The Plattekill Comprehensive Planning Committee met Wednesday evening to discuss their comprehensive plan update for the community, marking phase two of the project.

After recently filling out a survey for the committee's consideration, many residents expressed that the small businesses, local history and rural feel to the neighborhood are some of the factors they value in their community. But while they take pride in its close-knit nature, many also had concerns about environmental degradation, an increasing number of Dollar Generals in town, wasteful expenditure and exploitation at the hands of downstate tax-exempt developers. Another major source of apprehension is the mega warehouse that could be built — a 75-bay trucking warehouse on State Route 44/55 which many foresee as being a disturbance to their largely rural area.

A comprehensive plan is a long-term document highlighting a community’s goals for future development. In 2019, the committee came up with a vision statement and goal categories for phase one of the plan update. Phase two becomes more specific, brainstorming narrower objectives and measurable actions that support them.

The committee will hold its first public workshop next month where residents will be able to share their feedback on the plan’s first draft.

“The main goal is to get as many people to come as possible and share their opinions or their feedback on the projects we are proposing for the town, whether they support them or don’t support them,” said Dan Theobald, a project community planner. “Another part of it is if they have any projects that we are not addressing or initiatives that we don’t mention in the plan and make sure that we do get those.”

During the meeting, the committee outlined four different pillars of development — economic development, hamlets, infrastructure and community character — and the objectives and actions that pertained to each. One of their goals for economic development is to expand housing options to better accommodate a more diverse population like professionals, families and seniors. They also intend to support the growth of new and local businesses by “providing incentives, technical assistance and infrastructure improvements.”

Their infrastructure plans include modernizing public facilities and introducing green infrastructure initiatives, among other potential projects. The possible construction of a new town hall was proposed as a possible action, with new offices, an updated courtroom and integrated police station. They also plan on enhancing the Thomas Felton Community Park by developing a park master plan with new playground equipment and recreational options.

“We are upgrading, replacing our playground,” Dean DePew, the Plattekill Town Supervisor, said. “It is a 100 by 100 footprint, it is a pretty precise playground. So we are redoing the playground, adding two pickleball courts, [and] a gaga pit... We are also going to put up badminton nets for the folks as well as two volleyball nets. So our anticipation is to have that down by mid-October.”

Some residents also harbored worries surrounding solar farms posing a future environmental burden, and the committee discussed taking possible zoning related actions and efforts to protect rural agriculture. Under the community character section, the committee spoke about ensuring the town’s commitment to local history through educational programs and supporting local farming by encouraging farmers markets. Spotlighting the hamlets, committee members reviewed ideas to improve their walkability and access to parks, schools and libraries.

It is the responsibility of the municipality to implement a comprehensive plan, according to Theobald. One of the next steps, upon the plan’s ultimate passing, would be a zoning code update.

“So they will eventually have to update their zoning code to be in compliance. One of the ways we are doing that is we are applying for a zoning grant this month,” Theobald said. “It would be an $84,000 project, and 90% would come from the state and the town would have to pay $8,400 of that.”

The zoning code process is similar to the comprehensive plan process, where a committee is formed and the zoning code is examined for areas needing to be updated. The comprehensive plan is then evaluated to see what parts trigger the zoning code update sections.

The public workshop — which will contain an online option for those who may be unable to attend in person and likely be at the Plattekill Fire Hall — will be held on August 14. They plan to have a draft plan review in September, their committee meeting and first public hearing in October and the second public hearing and adoption by around November and December. This timeline is still subject to change.