TOWN OF ROSENDALE PUBLIC HEARING HRVR LLC, MASTER PLAN OCTOBER 21, 2013

Transcription

1 TOWN OF ROSENDALE PUBLIC HEARING HRVR LLC, MASTER PLAN OCTOBER 21, 2013 The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm by Supervisor Walsh at the Rosendale Community Center with the Pledge to the Flag. PRESENT: Councilman Robert Gallagher Councilwoman Manna Jo Greene Councilman Kenneth Hassett Councilman Robert Ryan Supervisor Jeanne Walsh Attorney for the Town Mary Lou Christiana Planning Consultant Dave Plante ALSO PRESENT: Fred Greitzer, Tim Morrison, Billy Liggan, William Moylan, and John Ivankovic, Planning Board: Bill Graham, Water/Sewer Commission: Dennis Kaye, Economic Development Commission: Jennifer Metzger, Environmental Commission: Kelleigh Mckenzie, ZBA: Jeff Boos, Recreation Commission. The public hearing was opened at 7:32, the notice was read by Town Clerk, Debra Tierney. A brief overview of the project was given by Larry Wolinsky, Rick Steele and Tim Allred. Larry Wolinsky said the project has been 6 years of review up to now. The environmental review with the DEIS and the FEIS, the Local Law for zoning change with the BLCPD and now the Master Plan which is the subject of this public hearing. The Master Plan has been forwarded by the Town of Rosendale to the Ulster County Planning Board for review and the Rosendale Planning Board for comment. The Town Board has 62 days to vote on the plan from day of submission. The next step will be site plan approvals by the Planning Board. Rick Steele, one of the project principles, talked about the tourism with the rail trail, that building will be LEED certified and respect and protect is their goal with 100 acres being added to the already 400 acres in conversation easement as forever wild. The timeline HRVR is looking at is to submit site plans to planning board shortly, start demolition of old building and then by 2014 start building new. The HRVR group wants to carry on the Williams Family traditions of working with the community. Tim Allred said that HRVR has been working long and hard to minimize the impact on the environment and surrounding area. The project when completed will be a tourist destination. The project will use local labor and materials. There is already interest in the homes mostly from people who live in the Hudson Valley. There have been a lot of changes from the original plans after input from the public like moving the sewer treatment plant away from neighbors, moving homes away from the east of the rail trail to not disturb the bats. The plan has work force housing. The roads and the water/sewer will all be private at no cost to the town. All the wires for electric, phone and cable will be underground.

2 The public was invited to speak after signing up on the sign in sheet to the rear of the room. Supervisor Walsh let everyone know they would be limited to 3 minutes each. 1) March Gallagher (resident) wanted to voice her support for approval and said she has seen firsthand how high end development can help a community. She used to live in Saugerties and with the Destination tourism that is there the Main Street is now alive even during the day, which she cannot wait until Rosendale is open for shopping all day. Reuse is important and that is what will happen here. 2) Ward Todd (non-resident and President of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce) said the chamber is in favor because there will be good impact on the local businesses and small business is the life blood of the area. 3) Carl Chipman (non-resident, Supervisor Town of Rochester and Vice Chairman of the Shawangunk Mt. Regional Partnership) said the project conforms to the town comprehensive plan and to have 515 of 779 acres set aside by a developer is great. This project will help the Town of Rochester because people will start coming up to the area again like they did when Williams Lake was open. 4) Vincent Marello (non-resident) Said when he was Supervisor of Marbletown he fought for years for the environment is this plan prefect no but is there ever prefect development. This is smart growth which is good. 5) Ed Hill (past resident) said he heard this called spot zoning and if 640 acres is a square mile then how is 779 acres spot zoning. This area needs jobs which this will bring. 6) Richard Mathews (non-resident) said he lived on James Street for 50 years and was past Chairman of UC Legislature. This project is a new source of revenue which would be good for the area. 7) Paul Hakim (non-resident, but Rosendale taxpayer) said he is the owner of Twin Lakes and this project is headed in the right direction. The new zoning classification is the same as surrounding area. Paul also submitted a report positive impact of commercial development on your taxes. 8) Eric Alkin decided not to speak. 9) Sara McGinty (resident) stated she is a business owner, President to the Rosendale Chamber of Commerce, and neighbor to the project. Sara said she is not an engineer and does not know about zoning but the commitment to the community by HRVR is great. Before they make anything on this project they are supporting and volunteering with all different causes in town. The rail trail use has grown so much after they opened up the Williams Lake section. 10) Steven Kelley( non-resident) stated he is from Clintondale and before that Esopus but he is the CEO of Ellenville Regional Hospital. Steven said this is a good renewable project and good for economic development in the area. 11) Michael Warren (non-resident) Marbletown Supervisor Warren said he worked at Williams Lake and the project has the vision for the future. The project will bring people to the Rondout Valley from NYC and other places. 12) Cliff Cooper (non-resident) said he teaches sustainable building at SUNY Ulster and HRVR shows commitment to the community. 13) Tim Morrison (did not speak) 14) Mike Tucker (non-resident) said he lives in Albany, but that his family had been in Rosendale for 80 years. Mike stated he worked for Williams Lake in his early years. Mike said in his view this is sustainable, smart growth and the project should move forward.

