2025-152 (6)NEGATIVE DECLARATION
FOR
2025 TOWN OF WAPPINGER COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE & ZONING AMENDMENTS
LEAD AGENCY: TOWN OF WAPPINGER TOWN BOARD
AUGUST 11, 2025
Please Take Notice
The Town of Wappinger Town Board (hereinafter the Town Board), acting as SEQRA Lead Agency,
undertook a review of the proposed action described below, and has determined that the project will not
have a significant impact on the environment and hereby issues a Negative Declaration in accordance with
NYCRR Part 617, also known as the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA)
Type of Action:
The Town Board has determined that 2025 Comprehensive Plan Updates and the Zoning Amendments is a
Type 1 action under SEQRA, per NYCRR 617.4(b), since it covers the adoption of the municipality's land
use plan and recommended zoning amendments.
Description of Proposed Action:
The proposed action involves minor updates to the 2010 adopted Town of Wappinger Comprehensive Plan
and associated amendments to Chapter 240 of the Zoning Law (herein referred to as the "Proposed
Action"). The proposed action will improve predictability of permitted housing densities and align
infrastructure capacity improvements to accommodate future growth. Minor changes to the zoning law will
provide consistency with the Town's plan updates and improve predictability regarding adjacent land uses
for current property owners.
Lead Agency.
Town of Wappinger Town Board
For More Information Contact:
Joseph D. Cavaccim, Supervisor
Email: supervisor@townofwappingerny.gov
Involved and Interested Agencies:
This notice is also being sent to the following involved and 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
Reasons Supporting the Determination
The Town Board has carefully considered all potential environmental impacts associated with the Project.
Below is a discussion of those potential impacts.
The Project is a SEQRA Type 1 Action, however the adoption of this 2025 Plan Update and Zoning
Amendment is more protective of the environment by aligning certain residential and commercial uses with
the availability of municipal water and sewer. The Town Board finds that it can make the determination of
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significance without the need for an EIS. This evaluation which is based on supporting information in the
Part 2 and Part 3 of the full EAF, confirms the Town Board's conclusion that a negative declaration of
significance should be issued for this project.
Reasons supporting this determination are indicated below in the discussion of each criterion specified in
6 NYCRR § 617.7(c)(i) below:
(i) A substantial adverse change in existing air quality, ground or surface water quality or quantity, traffic,
or noise levels; a substantial increase in solid waste production; a substantial increase in potential for
erosion, flooding, leaching or drainage problems.
The proposed action does not recommend a significant change of current density or land use, and
better defines appropriate places for commercial and multifamily uses near areas where they can
be served with existing municipal infrastructure, thereby reducing the impact of sprawl
(ii) The removal or destruction of large quantities of vegetation or fauna; substantial interference with
the movement of any resident or migratory fish or wildlife species; impacts on a significant habitat area;
substantial adverse impacts on a threatened or endangered species of animal or plant, or the habitat of
such a species; or other significant adverse impacts to natural resources.
The proposed action will encourage preservation of natural resources and wildlife areas, by
encouraging new development in areas that can be efficiently provided municipal water and sewer,
thereby encouraging more compact development strategies and discouraging sprawl, which can
lead to fi°agmented natural habitats.
(iii) The impairment of the environmental characteristics of a Critical Environmental Area (CEA).
The proposed action will not change policies related to the CEA, identified in the 2010 Wappinger
Comprehensive Plan as the "Cranberry Property. " No changes in this update will affect the CEA.
(iv) The creation of a material conflict with a community's current plans or goals as officially approved or
adopted.
The adoption of the 2025 Plan Update is an official update of the community's current plans and
goals; therefore, this does not apply. The Zoning Amendments will be consistant with the 2025
Plan Update.
(v) The impairment of the character or quality of important historical, archeological, architectural, or
aesthetic resources or of existing community or neighborhood character.
This proposed action does not change recommendations in the 2010 Town of Wappinger Plan,
which specifies areas of historic importance, and specifies recommendations for those areas,
therefore no significant impact would occur.
(vi) A major change in the use of either the quantity or type of energy.
The proposed action will create no significant changes in policy that would create a major
change in the use or quantity of the amount of energy over existing or permitted policy or
zoning.
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(vii) The creation of a hazard to human health;
The proposed action will not create a hazard to human health, and may improve the ability of
the municipality to more efficiently expand water and sewer services.
(viii) A substantial change in the use, or intensity of use, of land including agricultural, open space or
recreational resources, or in its capacity to support existing uses.
The proposed action will not result in a significant change of use and/or intensity of use;
however, it clarifies residential and commercial uses in the community, ensuring better
protection of rural and agricultural areas.
(ix) The encouraging or attracting of a large number of people to a place or places for more than a few days,
compared to the number of people who would come to such place absent the action.
The proposed action will not result in a significant changes in the number ofpeople that would
gather in places in the Town.
(x) The creation of a material demand for other actions that would result in one of the above consequences.
The proposed action will not result in a material demand for other actions that would result in
material consequences to the Town, existing policies will continue to provide guidance that will
result in conservation of the Town's resources.
(xi) Changes in two or more elements of the environment, no one of which has a significant impact on the
environment, but when considered together result in a substantial adverse impact on the environment.
The proposed action does not create impacts to two or more elements of the environment that,
collectively, would result in substantial adverse impact to the environment. Plan Update
recommendations include revisions to the zoning ordinance, that when adopted will reduce
impacts to the environment by more effectively directing development into areas that can be
served by existing infrastructure.
NO Two or more related actions undertaken, funded, or approved by an agency, none of which has or
would have a significant impact on the environment, but when considered cumulatively would meet one or
more of the criteria in this subdivision.
The proposed action will not have cumulative impacts on the environment. Any new
development that would occur as a result ofzoning amendments s are implemented would result
in a net reduction of impact on the environment with the implementation of the 2025 Wappinger
Comprehensive Plan Update and proposed Zoning Amendments.
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CERTIFICATION
This SEQRA Negative Declaration and Reasons Supporting SEQRA Negative Declaration
were approved at a duly called meeting of the Town of Wappinger Town Board on , 2025.
The requirements of Article 8 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law and 6
NYCRR Part 617 have been met.
Joseph D. Cavaccim, Town Supervisor
Town of Wappinger Town Board
Date:
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