Smart Growth & Town Planning
As our town grows, so does the challenges the planning board faces. It is up to the planning board to make considerations for our future. Red Hook Concerns is closely monitoring the Planning Board actions to give feedback and assistance to aid the planners in making the right decision for our Town.
Red Hook is a town of more than 10,000 residents located about 100 miles north of New York City. As such, the population is growing steadily with a lot of the development tucked away in the woods on large lots.
We have developed a Comprehensive Plan and an Open Space Plan, both of which stress the importance of developing land around the two villages and several hamlets. However, the Zoning Code allows single lots and multi-house developments throughout the Agricultural/Residential areas. This zone is a large part of the town and contains most of the farms. A potential build-out developed by our County Planning Department shows it almost completely dotted with three acre lots.
But - and this is very special to the farmers - many of the farms have sold their development rights and protected their farms under conservation easements. However, three large contiguous farms are under extreme development pressure. They are flat with good drainage - beautiful for growing grains and vegetables - but also for growing houses. Fortunately, most of the owners are interested in and some have started the process of selling their development rights. This is in large measure due to persuasion by some of the committee members and the Scenic Hudson land trust.
Top Stories
New zoning plan on the horizon
Expert land planner Randall Arendt addressed highly concerned citizens of Rhinebeck and the Hamlet of Rhinecliff last Friday night and Saturday morning regarding the Rhinebeck Comprehensive Plan and Draft Zoning Code now being worked on by Sally Mazarella, Chair of the Comprehensive Plan Committee for the Town of Rhinebeck.
$40,000 to help Tivoli buy land for park - Scenic Hudson grant will cover fees for CSX deal
TIVOLI - A $40,000 grant from Scenic Hudson will help the village complete the purchase of property for a riverfront park.
State funding announced for community gardens
NEW PALTZ - A new grant program that will strengthen community gardens was announced Friday with the first grant being presented to the Community Garden at SUNY New Paltz.
Trail of progress Legislature OKs funds for rail trail work, open space protection
Dutchess County legislators approved a $4.5 million bond to continue the expansion of the Dutchess County Rail Trail at their July 14 meeting. The funds were part of a $10 million bond that County Executive William Steinhaus asked the Legislature to consider earlier this month.
Paterson welcomes affordable housing
HUDSON - For Clyde Wilburn, an apartment in the new Crosswinds at Hudson development is both affordable and convenient for his family.
Lawmakers protect two farms in Red Hook
RED HOOK - Plans to protect two more Red Hook farms from development have moved forward with Dutchess County legislators approving a $1.6 million bond for the purchase of development rights to seven Dutchess County farms.
Hearings near for Rhinebeck comp plan
RHINEBECK - The Town Board has set an Aug. 14 meeting to determine whether there is anything left to address in the scope of the town comprehensive plan's scope before moving it to the public hearing stage.
Woodstock sets up biodiversity map fund
WOODSTOCK - The Town Board has established a trust fund to be used for donations contributed to assist biodiversity mapping of the town.
Dutchess may boost county bus service
POUGHKEEPSIE - The first major overhaul to the Dutchess County Loop bus system in 15 years could make commuting to work by bus easier for Northern Dutchess residents.
4 Red Hook farms join land preservation effort - Scenic Hudson secures agreements
RED HOOK - Four farms in the northern section of the Town of Red Hook will remain for generations to come, thanks to an agreement between Scenic Hudson and the town.
Hinchey urges New York City DEP to address leaking Delaware Aqueduct in Wawarsing
WASHINGTON - Congressman Maurice Hinchey has asked New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Emily Lloyd to take immediate action to relieve the “enormous burden” that leaks from the Delaware Aqueduct are causing for residents of Wawarsing.
Trail, OK'd by House, would recall Washington's route
WASHINGTON - The 600-mile route taken by the armies of Gen. George Washington and his French partner in the climactic campaign of the Revolutionary War would become a national historic trail under legislation approved by the House this week.
U.S. Senate committee approved $1 million for Walkway
The full Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development FY09 Appropriations Bill which includes $1 million for the Walkway Over the Hudson, U.S. Sen.Charles E. Schumer said today.
Town building ban imposed - 9-month stay slows dorm plan
Residential construction in some parts of the Town of Poughkeepsie will end for at least nine months - likely delaying Dutchess Community College's plan to construct a dorm complex off Cottage Road in Fairview.
Railroad bridge project costs rise
Increasing fuel prices are forcing scalebacks
Walkway Over the Hudson project scaled back due to rising costs
Increased steel, concrete and fuel prices have forced Walkway Over the Hudson to raise its construction budget by more than $8 million, while scaling back on plans for the world’s longest elevated pedestrian walkway on the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge.
Great Hudson River Paddle underway
ALBANY - The Eighth Annual Great Hudson River Paddle (GHRP) is underway and continues through Sunday, July 13th, when the paddlers wind up in New York City.
Dutchess agencies revive 'green' loan fund
A novel rebirth to a dormant loan fund has been announced by two agencies in Dutchess County.
Ulster communities get $30,000 from Greenway
ALBANY - Four Ulster County communities will receive a total of $30,000 from Hudson River Valley Greenway. The communities include Kingston and the town of Ulster, which are expected to use their portion of the money to come up with development guidelines along Washington Avenue.
Indian point: safe but needs improvement, say NRC, Entergy
CORTLANDT MANOR – There were no “red” level issues in the latest annual assessment of the Indian Point nuclear power plant, and only a handful of issues that rose above “green”, or issues that have a very low safety significance.
Greenway/Trails Committee
