The Pine Plains Town Board approved two changes to the town’s zoning code Sept. 17, concluding months of revisions over how Pine Plains regulates farm markets and properties divided between different zoning districts.
The board closed public hearings on both measures and adopted the local laws after determining that neither would have a significant environmental impact.
One amendment addresses certain properties of five acres or less that are split between zoning districts, allowing the less restrictive zoning provisions to extend across the parcel under specified conditions.
The town began considering the change this spring as an alternative to redrawing zoning district boundaries. The proposal went through several revisions after Dutchess County planning officials raised concerns.
The issue has particular relevance to the former Lia’s Mountain View property, which is divided by two zoning districts and has been proposed for redevelopment as a restaurant and entertainment venue.
The second local law revises the town’s regulations governing farm markets.
The board had initially considered rewriting the definition and regulations for farm stands after questions arose over a proposal to add a market to the Stissing Storage property on Church Street.
Town Attorney Warren Replansky said that after receiving feedback from county planning officials, the town decided to largely leave its farm stand provisions intact and instead revise the regulations governing farm markets.
Individual farm market proposals would still undergo site plan, special permit and environmental review where required.
The board also took another step toward collective bargaining with the union representing the Pine Plains Police Department.
The town recognized International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 294 in August as the exclusive bargaining representative for department employees. On Sept. 17, the board authorized Replansky to sign a consent agreement related to the representation after resolving a remaining question about the civil service status of one officer.
Replansky said the union had already contacted the town about beginning negotiations, with an initial meeting tentatively planned for Sept. 22.
The town could also move toward legal action over longstanding problems with double utility poles if they are not removed, Replansky told the board.
Double poles are left behind when a replacement utility pole is installed but cables or other equipment have not yet been transferred from the older pole.
Replansky said some work had taken place on North Main Street but only a small number of poles had been removed. If there is not substantial progress by next month, he said he expects to ask the board to authorize an enforcement action in state Supreme Court in Dutchess County.
“I want to make sure that I’ve got the right people who are responsible for removing those poles,” Replansky said.
The town also received an update on a proposed extension of its municipal water system to serve the Hudson Company property south of the hamlet.
Water engineer Ray Jurkowski said the company is seeking funding for an extension of roughly 1,000 feet from the Lake Road area south along Route 199.
Jurkowski questioned an approximately $657,000 estimate for the project, saying it appeared to be based on older information and might not account for prevailing-wage requirements. He said he requested a detailed cost breakdown and engineering analysis before responding.
The board will hold a budget workshop at 6 p.m. Oct. 6.