[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6108458,"mediaKeyId","2768262-81908e66508b80a8bf32b9ef4a664fb7","parentId",2768262,"title","Council moves draft ADU law toward public hearing after small setback and review changes","audioSeconds",3869,"startMs",3108000,"endMs",6977000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2768262-81908e66508b80a8bf32b9ef4a664fb7&start=3108&end=6977","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2768262-81908e66508b80a8bf32b9ef4a664fb7/thumbnail_3108000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6108458/Beacon/Dutchess-County/New-York/Council-moves-draft-ADU-law-toward-public-hearing-after-small-setback-and-review-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108458-44aa395fc20ed052cc181b832419e97f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124964&Signature=FHz0jsbiw5w6axSu2PtQcU-9KhbjgfuTvF6e0cKWnmu12yB-8RepNfAwSRuQ08MVALrC0D96GazUYqljtOzTN7YQZxGpDLXWjQx4w3FvAD3ndIHye6s9uwrTV-WG-cRcjgI9j5vCBuSTqbV1D2ZLXxlRfmWXqc0apA7e67HWNrmPpMJE4tk7BXrxgn5dImNt5yyX39F9JRKb9KexD7sn3KfsIp~4BxDQveVltjXYt16N-X8LlTi20pMRtSrCMLxW~qrWn4vG9fpGoRbO9cig05CSbx4fG9TAnPP6YKBsOiCmadtfu4CH6CQnuypZqXIm1tFHx6O6caG-U3~yH0faig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Beacon ","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","City planner Natalie (last name not provided in transcript) walked Beacon council members through a revised draft local law to expand accessory dwelling units (ADUs) across single-family lots. The planner and council discussed setbacks, inspector approval authority, size limits and a new “certificate of appropriateness” review for constrained lots before the council agreed to advance the draft toward Planning Board review and a public hearing.

Natalie outlined the main changes in the draft law: ADUs would be permitted on any lot that contains a single-family home in all residential districts; minimum and maximum square-foot requirements were removed, but the draft retained a threshold that sends ADUs larger than 50% of the primary structure size to the Planning Board for site-plan review. The planner explained that the building inspector would have approval authority for ADUs contained entirely within an existing primary dwelling or an existing accessory building, and for modest expansions that do not change setback compliance.

Council members raised concerns about small lot districts where standard accessory setbacks (five feet) may place a residential ADU very near a neighbor. The planner and council discussed two approaches: raising setbacks in certain districts or creating a light-touch review. The council favored a targeted process rather than wholesale setback changes. The group agreed to add a modest review step — described during the discussion as a certificate of appropriateness or an abbreviated planning-board review — for accessory units that would sit very close to an adjacent dwelling (the planner was tasked with drafting a workable distance criterion and text for the draft law).

On the remaining size question, council members debated removing the 50% cap entirely, imposing an absolute square-foot maximum, or leaving the 50% trigger and requiring site-plan review above that threshold. Council sentiment favored retaining the 50% trigger as a planning-board referral but removing minimum square-foot limits; the council asked staff to prepare the draft with that approach.

Council members also agreed that ADUs created entirely inside existing structures or inside accessory buildings or by modest expansion that meets setbacks should remain under the building inspector’s authority rather than require full Planning Board review.

Next steps: Planner Natalie and the city attorney will incorporate the agreed clarifications — the building-inspector approvals for existing conversions, the retained 50% threshold that triggers site-plan review, and the certificate-of-appropriateness/light review for constrained small lots — and return a revised draft for scheduling a public hearing and referral to the Planning Board.

Why it matters: The changes are intended to increase housing supply by making ADUs easier to permit while retaining neighborhood protections for close-proximity conversions and projects that substantially change scale. The council’s revisions prioritize as-of-right conversions in existing buildings and a measured review for new detached accessory dwellings or projects that exceed a size threshold.

