Citizens for Responsible Hudson Institute Site Development (CRHISD) was created in 2015 to provide a way for residents of Greater Teatown to participate in the process that will determine what becomes of the 20 acre property locally known as the old Hudson. It is one of several larger properties in the environmentally sensitive area that could be targeted for development in the coming years. The current owners of this property have proposed a large-scale commercial development.
The Greater Teatown area has four communities: Cortlandt, New Castle, Ossining and Yorktown. It lies within the boundaries of the Lower Hudson Valley Watershed, which supplies a large portion of New York City’s water. Greater Teatown consists of long established residential neighborhoods with large lot-size requirements to protect the watershed and wetlands of the area. This is where the Hudson Institute property is located.
In spring 2016 the Town of Cortlandt adopted a Master Plan. It lays out a blueprint for development within the town over the next decade. The plan is designed to create new jobs, businesses and housing options—while preserving long established residential neighborhoods and the environment. Part of CRHISD’s mission is to support the implementation of that plan.
CRHISD, a non-profit 501C4, is working to ensure that any proposed development on the site of the former Hudson Institute is required to:
• Conform to current zoning law with no Special Permits.
• Be subject to an independent Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to determine the impact of development.
• Be consistent with the Town of Cortlandt Master Plan adopted in spring 2016.
• Maintain the historic rural/residential character of Greater Teatown and the integrity of its residential neighborhoods.