Board Approves $48,000 for Master Plan Development

The Town of Harrison has accepted a bid of $48,000 from BFJ Planning for work on the town's Master Plan, finalizing a deal with the same company that completed a draft on the plan only five years ago.

Formal approval was essentially a formality, BFJ, an area planning and consulting firm, offered a reduced rate because most of the legwork for completing that plan was completed in 2007. They were the only firm to present a proposal at a and were the only option the board announced as a candidate this week.

The town had set aside $18,000 in the 2012 budget for work on the plan, and will use $30,000 from the contingency budget to pay for the expense.

According to BFJ's outline, the project could be complete by Thanksgiving. But critics said Thursday that they are concerned that the town might be pushing forward too quickly with a document that will be used to outline and plan the town's development for years to come.

"Go very slowly with this," urged Park Lane resident Michael LaDore. "I think you really need to go a little bit slower than you are planning, we need to start from scratch."

LaDore said the 2007 draft caused a bit of an uproar over possible overdevelopment in certain areas. But he did say that he supports the town's effort to update the plan for the first time since 1988.

"I think it's something we need," he said. "We have needed it for years."

Others were concerned about cost. Robert Porto, a Harrison resident, said he is worried that now might not be the right time to spend the money on the project. In 2007, then-Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh tabled the Master Plan draft early in her administration, citing—among other issues—her focus on the town's financial troubles.

"I just hope you guys are still on a path of trying to save money," Porto said to the board. "I don't know if this is a good time to do this Master Plan and I hope you are trying to keep the expenses very low."

With the town's approval, BFJ will begin work on the plan this spring. The first two months of work will be dedicated to updating the town's demographics, followed by two months updating plans for the Platinum Mile and downtown business district.

The town board will also need to decide whether to shell out as much as $100,000 in additional money for an intensive Environmental Impact Statement. That extra study isn't required for a Master Plan, but provides a deeper look at any possible issues.

Belmont said he expects to schedule public hearings in all areas of town throughout the spring and summer to update the town on the plan's progress.