=== HEADLINE === Planning board waives $12,000 parkland fees for two accessory cottages === SUMMARY === Croton's Planning Board approved accessory cottage applications for Riverview Trail and Grand Street, waiving a $12,000 parkland fee both times while urging village trustees to create a middle-ground option. Neighbors of 425 South Riverside also pressed the board for better advance notice of future development plans. === EXECUTIVE BRIEF === • Approved accessory cottage application at 43 Riverview Trail, waiving the $12,000 in-lieu-of-parkland fee • Approved accessory cottage application at 284 Grand Street, also waiving the $12,000 parkland fee • Approved final signage for Mirage Mirror and Glass at 425 South Riverside Avenue • Requested building department urge village trustees to review the parkland fee structure for ADUs • Approved draft minutes from December 9, 2025 with minor edits === ARTICLE === A $12,000 fee meant to compensate Croton for new residents using parkland continues to sit awkwardly with the Planning Board — so much so that for the second time in a single night, members waived it entirely for an accessory cottage applicant. {{photo:1117:1049:Planning Board meeting}} "I don't necessarily agree, but I'm willing to go along with the herd on this one," said board member Steve, noting that reversing course now would be inconsistent with past precedent. "I still believe the board trustees will decide to either give us some latitude or themselves modify the fee in a more appropriate manner." {{quote:1052}} The fee, mandated by village code, is binary: either $12,000 or nothing. There is no sliding scale based on square footage, construction cost, or whether the unit is for family. Board members called that onerous, particularly for smaller projects. The first waiver went to Roseanne McDonald of 43 Riverview Trail, who plans to replace a dilapidated, long-vacant cottage with a 750-square-foot modular home for her daughter, a nurse. "Being that I am older, my daughter's a nurse," McDonald told the board. "If I should need the help, she'll be there." {{quote:353}} The project required three variances — height, front yard setback, and, at the eleventh hour, a front door variance after a code discrepancy surfaced between apartments and cottages. All were granted by the Zoning Board prior to Tuesday. The second waiver went to James Corbett of 284 Grand Street, who is converting an existing two-car garage into a 499-square-foot cottage for his in-laws to use during summer visits. Builder Bob Small called it essentially "a new house" once the work — new insulation, egress windows, updated electrical — is complete. Dean Barelli of Westchester Modular Homes, representing the Riverview Trail applicant, noted that many towns exempt family ADUs from fees entirely. "The impetus is being that we wanna keep the taxpayers who built this town," he said. {{quote:1160}} Board chair Rob pushed back slightly on that logic: "It could be presented as a family member and then become a rental the next month." Still, the board voted unanimously both times to strike the fee. {{quote:1198}} In a quieter but telling moment, nobody from the public showed up to comment on either cottage — despite the parkland fee being one of the more debated local issues in recent months. Later in the evening, neighbors of 425 South Riverside Avenue arrived to ask about signage approval for Mirage Mirror and Glass. Constancia Warren and Bruce Dollar of 1 Young Avenue wanted to know whether the environmental review waiver for the sign also covered future development of the property. It does not. Village staff assured them a full site plan review, public hearing, and mailed neighbor notices would come with any redevelopment proposal. The board also fielded a brief, slightly tense exchange with resident Barry Donaldson of 14 King Street, who interrupted proceedings to ask whether Croton has a comprehensive master plan. It does — it's available under public documents on the village website. **What to watch for:** Future ADU applicants should expect the parkland fee issue to resurface. The board has now formally asked the building department to push village trustees for a middle-ground solution. Residents adjoining 425 South Riverside should watch for mailed notice and a public hearing when development plans surface in the coming months.