The Shawangunk Town Board voted unanimously to proclaim April 25 as Charles S. Garrison Day for the late community leader who passed away in February.

The board voted 5-0 at its April 7 meeting to honor Garrison, who was a lifelong resident of Walker Valley.
Supervisor John Valk said in addition to honoring Garrison on his birthday the town will name a pavilion in his honor at Verkeerderkill Park in Walker Valley.

“Charlie was someone who if he had an idea he’d make it happen,” Valk said. “He got things done and always had a smile on his face.”

According to the Town Proclamation, Garrison organized many projects to benefit the community, including Food Pantry Drives, annual Trunk or Treat activities, Light Up Walker Valley at Christmas, support for children attending the town’s Summer Camp, support and organization of Walker Valley Day, planting and maintaining flower barrels and support of the Walker Valley Band.

The proclamation declared that Garrison’s work “led to the improved quality of life in the Town of Shawangunk” and the town “long benefited from the dedication and exceptional volunteerism” by Garrison.
Valk said the town hoped to schedule a formal dedication of the pavilion named in Garrison’s honor at a later date.

A graduate of Pine Bush High School, Garrison was the owner of Walker Valley Auto, Inc. for 21 years. He retired a few years before his passing.

In other news, the board voted 5-0 to pass one of the three zoning laws that drew large crowds for public hearings in recent months.

The board approved Local Law No. 1, which is known as the “Lot Line Adjustment” law.

The law drew few comments at the public hearings. The intent of the local law is to establish procedures and requirements for allowing lot line adjustments and natural subdivisions in the town in a manner that streamlines the planning review process.

It is also designed to minimize the costs to landowners seeking simple adjustments to property lines.
Valk said the board hopes to vote on Local Law Nos. 2 and 3 at future board meetings.

Local Law No. 2 is known as the “Accessory Dwelling Unit” law. Local Law No. 3 is the “Short-Term Rental” law.

Local Law No. 3 is the most controversial local law being considered by the board and drew the most attention from the public during the public hearings. There seemed to be about a 50-50 split from local residents about the necessity of the law, which establishes procedures to regulate the location and operation of short-term rentals in the Town of Shawangunk.

Valk said he was hoping the board could vote on the remaining two local laws at the board’s next regularly scheduled meeting on April 21.

“We got a lot of local input on it,” Valk said of the short-term rental law. “Plus, we have some more to consider. All in reference to the Comp Plan.”

Councilman Brian Amthor announced that the first meeting of the newly named Police Advisory Committee will be held at 6 p.m. on April 26 at the Town Hall.