RACHEL’S NOTES: PAC and Oh, Man!
 Our 2008 Winter Wine Tasting is fast approaching and tickets are going faster
than anticipated. Remember, that there are only 75 tickets to this inaugural event.
Please find the attached event flyer, and feel free to contact me with any questions
at Rachel@hvbuilder.com
 Secondly, I wanted to forewarn you that my hard drive crashed. It’s dead. Done.
Finished. Fried. Gone. Pooped out. Quit. So, my files are all gone. I’ve been
working with many of you individually on different issues, events, collaborations,
ideas, etc. If I have sent you a document recently, please send it back so no
project falls through the cracks. Also, if you have recently sent me an email on an
issue that the BAHV should be addressing, please re-send. Thank you.
 Additionally, my apologies for all of the Ulster news… it seems the other regional
papers are covering only holiday light displays and congressional impasses.
 Lastly, the next GAC meeting will be Wednesday, December 19th @ 4pm.
HUDSON VALLEY: Bonacic Opposes NYRI’s Action With State PSC
State Senator John Bonacic, one of the leaders in the effort to block New York Regional
Interconnection from building a 190-mile long power line from Oneida County to Orange
County, Tuesday was highly critical of the company’s latest effort to move the project
forward.
NYRI asked the state Public Service Commission to clarify the applicability of state
legislation that would take away eminent domain as a means of securing land on which to
build the project.
Bonacic is not giving up in his efforts to fight the power line, despite NYRI’s latest
move.
“Governor Spitzer has said it was dead. The legislature doesn’t want it; they took away
the power of eminent domain. A federal court has upheld that law by the legislature.
Certainly the people do not want it in the eight counties that are affected,” he said.
“NYRI has the money and they still want to spend the money to try to ram this project
through.”
NYRI legal counsel Len Singer said NYRI “believes in New York State’s regulatory
process and only asks that its project be judged by the PSC on its merits.”
(MidHudsonNews.com)
ULSTER: Gardiner Sets Public Hearing for Zoning Revisions
The Town of Gardiner will hold a public hearing on December 10th at 7pm at Gardiner
Town Hall to address the comprehensive zoning revisions.
This is the first time the zoning regulations have been significantly updated since 1975.
The town is seeking public input.
ULSTER: Planning and Zoning Applicants Sought
Applicants are sought for openings on the Saugerties's Planning Board and Zoning Board
of Appeals.
The Planning Board meets on the third Tuesday evening of each month at the Senior
Citizen Center. The Zoning Board of Appeals meets the first Monday evening of each
month at the Senior Center.
Candidates for either position should be prepared to complete required training as
required by the state and the town - five hours per year - and to become familiar with the
town's zoning law.
Candidates should send a letter of interest with pertinent experience/resume to Town
Supervisor Greg Helsmoortel, 4 High St., Saugerties, NY 12477 or to
ghelsmoortel@saugerties. ny.us.
ULSTER: Gardiner Zoning Revision Draws State, Local Critics
Proposed zoning changes are confusing and would lead to the creation of additional
layers of government, critics of the plan told members of the Town Board Monday.
Among problems cited is a provision that would allow developers to build additional
housing units if some are considered "affordable" for low- and moderate-income buyers.
Resident Pam O'Dell said the concept is poorly defined and would give officials too
much authority over housing sales once projects are constructed.
"Inclusionary housing regulations ... should be eliminated in its entirety from the zoning
regulations," O'Dell said. "Although the law is cited as a goal of the 2004 master plan,
nowhere in the plan is this type of housing discussed as being mandated by the zoning
regulation."
Town officials contend the zoning changes are intended to focus development in the
hamlet, protect open space, maintain farming as a viable industry, provide various
housing choices, protect water resources, and establish a business-friendly development
approval process that keeps applications in front of a single board.
The public hearing was closed, but special Town Board meetings were set for 3 p.m. Dec.
17 and 7 p.m. Dec. 19 for further discussion of the proposed changes.
(Daily Freeman)
ULSTER: Foundation Buys Lands, Looks to Build Student Housing
The SUNY New Paltz Foundation wants to build 150 to 200 units of student housing on
newly purchased land south of the campus off Route 32.
The foundation bought 41.8 acres from the Moriello family, which keeps the option to
build rental town houses on the property. The proposal is in the very early stages. It still
has to work its way through the town of New Paltz planning and zoning process.
(Times Herald Record)
ULSTER: County's Open Space Plan OK'd
An open space plan, the object of 15 months of work and several months of public input
sessions, was given final approval by the Ulster legislature. In the end, the plan was
approved in a party-line vote, with minority Republicans opposed. The final tally was 207, with six legislators absent.
(Daily Freeman)