Comments and compliments on new comprehensive plan

MILLERTON — The Comprehensive Plan Update Committee held a public hearing on Saturday, May 18, at the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex with a moderate group of area residents in attendance.

Thanking everyone for attending, Ed Downey said the committee previously held a public meeting on Saturday, April 27, to present the plan and have an open dialogue with the public. He said the public hearing was meant to be a more formal event intended to satisfy the requirements of the relevant municipal laws and enable the committee to hear feedback. Those comments, he explained, will be taken in consideration before the committee finalizes the plan at its next scheduled meeting on Thursday, June 6.

As the first to speak, Sam Busselle spoke of the plan’s housing component. He recalled the Community Conversation that the North East Community Center and Hudson River Housing, Inc., sponsored last month to talk about the need for housing in the towns of Amenia, Millerton/North East and Pine Plains. He also mentioned the diversity of concepts, ideas and concerns that surfaced regarding the need for housing, which he said are reflected in the updated Comprehensive Plan. He suggested the committee simplify the wording, location and organization of the plan’s housing section with a focus on the section related to the establishment of a Housing Committee. 

“I’d like to say first of all this is an absolutely amazing document,” said North East Councilman Ralph Fedele. “All of you did one hell of a job… It’s aspirational as any Comprehensive Plan should be: it links the past — many references go back to the 1990 Comprehensive Plan — throughout the report, so it links the past, describes the present and looks to the future.”

His only criticism was that the Irondale Schoolhouse, where he serves as president of the Friends of the Irondale Schoolhouse Board, only received two references in the plan.

With all the effort the committee brought forth in updating the plan, Millerton resident DeLora Brooks shared her hope that the community is able to institute the plan and make its components possible.

“I hope to God I’m around for the next CP, and I hope to God that we have done our job as you so worked hard,” Brooks said. “Every member at this table has a stake in this community, and I would hope that our dreams that are in that package become reality because if they don’t, Millerton will never be a place we’ll recognize going forward.”

Meanwhile, Millerton resident Tom Parrett complimented the committee for the thorough, thoughtful job it did and its transparency.

“I think the community will be justly served by it and they will see themselves reflected in this document for years to come,” he said.

However, Parrett shared his belief that mention of global warming was missing from the plan and talked about the significant increase of the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere since the original Comprehensive Plan was published. He recommended that the village of Millerton and town of North East adopt the best practices as they emerge, be among the leaders in staying ahead of the global warming curve and state those practices in the Comprehensive Plan.

Echoing the praise of others, North East Councilman Chris Kennan said, “Overall, I think the plan is a great document and will be enormously helpful to the town and the village as they move forward.”

Kennan also advised the committee to work quickly to form a steering committee for the plan as well as an economic development committee.

Along with thanking the committee for its work, resident Cathy Fenn commented on the change in the village business community, particularly businesses that have played a role in Millerton’s identity and are no longer operating. She also shared her admiration for the younger generations getting involved, and she encouraged the committee to embrace their involvement.

A copy of the draft of the updated Comprehensive Plan is currently available for inspection at North East Town Hall, Millerton Village Hall and at the library. Written comments will be accepted until Monday, May 27, and can be sent to either the Village Clerk at P.O. Box 528 or the Town Clerk at P.O. Box 516, both in Millerton, NY 12546.