This quarter, the Gazette received updates from the following Boards and Committees:
TOWN BOARD (from Chair Marybeth Majestic)
The Zoning Audit: a draft of definitions is available on the website and we have enlisted Sterling Environmental to assist us with the dimensional requirements. A public hearing will be held when the proposed law is ready. This process has reinforced the value of the annual joint boards meeting (Town, Planning and Zoning Boards) and is already informing the agenda for the meeting this December.
Short-term Rentals: we are reviewing a draft local law.
New Ethics Board: the Board has been seated and is meeting to fulfill their duties, including annual ethics training.
Comprehensive Plan: To start our review we will acknowledge goals and recommendations, then follow up by regularly referencing the Plan as relates to issues and topics that arise.
Sewer: As previously reported, the treatment plant that serves the hamlet is at capacity. The engineering firm we engaged to help us examine the plant will report on what options are available to us.
Seniors: A substantive report on the needs of senior citizens was presented by Steve Weir and we have had some creative discussions around aligning senior housing with sewer treatment plant expansion.
Miscellaneous: The Environmental Conservation Commission’s (ECC) draft Aquifer Protection Law is on the docket for further consideration.
Our commitment to preserve Tillson Lake remains strong as we await further information from the PIPC.
Gardiner’s Summer Recreation Program is vibrant and has approximately 200 children enrolled each year. Registration forms can be found on the town website and can be dropped off at Town Hhall.
The Shawangunk Mountain Scenic Byway, of which Gardiner is one of 11 communities in Ulster and Orange Counties, continues to meet. Current topics relate to tourism management and bringing resources into our communities.
We are quite proud to align our efforts and coordinate with Climate Smart Gardiner.
The work of community volunteers resulted in the Town of Gardiner being one of three communities in the State to be highlighted in the webinar “Two Resources: Clean Energy Communities and Climate Smart Communities.”
Finally, I would like to encourage residents to attend Town Board meetings to experience the depth of discussion and to contribute ideas and questions. After each topic the floor is opened for participation. Please know you are welcome.
PLANNING BOARD (from Chair Paul E. Colucci)
The Heartwood Resort: the development received conditional approval and our approval has been challenged by Friends of Gardiner in court. An Article 78 is proceeding.
Solar Farm: An Application for a 2 kw solar farm has been received on property adjacent to the Ulster County Fairgrounds.
Gardiner Gables is seeking approval for an addition to the Cafe Mio restaurant.
ZONING BOARD (from Chair David Gandin)
At present there are no applications pending before the ZBA.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION COMMITTEE (from Chair Roberta Clements)
No news from the ECC at this time.
CLIMATE SMART GARDINER (from Jason Mayer)
We continue to explore converting Gardiner’s streetlights to LEDs and constructing our Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station at the Gardiner Library, funded by a DEC grant.
See article page 13 about our free “Go Green Expo.”
We completed a municipal fleet inventory to assess green house gas (GHG) emissions and continue to be part of the Climate Action Plan Institute (CAPI), working toward creating an inventory for Gardiner’s GHG emissions, setting targets to reduce emissions, and making plans to achieve these targets. We are working on developing bylaws for our Taskforce.