WHERE WE WANT TO GO
(IV)
This section contains the observations and recommendations that resulted from the many public meetings of the Village of Webster Planning Board during the process of updating the Village of Webster Comprehensive Plan. These observations and recommendations have been shared with the community thru meetings, workshops, and the media when public discussions at the Webster Village Board meeting were televised and thru various news articles featured in the local newspapers.
Many of the recommendations apply to the “Central Village” area of the village. This is because many of the issues deal with parking, signage, and creation of a walking environment that is so important to vitality of the businesses of the village and the immediate surrounding residential areas. Nevertheless, this Plan is also concerned with the entire community by evidence of the historic preservation recommendations.
A. Preserve the Historic Village Setting
Concerns for the historic features of the Village of Webster were evident in the responses to the Community Comprehensive Plan Survey and the large attendance at the various planning board workshops, addressing historic preservation in the Village of Webster. The results recommended that the Village of Webster Board adopt a historic preservation ordinance, with an independent Webster Historic Preservation Commission. The Historic Preservation Committee members will be selected by the Mayor of the Village of Webster using a list of required backgrounds delineated in the proposed ordinance. Participation in the historic preservation of property and sites in the village will be on a voluntary basis. Landowners will make application to the Village of Webster Historic commission for Landmark designation. Criteria are provided in the proposed ordinance for judging acceptance. Once qualified, exterior alterations to Landmark designated properties including alteration, demolition, and new construction will require approval the Landmark Commission. In the case of hardships, where a property owner desires to opt out of the historic preservation program a use variance will be required. The recommended Historic Preservation Code is detailed in APPENDIX –Part 1 titled
Historic Preservation
B. Enhancing the Village Business District
The Community Comprehensive Plan Survey results strongly supported providing for the vitality of the Village of Webster Business District while at the same time maintaining a village setting that provides for a pleasant residential community. This can be accomplished with four significant changes to the village code and a continued effort of making the Village of Webster a walk able community.
The first change recommended the creation of a separate district at the west end of the village in the area that is currently zoned Central Business District. This new Central Business District should be called the West End Business District. The current zoning presents problems for development. This area was developed under the village zoning criteria that existed during the period between the 1960’s to the 1980’s. The results are reflected in the building set backs from the streets and the fact that the properties have parking in the front of the various structures. In the old Central Business District, the buildings were constructed prior to the creation of zoning rules. The buildings are located near the street with the side walk as the only set back, giving this part of the Village a “downtown” appearance. The creation of this new district is not meant to convey that this newly established district is any less important than the other business districts. Only that the rules of development should be different to minimize the need for zoning variances and to allow for different uses that are not possible or desirable in the old central part of the village. The two recommendations consist of: the permitted structures and uses, and the district regulations. They are detailed in the APPENDIX -Part 2 titled WEST-END BUSINESS DISTRICT.
The second change recommended is directed at the Central Business District. It is recommended that drive-in establishments be eliminated from the list of permitted uses. Drive-in establishments are businesses where services are obtained while the customers remain in their vehicle. There are currently three businesses, two banks and one restaurant, offering drive-in service in the Central Business and they will continue under the new rules unless one or more of the business ceases operation at which time the drive-in use for that facility will be terminated. This recommended change is detailed in the APPENDIX - Part 3 titled part 3 CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
This third change is directed at reducing unnecessary light radiation from business into residential areas and at the same time improving the effectiveness of signage. The elimination of unreasonable light radiation from parking lot lights and business lighting to adjoining neighborhood residences and highways, will require lighting to be installed in such a way that it will not cause a traffic hazard or be unreasonably detrimental to adjoining and neighboring residences.
Secondly, the current zoning rules would be changed to allow (subject to the planning board control and approval) projection signs in the Central Business District. These are signs that project out perpendicular from the façade of the business. This would allow for more effective signage where traffic and physical properties limit visibility. This is an important element for businesses.
