EMAIL ULSTER’S ZBA BY AUGUST 10
Please write to the Town of Ulster Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) to support the Woodstock Land Conservancy’s current appeal. If successful, the WLC’s appeal will move the review of Zena Development’s application from the volunteers on the Town of Ulster Planning Board to the elected officials on the Town of Ulster Town Board - where it rightfully belongs. The ZBA failed to inform our community of the public hearing they held last month. Now our only chance to speak up is via email.
Want to learn more? Click here to read the Building Inspector’s determination.Click here to read the WLC’s appeal. Click here to watch the 7/13 ZBA vote to close the public hearing.Click here to read the WLC’s press release about the 8/13 ZBA meeting.
WHERE TO SEND YOUR EMAIL
planningzoning@townofulster.ny.gov, lhartmann@townofulster.ny.gov, mschatzel@townofulster.ny.gov, maryannd@townofulster.ny.gov, ulstersupervisor@townofulster.ny.gov
IMPORTANT: Please BCC szd@stopzena.org so we have a record that your letter was sent. The Town of Ulster has “lost” letters from our community in the past.
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 be reviewing 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. Be sure to use the word “large.”
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
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
No mention of traffic, first responder concerns, water concerns, quality of living concerns
Again, PLEASE stay focused on this specific question: should Zena Development’s application go to the Town Board? All environmental and community concerns not directly related to this specific question can be voiced separately in letters to the Planning and Town Board members.