To inform the people of Gardiner about what is happening with our boards and committees, I reached out to each for a brief summary of the issues before them. The boards and committees—largely volunteer—are a necessary part of the fabric that makes Gardiner the great community it is. The Gardiner Gazette thanks members for their service.

TOWN BOARD
(from Supervisor Marybeth Majestic )

Laws: We are working on finalizing revisions to the new Ethics Law, amending the Noise Law and establishing a Planning Board law. Public hearings for all will be scheduled for late summer or early fall.

Majestic Park: We are working diligently to replace the pavilion at the Park and complete improvements at the Pole Barn.

Tillson Lake: We are looking to work with the Palisades Instate Parks Commission and members of Save Tillson Lake to find funding to remedy the problem.

Regional Partnership: We are working with other townships to rejuvenate the Shawangunk Mountain Regional Partnership.

Bridge Grant Application: We are anxiously waiting to hear back from NYS DOT regarding our Bridge NY Round two grant application to replace the Clove Road bridge. Awards will be announced late summer, early fall.

Sewer District: We authorized Morris Associates to update the sewer district map to add sewer lots created from recent subdivisions. This will help us consider how the existing system can handle the new lots, what options are available for future septic system expansion and/or how to deal with potential problems if the existing system should fail.

PLANNING BOARD
(from Paul Colucci, Chair). Currently in front of the Planning Board are:

Heartwood: project proposal for a glamorous camping (glamping) and restaurant/lodging facility. The Planning Board issued a negative declaration, i.e., a determination that the project will not result in a significant adverse environmental impact. No Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared. We are in the process of reviewing the site plan.

Lazy River Campground: Site plan modification to a lazy river water feature to the campground.

A proposal for a 2 megawatt solar farm.

Green 208: Site plan review for a multi-family dwelling on route 208 called Green 208.

Majestic Woods Drive: A two lot minor subdivision for the Majestic family on Majestic Woods Drive.

Shaft Road: Recently approved is an 8-lot sub-division.

ZONING BOARD
(from David Gandin, Chair)

Solar Farm: Currently pending before the ZBA is a variance application submitted by Cypress Creek Renewables in connection with its application to install a solar farm on a 50.76 acre lot on Burnt Meadow Road. It seeks: (1) an area variance from sections of zoning code requiring a maximum lot size of 20 acres for the installation of a solar farm, a setback of 150 feet from property boundaries and the maximum impervious surface coverage not exceed 10% of the lot size. The project as presently proposed is, at its closest point, 87 feet from the Site’s boundary line and has impervious surface coverage of 20%.

A joint planning/zoning board meeting was held last month in connection with the project but the applicant has since indicated it may reconfigure its proposal and withdraw the variance applications.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION COMMISSION
(from Roberta Clements, Chair)

Aquifer: We recently presented the draft law of the previously developed Aquifer Overlay Protection District—describing simple yet effective ways to preserve the quality and quantity of our drinking water—to the Town Board for review and passage.

Wetlands: We are finalizing a draft “Wetlands” law—seeking to ensure that surface water and waterways such as creeks and rivers are not unduly stressed by land development—and plan to present this to the Town Board.

Natural Resources Inventory: We are currently looking at what areas of the Natural Resources Inventory need updating, for completion in conjunction with the Climate Smart Gardiner task force and in support of the work of the Open Space Committee.

PARKS AND RECREATION
(from Michele Tomasicchio and Joshua Platt, Board Members)

We devised a 3-year plan for improving facilities and presented it to the Town Board. In addition to plans to create trails on 86 acres behind the Transfer Station, our vision is to rehabilitate and complete Majestic Park’s infrastructure: the pavilion was razed and will be replaced; the pole barn has finally been fitted with a state-of-the-art UV water filter system; and bathroom stalls are being installed. The long-term plan is to make the pole barn a year-round facility to be rented for programs, workshops and parties.

We are pursuing grants and collaborating with the New Paltz Community Foundation, a 501-3(c), to fundraise for the proposed projects. If you have grant writing experience we would greatly appreciate your assistance.

OPEN SPACE COMMISSION
(from Jean-Ann McGrane, Chair)

The Open Space Commission is just getting restarted. We plan to meet monthly—usually the second Monday, but somewhat fluid over the summer—and details should be posted on www.townofgardiner.org.

We will be spending the summer months familiarizing ourselves with the Town’s existing Open Space Plan, reviewing previous Open Space Commission efforts, and learning about Open Space Conservation activities in the region, as well as looking to identify resources that might assist us moving forward.

Our goal is to develop a plan of action for the Commission which we will hopefully begin to implement in the Fall. The Town’s Open Space Plan can be viewed at www.townofgardiner.org. A hard copy is also available at the Gardiner library.

CLIMATE SMART GARDINER

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