Fishkill leaders may halt new construction as village tries to rein in development, ease traffic
Village officials are looking to put a 12-month moratorium on new construction downtown to give themselves a moment to breathe and revisit zoning laws.
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Leaders of a Hudson Valley village are considering a year-long ban on new construction in its downtown business district because traffic is getting out of control and they want to change laws to try to ease traffic in the long-term, though it might become worse before it improves.
Year after year, driving across the village of Fishkill on Main Street is only taking longer and frustrating drivers more as the village changes.
Many residents blame development that has brought more workers, more residents, more visitors and more cars through the historic community of about 2,200 residents.
Village officials are looking to put a 12-month moratorium on new construction downtown to give themselves a moment to breathe and revisit zoning laws.
"It's a village, not a city," read several Facebook comments about recent development.
Several locals are upset about a 56-unit apartment complex being built at Main and Jackson streets.
The project is already permitted and underway, so a moratorium would not stop it.
The pause would halt any future projects.
"Here we are in the center of town," Fishkill resident Bill Muller said. "Five o'clock at night, you can't move. I think a moratorium might be a very good thing to do."
Diara Carpio, who just opened a salon near the Main and Jackson project, is not looking forward to increased traffic either.
She is looking forward to new customers, though, which is why she chose to open shop in Fishkill late last year.
"I'm happy," she said. "A lot of new people are coming to the area, so I'm happy."
At a recent village board meeting, the village planner advised board members they are free to approve a moratorium to afford them space to do minor, or even drastic, zoning law changes to ensure future projects fit with their long-term vision.
The board is holding a public hearing on the proposed moratorium on March 2.
