North East Town Board meets with Zoning Review Committee

North East Town Board meets with Zoning Review Committee
North East Town Hall
Photo by John Coston

MILLERTON — The Town of North East’s board held a special meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21, to review the work of the Zoning Review Committee and suggest amendments to the Town’s Zoning Code.

“One of the huge steps forward that the committee made very early on was the idea of reservation,” Zoning Board chair Edie Greenwood said. “Because of the location, the walkability … we were very cognizant that we do not have much land committed to commerce.”

The Zoning Review Committee has spent a large portion of its time redoing the zoning for the Town of North East’s commercial district, taking almost four years to bring final touches to the town board. This project focuses on the town, stretching from Route 44 to the Connecticut border, which mainly consists of commercial buildings.

“There are areas which the ZRC did not touch. If we wanted to we could, but it would be a very time consuming thing,” said town supervisor Chris Kennan. “We would probably be adding months, if not years, onto this whole process.”

According to Kennan, the changes being made to the codes don’t only apply to the Boulevard or other commercial districts. Some of the amendments will be used elsewhere.

“I think what is challenging for me, and I’ll just speak for myself, is that code is not something we usually work with,” Kennan said. “So understanding how code is law, a town law, but how when you can say something should be regulated or allowed … how that gets translated into code is not easy to see.”

Boulevard West, North and South have their own set of codes and the Zoning Committee looked into how they will be separated. It was suggested the board review the differences between the streets to ensure proper protocol in the future.

“We want people to come here and build good things for us,” Greenwood said. “We don’t want to get a reputation for onerous processes and applications … I think this is much more applicant-friendly. You’re not stopping and sending to another board, you’re coming back and going, but it’s a case where special permits are important.”

For this type of project to proceed, the town has to receive advice from the County and the public. “Our attorney felt that we just weren’t ending up with sufficient community benefit and so we’ve not really addressed the use of incentives to expand footprints,” said Greenwood. “Dutchess County Planning is very large. They would want us to be bigger. That came through in their comments because they have not seen this finished product, but they have a sense.”

Kennan suggested the board give him specific sections of the plan to devote time to in order to fully understand how that subsection would work in town. There will be future meetings — including a public hearing — for members of the community to learn about the new codes and the opportunity to share concerns or suggestions to the board.

“My goal is that we will have finished this process by the summer time,” Kennan said. “That means moving along with an extra board meeting, at least once a month, and a public hearing.” Kennan also suggested that when the process was complete, he would prefer the county commit itself to a timely response.

Board members and Warren Replansky, the town’s attorney, will be going through the ZRC’s plan and definitions to find the most effective way to move forward.

Latest News

Classifieds - February 26, 2026

Classifieds - February 26, 2026

Help Wanted

PART-TIME CARE-GIVER NEEDED: possibly LIVE-IN. Bright private STUDIO on 10 acres. Queen Bed, En-Suite Bathroom, Kitchenette & Garage. SHARON 407-620-7777.

The Salisbury Association’s Land Trust seeks part-time Land Steward: Responsibilities include monitoring easements and preserves, filing monitoring reports, documenting and reporting violations or encroachments, and recruiting and supervising volunteer monitors. The Steward will also execute preserve and trail stewardship according to Management Plans and manage contractor activity. Up to 10 hours per week, compensation commensurate with experience. Further details and requirements are available on request. To apply: Send cover letter, resume, and references to info@salisburyassociation.org. The Salisbury Association is an equal opportunity employer.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

To save birds, plant for caterpillars

Fireweed attracts the fabulous hummingbird sphinx moth.

Photo provided by Wild Seed Project

You must figure that, as rough as the cold weather has been for us, it’s worse for wildlife. Here, by the banks of the Housatonic, flocks of dark-eyed juncos, song sparrows, tufted titmice and black-capped chickadees have taken up residence in the boxwood — presumably because of its proximity to the breakfast bar. I no longer have a bird feeder after bears destroyed two versions and simply throw chili-flavored birdseed onto the snow twice a day. The tiny creatures from the boxwood are joined by blue jays, cardinals and a solitary flicker.

These birds will soon enough be nesting, and their babies will require a nonstop diet of caterpillars. This source of soft-bodied protein makes up more than 90 percent of native bird chicks’ diets, with each clutch consuming between 6,000 and 9,000 caterpillars before they fledge. That means we need a lot of caterpillars if we want our bird population to survive.

Keep ReadingShow less
Stephanie Haboush Plunkett and the home for American illustration

Stephanie Haboush Plunkett

L. Tomaino
"The field of illustration is very close to my heart"
— Stephanie Plunkett

For more than three decades, Stephanie Haboush Plunkett has worked to elevate illustration as a serious art form. As chief curator and Rockwell Center director at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, she has helped bring national and international attention to an art form long dismissed as merely commercial.

Her commitment to illustration is deeply personal. Plunkett grew up watching her father, Joseph Haboush, an illustrator and graphic designer, work late into the night in his home studio creating art and hand-lettered logos for package designs, toys and licensed-character products for the Walt Disney Co. and other clients.

Keep ReadingShow less
Free film screening and talk on end-of-life care
‘Come See Me in the Good Light’ is nominated for best documentary at this year’s Academy Awards.
Provided

Craig Davis, co-founder and board chair of East Mountain House, an end-of-life care facility in Lakeville, will sponsor a March 5 screening of the documentary “Come See Me in the Good Light” at The Moviehouse in Millerton, followed by a discussion with attendees.

The film, which is nominated for best documentary at this year’s Academy Awards, follows the poet Andrea Gibson and their partner Megan Falley as they are suddenly and unimaginably forced to navigate a terminal illness. The free screening invites audiences to gather not just for a film but for reflection on mortality, healing, connection and the ways communities support one another through difficult life transitions.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.