February 3, 2004
7:30pm
Workshop Meeting — Red Hook Town Board
Supervisor Blum Bump called the
Workshop meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the following in attendance:
Supervisor – Marirose Blum Bump
Councilman – James Ross
Councilman – Harold Ramsey
Councilwoman – Sue Crane
Councilwoman – Jean Bordewich
Town Clerk – Margaret E. Doty
Supervisor Blum Bump opened the meeting by introducing her board members. She
than read a copy of the Draft of Proposed Moratorium Law.
Councilman Ross questioned are we paying an attorney to draw up a Moratorium
Law.
Councilman Ramsey said I realize we need to protect our farmlands and protect
our growth. Based on what we think is wrong with zoning and planning laws we
should correct this.
Supervisor Blum Bump said the Master Plan was drawn up in the 1980’s. The
Master Plan and the Zoning Code do not match up. We also have important maps
and overlays called for in our Zoning Code that have not been created or
adopted. We have an open space plan that was completed, but not adopted.
We need to have zoning and planning work together to keep Red Hook a rural
small town, so we need to take a good look in dealing with the problem of
growth.
Councilwoman Crane said it is important for us to have information and I would
like to see exchange talks about it, not leap into a moratorium.
Councilwoman Bordewich said this is just the beginning stages, just beginning
to get a feel of what people want. People in the community feel Red Hook is
developing too quickly, do believe we need to take a short breather.
Not just stop construction, where do you put development, as it is hard to
think this out with rapid development. With all this development are people
going to want to come here.
Having a moratorium would give us a way to think this through.
Councilman Ross said our present zoning code was updated in 1993 and the
zoning is working better than in most communities. There is no reason to have
a moratorium, as we can look at our Master Plan and zoning and make revisions.
Supervisor Blum Bump said she was part of the Master Plan and they met once a
month. We need to communicate with county. Have help along with county
planning as we need to take a look for long time planning.
A moratorium is a very good idea.
Councilman Ramsey said the Land Task Force and the Economic Development
Committees can come back with recommendations in zoning and planning issues.
Councilwoman Bordewich said if there are a number of parcels ups for grabs,
does our existing zoning and planning cover this development.
Supervisor Blum Bump said opinion and observation, zoning, planning and
overlay do not support each other. We need clarification; good planning
requires updating of zoning and planning.
A moratorium would be a tool, not anti-construction.
Councilwoman Bordewich said it is important to have someone to talk to about a
moratorium, and look at it as a positive, not that we are blocking things.
Positive people who tried it and worked with others. Do something positive;
get support come up with good ideas.
Supervisor Blum Bump would like to see developers, planners and builders sit
down discuss this.
Why not have an attractive area for development. Allow our zoning and planners
to work for this.
Councilman Ramsey said everyone agrees with you looking at zoning and
planning. Bringing in people to look at the alternatives look at it in more
depth on how to plan our town.
Supervisor Blum Bump said I am aware this will have an impact on everyone.
Councilwoman Crane said we need to think about and look at new equipment so we
can adopt the overlay maps.
Supervisor Blum Bump will contact
some people to give a presentation on a moratorium at the February 10th Town
Board meeting.
This will also be posted on the Web site to make the public aware.
Councilman Ross said that a moratorium was not the way to go.
After a five minute recess Supervisor Blum Bump continued with the meeting.
The rules of procedure for Town Board meetings will be discussed at the
February 17th workshop and adopted at the March Town Board meeting.
Appointments for the Planning Board, the chairman has interviewed four
candidates and will give his recommendation.
The Ethics Committee will be expanded from three to five members.
Supervisor Blum Bump will do the interviewing of new members and appointed at
the board meeting February 10th.
There was much discussion on the name for Land Use Task Force, as it was also
part Zoning Review Committee.
Consensus was Land Use Review Committee with 12 members – 7 plus 5 liaisons.
Supervisor Blum Bump said she had spoken to attorney Kevin Crawford from the
Association of Towns concerning a member of Planning and Zoning Boards acting
also as their secretary. No they may not serve both positions. Secretary to
Planning Board may be appointed by the Planning Board but cannot serve also as
a board member. The same for the zoning, except their secretary is appointed
by the Town Board.
Town of Milan has asked the Town to send a letter to the N.Y.S. DEC on the
proposed Red Wing Mine in Milan/Red Hook. Supervisor Blum Bump will be meeting
with a member of the Milan Town Board and it will also be on the February 10th
agenda.
Correspondence:
Dutchess County Land Conservancy’s conservation easement holdings to date.
