zone that would establish protective zoning rules in the watershed area.  Before the RFP is finalized it must be reviewed and approved by the municipalities involved.   The Board will discuss whether the Village wishes to proceed with the development of such an overlay zone. The majority of the IBCG watershed area does not have municipal water or sewers.

2. Discussion regarding a proposed mural to be painted at Senasqua Park.  Local artist Dillon O’Keefe is proposing a mural on the wall of the Bathhouse at Senasqua Park which depicts the words “Croton-on-Hudson” against a sunset on the Hudson River.

3. Review the vendor usage of Senasqua Park under the revised permitting process.  The Board will discuss the billing/fee process under the current permitting process whereby vendors pay a  permit fee and are later billed a fee to cover the presence of a Park ranger.

4. Review of survey results regarding the residential parking permit system on Young Avenue and Hastings  Avenue.   In 2019, the Village conducted a survey for residents of Young and Hastings Avenues regarding their preference for time-limited parking on the street vs a residential permitting system.  Based on the results at that time, the Village requested our NYS representatives to introduce bills in the State Assembly and Senate permitting residential parking permits on a public street.  It was approved.  However, since changes have occurred in parking due to the pandemic, the Village sent a 2021 survey which indicated a negative interest.  (Survey results are in the back up documents.)  The Board will discuss how it wants to move ahead or not on this matter.

5. Discussion regarding the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act and its possible impact on Croton-on-Hudson.  The Board must decide whether to “opt out” or not of the provisions of the recently passed Marijuana Law. The Village can always “opt -in” at any time in the future but must decide whether to “opt-out” by December 31, 2021. 

 The following questions will also be discussed:  1) Shall the Village Code section prohibiting smoking and vaping tobacco in parks and recreation areas be expanded to prohibit the smoking and vaping of marijuana in those areas? 2) Shall the Village adopt a local law prohibiting dispensaries of marijuana and other cannabis products within the Village boundaries? 3) Shall the Village adopt a local law prohibiting cannabis consumption sites (“lounges”) from operating within the Village boundaries?

If the Board decides to proceed with a local law prohibiting either #2 or #3, the law must be passed by December 31, 2021. The Village can always “opt-in” at a future date,  but cannot “opt-out” after December 31st. The local laws are subject to permissive referendum, so it would be our recommendation to adopt the laws by the beginning of September to permit the referendum question to be added to the November 2021 ballot, if necessary, and avoid the expense of a special election.