Comprehensive Plan Update: North East and Millerton collaborate on goals for the future

NORTH EAST— There was a strong show of support from town and village officials and volunteers at a joint meeting on Thursday, March 1, to discuss updates to the comprehensive plan. 

A comprehensive plan is a vision statement of how a municipality would like to grow for the next 10 to 15 years, and lays a framework for future building and zoning laws. The town of North East is in the midst of an update; it’s working closely with the village of Millerton to hash out the details.

The meeting last Thursday was run by planning consultant Nan Stolzenburg, with the help of her assistant, Ellen Pemrick. Edie Greenwood, the chair of the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee, sat with the six other committee members present at the board table.

The committee includes Greenwood, Chair of the Conservation Advisory (CAC) Council Dianne Engleke, resident and attorney Ed Downey, former North East Town Justice John Crodelle, North East Planning Board Chairman Dale Culver, Millerton Planning Board and North East Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) member Patti Lynch-VandeBogart, Millerton Trustee Stephen Waite and North East Councilman John Midwood, who was not present at last week’s gathering. Debbie Phillips is the group’s secretary.

Stolzenburg addressed the committee, and the roughly 30 residents present — most of whom serve on local planning and zoning boards or in public office — by explaining that the night’s goal was to discuss “what we’re doing, where we’re at, what we’re working on and to hear your perspective on issues and concerns.” She said focusing on a joint plan is the “right way” to approach matters.

The plan, she said, isn’t a law. It’s road map, which is adopted by law. Years ago, comprehensive plans were called master plans, but that changed because it didn’t provide a broad enough look at those topics important to communities.

Typically, comprehensive plans cover land-use issues, economic development, natural resources, infrastructure and more. The zoning changes that will result are addressed in a process done after the plan’s adoption.

Priority actions

Stolzenburg spoke about priority actions. Grant writing was a big one, which she called “critical.” She mentioned the state Greenway Grant that helped fund the update in the first place. 

Land-use descriptions for other agencies, like the Department of Transportation, was another priority, so it can “mesh their needs” with the town and village. 

Sub-division laws were also noted as important. A database of maps will be included.

“We’re not throwing out the old plan,” said the planner, “we’re evaluating to keep the things that are relevant and address what needs to be addressed.”

Participants

It was noted that in forming the update, a large cross-section of the community was polled. Members of the CAC, the Millerton Business Alliance, the North East Community Center, the library, the nutrition center, the school district, bankers, musicians, artists and people from different ethnicities were spoken to about their wants for the community.

A public workshop was held last month that saw roughly 70 people participate. The committee has also set up a Facebook page to try to make the process open and transparent.

Survey

On March 1, the day of the meeting, Greenwood “got the post cards to advertise the community-wide survey,” which will go out to all residents — hopes are that the response will be thorough. The committee agreed by the end of March it should have a clearer idea of how the community feels about the issues.

The issues

Stolzenburg then turned the discussion to those present, who were asked for their thoughts on a plethora of issues. The challenge, said Millerton Mayor Debbie Middlebrook, is finding funding for important projects.

“Infrastructure,” said Millerton Trustee Christine Bates, which she said is aging out quickly.

“We have cracked sidewalks, the water system needs constant attention, everyone knows we need a sewer,” she said.

North East Planning Board member Bill Kish said “one thing that is killing the Planning Board is the obsolete nature of zoning,” which he said hasn’t been updated in years.

North East town Supervisor George Kaye said housing is a big need in the community, as he said there’s an “aging population” that’s not helping attract young people to live and work in the town and village. He also said housing for veterans is something to think about.

Recreation was mentioned by Bates as another issue.

“Our recreation resources are declining,” she said. “We had to close the swimming pool. Rudd Pond is suffering. The school gym closed.”

North East Planning Board member Leslie Farhangi said she’s concerned about land conservation, adding “I know there’s a lot of things a comprehensive plan can do … and our code has nothing for conservation easements.” She said adding a mechanism to address those issues would be worthwhile.

