MARBLETOWN Commission to review proposed rules for special events

COTTEKILL, N.Y. » The Marbletown Planning and Zoning Commission has scheduled meeting for July 12 to review a proposed Special Events Venues Local Law.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Room M-1 at the Rondout Municipal Center, 1915-1925 Lucas Ave., Cottekill.

The proposed law was drafted by a town task force and ultimately is to be sent to the Town Board for action.

In April, the Marbletown Zoning Board of Appeals overruled the town code enforcement officer’s determination that a bedand-breakfast owner could broaden the use of his property to include a wedding venue. In turning down the application from Thomas Brownlie — who sought a special-use permit for events on his 78-acre property at 73 Mill Dam Road — the board said town zoning regulations apparently didn’t address the issues of B&B sites being used for weddings.

Town Supervisor Richard Parete said it was important to have a law because there is a history of properties being used as a rural setting for special events, and he said the town’s attorney found Brownlie’s neighbors had valid concerns.

“Folks have been hav-

ing weddings for 40 years in Marbletown,” Parete said. “These events and weddings ... [at] farms, old barn, and beautiful fields is something that we have to be prepared for.”

Under the proposed law, events venues would be allowed with a special-use permit in all land-use zones except the R-3, SR-E, SR-N and I-1 districts.

Some requirements have been left unspecified in the proposed law, including the minimum property size for such events, the maximum number of people that would be allowed, and sound and light limits. The proposed law would: • Limit the number of allowable events to 10 per calendar year, with no more than two per calendar month. Also, there would have to be at least five days between events.

• Restrict the length of each event to five hours, between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.

• Require that plans be submitted in advance for parking, security, trash disposal and emergency medical care.

• Require that information be submitted in advance about food and drinks to be served, and transportation arrangements.

• Prohibit use of such sites for camping without special permission from the town.