Message from Steve Block, Rhinebeck Town Supervisor

June 4, 2007 

Just over one year ago, on May 9, 2006, the Town Board officially accepted receipt of a proposed Comprehensive Plan from the Town of Rhinebeck Comprehensive Plan Committee for purposes of initiating review and adoption procedures as prescribed in §272-a of the Town Law.  The Committee had been working for several years with a wide spectrum of Rhinebeck residents. Following accepted procedure,  the Town Board designated itself as Lead Agency for purposes of commencing the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) review, classified the action as a Type I action under SEQRA and determined that a Generic Draft Environmental Impact Statement ("DGEIS") shall be prepared.  The Town Board conducted a Public Scoping Meeting on May 22, 2006 for purposes of allowing the public, and involved and interested agencies, to provide their input on the scope of the DGEIS pursuant to NYCRR §617.8(e).  The Town Board also conducted Public Hearings on the proposed Comprehensive Plan on June 19 and 26, 2006, in accordance with the requirements of §272-a(6) of the Town Law.

As a result of input received from the public and the Dutchess County Planning Department, the Town Board determined to enact the Comprehensive Plan and amendments to the Town's Zoning Law simultaneously and to prepare a single DGEIS in conjunction with the adoption of both the Plan and the Law.  The Board concluded that this process would be substantially more beneficial to the community than enacting the Comprehensive Plan and then the Zoning Law at a later date.  Moreover, it would also have the advantage of implementing the recommendations contained in the Comprehensive Plan and providing the details necessary for the community and the town board to fully understand the implications of the Plan.   

The Draft Amended Zoning Law is currently being worked on by a subcommittee of the Comprehensive Plan Committee and Ted Fink of GreenPlan.  A substantial portion of the Draft Zoning Law has been completed and the Town Board anticipates receiving a completed Draft Amended Zoning Law in the near future from the Committee and Greenplan.

The Town Board also retained the services of AKRF Environmental and Planning Consultants to assist in reviewing and making necessary substantive and editorial changes to the Comprehensive Plan in response to comments received from the public, Town Board members and the Dutchess County Planning Department.  In addition, AKRF has, and will be, assisting the Town Board and its consultants in the environmental review of both the Plan and the Zoning Law and in the conduct of certain environmental studies, such as traffic studies, which will be incorporated in the DGEIS.  
 
The Town Board appointed an Open Space and Affordable Housing Committee and retained the services of Phillips Preiss Shapiro Associates to assist the Committee in developing an Open Space and Affordable Housing Implementation Plan ("OSAH").  The Implementation Plan will be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Law to insure adequate provisions for achieving the goals of open space and affordable housing for the Rhinebeck community.  It is anticipated that the OSAH Implementation Plan will be completed in the near future.
 
In addition, the Town Board formed a Task Force consisting of members of the Town Board, the Comprehensive Plan Committee and the Town's Planning and Legal Consultants, which has been meeting on a regular basis to help implement these projects and goals.
 
With all of this in mind, the Town Board has established the following goals and timetable for completion and enactment of the Comprehensive Plan, the DGEIS, and amendments to the Zoning Law:

1. By mid-June 2007, receipt of a final draft of the OSAH Implementation Plan from Phillips Preiss Shapiro and the Open Space and Affordable Housing Committee. 
2. Between mid-June and Labor Day, 2007, conduct public distribution and awareness campaign of the draft OSAH Implementation Plan. 
3. By early July 2007, completion of the revised Comprehensive Plan.  
4. By early July 2007, completion of the proposed Amended Zoning Law.
5. By mid-July 2007, preparation by consultants of the revised Scoping Document for the DGEIS for the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Law and OSAH Implementation Plan.
6. By end of July 2007, review by the Town Board and the Task Force of the OSAH Implementation Plan, the revised Comprehensive Plan, the Zoning Law and the revised DGEIS Scope.
7. By end of August 2007, release of the revised Comprehensive Plan, the Draft Revised Zoning Law and DGEIS Scope to the public for its review.
8. By end of September 2007, completion of the public Scoping process for the DGEIS.
9. By end of October 2007, completion of the internal review of the DGEIS and release and acceptance of the DGEIS and commencement of the public review process.
10. By end of November 2007, the conduct of public hearings on the DGEIS, Comprehensive Plan, revised Zoning Law and OSAH Implementation Plan (with possible additional hearings during the month of December).
11. January through February of 2008, preparation of the Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement ("FGEIS").
12. By end of March 2008, determination by the Town Board of completion of the FGEIS.
13. By end of April 2008, adoption by the Town Board of SEQRA findings
14. By end of April 2008, Town Board votes on  the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Law and OSAH Implementation Plan

The public is cautioned to keep in mind that this is an ambitious schedule and the simultaneous preparation and approval of all of these documents and studies could be delayed by unforeseen circumstances, public comment, additional comment from Dutchess County Department of Planning and other involved or interested agencies and the need for revisions.

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