TC21 and Pine Plains United decide to stay separate

PINE PLAINS — After a meeting last week between representatives of Pine Plains United and Teesink Crossroads 21, the groups have decided not to join forces anytime soon.

Both are citizen-activist groups in town with concerns about the  comprehensive plan and the proposed zoning plan, and how they will affect growth in the community.

However, executive committee member Brad Mitchell said at a TC21 meeting on Monday that, while Pine Plains United representatives felt that both groups had some common ground, there were too many differences between the organizations.

“They were very gracious at the meeting, but the consensus was that the representatives from the organization said that even if they could speak for the whole organization, they didn’t think it was a good idea,� Mitchell said. “They seem to have no interest whatsoever.�

Mitchell said that he, along with TC21 member Carl Popp, met with Pine Plains United Co-Chairman James Mara and member Scott Chase.

“They didn’t feel they could speak for the organization, but that even if they could, [joining together] would serve no purpose,� Mitchell said.

Popp said that part of the underlying problem was the individualism of both groups.

“They seem to feel that they are a group of individuals, just like we’re a group of individuals,� Popp said. “[Mara and Chase] couldn’t represent the whole group, that was the whole excuse.�

Pine Plains United’s Mara, who is also the head assessor for the town of Pine Plains, said he thought the groups don’t have that much common ground.

“We realized that we were better off meeting after the election, seeing that TC21 does not seem to be in favor of the zoning as proposed, although they denied that,� Mara said. “But we contend that when significant members of the organization are speaking against zoning, the whole group is speaking against zoning. We’re in the position that we’re supporting the process.�

Pine Plains United Steering Committee member Jane Waters, who was not at the joint meeting, said that there were a lot of points that both groups did not see eye to eye on.

“They have been spreading a lot of rumors about zoning that are untrue,� Waters said. “I know that not much came out of that meeting.�

Mitchell said that the next meeting for TC21 will be held Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m., at The Peddler's Café.

Pine Plains United will next meet on Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. at its office on Route 199, just west of the main traffic light in town.