Westport explains hamlet expansion process

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July 26, 2010

By ALVIN REINER Staff Writer The Press Republican Mon Jul 26, 2010, 06:10 AM EDT

WESTPORT — Westport wants to be prepared for what it hopes will be future growth.

So the town has a hamlet-expansion effort under way.

Matthew Rogers, director of environmental and regulatory planning for Saratoga Associates, gave a presentation recently to about 30 community members to explain the process.

The primary goals are to identify and analyze potential areas for expansion, identify preferred development patterns, prepare concepts, identify feasible economic development opportunities, provide information for the zoning update procedure and identify locations for sewer and water infrastructure expansion.

GRANT SECURED

Since 2007, a Blue Ribbon Committee has been working with the APA to identify locations for map amendments that could increase the land available for hamlet expansion.

Westport recognized the need for a more thorough analysis of expansion opportunities and received a Quality Communities Grant from New York State Smart Growth to do that.

The project intends to identify Westport's recent and projected demographic and employment trends, residents' needs, issues, and retail demand and uses that might be a good fit.

Adjacent towns have been included, and impacting factors are being evaluated.

Several regions for potential growth were identified, including EW Adams, Furnace Point, Home Port Way and an industrial site.

PURCHASES

It was discovered that local residents purchase most of their goods and services outside the area.

Among the potential businesses are full-service restaurants and limited service eateries, sporting goods, hobby, clothing, office supplies and musical instrument sales.

UPS, DOWNS

Through interviews, it was determined that Westport's strengths included its small-town friendly nature; natural beauty with proximity to Lake Champlain; recreational opportunities, such as biking, skiing and boating; proximity to the Northway and Amtrak; and the quality of the school district.

Weaknesses included the need to streamline the land-development process, a lack of jobs, off-season declines, lack of housing diversity, few options for the elderly, the high cost of housing and a high tax rate.

Recommendations include looking into housing needs, such as rental units; providing an indoor recreational facility; sponsoring events; and encouraging micro farms and community-supported agriculture.

"Now is a good time to consider guidelines," Rogeres told the gathering. "We want to protect the character of the community."

The public is encouraged to stop by the Town Hall or click "Town Projects" at www.westportny.net. &boldtext;E-mail Alvin Reiner at: rondackrambler@yahoo.com