3 15) Richard Travers (non-resident) said he is a member of the Rondout Valley Business Association which is in favor of this project and the resort is needed for Rosendale and the surround area. 16) Robert Carey (non-resident) said he has been a contractor in the Kingston area for 26 years and is in favor of the project. The staff at HRVR has been a partner with the community from the beginning hosting many runs which I have been part of. Property values only increase the closer you are to a rail trail and now the trail is connected right through the Williams Lake property. 17) Christian Favata (resident) said he is a local business owner who is benefiting already from HRVR. 18) Carrie Wykoff (resident) stated she is a local business owner and has been doing the events coordinating for HRVR for some time now. Carrie said that local geological students have been allowed on the property for studies and some even stayed there. This project is good for the area and local sourcing will happen. 19) Chris Beall (non-resident) Chris states the legal notice for this meeting did not meet the 10 days required so this meeting is not a legal public hearing. He also said roads are not 25 feet to allow fire trucks access but only 18 feet. Mr. Beall also handed in comments done referring to page by page items. 20) Mourka Meyerdorff (resident) said she is part of Save the Lakes group and she does see some changes to the development plan but more are still needed. Mourka said the language on public access, day pass & swimming, is unclear. The parking lot 1 ½ miles away for day use is not acceptable. Mourka stated the day use fee needed to be stated. 21) Peter Fiorentine (resident) said the public access parking is not acceptable. Peter asked why HRVR did not offer the lake with the pool down. Peter also handed in written comments. 22) Harris Safier (non-resident) said the plan should be approved this is good for the area. Harris stated he used to be on the ZBA in Marbletown and in real estate for 35 years so he knows when something will help the area. 23) Jeff Boos (resident) said that HRVR has shown nothing but commitment to the community with access for all different events and fund raisers. Jeff stated day use is in the Master Plan and will happen but you cannot expect the plan to include that cost. 24) Marie Caruso (non-resident) said she is here representing the Sierra Club and that Transport Law was not followed when the Town Board passed the Williams Lake Sewage-Works Corporation resolution without the Ulster County Health Department okay first. Marie also said the parking is not enough for day use. Marie also handed in written comments. 25) Jennifer Metzger (resident) said that maximum lot sizes, storm water management, truck traffic, local sourcing still need more included. Jennifer stated that the green building is only the motel and spa but should be all buildings. Jennifer also stated that the plan should not include a cafe by the rail trail that should be in town. Jennifer also handed in written comments. 26) Joanne Steele (non-resident) said that her concern is that some things are not enforceable. There are also things that are not in the document. 27) Guy Kempe ( non-resident) said he is here as the representative of RUPCO and that a tri county housing study was done and it lists Rosendale as needed 200 units of affordable housing people cannot except HRVR to give all of them. The plan calls for 12 so they are giving some. RUPCO is in favor of the plan. Guy also handed in written comments. 28) Sheila Dvorak Galione (resident) had to leave but handed in comments.

