Town Board

Update provided by John Lyons:

At the Town Board workshop meeting this January 29th, the Board reversed its December 15, 2008 decision and voted 5-0 in favor of abandoning the idea of a special 200 unit senior housing zone for the Holy Cross School (HCS) property. They opted to revert to virtually the same zoning that is presently in place for that property (5 acre zoning plus the possibility of the floating senior housing zone subject to special use permit conditions). Board Member Ellen Silverstein took the lead in stepping out first and endorsing that the Board reverse its position. All the other Board members followed fairly quickly. The Board received applause from those in attendance both after the vote and at the conclusion of the meeting.
 
The Rhinecliff Hamlet extension still lives. At the meeting, Dod Crane advocated dropping it from the plan. After discussion, the Board decided to retain the possibility, at least for the purposes of including it in the environmental review, with the understanding that they have the option to drop it out at a later juncture. 

May 12, 2008
 
To The Town Board:
 
Rhinebeck is a community that includes working and retired homeowners, large and small land owners, working farmers and people who pursue various commercial endeavors. I can’t say that I distinguish the town from the village from the hamlets; I don’t distinguish old time residents from weekenders from the estate owners. My family chose to buy a farm here thirty years ago simply because we like the place. For most of us our land is our most valuable asset, one we have loved, cared for, and guarded, one we expect to see us through retirement, or pass on to our children.
 
We must have viable economic alternatives for land use or we will divide and sell these properties. It hardly matters whether you have 5, 10, 20, or 50 acre zoning- once these lands are divided you will never again see them as they are today.  Rhinebeck’s current Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Draft threatens the rural character of our community.  The current zoning is arbitrary but this new plan is no less arbitrary.
 
Whether you live on the east side of Route 9 or the west side, the proposed downzoning amounts to a taking of our land.
 
On the subject of east side vs. west side: If this suggested R-20 zoning is implemented, will this now mean that I live on the “good side of the tracks” or will this have the opposite  effect based on tax implications? We don’t need three Rhinebecks: East, West, and Village.
 
Everyone should recognize the flurry of subdivision activity made “under the wire” of this development moratorium. Just the “threat” of this proposed change has yielded the collateral effect of legacy sprawl and it comes at the cost of all of us who failed to sub-divide or really had no intention to do so.
 
It’s not about density it about distribution.
 
To maintain our rural feel let’s not scrap the current zoning numbers, let's use tools such as Conservation Subdivision or turn those numbers into “currency” that can be traded through the use of Transfer Development Rights (TDR).  A simple market can be created to allow for owners of land to transfer their current density allowance to other areas deemed more appropriate. Either approach will allow for better economies and affordability; they are simple, effective, and will prevent further fragmentation with its associated sprawl.
We need a system that will respect the interests of land owners both large and small, that will promote restoration and rehabilitation. This solution, must include the village, and should be market based. At this point we are tired of hearing “You can’t do that,” “Wait and see,” “You really don’t understand.” The tools are at hand and have been used throughout the country. Downzoning is taking; plain and simple.
 
Richard Creed
Creed Ankony Farm
44 Ryan Rd.
Rhinebeck, NY. 12572