Millerton ZBA member Matt Hartzog spoke about the complicated application process of going before the zoning board. He suggested the process get “streamlined and made less odious.”

The need for a transfer station and recycling center was addressed. 

Millerton/North East Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer Ken McLaughlin said that “land uses are outdated.” He said the community must decide “what it is it wants to be: a center for commerce or a rural community,” as he said “each community has its own character — always a challenge for a zoning enforcement officer and building inspector.” 

The Mavis/Dunkin’ Donuts project was named as an example.

“The conflict is there’s a community of people who see that as a way of producing jobs for young people,” McLaughlin said. “The other community says this isn’t the character we envision. Neither is wrong; each community is just a little different.”

Village Planning Board Chairman Lance Middlebrook said he would like to see the plan look at adaptive reuse of properties for the two municipalities. He said many places are “zoned for one thing and nothing else can go in there,” even when other uses might be more ideal. He gave old churches, which can be re-purposed as housing or businesses, as an example.

Culver added into the mix that old farm structures are plentiful in the region, and could be used to “help keep the landscape the way it is but re-purposed.” He also said low income housing is important to keep the community relevant.

Village ZBA member Eliot Ramos said it’s vital to keep the community’s access to technology current. She spoke of two communities in the country that created their own WiFi systems so that their residents didn’t have to individually pay the roughly $75 for private service.

“There’s an initial investment, but it seems so great to have everyone connected,” she said, adding it would be great if the comprehensive plan could be “refreshed every five years.”

Some spoke about the fact that the town’s maps don’t always match the maps from other agencies. Farhangi said that sometimes, a map from Hudsonia, a not-for-profit institute for research, education and technical assistance in the environmental sciences that did mapping for the town a couple of years ago, conflicts with town maps. That causes confusion, she said, and makes enforcement near impossible.

“They have to mesh,” she said. “We have to synthesize and it’s hard.”

“The town did zoning 40 years ago and Hudsonia did it five years ago,” said Culver, “So it may be matched in intent, [but not in practice].

“When zoning says 100 feet and Hudsonia says 400 feet, that 300 feet is litigation,” he added to the amusement of those present.

Kish said he would personally like to see the plan “write something in that we want to be a dark sky community,” which would allow the town to include that goal in its zoning. North East Councilman Chris Kennan mentioned the town recently became a Climate Smart Community, and said those priorities should be included in the comprehensive plan.

The reliance on volunteers was raised. Bates said she’s worried that “volunteers are aging out,” They often have a second job, she said, and no longer work in the community. The trustee recommended that planning for a continuous volunteer base be a priority.

That led to the issue of shared services, which Kaye said the town participates in as often as possible, for equipment, for facilities, for services, for any kind of cost savings that seem prudent. He mentioned the joint highway garage building the town and village are planning for currently.

Culver said the town and village have a “fiscally limited tax base,” forcing them to seek out shared services. But, he said, they’re dissuaded from crossing state lines.

“We’re a border community, and the state doesn’t think we should share,” he said before referencing the new transfer station in Salisbury, Conn. “A transfer station — we’re going to have a brand-new one so close — it’s there, but …”

Parking was discussed, especially the need for more parking by the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. Middlebrook said the soon-to-be-defunct town highway garage site could be useful in providing additional parking.

Survey participation

Typically, Stolzenburg said, 24 percent of the population participates in surveys like the one the committee is sending to residents. Villages tend to be more responsive, she said.

“We’re hoping people understand that their participation makes a difference,” she added. 

“A comprehensive plan is only as good as input from as many residents as possible,” added Greenwood. “It’s exciting. The whole thing has some momentum, which is surprising given how ephemeral the whole process is.”

In addition to all town and village residents receiving a copy in the mail, the survey can be found online, at www.townofnortheastny.gov, www.villageofmillerton.net and www.nemillertonlibrary.org. It is also on the NorthEast/Millerton Facebook page.