4 29) Deborah Weltsch (resident) said she loves the green elements but conservation is more than having land splint up and set aside. Deborah stated that there was supposed to be forest areas between houses in the part on the maps that is purple. Deborah expressed concerns about the water supply. 30) Kevin Quilty (resident) said that HRVR is showing good stewardship of the land. This project should be approved. 31) Michael North (non-resident) left without speaking. 32) Gayle Grunwald (resident) said she has had a long commitment to the history of Rosendale. The project is set between the Binnewater Historical District and the Synder Estate Historical District and HRVR has taken on the changes to fit in to the surroundings. 33) Fre Atlast (resident) said that she has seen Main St. revitalized over the last 5 years. Fre said her concern is with the effect on the creek between the two bridges because of the sewer system. Fre also said she had concerns about the truck traffic using Main St. because most of the buildings already shake. 34) Ted Peck (non-resident) spoke about Sierra Club and Saves the Lakes requests for day fees to be included in the plan by saying how can you tell someone what to charge. Ted also spoke about Ms. Metzger saying that HRVR needs to build rail trail café down on Rt. 32 or Main St. saying what right do we have to tell people where they should put their business. 35) Kevin Keller (non-resident) stated he is the Chief of the Bloomington Fire Company which the HRVR property is covered by. Chief Keller stated that he has talked with the developers and the road size is acceptable, the fire company has the equipment and firefighters to handle the project. Chief Keller asked that if anybody has concerns with fire protection they talk to him directly. 36) Tom Kacandes (non-resident) said he is from New Paltz and owns Sunrise Solar. Tom said as an environmentalist he is in favor of HRVR. Tom said as part of the Green Building Council I can attest that the developers came to me for my expertise in green construction. Supervisor Walsh at 9:45 pm asked for a 10 minute break. The meeting was called back in session at 10:00 pm. Supervisor Walsh made a motion to continue the public hearing tat 6:30 pm on Nov.6, 2013 for more comment from those who did not have a chance to speak tonight with written comments being excepted until that time, 2 nd by Councilwoman Greene. Roll Vote: 5 Yes. Supervisor Walsh advised the board that the bookkeeper and she have been working on cutting down the budget and it is at a1.2% increase. Councilwoman Greene asked about getting the copies of the comments that were handed in tonight from the public hearing and the town clerk will put them in the town board mailboxes at town hall. 1) RESOLUTION # 15 A motion was made by Supervisor Walsh authorizing the Supervisor to enter into a contract with BOCES for Internet service at the Rondout Valley Municipal Community Center, 2 nd by Councilman Hassett. Supervisor Walsh said the last meeting with BOCES was to iron out the fact that as a municipality we cannot give BOCES access to what is on our

5 computers. Mary Lou Christiana said what they can do is the tank line only and that is what we need. Roll Vote: 5 Yes. 2) RESOLUTION #16 A motion was made by Supervisor Walsh to authorize the Supervisor to sign letter for funding for Pool, 2 nd by Councilman Gallagher. Roll Vote: 5 Yes. AUDIT OF BILLS: GENERAL FUND VOUCHER # 792A 810A $ 4, WATER FUND VOUCHER # $ SEWER FUND VOUCHER # $ A motion was made by Supervisor Walsh to pay vouchers; 2 nd by Councilman Ryan. Roll Vote. 5 Yes A motion was made by Councilman Hassett to adjourn at 10:15 pm, 2 nd by Councilwoman Greene. Roll Vote: 5 Yes Respectfully Submitted, Debra Tierney Town Clerk