New Paltz, Woodstock, Red Hook to each receive $10,000 grants
The towns of New Paltz, Woodstock and Red Hook have each been awarded $10,000 zoning and planning grants from Hudson River Valley Greenway.
The funding was part of $136,100 in grants announced in a press release Monday. Greenway acting Executive Director Scott Keller noted in the release that the money is intend to facilitate protection of natural and cultural resources while improving economic development and environmental education.
“These 16 projects will help to improve walkability, provide an opportunity for interpretation of historic sites, and shape future growth and preservation in these communities,” he said. “The Greenway is pleased to make these awards to assist in improving these communities.”
New Paltz officials have earmarked the grant to pay a consultant for zoning changes needed to address the gateway area on state Route 299 from the state Thruway toll plaza to the village line.
“We identified that there’s go-
ing to be a lot of development in the exit 18 gateway area,” town Supervisor Neil Bettez said. “That’s one of the reasons that people calling for us to have a few public meetings and looking into how we want that area to develop.”
New Paltz board members earlier this month adopted a nine-month moratorium on new projects along state Route 299 while update town zoning law to deal with large projects.
Woodstock officials will be revising a 54-year-old comprehensive plan that has been updated through a patchwork of zoning changes based on proposals that have been brought to the town in separate applications. Supervisor Bill McKenna said the Greenway funding will be used to offset some of the $65,000 cost of hiring the consulting firm Behan and Associates.
Officials have set a June 22 public information session to take comments from residents and business owners on changes needed under the current comprehensive plan.
“It is on what the state of Woodstock is presently,” McKenna said.
McKenna added that he hopes the update can be completed without the animosity that accompanied some projects in the town.
“I believe we will see this through,” he said. “I’m aware that the last one was hung up and never officially adopted, but I will always maintain that it was a valuable (document) and if you go through it today 85 percent of the recommendations in there have been instituted.”
Greenway officials said funding in Red Hook will go toward development of a complete streets strategy which will keep a broader range of street types and standards for rural roads and traditional neighborhoods.
Red Hook has been working on its “Complete Streets” program for several years, with efforts being made to promote pedestrian and bicycle use in the town, planting trees along highways to create a canopy effect, and connect residential areas with recreation and commercial centers.
“It (grant funding) will help us produce a design that helps make our community more bike-pedestrian friendly and have our trails and roads be utilized for recreation,” Supervisor Robert McKeon said.