Town of Red Hook Town Board
Workshop Meeting - Public Hearing
June 7, 2005
Public Hearing
Conservation Easement
June 7, 2005
The public hearing on the Conservation Easement Law was resumed from the May 10,
2005 meeting with the following in attendance:
Supervisor - Marirose Blum Bump
Councilman - James Ross
Councilwoman - Jean Bordewich
Town Clerk - Margaret E. Doty
Also present: Deputy Supervisor William O'Neill, Town Attorney Albert Trezza and
the Open Space and Agricultural Committee.
Absent: Councilwoman Sue Crane and Councilman Harold Ramsey
Supervisor Blum Bump opened the Public Hearing at 7:30 p.m. with the reading of
the Conservation Easement Law and than opened the floor for those wishing to
express their opinions and ask questions.
Chairman of the Open Space and Agricultural Committee introduced his committee
and than gave a brief summary, this program is to make it possible for land
owners to keep their land open by making it financially possible as this is a
voluntary program.
One of the by products is that we hope to buy more time for the Town to make
smarter decisions what we want and where, whether it is permanent preservation
or development, where should it go.
Estimating the shift in taxation as a result of the proposed Conservation
Easement Program. The seniors as well as the farmers are getting a tax break.
This program was recommended that we should investigate it in the open space
plan.
We have estimated that it will cost $22.00 per parcel after half of them sign
up.
Susan Von Reusner, Red Hook Central School Board said that they have studied
this proposal and are very much in favor having done a considerable amount of
research. The one recommendation we would have is that we would rather see a
longer term than just a five (5) year term.
Christine Kane, Planning Board Chairperson said the Planning Board has had the
opportunity to study the Easement Law and they are very much in favor of to help
us save valuable farm land and open space. We also feel it is a temporary
program but an important tool to be able shape development according to our open
space plan and our Master Plan.
Frank Stoppenbach said we need a comprehensive study of how many people Red Hook
can accommodate to maintain our quality of life and look at low cost way to do
this. Look at rezoning which we seem reluctant to do this. We need a tax system
that takes money from those who have it instead of those who don't which I hope
you will deliver this message to our legislators.
LeAnn Hansen.... I know everyone likes open space but I feel the Town is wasting
our money because there are a lot of people with large acreage and they have no
intention of developing it like me and I don't feel this is fair to the rest of
the tax payers. You are just going to burden us with taxes we don't need.
I also have a petition that I wish to present to the board in opposition of the
purchase of Central Hudson Property as we don't want another tax burden.
Robert Brower... would this interfere with our PDR program?
Attorney Trezza said this program is of no value to farming. This is for people
who own 30-40 acres of land and due to increase taxes may decide to sell it that
was the theory behind this to help them preserve this land. It won't interfere
with the PDR program but it will spread a tax burden on the people as we are
going to have to help pay for this deferment if you want open space.
Robert McKeon said this was created to assist non-farm parcels because farm
parcels comes under an Agricultural assessment. Vacant land value has increased
with this new assessment.
Richard Franklin...if you listened to that Easement Law it is like a blank check
for the Town Board to spend whatever they want and to purchase whatever they
want.
I called a number of towns regarding this plan and they also said this plan
would be a good plan for historic properties like Montgomery Place than it could
be a worth while plan. This is not an iron clad program to protect open space as
it does not do it.
Key to our success would be bringing in businesses to help meet the rising
school cost.
Most of the Towns using this program have a population that is two to three
times our population and they have commercial budgets seven or eight times more
than us. A lot more homework should be done on this program.
Elizabeth Wilkins... I live in an area with beautiful fields and beautiful view
so I would not want to see this developed so I am very much in favor of this
law.
Vicky Perry... I would like to commend the Board and Advisory Committee for
working on this law as I am in favor of preserving open space.
Laurie Husted...Robert and his committee have worked hard on this for the last
nine months so I am willing to accept this law for Red Hook.
Ann Wyrick...I am definitely for this Easement Law, this is why we live here
because it is a beautiful place and we want to keep it beautiful.
Hildegard Edling... I grew up here and want to thank you for all your work and I
am very much in favor of preserving our open space. You also have to look at
bringing businesses into our areas as you have to broaden our tax base as people
can't handle it.
Ruth Oja speaking for myself and the members of the CAC we would like to see
this happen as it is something we have been talking about for years and years
preserving open space so this would certainly help.
Susan Ellis...I have served on the Conservation Advisory Council for thirty
three years and formally on the Wetland Committee. I commend the Agricultural
Committee for all this work as I consider this a work in progress as there are
other areas we can explore. This cannot only help open space but help keep the
wetlands from being subdivided and developed. I would also like to see this come
under the protected wetlands system.
Michael Rohatyn... I am in favor as this Town should have this tool as many
lands become developed. As a rural community with open land it gives this Town
identity.
Phil Seymour...I am not for or against this law. Would like to see the working
class at these meetings as they are the people I would like to hear from. If we
are going to have this Conservation Easement it should be at least for 10 years.
Tanya Marcuse...my family live here in Barrytown and our neighbors have over 200
acres and I would be happy to pay taxes to help preserve this land rather than
see houses built there.
David Hendrickson...I was born and raised here. I am really concerned with
people like my parents who are on a fixed income when you say 22 to 42 dollars
on your tax bill and everything goes up so I am very concerned and I wouldn't
want to see this happen.
Julie Jones a resident on West Kerley Corners Road said I love the Town and want
to keep it an open space town.
Betty Mae Van Parys have been a member of Planning since early 1970's. I have
listened to both sides of the coin but have not made up my mind. My question is
can we have a referendum as I would like to hear from the people at large what
they feel about it.
Douglas Moat...clearly a landowner has to be concerned giving up a right to his
property. Than the other side if his property is worth less on the market value.
I would say to the Town Board try and control development as the price is going
up.
Robert McKeon said we are only trying to reach out to the landowner not
implement a tool for development.
Supervisor Blum Bump thanked everyone for participating and said the public
hearing will continue on July 12th at 7:15 p.m.
Town Clerk, Margaret E. Doty