New zoning changes Planning Board responsibilities

PINE PLAINS — The recently adopted town zoning laws change the Planning Board’s responsibilities, Attorney to the Town Warren Replansky explained to the board during its Nov. 11 meeting. Under the new codes, Zoning Enforcement Officer Drew Weaver will be dealing with most applicants before their applications reach the Planning Board.

Replansky attended the November board meeting to answer any questions the board has about the new zoning laws. However, he stressed that introducing new zoning laws is always a tedious process and adjustments will be made as more applications make their way before the Planning Board.

“You’re never going to know and understand [the new laws] until you have hands-on experience,� Replansky said. “You have to work your way through applications.�

“In many instances it becomes simpler for the Planning Board,� added Town Engineer Ray Jurkowski. “Many decisions will have already been made before the application reaches the Planning Board.�

A Zoning Board of Appeals will have to be created as well. The town is hoping to create and man the ZBA at its 2010 reorganization meeting, set for the beginning of next year.

Any uncompleted projects that had been submitted prior to the zoning laws passing on Oct. 20 can continue as processed, Replansky said, as long as the application is amended to be in compliance with the new zoning laws. The two major projects affected are the proposed Paraco Gas site renovation and the Durst Organization’s proposed subdivision development on the Carvel County Club property. Replansky will be drafting a letter from the Planning Board to all applicants with open projects notifying them of the changes.

Subdivision regulations still need to be passed as well, Replansky said. He said he was hoping to get a draft document to the board earlier this week.

The new laws and regulations will hopefully make the law more straightforward and less open to interpretation, he said.

“We were dealing with pretty archaic subdivision regulations and site plan review laws,� he said. “It’s now more user-friendly.�

The next Planning Board meeting will be held on Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

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