by Bea Peterson
On Wednesday evening the Zoning Commission of the Town of Hoosick presented a first draft of the Land Use Law of the Town of Hoosick. In her opening remarks Town Supervisor Marilyn Douglas said Hoosick is one of three towns in Rensselaer County that do not have zoning. The other two are Grafton and Petersburgh. This new plan will complement the Comprehensive Plan that was adopted by the Town in 2004. Some laws, she said, such as the cell tower law have been piecemealed together over time. The draft presented to the public Wednesday has been reviewed by the Highway Superintendent, the Building Inspector, the Town Attorney and the Town Board. “We want you to look it over,” she told everyone at the meeting. “We want your involvement.”
Marianne Zwicklbauer, a member of the Commission addressed the group. “We all love it here,” she began. “Six year ago I was not in favor of zoning,” she said. What has happened in the Town during those six years has changed my mind.” She expressed the importance of encouraging development in appropriate places and seeing that water quality is maintained. Individuals and businesses look for land use laws, she continued. “Reputable businesses do not fear land use laws.” She believes the Commission can implement laws without impinging on individual rights.
Linda von der Heide, Principal Planner with Rensselaer County Economic Development then went over the Land Use draft chapter by chapter.
Chapter one states the purpose of the Land Use Law is to encourage:
• The management of agriculture resources;
• The rural character of the Town;
• The opportunities for growth recognizing the constraints of the natural resources;
• Economic development; and to
• Support hamlets as centers for commerce and new residential development;
• Protect key natural features that create the feeling of openness and natural beauty;
• Gradually eliminate non-conforming uses;
• Assure privacy for residences and protection against loud, unsightly, obtrusive or unneighborly land uses or operations;
• Recognize the residents of the Town of Hoosick have a personal and monetary investment in their property and that they need to protect the value of their investment;
• Assure adequate sites of residential, agricultural, industrial and commercial uses;
• Facilitate the efficient, economical and adequate provision of public utilities and services;
• Prevent and reduce traffic congestion, to promote efficient and safe circulation of vehicles and pedestrians.
Chapter two will establish districts in the Town. No maps have been developed at this time. They will be put together at the Public Workshop Meetings to be held during September and October.
Chapter three establishes use regulations, Chapter four covers acreage amounts for various uses. Chapter five covers non-conforming uses and non-complying structures. Chapter six covers supplemental regulations, chapter seven deals with special permits, chapters eight, nine and ten cover laws already in use. Chapter eleven covers special district requirements, Chapter twelve deals with administration and enforcement, Chapter thirteen covers definitions and other terms used in the regulations. Chapter fourteen discusses amendments and applicability.
Von der Heide said this plan was better than most communities have. Copies of the draft are available at the Town Hall and a copy can be read at the Cheney Library.
Workshops And
Meetings
The first Public Workshop meeting will be next Thursday, September 11, at the Town Hall at 7 pm. Comments were already forthcoming from those at this meeting before they left the first session. The text will be reviewed next week. The following meetings will include review of the text and map plans.
• September 18 – Buskirk Fire Hall
• October 6 – North Hoosick Fire Hall
• October 15 – Hoosick Fire Hall
• October 22 – West Hoosick Fire Hall
After these meetings the Commission will review the material and in December or January another Public Hearing will be held.