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Beacon council finds Rail Trail project a "qualified action" exempt from SEQRA review
Summary
The council approved a resolution declaring the Beacon Rail Trail construction a "qualified action" exempt from State Environmental Quality Review Act review under recent state budget amendments, citing the project's conversion of a previously disturbed rail bed. Staff expects engineering and bid documents by year‑end and a concept plan by late summer.
The council voted to adopt a resolution finding the proposed Beacon Rail Trail project a qualified action that is exempt from SEQRA review under recent state budget language that excludes certain multi‑use rail trails on previously disturbed rail beds.
City Attorney Nick Ward Willis explained the legal basis: the state budget included exemptions intended to remove SEQRA requirements for projects that the legislature determined would not have significant adverse environmental impacts, and one of those exemptions covers multi‑use trails built on previously disturbed rail rights‑of‑way. "So in our resolution, we go through all those criterias... and demonstrate how each of those criterias are satisfied that allows this council as the responsible agency to make this determination," he said.
Staff provided an implementation timeline: survey work delayed the schedule slightly but consultants Bartlett, Barton and Le Judas reported engineering and bid documents by the end of the year and a concept plan by the end of August, with a possible site walk in October. The council approved the resolution on the floor; the transcript records the affirmative vote without a detailed roll call.
