Month of October...
Town Board meeting 10/8/07:
After the usual agenda of town business, the Adler Subdivision (400 units) was put forward as New Business, and the developer, Steve Adler, gave pretty much the same pitch to the Board, as he gave to the Planning Board last month. He is proposing that a special zoning district be created and his project is referred to as a Planned Unit Development. At one point he said "I, as the owner, commit to... (loads and loads of promises...land forever protected, (by the Property Owners Association), only rich weekenders with no children, etc etc. He then said, "Me, or my successor......" which supports the general consensus that he is seeking to change the zoning to be able to sell the property to another party at a huge profit. He does not have a track record as a successful developer of anything. the looks on everyone's faces ranged from eye rolling, to various degrees of skepticism. I'd say both Republicans and Democrats agree that this project does not have a bright future.
Apparently the town engineer created a list of 18 issues that Adler will have to address. No one on any of the Boards is in any hurry to help him out at this point. That could always change.
Good news is: Two Comprehensive Plan recommendations were acted upon.
1. ZBA/Planning Board nonconforming lots. A resolution was passed that projects that do not conform to zoning regulations will be reviewed by the ZBA, not the Planning Board. this is a change in Town Law, and so required a public hearing. This will be held prior to the next Town Board meeting, Nov 12, 2007 at 7:00 or 7:15 pm. This is a correction that should result in stronger enforcement of zoning law.
2. Formation of an Environmental Council . A resolution was passed to look for who would serve on this advisory board, and the clerk was authorized to advertise. The Board is supposed to review the Municipal laws on how to form such a council.
Another piece under New Business that seems to deserve further attention was a proposal to increase Building Permit renewal fees on commercial property when the projects are not getting completed. The Board had questions, but when it was pointed out that the property owners had two years before the additional fees kicked in, there was general approval of this move.
By Major Chaos
Planning Board Meeting 10/15/07
All board members were present, and also Tony Ritter, Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals was in audience The only topic was the proposed Adler/Feagles Lake Planned Unit Development. The Town Board asked the Planning Board to discuss the project and send their recommendations. A discussion followed with each Board member expressing their objections to the project. No one expressed approval of it. Objections included taking land off tax roles, creating a new zoning category, which would then have to be offered to others, and which would be the kind of high density which is largely discouraged by the Comprehensive Plan. The Fire Departments (Lava and Narrowsburg) were very unhappy, siting many difficulties in providing fire protection. Other negative were the need for a police force, the possibility of a lot of rental unit, and, most of all, the general conviction that Mr. Adler is planning to sell the land, at a price greatly enhanced by the change in zoning, to the highest bidder. Mr. Adler also has apparently not followed through with promises to repair the Feagles Lake dam, or to provide improvements to the folks who bought lots from him . He does not have a good track record.
So a letter was drafted which essentially said that the Board unanimously rejects Mr. Adlers Planned Unit Develpment proposal, and furthmore, recommends that any further proposals be in strict accordance with Tusten's Zoning Codes.
Also of interest: The Sullivan County Planning people will be giving a training to town officials regarding Ridgelines and Floodplains on November 14, 2007 at the Tusten Town Hall. I don't know the time. if anyone is interested, send me an e mail suesul@frontiernet.net and I'll let you know. I also have to check and make sure members of the public are allowed to attend.
By Major Chaos