SAY NO TO OVERDEVELOPMENT IN CLARKSTOWN'S RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS

Malankara Catholic Mission of North America is seeking two variances to provisions of Local Zoning Law Chapter 290 of the Town Code of Clarkstown Regulating Non-Residential Uses in Residential Zoning Districts that are currently preventing them from proceeding with a church construction project on Mountainview Avenue, Valley Cottage.
Granting these variances would set a precedent that would allow other entities seeking to create oversized and inappropriate developments in residential communities to bypass Clarkstown's zoning laws. We are urging the Clarkstown Zoning Board of Appeals to reject the application for these variances and protect the intent of Local Zoning Law Chapter 290 such that it remains consistent with the following goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan of Clarkstown:
1. Preserve the suburban and remaining semi-rural character of the Town.
2. Develop zoning and building regulations that reduce or restrict odors, sounds,
commercial traffic, light pollution and other negative environmental impacts on
residential areas.
3. Expand initiatives to safeguard neighborhoods from inappropriately scaled
development.
Granting these variances would allow a project to proceed that would negatively alter the quality of life of the residents of Mountainview Avenue and impact the ecology of Bear Swamp, surrounding federal wetland and Mountainview Nature Park and weaken the integrity of existing Clarkstown zoning laws.