Additionally, the proposed zoning changes under the signage section would include improving off-premises signs. The new off-premises sign standards in the Village will allow better visibility, and their appearance will be compatible to the entrance signs announcing the Village, at each of the major entrances to the Village and the sign in front of the Village Hall. The new sign changes will enhance a business’s ability to announce their location and at the same time improve the appearance of the village business areas. The recommended changes are detailed in APPENDIX —Part 4 Titled SIGNS, BILLBOARDS and LIGHTING.
Parking is a subject that is always on the mind of various businesses in the central part of the Village of Webster. In some cases it’s a perceptual problem and in other cases it’s a real problem. The first recommendation does not address the limited parking problem but rather clarifies and updates the various limits for parking for different kinds of businesses based upon the American Planning Association planning advisory. The new limits and additional categories of businesses identified are contained in the Appendix Part 5 Titled Parking; Signs; Maintenance; Supplemental Regulations.
The second recommendation does address the limited parking problem in the central business area of the Village. This important recommendation involves combining the entire individual parking areas behind the businesses on the North side of Main Street between North Avenue and Kircher Park. It requires the cooperation of the various owners around the delineated area and the Village administration to work together for the common benefit of the community. By combining the individual parking areas into one paved parking lot with three accesses, one from North Avenue, one from Kircher Park and One from Main Street, the community will have significantly increase the usable parking area and enhanced the entrance/exits so that people will be encouraged to utilized this parking area. This will in turn allow customers better access to businesses on both the North side and South side of East Main Street. It will also encourage owners to development of the lower back side of the properties on North Main Street taking advantage of the topography of the ridge that runs parallel to Main Street. Also a dangerous exit would be eliminated adding to the safety of users of the parking areas.
C. Creating a Walk able Community
There are many ways to improve the walk ability of the Village. The first consideration is safety. The ridge at the four corners of Main Street and route 250 presents a unique set of conditions that can only be resolved thru a series of recommended actions. These are listed as follows:
- The speed limit on North Avenue and South Avenue between the Route 104 expressway and Spry Junior high School (Fuller Avenue) should be reduced to 25 mph versus the current 30mph. In this area (approximately 2100 feet), having a higher speed limit (30 mph) posses a special danger because of the limited visibility due to the Ridge (hill) and the following;
A. There are 51 driveways located on North and South Avenues between Route 104 and Fuller Avenue.
B. There are two parking area located on the hill where cars back right into the street.
C. There is a secondary level school where a large number of students walk to school and cross South Avenue.
D. There are six intersections with other streets in this short distance.
E. There is an emergency fire and rescue station located in this short distance near one of intersections and close to the hill with very limited visibility.
F. Many of the driveways service parking lots (approximately 12)
Adding to this hazard is the relatively large amount of traffic on this section of highway...
2. It is recommended that the Village post signs located in the center of North
Avenue, South Avenue, East Main Street, and West Main Street to remind
drivers that pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks under New York
State Law. Other communities have done this and it does remind drivers to be
alert for people.
3. There is a need to make the four corners in the Village safer for Pedestrians. A
strict enforcement of the “ No Right on Red” regulations would allow people to
cross at various points away from the intersection without the continuous flow
of traffic. Stopping traffic briefly will also allow automobiles to exit safely from
various driveways on North and South Avenues. All crosswalks in the Village
should be upgraded to include audible signals and digital displays indicating the
amount of time remaining to safely cross the street.
4. The Village needs to embark on a program to plant large shade trees on the
main arteries of East and West Main Street and North and South Avenue. This
will provide the canopy required to make walking the Village a pleasant
experience.
5. The lighting on all of the Streets of the Village of Webster need to be lowered
to the height and style that is currently in use on Dunning Street and Fuller
Avenue. This will allow the Village to create a pleasant Village atmosphere and
distinguish its commercial area and from the commercial parts of the
surrounding areas of the Town of Webster.
6. The Town of Webster should be encouraged to provide sidewalks from the
Village borders to the main part of the Town of Webster where the Town Hall
and the Library are located.
7. Street furniture should be provided for people to rest and visit on Main Street.
8. Additional crosswalks should be provided near the Firehouse on South
Avenue and on North Avenue near the entrance to Dunkin Donuts so that
people do not have to walk long distances to safely cross the main streets of
Webster.
