05-2023 - Development of a Village-owned parcel at Croton Point Avenue and Veterans Plaza

The Village of Croton-on-Hudson (the “Village”) seeks proposals for developing an approximately 53,370-square-foot (sf) (1.225-acre) Village-owned property located just north of the intersection of Croton Point Avenue and Veterans Plaza (the “Site” – tax parcel 79.17-1-5). Commonly referred to as “Village Parking Lot A” or the “North Lot” in reference to its current operation by the Village as a parking lot for the Metro North Railroad (MNR) Croton-Harmon station, the Site is located within the Light Industrial (LI) zoning district. In November 2022, new zoning amendments and development objectives were adopted for the LI zoning district that included special provisions for the Site and other adjacent properties. There is a much larger Village-owned MNR parking lot to the south of Croton Point Avenue, east and west of Veterans Plaza (commonly referred to as the “South Lot”) that is currently part of the same tax parcel as the Site. The Village has assigned a new tax parcel number (79.17-1-5.1) to the portion of tax parcel 79.17-1-5 that contains the South Lot, in order to exclude  the South Lot from the provisions of this RFP. The Village expects the selected proposal to achieve the following development objectives:

• Activation of an underutilized parcel within close proximity to public transit with residential or mixed-use land uses (including affordable housing) appropriate for the surrounding area.
• Compliance with the specific development guidelines for the Site that were formally adopted as part of a recent zoning text amendment affecting a portion of the LI zoning district.
• Fulfillment of long-standing community desires for transit-oriented-development (TOD) on Village lands adjacent to the Croton-Harmon MNR station. Permitting a higher floor area ratio (FAR), while also lowering parking requirements due to the proximity of mass transit options, are fundamental goals of a TOD concept. The recent zoning changes affecting the Site and certain adjacent parcels are consistent with the Village’s 2017 Comprehensive Plan (specifically page 112, Goal B).
• Contribution of property tax revenues to further diversify the Village’s fiscal base and relieve tax burden on residential property owners.
• Assist in meeting the needs of Croton for public amenities by providing outdoor greenspace and an attached or separate indoor facility for community and recreational use by all Croton residents.