Mastering the Master Plan

Five years ago, under now-Councilman Steve Malifitano’s administration, a positive start was made to update the town’s outdated Master Plan of 1988. Public forums were held to gather resident comment, group working committees were formed and it looked like there was finally movement toward a completed plan.

Unfortunately, the economy and other pressing issues intervened and the draft has languished on a shelf ever since.

With the —the same firm that worked on the plan in 2007—that draft has been dusted off and is now being aggressively reworked. There is a goal in place to complete the document by November.

The updated Master Plan can be an invaluable tool, providing a vision and plan for future development and guidelines to assist various Harrison boards as new applications come before them. It is important that everyone understand that haphazardly approving development applications without an overall vision and plan is a clear recipe for future problems and the update can be a valuable tool moving forward.

Appropriate to an update, BFJ is focusing additional attention on two areas: Harrison’s Platinum Mile and downtown neighborhoods.

Since 2007, corporate closings, relocations and outdated buildings and technology have dissipated the Platinum Mile. Because of the difficult economy, downtown merchants have struggled to attract and maintain sufficient traffic to keep their businesses flourishing. Those issues have also been combined with an aging infrastructure and aesthetics.

The plan update can provide a structure and a plan to assist the redevelopment and revitalization of both. It will include everything from zoning recommendations, suggested new uses and updated aesthetics and infrastructure guidelines.

As it happens, this Master Plan update comes at a perfect time. Large corporate investment and redevelopment opportunities, such as the and large new tenants for upcoming Halstead properties are reappearing before our town boards for consideration. The MTA project is at a critical decision-making stage and the Downtown Revitalization Committee and the new Chamber of Commerce leadership are looking to implement improvements and upgrades. It presents a "perfect storm" of opportunity and manpower that combined with the cohesive overview of a new Master Plan could work to bring real and positive improvements.

Accordingly, BFJ met with members of the Downtown Revitalization Committee, Harrison’s town planner, Councilwoman Marlane Amelio and a representative of the Harrison Library Foundation, which is looking to renovate Harrison’s library building, last week to gather input from all groups. This will be supplemented by a public workshop in June, at which time Harrison residents will be invited to add their comments and input to ensure all points of view can be considered before a final document is completed.

Development has been a major issue between the planning board and resident groups for years and the updated Master Plan can go a long way to quieting some of the disputes by outlining both areas for development and areas that should be protected moving forward.

Consistent implementation and enforcement of town decisions has also been an issue of resident concern. A recent ruling by the State Enabling Committee formed under the Standard State Zoning Enabling Act will give the updated plan some teeth. The committee recently made clear that municipalities will be required to put into place zoning and other municipal code changes and regulations to comply with any adopted Master Plan.

All of this means we may finally have great timing, great administrative support, enforcement and the real possibility of positive forward movement that could bring meaningful short and long-term improvements for the community as a whole.