In the end, the Village Board just left the public hearing that would amend the zoning code of the Village of Highland Falls open. But, if you listened closely, you gathered that the board was leaning toward “starting from scratch” in the process of making the zoning changes instead of moving forward with the ones they had on the table at their meeting on January 21.

It’s a matter that has drug on for several years as the board worked to undo several changes made in 2020 regarding the various business districts in Highland Falls. They’ve sought public comment, input from the Planning and Zoning Boards, Orange County, local businesses, potential developers and the village’s attorneys.

But during the public hearing last week those in the audience, without even really trying, convinced the board to stop and reconsider several parts of the most recent proposal. And that, Attorney Alyse Terhune told them, most likely means “starting the process over”.

The hearing opened with 48 minutes worth of comments from Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman Jack Jannarone, who went back to 2020 to talk about why some of the changes were made back then. As someone who works with the Village Code on a regular basis and who understands it better than most, he’s spoken at most every iteration of public meetings and hearings on the zoning changes.

Others who spoke last week included former Mayor Pat Flynn (who is again running for that job), Jim Titolo, Ron Malecot and Sharon Guy. It was noted that “not one new person spoke” that evening.

It was Trustee Dr. Melanie Guerrero who suggested a vote be tabled that evening. “I fully support the law, but it doesn’t appear that the public does,” she said, “and it seems disrespectful to vote it through”. To the camera recording the meeting she urged anyone who is in favor of the changes (they’re available to see on the village’s website, highlandfallsny.org) to come to future meetings to say that.

Trustee Peter Caroll didn’t disagree that the vote shouldn’t happen that evening, saying “I want to evaluate what Mr. Jannarone said about adding density back in”. Jannarone said during his comments that while he appreciated the work the board has done on the changes, and appreciates the safeguards they put into the law, “density (how much space a building takes up on a property) needs to be put back in”.

One of those safeguards Jannarone noted was that when it comes to building projects “specific projects still have to be evaluated on their own merits”.

Mayor Joe D’Onofrio, after listening to more than an hours’ worth of comments, said “if we’re going to do what the people want, we’re going to have to make major changes”. Deputy Mayor Jim DiSalvo said he would not oppose delaying the matter until after the village’s March elections.

Again, in the end, the board just left the hearing open and tabled the two items associated with it – adopting the law which amends the zoning, and adopting an environmental ‘negative declaration’ on the changes.