Sources: Presentation and exchange with Natalie (city planner), council members and the city attorney during the Beacon City Council workshop.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Beacon City Council Meeting 2025-03-11","oneSentenceSummary","Council and planner agreed to remove minimum square-foot rules, keep a 50% size trigger that requires planning-board review, let the building inspector approve most conversions inside existing structures, and add a limited planning/appropriateness review where small-lot setbacks create neighborhood impacts; public hearing to be scheduled.","taxTitle","Beacon, Dutchess County, New York","taxId",69898,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6108462,"Developer says all eight Beacon BMR units are leased; commercial leasing still marketing",143,2692000,2835000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2768262-81908e66508b80a8bf32b9ef4a664fb7&start=2692&end=2835","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2768262-81908e66508b80a8bf32b9ef4a664fb7/thumbnail_2692000.jpg","/articles/6108462/Beacon/Dutchess-County/New-York/Developer-says-all-eight-Beacon-BMR-units-are-leased-commercial-leasing-still-marketing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108462-1ce10ba3c47fe717644c06884be2c948/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124964&Signature=csTBeWhcxHxM0LKImhyawFqIQyhYI1hfGoIHLDiKquS8ZCNQ4rPzELsI-apYkGwdHGKF9oNwBvsa~98fElpmOS74m6B1bE8LPOdWQbK3LRhPuTOjWPsEfq4W~wVgyIypb6kNnxTYcwuZ6i1f2tvWQQo6~yEXevYwyMkLppXuRhjv3citD6sUzE7IPww2z8rTxa1br-DaTJUALGlNvIUBtNFC0zH0nVIUGENAqSE9XW2RINrBCX23o2i6L2-HVj73NxNMeBHNrt1RodUiIKN11rvjt4pV5UeebSCEShF1paegtWItX3KWYJBHbzlr2lZjUAXg6Pj3~jMOdptqMSceIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jay Blumfeld, representing the applicant for 248 Tyrande, told the Beacon City Council the property’s required below-market-rate (BMR) housing units have been filled and that the applicant met conditions set in a December council resolution.

Blumfeld said the building received a temporary certificate of occupancy in late January and marketing began the next day. “We have actually filled all 8 BMR units as of this past weekend,” he reported, adding that seven of the eight households came from within the City of Beacon and all eight are county residents. He said the signed BMR leases represented eight of the ten initial leases executed for the building and that households were scheduled to move in over the coming weeks.

Blumfeld also said the applicant continues to market the building’s commercial space and that earlier interest in a potential medical tenant appeared less likely at present. He told the council he would provide a written update in March detailing commercial leasing activity and any other outstanding conditions.

Why it matters: The council’s December resolution had set conditions for waiving certain zoning requirements and required an in-person update; the applicant reported compliance with checklist items and tenanting of the BMR units. The commercial tenancy was still being marketed and not resolved.

Provenance: The applicant’s in-person update came during the council workshop; no formal vote occurred.

Sources: Jay Blumfeld, applicant representative; city attorney remarks introducing the update.","Applicant for 248 Tyrande reported to council that all eight below-market-rate (BMR) units were leased to county and city residents and move-ins were scheduled; commercial space interest remained limited and would be updated to the council in March.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6108466,"Dutchess County officials brief Beacon council on 988, crisis services and housing supports",2350,726000,3076000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2768262-81908e66508b80a8bf32b9ef4a664fb7&start=726&end=3076","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2768262-81908e66508b80a8bf32b9ef4a664fb7/thumbnail_726000.jpg","/articles/6108466/Beacon/Dutchess-County/New-York/Dutchess-County-officials-brief-Beacon-council-on-988-crisis-services-and-housing-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108466-c6710a4cf9b6470dcf7db2dd83cf3f16/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124964&Signature=PSszkHkwkjAqOPSrbPUncTrcFiiI1VhsTb9ucHac5R0luJ-CjZFDGADjkMu~8toHbSIhB7uOZSBpCZwAIyI9FRHPe5vUeJkw64GFbgUyszqe6mbRX-NGDpJK936fo5o3yO4J-kPTh8XwuV9IiadmI6SKpgqyfS4RwGTpyT3C-Ok3lKL1zTLtC4ZeyfwLy06yPRdjAgMlWBYWz4OTkxKPKkxLkAn~otYXhGRGi1La5wr4~NWSNWnDoP7WPw7SKrOzH5IbxDRSTsEtSGOGcesADmbkqIMcSQbMO3unmNU4yL8emDIyR-Bc9C9Has98-Gzwl3HdYBqkq-QUvJK255yT-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jean Marie Niebuhr, Dutchess County Commissioner of Mental Health, and Sabrina Marzuka, Commissioner of Community and Family Services, briefed the Beacon City Council on county mental-health and housing services during a council workshop, describing crisis hotlines, walk-in stabilizing services, outreach and rental-assistance programs available to Beacon and Dutchess County residents.

