Town of Rosendale Comprehensive Master Plan Committee
Quorum: Rick Fritschler, ch; Roberta Clements, Kelli Havranek,
Attilio Contini, Ernest Dewitt, Michael Montella, Gary Schwartz, Dietrich Werner, Fred Greitzer
Consultant: Peter Fairweather
Honored Guests:
Rosendale Town Board Members: Brian Cafferty, Perry Soule
Assistant to the Supervisor: Otto Scherrible
The original copy of the public sign-in sheet is on file with the
Town Clerk; a digitalized version is available from the Secretary.
Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
New Business: Public meeting
Moderator: Courtesy of the League of Women Voters: Elizabeth Askue
Timekeeper: Courtesy of the League of Women Voters: Frances Hofler
Motions: none
Points of Information, without division;
matters discussed, with no vote taken:
Brian Cafferty: The maps should include more detail regarding karst (fractured and porous limestone) and cave geology.
Deborah Horowitz: It was clear water and environmental priorities have ben addressed. The biodiversity and natural resources inventory should also be included in the plan.
Consultant: The biodiversity and natural resources studies are nearing completion, and are to be included as appendices if available.
Fred Borneman:In regard to p. 37 -
How did you determine hamlet centers for overlay zones, when disruption to the public, noise, etc. are already present?
Should there be a change from current non-conforming status to ensure continuity?
Will there be opportunity for further public comment?
The Route 32 corridor should be considered the hamlet mixed-use center of Tillson.
In regard to p. 42 -
Was there any consideration given to extending the town water district?
It is to be hoped planning is not be limited to current life-times.
Gary Schwartz: Mixed-use zoning plays a traditional role in Rosendale, and has many benefits to the community.
Ernest Dewitt: The water and sewer district is nearing capacity. Financing for expanding the system is being discussed, but funding for such projects is no longer available; and thus beyond the ability of small districts.
Frank Borneman: It is difficult to believe that, in this day and age, public water is not available; since private wells are being contaminated.
Dennis Greco: We don't have a good water and sewer plan. What are our options? We are underutilizing certain water resources in the middle of the Town of Rosendale, remnants of the old canal.
Brian Cafferty: Water and sewer development are questions of infrastructure, not source. Federal assistance is no longer available, short of an imminent public health hazard.
Gary Schwartz: An overlay district for water and sewer district extension could be developed. The town should adopt a budget to enable future elaboration of infrastructure.
Joe Roddy : The problems with the water and sewer system are not so much in regard to private residential users, but multi-family and larger types of commercial developments. The water and sewer system is at or near its design limits, so far as these types of future connections are concerned.
Phyllis Noreen: Are overlay districts overly restrictive of development? Are such districts not a taking? Will the municipality compensate land-owners?
Consultant: The town can restrict development, if it is clearly in the public interest and to the public benefit. Otherwise, it is a taking.
Phyllis Noreen: How will this be decided?
Consultant: The plan only sets the general direction, not specifics; zoning change hearings are the proper venue for public input.
Deborah Horowitz: Does SEQRA apply to existing development?
Dominick Mercurio: written comment received
The relationship of the tax base to different types of development is particularly important. Population growth and dwelling units consume relatively large amounts of town services.
The Town of Rosendale should not seek to resemble down-state counties.
The protection of open spaces should not refer only to land of little other value. Wetlands and steep slopes should not be included in cluster-development calculations.
Tim Morrison: What is affordable housing?
Consultant: Something should be available in all price ranges.
Tim Morrison: What are the effects on traffic flow as we allow further development? Only Routes 32 and 213 are major highway access points.
Is there a maximum level of acceptable development?
What is build-out?
What is the purpose of a comprehensive plan?
Joe Roddy: The Town of Rosendale is prime real estate.
How do you define income levels for affordable housing?
Gary Schwartz: The survey showd a broad mixture of people.
Consultant: Incentive zoning counter-weighs raw economic forces.
Michael Montella: Taxes are part of the carrying costs of housing.
Roberta Clements: Drastic change should be reduced, beneficial development enhanced.
Joe Havranek, as Police Commissioner:
It is a matter of concern that the recommendations from the Police Commission are not included in the plan; nor is the Police Department's 10-Year Plan. These should be incorporated.
Joe Havranek, as private citizen:
The main concern is property rights. Regulation in regard to overlay zones is restrictive. Caution is needed.
The plan is comparable to the USA Patriot Act.
Consultant: The Police Commission's recommendations were overly-specific for this type of plan.
Dennis Greco: The land is ours only in stewardship, not ours to develop. Overlays are proper stewardship, not overly restrictive.
Fred Borneman: Citizens' rights are always being changed. People have moved here because they like it the way it is.
The location of bus stops needs attention.
Michael Montella: The 19th century provides a good example of unrestricted free markets.
Brian Cafferty: A previous town committee investigated the possibility of establishing new light-industrial zones. These zones need further definition in the plan.
A build-out study is also needed.
Phyllis Noreen: The 1969 industrial plan is not included in the current draft.
There are questions in regard to traffic.
The placement of adult-entertainment facilities is of concern.
Franziska Borneman: Industrial and commercial zones should be located on the outskirts of the town.
Tim Morrison: The town has no real outskirts.
Joe Roddy: Better enforcement of zoning regulations is needed.
Dennis Greco: What is the next step?
Consultant: The Town of Rosendale Board will set a date for the Town of Rosendale Comprehensive Master Plan Committee to hold a public hearing. The Town of Rosendale Board will then schedule its own hearing.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 PM.
Next Meeting: Monday, May 9, 2005 at 7 PM
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