Town of Harrison’s Support for Mixed-Use Zoning on I-287 Corridor Shows Forward Thinking

The Harrison Town Board took a step in the right direction Thursday night when it voted to support mixed-use zoning for the I-287 corridor, paving the way for multi-family housing and the creation of a Work. Live. Play. environment for Westchester’s young professionals.

“Harrison’s planners have made a forward-thinking move which means reasonably-priced housing with proximity to jobs and nightlife in the near future,” said Marissa Brett, executive director of the WCA’s economic development initiative, BLUEPRINT for Westchester, driven by the private sector. “The Westchester County Association has long championed transforming Westchester’s cities and towns into a haven for young professionals as a key ingredient for economic development.”

The new language adopted for the town’s comprehensive master plan creates mixed zoning for the area in Harrison bounded by I-287, I-684 and the Hutchinson River Parkway, to allow for potential development including (but not limited to) “assisted-care, senior, empty-nester and market-rate housing, as well as complementary retail uses and improved vehicular and pedestrian connections.” The Master Plan also states uses will not “burden or negatively affect the quality of life of neighboring communities, and will not result in increased height or density.”

“This is critical for economic development,” says Brett. “When businesses choose where to locate their operations, a big factor is access to a local talent pool. Plus, a mixed-use universe will drive changes in the local real estate market—and bring plenty of opportunities for growth and new investment.”