Credit: Patrick Grego
On Thursday, Sept. 12, the Stanford Town Board introduced two local laws and scheduled public hearings for each: one law aims to amend regulations on accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and another to impose a one-year moratorium on large-scale wind and battery energy storage projects. The board also voted to request a state-led speed and safety study for Route 82.
The board voted 5-0 to hold a public hearing on Oct. 10 for Local Law 2, which proposes amendments to ADU regulations introduced in August. The revisions clarify that ADUs must remain secondary to primary residences, conform to setback ordinances, and require special use permits in the Upton Lake Recreation Zoning District. They also mandate that ADUs have a cooktop or standalone range, not a hot plate. “There were very minimal changes,” said town attorney Robert Butts.
The board unanimously approved a motion to introduce Local Law 3, which proposes a one-year moratorium on large-scale wind energy projects and battery storage developments to address a lack of existing policy. A public hearing is set for Oct. 10. The moratorium, which excludes storage for electric vehicle batteries, would give the planning board time to develop comprehensive regulations. “These are giant battery storage facilities,” Supervisor Wendy Burton explained.
The board also unanimously passed a resolution to request that the New York state Department of Transportation and Dutchess County Department of Public Works conduct a speed and safety analysis along Route 82 in Stanford, citing concerns about excessive speeding and hazardous conditions. Burton requested that the study be conducted at no cost to the town and shared her experience of nearly being hit by a vehicle in the area. The resolution to request the study passed with a 5-0 vote.
In other business, the board accepted the resignations of Gregg Williams from the CAC and Michelle Gluck from the Climate Smart Task Force, as both have moved out of the town. The town is actively seeking a replacement for Williams.
The next Stanford Town Board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.