July 1, 2004

 

 

THE MEETING WAS HELD AT THE WASSAIC FIREHOUSE

 

THE MEETING BEGAN AT 7PM

 

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS RECITED

 

EMERGENCY EXITS WERE POINTED OUT BY THE SUPERVISOR

 

ROLL CALL

SUPERVISOR HUNDT                       PRESENT

COUNCILMAN CARROLL               PRESENT

COUNCILWOMAN DOYLE             PRESENT

COUNCILMAN RUSSELL                 PRESENT

COUNCILMAN DEVINE                  PRESENT

 

OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION

Supervisor Hundt said that the Town Board adopted a vision statement to keep a balance between economic development and preserving the rural atmosphere through open space.

Supervisor Hundt introduced Noella Hooper from Dutchess County Planning Department.

Noella Hooper

Ms. Hooper said that now is the time to begin preparations to preserve open space within the Towns of Dutchess County.  She said that Red Hook has been the first in the County to adopt a farmland protection plan.  She said it is a competitive program that needs partners.  Ms. Hooper said that the Town can plan to set procedures so that no development can take place where the Town finds it to be incompatible.  She said that some funds are available for this type of project and that committees can be formed for this purpose; she added that farmers should be included and conservation easements can be a bonus.    She said that some Towns have waited until it was too late like the Town of Pittsburgh, New York; she said they currently have less that 3,000 acres of open space left.  She added that the Town of Pittsburgh has had over 100 meetings in a desperate attempt to address the issue.   Ms. Hooper said that the funds from the State will not always be available.  Ms. Hooper introduced Matt Zeipher to discuss Land Conservation.

 

Matt Zeipher

Mr. Zeipher said that he is from a national organization that was formed in 1972 that was based in San Francisco.  He said his organization was formed to work with communities that want help to protect the best rather than “being left with the rest”.  He said the first step of preserving open space is to figure out a vision and then work on financing it.   He said that a finance committee can work as technical advisors to the elected officials.  Mr. Zeipher said that to have a successful conservation program it requires: community support, political leadership, and it has to fit with the general population of the Town.  He said that programs like these have proven successful regardless of the economy although it had stronger support after September 11th.  He added that on a national level, the state of New Jersey conducted a poll and found that two thirds of residents

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are willing to pay more to protect open space primarily to protect drinking water and water sources.  He said that in Dutchess County, it may be feasible to poll the community to determine the support.   He said the next step is to fund the project and if the Town allocates funds it helps encourage community support.  Mr. Zeipher said some communities do a bond proposal and the best time to do this would be to vote on a proposal like this during a presidential election because the voter turn out is generally higher.  Mr. Zeipher read a bond act proposal from the Town of Warwick and one from the Town of Goshen while one passed and one did not; he explained that the one that passed had clear and concise language.  He said that he did the calculations, and if the Town of Amenia proposed a 700,000. Bond act for open space at 5% for 20 years then the cost per typical home value would increase $50 or if the Town were to put a one million dollar bond the cost would increase to $71.

Alan Shope

Mr. Shope said would it make a difference if the Town were to put a priority on conservation easements because New York State does not lower the value of the property if development rights are sold then the property owner should pay lower taxes.

Matt Zeipher

Mr. Zeipher responded that some municipalities have left that at the option of the assessor but New York State may not be the same as other states on this issue. He said that Towns can pass their own ordinances and make decisions for the land that lies within their Town boundaries.

Peter Riva

Mr. Riva said that it would be a good idea for the Town to study what land is currently being assessed beyond its reasonable value without development rights.   He asked Mr. Zeipher what can the Town do to afford Mr. Zeiphers’ services.

Matt Zeipher

 Mr. Zeipher responded that his organization is a non-profit charity organization and that there is usually no charge to municipalities.

Barbara Borge

Ms. Borge said she lives in the Town of Northeast on the border of Amenia.  She said that the Town of Northeast with help from Dutchess County and that it would benefit the Town of Amenia to tune into the results from the survey that has been done recently.

Alan Shope

Mr. Shope said that Real Estate agents are not opposed but rather support legislation that helps preserve land but he said that it is important to identify the lands that the Town needs to protect.

 

Supervisor Hundt thanked Matt Zeipher and Noella Hooper for their presentations and introduced

Linda Brady and Linda Hurn from the “Friends of the Stone Church”

 

Stone Church

Donna Hurn

Ms. Hurn said she is the Town Historian from the Town of Dover.  She said a small group of dedicated people can make a difference.  She said that they had found out that the property on Cart Road where the Stone Church was located would be on the market for 875 thousand and

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that a vital part of the Towns’ history may not be available forever.  She added that although the deed has not changed hands yet, the project is very close to being a historical landmark for everyone to enjoy.  She said that the seller had been asking a fair price and with the help from the Town Board, Dutchess County and Dutchess Land Conservancy it may someday be a Town Park and education center

Linda Brady

Ms. Brady passed around pictures of the Stone Church with waterfalls and caves.  She said that in the late 1600's thousands of people came to the area to see the unique formation of nature.  She said that the history of the land includes the legend of Sassakiss.  She said some of the fundraisers they did included writing grants, bake sales, and brochures.  She said that there were able to obtain commemorative bottles related to the project.  Ms. Brady said she hoped it will encourage tourism to this area .

 

 

8:50PM A MOTION WAS MADE TO ADJOURN BY SUPERVISOR HUNDT

            SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN CARROLL

            ALL AYES                                                                  MOTION CARRIED

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                Respectfully Submitted

                                                                                                  Julia A. Bouffard

                                                                                                 Amenia Town Clerk