(3) Zoning Board of Appeals

Town of Red Hook ZBA Draft Meeting Minutes September 8, 2021 Preliminaries Roll Call Chairperson Karakassis calls the meeting to order at 7:08pm. Present are Chairperson Karakassis, Chris Carney, and Chris Klose. Absent is Jim Hegstetter At 7:08pm Chairperson Karakassis asks for a motion to open the meeting. Chris Klose so moves, Chris Carney seconds, and all Board members present vote in favor of opening the meeting. Approval of Draft Minutes 7-14-21 Chairperson Karakassis notes Board member Jim Hegstetter is absent, and remands the discussion and vote to the next ZBA meeting, stating she had to recuse herself for part of the meeting, and could not vote on the draft minutes. Planning Board Minutes Chairperson Karakassis states she has no comments regarding the Planning Board. Comments from the Chair Chairperson Karakassis refers to draft language regarding a new Meeting Duration Policy, of the Board, and suggests the policy read: “It is the ZBA’s policy to hear each person who wishes to speak at public hearings, and to that end it is respectfully requested all comments be brief and to the point. Any unfinished business will be continued at the next regularly scheduled ZBA meeting.” Chairperson Karakassis suggests the language regarding Special Meetings be stricken from the policy, and asks for comments from the Board members present. There are no further comments. Chairperson Karakassis reads the preamble to the policy into the record, as follows: “Notice is hereby given that the Town of Red Hook Zoning Board of Appeals is hereby adopting a meeting duration policy, as of September 8, 2021, which will limit the meeting duration to two and a half hours.” At 7:10 pm Chairperson Karakassis asks for a motion to approve the above meeting duration policy. At 7:11 pm Chris Klose so moves, Chris Carney seconds, and all Board members present vote in favor of adopting said policy. Board Vote SEQR Lead Agency Request Micro Hydropower Facility Town of Red Hook, Dutchess County, New York – Adoption of Local Law D (proposed) of 2021 to Amend the Code of the Town of Red Hook to allowi Micro Hydropower Facilities in the Waterfront Conservation District, subject to issuance of a Special Permit, and Amend Chapter 100 of the Town Code entitled “Power Plan Site Studies” to exempt Micro Hydropower Facilities from the definition of a “power plant”, and from the requirements of Chapter 100. Chairperson Karakassis asks the Board members present if there are any questions or comments regarding the Town Board’s request for Lead Agency regarding the Micro Hydropower Facility. The Board members present have no further comments or questions. At 7:12 pm Chairperson Karakassis moves to respond with consent to the Town Board’s Lead Agency Request. Chris Klose seconds, and all Board members present vote in favor of granting the Town Board Lead Agency status. Board Vote SEQR Lead Agency Request Sawkill Trail Town of Red Hook, Dutchess County, New York – Establishment of a trail from the Town of Red Hook Recreation Park West, terminating at a parking lot, located at the Bard College Alumni Center, on NYS 9G. The proposed trail, when completed, will be approximately 11,558 feet long, including 4,417 of existing trail, and 6,551 of new trail. Approximately 590 feet of trail will be located on existing streets. The total disturbed area, not including existing trail, is 1.5 acres. The Project includes the acquisition of rights-of- way as needed. Fences will be installed along the Fir Street Extension to buffer the trail from private property. The Town Board proposes to exempt itself from Site Plan approval for the creation of the trail. There are no questions, comments, or discussion regarding the Sawkill Trail. At 7:13 pm Chairperson moves to consent to the Town Board’s Lead Agency Request regarding the Sawkill Trail. Chris Carney seconds, and all Board members present vote in favor of granting the Town Board Lead Agency status. Chairperson Karakassis also notes for the record, the following ZBA Appeals 21-02, 21- 02A Kanuk Mighty Donuts, 21-03 Greig, and 21-04 Snyder have all been formally withdrawn by the applicants. At 7:14 pm Chairperson Karakassis moves to adjourn the meeting. Chris Carney seconds, and all Board members present vote in favor of adjourning the meeting. The next regularly scheduled ZBA meeting is on Wednesday October 13th, 2021, at 7:00 pm. Pursuant to Governor Hochul’s signing of Legislation (S.50001/A.40001), which “Allows New Yorkers to Participate in State and Local Government Meetings Virtually to Reduce the Risk of COVID-19 Spread”, and which “Helps People With Disabilities Participate in Their Government”, the Town of Red Hook ZBA has elected to meet remotely. A link to the remote meeting will appear on the ZBA’s Meeting Agenda, one week before the meeting. Interested parties may contact ZBA Clerk, Anne Rubin at (845)758- 4624, or arubin@redhook.org, up until 3:00pm of the day of the meeting, if there are any questions regarding viewing a remote meeting.