Town Board takes up suggested zoning code changes

MILLERTON — The North East Town Board on Monday, Jan. 19, adopted a series of detailed revisions to its proposed zoning code overhaul, incorporating feedback from county and local agencies as well as public comments.

Zoning Review Commission Chair Edie Greenwood and the town’s zoning consultant, Will Agresta, participated in the meeting as board members reviewed comments submitted by Dutchess County Planning, the North East Planning Board, the town’s Conservation Advisory Council, and residents who spoke or submitted written remarks during the initial public hearing on Jan. 8.

Board members addressed the comments line by line, approving changes that Greenwood described as largely technical in nature, including revisions to definitions that did not align with state regulations and clarifications intended to improve readability and consistency.

Greenwood said a red-line draft showing the approved changes alongside the original text will be prepared.

Among the more substantive revisions was the decision to impose an overall size cap on accessory dwelling units. The board voted to limit ADUs to a maximum of 1,200 square feet and specified that they must be accessed from an existing driveway on the property. Board members also discussed adding language to clarify how ownership through an LLC or trust would comply with the requirement that the property owner reside in the principal dwelling.

The board also approved allowing retail businesses and restaurants in the so-called Irondale District, a small commercial area encompassing seven parcels along Route 22 near Winchell Mountain Road and Irondale Road.

Other changes included:

– Replacing the term “farm” with “farm operation” for consistency with state law.

— Revising drive-through regulations to allow additional lanes for banks.

— Tying requirements for landscaped islands in parking lots to the size of the lot.

— Adding expiration dates for site plan approvals.

— Removing references to “cage-type poultry farms.”

— Requiring 10% of parking spaces in lots with 30 or more spaces to be “EV-ready,” meaning the necessary infrastructure must be installed, but not necessarily a charger itself.

— Standardizing safety and maintenance requirements across all parking regulations.

— Clarifying that parking structures may be built above or below grade.

— Allowing farm machinery sales and rentals.

Greenwood told The News she expects the red-line draft to be completed and submitted before the end of next week. The Town Board is set to continue the public hearing on the proposed zoning changes on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 5 p.m. at North East Town Hall.

Correction: The second public hearing for the proposed zoning overhaul is at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3.