The Village of Brockport will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 16 at 8 p.m. regarding a proposed cluster housing development ordinance. Cluster housing zoning allows a developer to build houses on smaller lots than allowed under single-family zoning in exchange for leaving part of the property undeveloped in perpetuity.

Builder Don Hibsch has approached the village with a plan for a cluster housing development on a parcel of land off of East Avenue and adjacent to the Havenwood tract. However, at this time, the village does not have cluster housing zoning on the books.

The hearing will give Brockport residents an opportunity to express their opinions, for or against, cluster housing zoning, before the village board decides whether or not to create such zoning.

Sample ordinances that Brockport has collected from other municipalities grant a great deal of discretionary power to the planning board in setting the parameters of individual cluster housing projects. Brockport may follow along those lines, or develop an ordinance with some of the parameters already in place.

Hibsch has told the board he would like to begin construction of his project in the spring. He is gearing his cluster housing plans to the "senior" market, those who are age 50 years and older. The homes Hibsch is planning will be moderate in size, 1,200 to 1,500 square feet, and cost between $120,000 to $160,000. He said they will appeal to empty-nesters who are ready to give up their larger homes and yards, but want to remain in the Brockport community.

In other business from the December 4 village board meeting: Mayor Mary Ann Thorpe reported that the Monroe County Health Department has finished tabulating the results of a health education needs assessment survey that was sent out to 700 village residents this fall. One hundred eighty-five residents returned the survey. Thorpe said that the county will be mailing the results to each person who responded and to those who attended a public meeting this fall. Once the information has been shared with the public, Thorpe said the health department will formulate a plan to deal with the health education concerns raised.

•Trustee Mort Wexler brought to head a several-month-long discussion about the village’s Board of Water Commissioners. The five-member commission is appointed by village trustees to oversee the Brockport water system. Commissioners receive a $2,400 per year stipend. Wexler wants the village board to have the authority to set water rates, not the non-elected water commissioners. However, state law gives the power to set water rates to water commissions in communities where they exist.

In order to give the rate setting authority to the village board, Wexler made a motion to abolish the water commission. Vice-Mayor James Whipple seconded the motion for discussion. The motion was defeated 4-1, with Wexler casting the lone vote to abolish the commission. Brockport water rates will continue to be set by the commission. The Monroe County Water Authority has recently announced an $.08 per thousand gallon increase.

Brockport Water Commissioners will decide how much of an increase to pass on to consumers.