=== HEADLINE === Chicken coop rules draw fire as village eyes $7.2 million capital plan === SUMMARY === A Truesdale Drive resident urged the Board of Trustees to reconsider a zoning change that would reduce the minimum distance for fowl pens from 50 feet to 15 feet from property lines, calling it a health and quality-of-life concern. The board also reviewed a $7.2 million capital plan and a tentative budget that stays under the state tax cap. === EXECUTIVE BRIEF === • Vouchers totaling $1,147,816.42 across five funds approved • Public hearing opened and closed on proposed FY2026-27 budget ($13.79M tax levy, under cap) • Public hearing opened and closed on Local Law No. 3 of 2026 (zoning code amendments) • Board directed village manager to explore increasing the proposed fowl pen setback beyond 15 feet • Negative declaration issued under SEQR for Local Law No. 3; adoption scheduled for next meeting • Planning Board memo to be addressed regarding Metro-North special permit status and parking requirements === ARTICLE === Nobody showed up to comment on a $7.2 million capital plan or a budget that determines how every village dollar gets spent. But chickens? Chickens packed the room — well, at least one very motivated neighbor did. Matthew Rubenstein of Truesdale Drive came to Tuesday's Board of Trustees meeting to challenge a zoning change that would allow fowl pens as close as 15 feet from a property line, down from the current 50 feet. Under the proposed rules, a quarter-acre RA-25 lot could house up to 10 fowl. "That's 10 fowl within 30 feet of the home," Rubenstein told the board. "The fowl don't stay in the property if they're not fenced, and there's no requirement. You can see on a sunny day the cloud of dust coming from their pen, which floats onto your property." Rubenstein also raised concerns about bird flu, noting he'd received a village notice about its prevalence the same day. He described a past enforcement failure under the previous engineering department, where a noise order was issued against a neighbor and later rescinded without action. "I didn't think it would mean the coop — so ugly, smelly, and dusty — would now be able to be within 15 feet of my property instead of 50," he said. Village Manager Janine King explained the existing code was ambiguous — you could read it as requiring 50 feet or as having no setback at all — and that 15 feet was based on neighboring municipalities. But trustees appeared to take Rubenstein's point seriously. "I don't wanna propose anything now, but if we could think about the possibility of slightly increasing that buffer," said Trustee Len Nicholson. "I presume every foot helps." King suggested 25 feet as a compromise. The board agreed to explore the change before adoption. The irony of the empty seats during the budget hearing was hard to miss. The proposed $13.79 million tax levy sits well under the state cap of $13.9 million, and the village has saved taxpayers over $1.1 million compared to allowable levies since the tax cap began in 2012. Water and sewer rates hold steady for a second consecutive year, though King warned a sewer increase may be needed next year. The capital plan doubles the road paving budget to $900,000, directs $3.5 million to infrastructure, and funds engineering design for a seawall at the train station — where the village just learned it may qualify for 50% county funding. Train station parking revenues are already running roughly $170,000 over budget. The zoning overhaul also clarifies building permit requirements for pools and accessory structures, removes a three-dog limit, eliminates a 50% fee refund for denied site plans, and codifies state training requirements for planning and zoning board members. Adoption is expected at the next meeting. **What to watch for:** Budget work sessions are scheduled over the coming weeks — check the village calendar for department-specific dates. The board will consider final adoption of Local Law No. 3 at its next regular meeting, potentially with a revised fowl pen setback.