Waterfront Zoning History

In 2003, the Irvington Comprehensive Plan called for the re-zoning of the Industrial District, which encompassed the area of the Village at the confluence of Main Street and the Hudson River. Specifically, the Comprehensive Plan recommended a mix of residential and business uses to replace the outdated and largely undesirable uses allowed by the Industrial District zoning. Subsequent to the completion of the Comprehensive Plan, a portion of the Industrial District was, in fact, re-zoned to be part of the Business District, while the portion to the west of the Hudson Line railroad remained unchanged. In the years following the release of the Comprehensive Plan, the Irvington Board of Trustees undertook the study of various ways to re-zone the remaining Industrial District.

During that process, in February 2007, Bridge Street Properties, LLC, the only private-property owner of the land west of the railroad, presented the Board of Trustees with a petition to change the zoning (PDF) for one of their waterfront parcels to facilitate the development of 19 town homes along with retail space along West Main Street. The parcel in question is located between West Main Street and the Irvington Boat Club and currently contains a large parking lot along with some smaller buildings.

The Draft Irvington Waterfront Study (PDF) was prepared by BFJ Planning at the request of the Board of Trustees in response to the zoning petition and development proposal submitted by Bridge Street Properties, LLC. The study also provides zoning recommendations applying to the larger waterfront area including the remaining waterfront areas currently zoned Industrial. The study was prepared to help the Board of Trustees evaluate the Bridge Street Properties zoning petition and development proposal.

The draft study contains important information that will be useful for future re-zoning efforts. However, as of its publication today, this study does not represent the position of, and has not been endorsed by, the Board of Trustees.

Bridge Street Properties withdrew their petition for a zoning change in a letter to the Mayor and Board of Trustees on February 9, 2009 (PDF).

The Board of Trustees has determined that it is still necessary to develop appropriate legislation to re-zone the waterfront Industrial property. The Board of Trustees is committed to undertaking a process for re-zoning that includes significant public involvement along with full consideration of state-of-the-art waterfront zoning techniques and principles. Waterfront priorities have been established by the Board of Trustees and are published on this web site.

Draft Waterfront Zoning legislation (PDF) was prepared as of September 28, 2010. After three public hearings during October and November 2010, revised Draft Waterfront Zoning legislation (PDF) was released on December 13, 2010. The law was further revised on January 6, 2011 (PDF). The draft law was not approved by the Board of Trustees.

The Board made further revisions to the law and the new draft, dated March 8, 2011 (PDF), was made available. A public hearing was scheduled for March 21, 2011.

In April 2011, the Board closed the public hearing and did not adopt the law.

On January 5, 2012, the Board of Trustees released a revised draft of a new Waterfront Zone (PDF) to replace the current Industrial Zone. A public hearing was opened on January 18, 2012 and adjourned to February 27, 2012.

On February 16, 2012, the Board of Trustees released a revised draft of a new Waterfront Zone (PDF) to replace the current Industrial Zone to be considered at the public hearing on February 27, 2012.

The Board of Trustees invites you to review the legislation and priorities and/or submit comments. Please forward your comments by email to Village Administrator Lawrence Schopfer or to Village Hall, 85 Main Street, Irvington, NY.

RESOURCES:

View the Waterfront Zoning Resources Page