The Poughkeepsie Journal today reported that Rhinebeck expects lots of discussion of the town’s proposed comprehensive plan. Rhinebeck is a beautiful town surrounding a beautiful village. As in most places, the citizens want to preserve the qualities about the town that they love. As far as I can tell from a cursory glance, the plan’s main failing is a technical one: too many different files to download.
The paper quotes two persons who object to portions of the plan. One is an out-of-town developer.
Marty Torrey, a consultant for the New York City-based White Acre Equities, called the proposed plan unconstitutional. White Acre Equities wants to build more than 400 senior homes on the site of the old Holy Cross Campus of Pius XII, a former juvenile detention center off Morton Road.
That site is included in the New York state Scenic District and would be given 20-acre zoning — preventing the senior housing complex from going through. [links added]
Any plan will, unfortunately, disadvantage some. One way is by reducing the uses for the property. Another is that by increasing lot sizes fewer people will be able to live in a given area. This usually increases the cost to acquire the property.
The other is a resident.
Joseph Gelb, a Rhinebeck resident, has concerns about a traditional neighborhood design the plan recommends near his home on Wynkoop Lane. A traditional neighborhood design offers a mix of commercial and residential spaces within walking distance of each other.
Gelb, along with several other residents of Wynkoop Lane, believes the placement of the community would be inappropriate because it would increase noise and traffic. [link added]
Traditional neighborhood developments like Rhinebeck?
Other residents can be found discussing the plan at the Rhinebeck Community Blog.