Hudson Valley Greenway invites the Town to participate in the first annual
Greenway Visions in Planning Award.
Inter-municipal Cooperation Agreement, between Village of Rhinebeck, Red Hook
and Tivoli and Towns of Red Hook and Town of Rhinebeck known as 5 Municipal
Partners. This concerns the public educational and government (PEG) access
services on the Time Warner Cable System. This will be on the Agenda February
10th.
Supervisor Blum Bump said we are hiring a new employee Faith Ruggerio as
Confidential Secretary to the Supervisor. She will work part time 19 hours per
week at a rate of $12.75, starting Wednesday February 4, 2004. After 30 days
Supervisor Blum Bmp will review her over all progress. She will receive her
training from former secretary Debra Marks.
A letter from Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency, that June 5, 2004
Household Hazardous Waste Collection will be held at the Town’s Recycle
Center.
Letter from the Village of Tivoli Mayor Marc Molinaro requesting an increase
in the Town’s contribution to the Tivoli Recreation Park.
Supervisor Blum Bump than opened the floor for public comments.
Peter Reynolds resident of Marbletown, working at Bard College said that
Marbletown has been through these experiences, Moratorium is the last resort
and it can’t be achieved in 6 months as building is year round.
Dick Franklin resident of Linden Acres said he did not want to see a
moratorium as it would have an impact on all the residents.
Stacy Christensen resident said they wanted to remain in Red Hook, look to
building our own home, this would hinder our dreams. My husband is in the
building business so this would have an effect on our family.
Lisa Griffin, resident of Milan but owns property in Red Hook. What about the
open door policy when our Town Attorney was by passed. How much did this cost
the taxpayer?
Phil Seymour, resident said he was connected with and worked on the Master
Plan. No citizen was contacted about this moratorium. Small rural Red Hook has
long been gone. We need to take into account this would have a bad affect on
the community.
Lisa Cano resident of Mill Road read a letter from the law office of Shanley,
Sweeney, Reilly & Allen, P.C. requesting that the Town Board reconsider the
wisdom of adopting a moratorium. This proposed moratorium is ill advised,
unnecessary, improper and not in the best interests of the Town.
Jeff Ackerly, resident and President of the Red Hook Chamber of Commerce and
is in Real Estate. Strongly disagrees that we need a moratorium. Economic
Development Committee working with all the talent in this town, there are a
lot of sources you can obtain help and information from without going for a
moratorium.
Creative Homes, you can’t expect us to pay for this as this is our livelihood.
Williams Lumber can’t believe your Master Plan, Planning and Zoning are not
working after all these years.
Larry Kopczak, resident said when he was campaigning 2000 residents said they
hated the rapid development in Red Hook, causing more school taxes to go up.
Residents wanted help to supplement new residents moving into the town.
Dave Seymour resident said 90% of the building we do is here in Red Hook. We
employ residents from here. Way you are going about this is all wrong.
Richard Franklin resident said remember lawsuits are paid for by the taxpayer.
Michael Levey, resident said he was concerned about businesses, as this will
have a dramatic effect on these people in the local township.
Lorraine DeCarolis Albany Post Road resident. We can’t afford lawsuits. What
did it cost the taxpayers from the last lawsuits with Hannaford.
William Cole resident Carriage Drive said 9 out of our last 20 homes I built
were for local people. These people work hard for a living and I think this is
going to affect my family and friends.
Richard Wambach on the board of the Red Hook Chamber of Commerce. Are you
aware of all the different people who will be affected by this moratorium? Of
the 120 members 82 are businesses. 40% that this will affect is a big part of
our economy.
Paul Frederick’s resident said he also worked on the Master Plan and the
Zoning Code; we had done a lot and did our best. The biggest burden is on
Senior’s many are forced to leave.
Eileen Harkins resident asked people you appointed, what qualifies these
people from other communities to tell us what to do.
Robert McKeon resident said take a look at the Master Plan, no mechanic in the
zoning to steer us, no enticement
Sam Lore resident of Milan recently from Red Hook, still a property owner. A
moratorium is not going to cure any of this.
Keith Lore resident said of the property he recently sold 86% of these people
came from Red Hook.
Supervisor Blum Bump said the Town Board is proposing to discuss a moratorium
and we will be holding a public hearing. We hope you will come and voice your
opinion, as we want the future of Red Hook to be a good one.
Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilwoman Crane and carried
meeting adjourned 10:52 p.m.
Town Clerk
Margaret E. Doty