FLPP Committee meeting minutes, June 19, 2018, submitted by Joan Pott
(Official minutes taken by Colette Jasinkski will be published on the Town's website)
Meeting began at 7PM in the Conference Room.
Attendance: Co-Chair, Scott Draina; Peter Solberg, Colette Jasinski, Joan Pott
Agenda
Flag Day Parade:
A great time was had by all! Members received lots of positive feedback. Spectators, especially the kids, really enjoyed seeing the critters. Next year, Committee plans more hay bales, critters, candy, and seeds. Also, a request will be made to be staged in an area appropriate for animals. Possibly adding draft horses and more than one float.
Zoning Issues in the AG/Rural District Continued:
1. A 5-Acre minimum lot size per housing unit for future development was raised and discussed. The Professional Planner, Nan Stolzenburg, addressed this at length with the FLPP Comm. and in zoning workshops when she was correcting the contradictions and inconsistencies in our zoning code. While this sounds like a solution to protect farmland, she stated it is fraught with unintended consequences. Committee discussed how to make 5-acre minimum zoning successful in the AG district, what's being done in other areas, and what happened in the past with five acre lots. Parcels that are built with the house in the middle leave a lot of area to be mowed, but are too cramped to be hayed. Putting the houses along the hedge row runs into conflict with setback requirements.
2. It was also noted that the proposed zoning changes were originally started and a draft completed with Public Hearing by the Professional Planner, Nan Stolzenburg, in Nov. 2017, and the process has now been passed to the Town's resident planner in the Building Department. Follow through, consistency, and a professional result are paramount! But, the project remains incomplete. This delay is taking critical time from important changes that must be made, allowing many development projects to be approved with old contradictory zoning. PUDD's remain a bone of contention.
3. Questions were raised on why the Spinney Group has proposed commercial space/senior condos/and single family homes on a parcel they originally presented for senior-housing cottages. Further noted the parcel is prime farmland, in the AG District, and cannot be removed from the District until the meeting at the County in 2022. Yet, the project continues to move forward unchecked.
Farmers Market:
Tim Szczepaniak provided contact information for a possible Farmers Market site on Route 50 at the old Grand Union Plaza. After much FLPP Comm. discussion, it was agreed that this should be a produce market, and would not include a flea market or craft fair. In order to be successful, much groundwork needs to be done, so it was agreed the market should wait until next year to open.. Goal is to have 3 handbooks from successful markets, answers to legal questions on money exchange, and dates of markets in the area put together for review at the September FLPP Comm. meeting. Discussion on a location ensued. Pro’s and Con’s on several sites. To be continued in September.
Community Garden:
The committee agreed this should be citizen driven, not committee/government driven. Tabled for the time being.
Education:
1. A suggestion was made to invite Councilman John Antoski to the August or a near-future meeting to share the results of his "History of Agriculture Class" conducted this past school year.
2. A Farm Tour was suggested as a venue to educate and involve the community .
a. Have a particular skill demonstrated at each farm on the tour.
b. Other Demonstrations on the farm.
3. Other topics/ideas
a. It was mentioned that a ‘Feast of Fields Banquet’ held in our Town would be another way to heighten awareness of "locally grown"!. It could be in a hall, or outdoors. The community room could be used as long as there was no charge.
b. Homesteading or other seminars, perhaps done in conjunction with the Cooperative Extension, as an educational workshop for new or prospective farmers to pick up skills.
(Official minutes taken by Colette Jasinkski will be published on the Town's website)
Meeting began at 7PM in the Conference Room.
Attendance: Co-Chair, Scott Draina; Peter Solberg, Colette Jasinski, Joan Pott
Agenda
Flag Day Parade:
A great time was had by all! Members received lots of positive feedback. Spectators, especially the kids, really enjoyed seeing the critters. Next year, Committee plans more hay bales, critters, candy, and seeds. Also, a request will be made to be staged in an area appropriate for animals. Possibly adding draft horses and more than one float.
Zoning Issues in the AG/Rural District Continued:
1. A 5-Acre minimum lot size per housing unit for future development was raised and discussed. The Professional Planner, Nan Stolzenburg, addressed this at length with the FLPP Comm. and in zoning workshops when she was correcting the contradictions and inconsistencies in our zoning code. While this sounds like a solution to protect farmland, she stated it is fraught with unintended consequences. Committee discussed how to make 5-acre minimum zoning successful in the AG district, what's being done in other areas, and what happened in the past with five acre lots. Parcels that are built with the house in the middle leave a lot of area to be mowed, but are too cramped to be hayed. Putting the houses along the hedge row runs into conflict with setback requirements.
2. It was also noted that the proposed zoning changes were originally started and a draft completed with Public Hearing by the Professional Planner, Nan Stolzenburg, in Nov. 2017, and the process has now been passed to the Town's resident planner in the Building Department. Follow through, consistency, and a professional result are paramount! But, the project remains incomplete. This delay is taking critical time from important changes that must be made, allowing many development projects to be approved with old contradictory zoning. PUDD's remain a bone of contention.
3. Questions were raised on why the Spinney Group has proposed commercial space/senior condos/and single family homes on a parcel they originally presented for senior-housing cottages. Further noted the parcel is prime farmland, in the AG District, and cannot be removed from the District until the meeting at the County in 2022. Yet, the project continues to move forward unchecked.
Farmers Market:
Tim Szczepaniak provided contact information for a possible Farmers Market site on Route 50 at the old Grand Union Plaza. After much FLPP Comm. discussion, it was agreed that this should be a produce market, and would not include a flea market or craft fair. In order to be successful, much groundwork needs to be done, so it was agreed the market should wait until next year to open.. Goal is to have 3 handbooks from successful markets, answers to legal questions on money exchange, and dates of markets in the area put together for review at the September FLPP Comm. meeting. Discussion on a location ensued. Pro’s and Con’s on several sites. To be continued in September.
Community Garden:
The committee agreed this should be citizen driven, not committee/government driven. Tabled for the time being.
Education:
1. A suggestion was made to invite Councilman John Antoski to the August or a near-future meeting to share the results of his "History of Agriculture Class" conducted this past school year.
2. A Farm Tour was suggested as a venue to educate and involve the community .
a. Have a particular skill demonstrated at each farm on the tour.
b. Other Demonstrations on the farm.
3. Other topics/ideas
a. It was mentioned that a ‘Feast of Fields Banquet’ held in our Town would be another way to heighten awareness of "locally grown"!. It could be in a hall, or outdoors. The community room could be used as long as there was no charge.
b. Homesteading or other seminars, perhaps done in conjunction with the Cooperative Extension, as an educational workshop for new or prospective farmers to pick up skills.
Next Meeting is AUGUST 21st. There will be NO meeting in July this year.
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