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Residents voice opposition to hotel zoning and rail-trail costs during public comment
Summary
Multiple residents criticized proposed hotel zoning on Fishkill Creek and objected to rail-trail spending and perceived weak oversight of developers; speakers urged enforcement and caution on siting near the creek.
During the second public-comment period several residents spoke about hotels, rail-trail costs and developer oversight.
Theresa Craft urged a building moratorium and warned that hotels along Fishkill Creek would "undermine the precious ecosystem and historic viewsheds," and expressed opposition to what she said would be a multi-million-dollar rail-trail expense: "I'm still opposed to spending $5,500,000 on a 3,500,000 section of rail regardless of where the funding comes from." Her remarks emphasized floodplain and ecological concerns and framed the issue as a threat to neighborhood character.
Other residents echoed calls for stricter enforcement of existing rules. Eric Simone urged the council to enforce laws on developers and to improve oversight, saying "Let's let's enforce the things that we have on the books." Owen White, a licensed STR owner, described a straightforward permitting experience and said he keeps prices low to draw visitors to local businesses.
Speakers on Zoom offered to help craft workable STR rules and urged caution on hotel siting near the creek. The council acknowledged these concerns and staff said planning-board referral and wetlands review would be part of the next steps for the FCD amendments and rail-trail design.
