MILLERTON — The Millerton Zoning Board of Appeals rejected two variance requests for 7-9 Main Street with a unanimous vote on Tuesday, June 3.
The decision closes the book on a process that began more than two years ago when building plans were first submitted to the board seeking to increase the building’s allowable residential density and waive parking requirements.
The latest rejection followed a public hearing on May 6, during which architect Ray Nelson of Earthwise Architecture in Millerton presented revised 9-unit and 6-unit proposals — both scaled down from the original 12-unit plan. The applications were reviewed under village zoning code, which requires at least 5,000 square feet of lot area per unit and 1.5 parking spaces per unit — standards the updated plans still did not meet.
“I think this is a mistake,” said Nelson, who has represented the building’s owner, Gvkgne Realty Inc., in front of the zoning board since 2023. “The village wants more apartments.”
“We are constrained to the zoning laws as written,” board member Ed Stillman said, emphasizing that the board’s role is not to decide what’s best in theory, but to apply the law as it exists.
Nelson disagreed, arguing, “Your job, in my opinion, is to rectify an onerous zoning law. We know the zoning law needs to be changed.”
The Village of Millerton Zoning Board of Appeals met on Tuesday, June 3 to decide on a 7-9 Main Street case. Photo by Aly Morrissey
At the start of the meeting, the board entered an unplanned executive session to review new information, followed by a required State Environmental Quality Review. In a roll-call vote, the board determined the requested variances would not result in significant environmental harm.
The board then worked through its formal Record of Findings, applying five legal criteria meant to balance the applicant’s needs with potential impacts on the community. These included whether the project would change the character of the neighborhood or harm nearby properties, if alternative options were considered, the magnitude of the variances requested, potential environmental and community impacts, and whether the applicant’s difficulty was self-created.
While board members acknowledged that added density and new apartments could benefit the village, they concluded that the proposed variances were too substantial, the parking impact would be negative, and that the applicant failed to do proper due diligence regarding zoning laws before purchasing the property.
“Considering the factors in the Record of Findings, and weighing the benefit to the applicant versus the health, safety, and well-being of the neighbors in our community, we deny the applications for the two variances,” said Stillman.
As for next steps, he noted that there would be paperwork to complete but confirmed the “matter is closed.”
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey buys two books from Oblong Books in Millerton on Thursday, April 23, after inducting the business into the state Historic Business Preservation Registry.
Hermans and Nelson opened Oblong Books in 1975 after graduating from college, finding a home for their bookstore at 32 Main St. Multiple relocations and more than 200 employees later, the business remains a fixture in Millerton.
“We’ve been through thick and thin,” said Dick Hermans. “I think we’ve been successful because we stay involved in the community.”
Employees of Oblong Books and local Town of North East and Village of Millerton officials gathered with State Senator Michell Hinchey on Thursday, April 23, to honor the bookstore’s placement on the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry.Photo Provided
The designation honors New York businesses that have operated for at least 50 years. Oblong is the first business from Millerton to receive the honor. “Oblong has stood the test of time, even in the age of e-commerce,” Hinchey said. “It has remained authentically true to its mission of human connection.”
In 2001, Hermans opened a second store in Rhinebeck. Hermans’ daughter Suzanna started working at Oblong shortly thereafter, helping the store navigate the newly-imperiled physical market.
“We thought that was going to be the death knell of books,” she said, “but it turns out a physical book is actually a perfect object. You can share it with a friend, or you can keep it for 50 years.”
The bookstore is known not only for its literary inventory, but also for author events, music selections and children’s toys.
The owners’ commitment to community also extends to the nonprofit world: since 2023, Oblong has partnered with the Beacon Prison Books project to provide free books to incarcerated individuals in the region.
E-books are now available on Oblong’s website, too. But the space has largely remained the same, with its weathered wooden floorboards and cozy nooks. There’s a section for music and records upstairs, and Oblong Jr. downstairs for younger readers and toy connoisseurs.
Next time visitors stop by, they will see something new: a window decal bearing the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry logo.
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