Those plans seek to mesh development with water-quality protection. In addition to developing Croton Plans, towns also are revising their master plans. While the growth has been fueled by those moving from Westchester and New York City looking for some of that country, the influx has set some longtime residents on edge. It's been ridiculously explosive. I have this sense of ownership, and I feel like I've watched people invade my hometown.
New houses mean more cars on the roads, which are showing strain.
Commuters face a virtual parking lot on Route 22 in Southeast every weekday morning and evening. New traffic lights have recently popped up at intersections that used to depend on stop signs. The ride has changed drastically. Steps have been taken to accommodate the traffic increase. For most of the 1990s, the state Department of Transportation proposed widening Route 22 and began moving ahead with the planning process last year.