The Town Board has scheduled two public hearings to occur on Wednesday 22 December, 2021 at 7pm. Details on both are below.
The first hearing on the zoning update (view draft zoning map) will need to be followed up with a second hearing in January because the transfer of development rights component will require an associated environmental impact statement. Rather than delay consideration of the entire package while that EIS is prepared, that part will be taken out and dealt with separately next year. Taking it out is a substantive change in the proposal, though, which means we need to have a second public hearing. The County Planning Department also wants more time to review this rather extensive reworking (they are entitled to 30 days for their feedback before we can act). The end result is no vote in December.
That said, the Town Board welcomes all interested parties to provide comments on both proposals on the table.
The Zoning Ordinance Update has been two years in the making, and after much public input and discussion the Town has a revised version ready for review by the public. Please review and provide feedback at the public hearing. Note, however, that this version is not the version that will be voted on in January (see above).
The second public hearing relates to New York State’s recent legislation allowing for cannabis dispensaries and on-site consumption sites. The State has set a December 31 deadline for opting out of allowing either dispensaries or on-site consumption sites (or both). Inaction results in opting in. If we do not opt out now, we cannot choose to opt-out at a later date. Opting-out now however (by passing a local law by December 31, 2021) affords the local municipality the option of opting-in later.
The Town Board has decided to propose a local law to opt-out of on-site cannabis consumption sites, thus enabling a public hearing so that they may hear from all Danby residents. At the previous Board Meeting (held on 7 December), the Board members noted the lack of solid information about how sites will be regulated and expressed frustration at being forced to make a decision at this early stage. Your thoughts on the matter would be welcome and are the reason for the hearing.
For more information, or to provide comment in writing, please email the Town Clerk.
