EMAIL ULSTER’S ZBA BY AUGUST 10
Why write to the Town of Ulster Zoning Board of Appeals?
The Town of Ulster’s Building Inspector recently issued an official determination that Zena Development’s proposals should be reviewed by the Town of Ulster Planning Board, not the Town Board. The WLC appealed this determination to the Town of Ulster Zoning Board of Appeals. The WLC lawyer’s contend that the Building Inspector’s determination violates Ulster’s own town code, and that the Town Board is the appropriate municipal body to review Zena Development’s large project.
The ZBA held a public hearing about this appeal at their July 13th meeting without providing the public with proper notice. Despite protests from the community members that were present, the ZBA voted to close the public hearing that evening. This follows a disturbing pattern in the Town of Ulster of denying the public the opportunity to speak about Zena Development. The ZBA will, however, accept written comments until their next meeting on August 12th. Please send your emailed comment by August 10th to be sure the ZBA members have time to read your written comment.
WHAT TO WRITE IN YOUR EMAIL
Put your message in your own words! Keep it short. It does not have to be perfect, as long as your letter is unique. To be considered by the ZBA, these letters MUST be narrowly focused to the scope of the WLC’s appeal: whether the Planning Board or Town Board should review Zena Development’s application. Please take note of the “What to Avoid” section below when writing your letters. Discussion of any of the “to avoid” topics will be considered “extraneous” and may disqualify your argument in the eyes of the ZBA.
WHO TO ADDRESS:
Note: ALL emails must be kind and respectful of town officials and volunteers
Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman Kevin Reginato
Zoning Board of Appeals Members Richard Anderson, Megan Higgins and Andreas Eisenberger
WHAT TO ARGUE:
Zena Homes is a large-scale project: 30 lots, a recreation center, roads, and shared infrastructure
Ulster's town code directs large-scale projects to Town Board review, not Planning Board review
Every other large-scale project on the Town of Ulster website has gone before the Town Board, this one has not
The Building Inspector's June 8th determination is inconsistent with that record
Use the word "large" - it tracks the statutory language
WHAT TO REQUEST:
Every letter should ask for the opportunity to speak at a public hearing before any determination is made
Stress that the July 13th ZBA hearing was not listed as a public hearing on the ZBA's agenda, and notice did not appear in both of the town's officially designated newspapers: The Daily Freeman and Hudson Valley One
WHAT TO AVOID:
No SEQRA language
No environmental topics, i.e. wetlands, wildlife, forests
No cross-municipality arguments
Again, please stay focused on the zoning question: should this go to the Town Board?
WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EMAIL:
Please include your mailing address below your name so the ZBA knows where you are writing from. (Anyone can email the ZBA, but letters from Woodstock and Ulster residents will carry the most weight.)
WHERE TO SEND YOUR EMAIL:
IMPORTANT: Please BCC szd@stopzena.org so we have a record that your email was sent. The Town of Ulster has “lost” letters from our community in the past.
Please send your email to the Town of Ulster ZBA, Town Board, and Supervisor:
planningzoning@townofulster.ny.gov, lhartmann@townofulster.ny.gov, mschatzel@townofulster.ny.gov, maryannd@townofulster.ny.gov, ulstersupervisor@townofulster.ny.gov
THANK YOU!
Please help us spread the word! Send this tutorial to a friend.