Patrick Trettenero named Executive Director of The Stissing Center
Patrick Trettenero in front of The Stissing Center in Pine Plains.
Natalia Zukerman
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P&Z questions impact of rezoning request
Sep 17, 2025
NORTH CANAAN — The long-term effect of permitting industrial activity in a residential/agricultural zone was discussed by the Planning and Zoning Commission Monday, Sept. 8.
Commissioners reviewed an application from Ryan Foley, owner of R Foley Electric LLC, to rezone a 6.4-acre section of his property on W. Main St. for industrial use. The parcel is adjacent to the Transfer Station, and the remaining 48.19 acres of his property would remain residential/agricultural.
Chairman Mike O’Connor suggested that a special permit may be more appropriate than granting the zoning change.
“Switching to industrial opens up a whole gamut of what could be there,” said O’Connor. “What he has proposed is allowed in a residential/agricultural area with a special permit.”
Foley’s application did not include a specific plan for the parcel. Planning consultant Martin Connor said the change was to “allow the owners of that property to develop that section of property for industrial development.”
Commissioner Doug Humes noted the property may have to be subdivided prior to approving a change on a particular section of the land. Commissioner Peter Brown suggested consulting the town attorney Randy DiBella.
The matter was tabled to the October meeting.
Text change amendment
Prior to the regular P&Z meeting Sept. 8, a public hearing was held for a text change to a specific regulation. O’Connor explained the change, which was to add email as an acceptable form of communication for mining operators notifying the zoning enforcement officer of work outside of normal hours of operation.
The hearing was closed after two minutes with no comment from the public.In the regular meeting that followed, P&Z unanimously approved the text change.
During the public comment section of the regular meeting, Robert Sprague, who arrived after the public hearing was closed, spoke on the topic.
Sprague said he had previously filed complaints to the ZEO about mining activity outside of normal hours. Per Sprague, ZEO George Martin had not received prior notice of the work.
Sprague questioned why the regulations were loosened if operators are not actively following the rules.
“There was no even attempt to notify the officer until there was a complaint made. So how is that [text change] going to make it any better?” Sprague asked.
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Standing, from left, HVRHS students Violeta Londono, Phoebe Conklin, Lainey Diorio, Zaira Celso-Cristobal, Lyla Diorio and Eliana Lang served guests at the HVRHS travel club’s dinner Friday, Sept. 12. Seated, Sue and Deron Bayer dined at the event.
Simon Markow
SALISBURY — The annual wine dinner fundraiser for the HVRHS Travel Club took place at the White Hart Inn on Aug. 12.
Students attending this year’s trips to France/England and Australia/New Zealand helped set up tables and tents for the event. When the crowd arrived they served guests and mingled with sponsors to talk about their excitement for the upcoming experiences.
Luke Miller auctioned off Broadway tickets and weekends at vacations homes with the help of August Olsen who charmed the crowd.
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The roof of the old train station on Ethan Allen Streethas been repeatedly hit by trucks in recent years.
Patrick L. Sullivan
SALISBURY — First Selectman Curtis Rand told the Board of Selectmen that the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is not willing to fund moving the old train station building on Ethan Allen Street in Lakeville. Nor is it interested in paying for a new foundation.
The selectmen have been discussing moving the building, which is awkwardly situated across from restaurants and near the approach to the town Grove. Truck drivers in particular have a hard time with it, as evidenced by the half dozen times the building has been hit in the last couple of years. The town currently has concrete barriers in front of the building.
Rand said SHPO is considering putting up $30,000 for a bid package for engineering plans to move the building and put in a new foundation.
Transfer Station update
Salisbury-Sharon transfer station manager Brian Bartram told the selectmen that three new trash haulers have appeared in town. The problem is the haulers are not bringing the trash they pick up to the transfer station.
He said he is working on getting in touch with the haulers and explaining that Salisbury and Sharon trash needs to come to the transfer station, and that residents who use these haulers are still obligated to purchase transfer station stickers.
Crossing guard
Rand said Salisbury Central School needs crossing guard(s) for the Lincoln City Road/Route 44 intersection. A couple of volunteers have been handling the job, but their term of service is up.
The position is paid.
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Public hears farm zoning change proposal
Sep 17, 2025
SHARON — At the Sept. 10 meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission, residents weighed in on a proposed zoning amendment that would codify accessory uses for Sharon’s farms.
The regulation is meant to help farmers support their farming operations with supplementary income and is geared towards “sustaining the local agricultural economy and retaining the town’s rural character,” according to the regulation draft language.
The proposed uses available for special permit applications include year-round farm stores, farm-to-table dinners, wineries, breweries, farm product processing facilities, farm vacation stays and general indoor and outdoor events.
The draft stipulates that the proposed accessory use must be secondary to the primary agricultural operation of the farm, and the farm must be at least five acres and actively cultivated.
Some members of the public felt the language was dangerously vague and could allow for unintended consequences.
“This is way too general for what’s coming to this town in terms of development,” said Carol Flaton, voicing her concern that the loose definition of a cultivated farm could be abused.
Land Use Administrator Jamie Casey said that Sharon’s regulations are intentionally general to allow for greater collaboration between the applicant and the land use commissions during project design. It’s better when things are “a little bit vague,” she said, allowing applicants more breadth and room for creativity and working with the commissions to formulate the details. “These things are worked out at a meeting,” she said.
P&Z Vice Chair Betsy Hall pointed out that the requirement of the accessory use being secondary ensures that proposed uses overshadow the agricultural aspects of the property. “It’s not like we’re going to let a manufacturing operation open on the farm,” she said. “We’re talking about the working farmers.”
P&Z alternate Jill Drew concurred that “the vagueness is a feature, not a bug.”
Selectman Lynn Kearcher suggested that the minimal property size be greater than five acres, which Hall said the Commission would consider when it picks the discussion back up at the next meeting.
The Commission plans to discuss the issue of noisy chickens in residential areas at its Sept. 24 planning session. Casey announced that she had received a complaint from Sharon Valley Road resident Letitia Brazee about a flock of chickens at a neighboring property. Brazee wanted clarification in the zoning regulations as to what animals are considered farm animals and how a farm is defined.
The current regulations, last modified in June 2023, allow farms in any zone in Sharon providing the lot is three acres or greater. The term farm, however, is not included in the regulations’ list of definitions, and the only animals currently regulated for lot area are horses.
Further complicating matters is the state’s “Right to Farm” law, which exempts agricultural activity from being “deemed to constitute a nuisance” unless the municipality adopts an ordinance or regulation “to the contrary.”
Another situation in Kent involving complaints over roosters in 2024 found the town upholding its protections against agricultural nuisance claims.
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