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Red Hook board votes 4-1 to move CPF amendment forward to include five water-district parcels; public hearing set for May 12
Summary
The Town Board on April 14 passed Resolution 13 (4-1) declaring itself lead agency for a Community Preservation Fund amendment to consider acquiring five surplus Water District parcels (8.55 acres). The board also set a May 12 public hearing on the proposed Local Law A to include the parcels in the CPF plan.
The Red Hook Town Board voted 4-1 on April 14 to classify and advance a proposed amendment to the town's Community Preservation Plan that would add five surplus parcels owned by the Red Hook Water District to the fund's list of eligible properties.
By passing Resolution 13, the board declared the proposed Local Law A an "unlisted" action under SEQR and designated the Town Board as lead agency, clearing the way for further appraisal and environmental review. The board then passed Resolution 14 to hold a public hearing on May 12, 2026, at 7:35 p.m. to consider adoption of the local law and to solicit public comment.
The parcels in question are in the Linden Acres subdivision and total about 8.55 acres, according to the board's presentation; the chair described wetland areas on the parcels and said they are generally undevelopable and consistent with CPF purposes such as nature preservation and passive recreation.
Supporters on the board argued that including the parcels in the CPF would allow the town to acquire them with community-preservation funds, potentially protecting water resources while also offering the water district an avenue to realize value that could help with a planned water storage tank rehabilitation. Opponents urged caution: several board members and members of the public pressed for a clearer, specific plan for any future uses (benches, paths or other improvements) and asked that environmental review consider likely disturbances and long-term maintenance costs before acquisition.
The vote was recorded as 4 in favor, 1 opposed (Christina), and the board directed staff to obtain appraisals and to refer the proposal to the Community Preservation Fund Advisory Board as part of the May hearing process.
No final acquisition or funding decision was made at the meeting; the May 12 public hearing will allow further evidence, appraisals and advisory-board input to be presented to the Town Board.
