With organizers of the proposed Modena Drag Strip taking to social media to mount another campaign to revive the controversial project, the Plattekill Town Board is considering adopting a six-month moratorium to put the brakes on the plan.

Ulster County Legislator Kevin Roberts, R-Plattekill, urged the board to establish a moratorium on motorized racing in the Town of Plattekill at its August 16th meeting.

“There has been talk about bringing back the drag strip here,” Roberts said. “That is an issue that divided the town. A lot of people took sides and were very vocal. The Town Board may want a drag strip here. I don’t know. The zoning laws are very confusing if it’s allowed or not. I think you should put a moratorium on motorized racing until this is settled.”

Roberts said the board should schedule a public hearing on establishing a moratorium as soon as possible. Following the meeting, Roberts elaborated on the need for a moratorium.

“I believe it protects the town and the applicant from further unneeded expense,” he said. “This way if you have a moratorium in place all the zoning laws can be checked out and clarified.”

After four months of review and public hearings, the Plattekill Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) in July 2021 denied a request for an area variance from Anthony (TJ) Dirago and Tina Bucci to build a 30 ft. by 1,300 ft. drag strip at 153 Freetown Road in Plattekill.

The ZBA found that drag strip racing is an inherently loud activity and there are several residences in the area that are less than 1,000 feet from the proposed site. The ZBA determined that granting the variance for the drag strip would negatively impact the neighboring homeowners.

Deputy Supervisor Dean DePew Sr. said the board would discuss implementing a six-month moratorium on motorized racing in the town at its September 6 meeting.

“We want everybody to play by the rules,” DePew said. “I respect the fact that if there’s a project going on and somebody wants to do something, then by all mean they should have every right to do it if it’s allowed.”

Dirago recently posted on the Plattekill Rising Facebook page that he was still interested in getting the drag strip up and running.

“I have spent a lot of time and money so far to support this plan, and as far as I’m concerned you don’t give up at the halfway mark because you have some pushback,” he wrote. “I will not let the words and actions of a few take over and crush the hopes of the community that has embraced this project wholeheartedly. Let’s get this done. I’m ready to grind until it does!”
Dirago failed to return several messages left by the Southern Ulster Times at his business, Modena Collision.

In other news, the board voted 4-0 to approve the appointment of William C. Smith as Deputy Chief of the Plattekill Police Department. Smith has worked for the Plattekill police since 2006, working his way up to Lieutenant.

New Police Chief Oscar Lopez recommended that the position of Deputy Chief be created for Smith, who served as the Lieutenant under former Police Chief Joseph Ryan before Ryan resigned on March 17 after heading the force for 16 years. Smith then served as Acting Chief before Lopez was appointed by the Town Board at its June 7 meeting.

“I couldn’t pick a better man to support me in this transition we’re going through in this police department,” Lopez said of Smith. “We’re moving forward. We’re never looking back.”

Lopez told the Southern Ulster Times that the move was made to give Smith a “little more authority and a little more responsibility. He knows the ins and outs of the department and I can feed off and learn off that.”

The board also approved the hiring of new police officers Curtis McDermott and Andres Arestin.