2025-1522025-152
Resolution Of The Town Board Of The Town Of Wappinger To Adopt The 2025
Comprehensive Plan Amendments And Zoning Amendments
At a Regular Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger, Dutchess County,
New York, held at Town Hall, 20 Middlebush Road, Wappingers Falls, New York, on August
11, 2025.
The meeting was called to order by Joseph D. Cavaccini, Town Supervisor, and upon roll
being called, the following was recorded:
✓ Vote Record - Resolution RES -2025-152
Yes/Aye
No/Nay
Abstain
Absent
2 Adopted
❑ Adopted as Amended
Joseph D. Cavaccini
Voter
Q
❑
❑
❑
❑ Defeated
William H. Beale
Voter
Q
❑
❑
❑
❑ Tabled
Angela Bettina
Voter
❑
❑
❑
Q
❑ withdrawn
Christopher Phillips
Mover
Q
❑
❑
❑
Al Casella
Seconder
Q
❑
❑
❑
The following Resolution was introduced by Councilman Phillips and seconded by
Casella.
WHEREAS, Town of Wappinger Town Board believes that changes are necessary to provide more
effective control over the placement of certain multifamily and commercial uses to allow more certainty
in the application of the uses, and to ensure that multifamily and commercial uses are placed within
areas that can be reasonably served with municipal water and sewer; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 272-a of the NYS Town Law, the Town of Wappinger Town Board
has determined that such changes require revisions to the existing 2010 Town Comprehensive Plan and
to the Town's Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 240, to effectively execute the proposed changes; and
WHEREAS, these changes are minor and will result in no significant changes to many of the policies
previously adopted in the 2010 Comprehensive Plan, and will benefit our local residents; and
WHEREAS, by resolution dated May 12, 2025, the Town of Wappinger Town Board declared itself
Lead Agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR), per NYCRR 617 (b); and
WHEREAS, the adoption of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update and Zoning Amendments are a
Type 1 action under SEQRA, per NYCRR 617.4(b), since it covers the adoption of the municipality's
land use plan and land use controls affecting 25 acres or more; and
WHEREAS, Town provided public notice of the public hearing on the proposed 2025 Comprehensive
Plan Updates and Zoning Amendments, which were also made available on the Town's website and at
the Town Clerk's office for public inspection; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board held a public hearing on August 11, 2025 and provided an opportunity
for the public to comment verbally or in writing on the proposed 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update and
Zoning Amendments; and
WHEREAS, the Town considered all public comments received on the 2025 Plan Updates and
proposed Zoning Amendments; and
WHEREAS, the Dutchess County Planning Board and the Town Planning Board were provided with
the proposed 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update and Zoning Amendments for review; and
WHEREAS, the Dutchess County Department of Planning & Development submitted their review of
the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Updates and Zoning Revisions on June 11, 2025, their referral reference
number ZR25-126 and provided the following comments:
• That the zoning amendments would reduce opportunities for multifamily housing.
• That the proposed update contradicted the 2010 plan with respect to housing.
• That the changes lacked internal consistency, public involvement, and accurate data.
• That no data was provided showing issues with infrastructure capacity for future growth.
• That the changes were not done within a comprehensive planning framework; and
WHEREAS, the Dutchess County Department of Planning & Development further recommended that
the Board not adopt the proposed Comprehsnive Plan update or zoning code amendments; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Wappinger responded to the Dutchess County Department of Planning &
Development, refuting the County's comments and noting the following:
• Previous incremental zoning would allow for multifamily development on over 8,000 acres of
land in single-family districts, despite only 16.4 acres within the Town being mapped for
multifamily.
• The current zoning and its unpredictability make comprehensive analysis of sewer and water
infrastructure for current needs and future growth virtually impossible.
• Conversion of single-family homes to multifamily can have detrimental effects, especially in
terms of parking and impervious surfaces.
• The Town of Wappinger remains committed to providing a framework that allows for the
development of a variety of housing choices, retail opportunities, and employment choices,
while continuing to safeguard agricultural uses, the Town's natural environmental qualities, and
our residents' quality of life.
• Future higher density development should occur where infrastructure is available and can
accommodate such growth; and
• The Town Board of Wappinger finds the option of adopting the 2025 Comprehensive Plan and
Zoning Amendments preferable to extending a moratorium on housing developments; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board also reviewed and considered the comments made by the Town of
Wappinger Planning Board regarding this proposed action, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board completed Parts 1, 2, & 3 of the Full Environmental Assessment Form
(FEAF) and attachments for this Proposed Action of adopting the "2025 Town of Wappinger
Comprehensive Plan Updates and Zoning Amendments consistent with SEQRA, which
comprehensively analyzed the proposed project and the potential environmental impact that may arise
from the proposed action and found that the potential impacts are generally small and will not result in
any significant environmental impacts; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board is prepared to adopt this Resolution and Notice of Determination of
Non -Significance (Negative Declaration) in accordance with SEQRA (Article 8 of the New York State
Environmental Conservation law and 6 NYCRR 617) for proposed action of adopting the 2025 Plan
Updates and Zoning Amendments.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger in regular
session duly convened as follows:
The Town Board upon due deliberation of Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 of the (FEAF) and
Attachments, finds that the proposed action will not result in any significant adverse
environmental effects.
2. The Town Board, as Lead Agency, hereby issues a Negative Declaration pursuant to the
requirements of the SEQRA and authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign any and all
documents as the Responsible Officer under SEQRA.
3. The Town Board hereby directs that notice of this Negative Declaration be published and
filed in accordance with applicable law, including filing with the Town Supervisor and in
the Office of the Town Clerk.
4. The Town Board authorizes and directs the Town Clerk to notice the identified involved
and interested agencies a copy of the Negative Declaration for this project closing the
SEQRA process for this action.
5. The Town Board overrides the Dutchess County Department of Planning & Development
recommendation that the proposed Comprehensive Plan update or zoning code
amendments not be adopted.
6. After full consideration, the Town of Wappinger Town Board hereby adopts of the 2025
Town of Wappinger Comprehensive Plan Updates and Zoning Amendments.
7. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
8. The Town Board authorizes the Town Clerk to file this resolution with NY State as
required by State Law.
Involved & Interested Agencies
Town of Wappinger Planning Board
Dutchess County Planning Board
Dutchess County Agricultural & Farmland Protection Board
OPHRP State Historic Preservation Officer
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The foregoing was put to a vote which resulted as follows:
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Christopher Phillips, Councilman
SECONDER: Al Casella, Councilman
AYES: Joseph D. Cavaccini, William H. Beale, Christopher Phillips, Al Casella
ABSENT: Angela Bettina
Dated: Wappingers Falls, New York
8/11/2025
The Resolution is hereby duly declared Adopted.
JOSEP�4 P. PAOLONI, TOWN CLERK