Public workshops set May 30 as Shandaken planners seek community input

The Shandaken Conservation Advisory Council urged residents to attend three public community conversations on the town’s draft comprehensive plan on Saturday, May 30 at three locations: 10 a.m. at Pine Hill Community Center, 1 p.m. at Town Hall and 4 p.m. at the Phoenicia Public Library, the council said.

“ There’ll be 3 locations, 10AM at Pine Hill in the community center, 01:00 at Town Hall, and 04:00 in in Phoenicia at the, at the public library,” said a council member announcing the schedule. The meetings are described as opportunities for residents to discuss recommendations with members of the comprehensive planning committee and consultants before the final plan is drafted.

Council members said the draft recommendations circulated so far are not the full plan and additional formal public hearings before the town board will follow the community conversations. The council also highlighted the natural resource inventory effort: consultant Julia Solomon will lead the public-input sessions while Hudsonia provides ecological mapping and overlay maps showing soils, geology and flood areas.

“Julia is doing the public input part and writing the plan, and Hudsonia is doing the mapping,” the chair said, noting the inventory will include overlays of rare or endangered species habitat that inform the plan. The consultant will also launch a photo-blitz asking residents to submit favorite photos of Shandaken for possible use in the comprehensive plan.

The council recommended members and residents attend the May 30 sessions and watch for subsequent formal hearings advertised by the town board.