The commissioners said the county operates the regional 988 crisis hotline and a 24-hour Crisis Stabilization Center at 230 North Road in Poughkeepsie, run by People USA, as an alternative to emergency-room visits. Niebuhr said the 988 service answers calls for Dutchess, Ulster and Sullivan counties and can route callers to the Stabilization Center or the county’s Mobile Crisis Intervention Team. “We try to conceive a continuum of care that encompasses prevention, recovery, outpatient services, and inpatient services,” Niebuhr said.

The presentation emphasized walk-in and peer-run supports: Niebuhr described the Dutchess County Empowerment Center at the same Poughkeepsie address, staffed by people in recovery who offer walk-in hours and outreach. She also outlined a county trauma team that responds to large community trauma and a Partial Hospitalization Program for people stepping down from inpatient psychiatric care.

Marzuka focused on housing and social-services pathways that link residents to supports. She described Single Point of Access (SPOA) processes for adults and children with serious mental illness, which use an application to place qualifying individuals into supported housing at three levels of need. “Our housing assistance is really comprehensive,” Marzuka said, listing eviction prevention, security-deposit and first-month assistance, emergency shelter, shelter diversion work and outreach by a “hot team.”

Marzuka reviewed federal and state rental-assistance programs and limits discussed during the session. She said federal pandemic-era Emergency Rental Assistance (ERAP) is still paying out past awards but is closed to new applications; county staff checks the ERAP registry before approving other aid. Under some federal rules the county said it generally cannot pay more than six months of back rent; the county also uses a state supplement program (referred to in the presentation as SAFE or RSP) to help cover market rents and to enable longer-term stabilization for some households. Marzuka said the state rental-supplement program was helping roughly 45 households and had a waiting list of “over 200 applications,” and that about 600 people were in the county’s homeless services system at any given time.

County jail services, forensic evaluations, medication-assisted treatment and peer recovery supports were also summarized. Niebuhr added that the county operates forensic evaluations and treatment supports inside the Dutchess County Jail, and medication-assisted treatment and peer services for people with opioid use disorder.

Council members asked how services are sited across the county. Marzuka said the Beacon office on Main Street focuses mainly on SNAP intake but accepts applications for other services and helps avoid travel to Poughkeepsie. Both commissioners said telehealth and program decentralization since the pandemic have increased access for residents. Niebuhr said public mental-health clinic sites operate in Poughkeepsie, Beacon, Millbrook, Dover and Rhinebeck.

The officials directed residents in need to call United Way 211 (for housing and other resource screening) and to use county web resources and a county app the presenters said links to programs and maps. Marzuka asked the council to consider linking the city website to county resources; the mayor said the city would follow up to add links.

The presentation included program-level limits and operational details the commissioners emphasized were set by state and federal rules: eligibility windows for federal temporary assistance, the county’s role as last-resort provider, requirements to verify literal homelessness for emergency placements, and the county’s discretion in rare cases for additional months of assistance. Marzuka recommended earlier outreach for tenants at risk of eviction and noted the county’s referral partnership with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley for eviction defense.

The commissioners said the county is experimenting with kiosks (previously deployed in Poughkeepsie) to let residents scan and submit documents at remote locations, and that county staff were exploring putting kiosks in libraries once cybersecurity and legal questions are resolved. Niebuhr also noted the county’s public training offerings, including Mental Health First Aid and naloxone (Narcan) training, and said the county has supplied Narcan kits and boxes to libraries and municipal buildings on request.

Why it matters: Beacon residents who face a mental-health crisis or housing instability were given concrete contact points: 988 for crisis triage, 211 for housing and service screening, and the county app and Beacon office for intake. Commissioners stressed program limits and criteria, and urged early contact to maximize prevention and diversion options.

Questions, requests and next steps: Council members asked the presenters to provide links the city can publish. The council also discussed including county contact information on the city agenda and website and asked staff to return with details if the council wants to publicize training or kiosk availability.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A with Jean Marie Niebuhr (Dutchess County Commissioner of Mental Health) and Sabrina Marzuka (Commissioner of Community and Family Services) at the Beacon City Council workshop.\"","County mental-health and family-services officials outlined 24/7 crisis lines, a walk-in stabilization center, outreach and multiple housing and rental-assistance programs, and urged residents to use 211 and county web resources for help.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council moves draft ADU law toward public hearing after small setback and review changes

Developer says all eight Beacon BMR units are leased; commercial leasing still marketing

Dutchess County officials brief Beacon council on 988, crisis services and housing supports