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Planning board discusses approach to workforce housing proposal; members urged to submit written comments
Summary
Rhinebeck planning board members reviewed the town board's request for comments on a proposed workforce housing local law and associated project concept; members asked for a workshop with town officials, emphasized design and tree-preservation concerns, and agreed to compile written comments for the town board.
The Planning Board spent the final portion of the Jan. 7 meeting discussing the town board's workforce housing initiative and how the planning board should provide comments on a proposed local law and the applicant's concept plan.
Board members said they have not yet received a comprehensive presentation from the applicant or the applicant's counsel and stressed that the planning board's review should include design guidance, connectivity (sidewalks and pedestrian access), tree preservation, and the relationship of the project to the village and adjacent properties. Planning staff and board members said they will collect technical comments (engineering, landscape, and environmental) and that the town engineer has provided a four-page engineering review to be included with Planning Board comments.
Several board members urged an early workshop with the town board and the applicant so the planning board can provide design input before the town adopts a local law that would create a workforce-housing district covering the project parcel. Members noted the need to identify which zoning requirements would be waived or altered by a local law and asked for clarity about the process and timing. The supervisor (referenced in the meeting) reportedly said the town board is exploring making a private access road into a town road to address school bus access; the planning board asked for formal confirmation of any such municipal decisions because they would materially affect site design and pedestrian connectivity.
Public comment: Members of the public at the meeting urged the board to make documents and the draft part-3 report available and to place public notices in more visible locations at project sites. Citizens asked whether the board's part-2 documents and consultant memos would be publicly available; staff said Jim's memos and technical comments are public records and would be shared, and that the planning consultant would assemble submitted comments for the town board.
Next steps: Planning staff asked board members to assemble written comments organized by topic (design, circulation, environmental, utilities, etc.) and said staff would compile and circulate a draft summary to the board so members can agree on a consolidated response to the town board. The board also requested an early workshop with the town board, the applicant and counsel if possible prior to final local-law drafting.
