Gardiner building ban fizzles
Project's foes want hearing
By Dan Shapley, Poughkeepsie Journal
Thursday, September 4, 2003

GARDINER -- A proposed 12-month moratorium on major subdivisions in the Town of Gardiner failed to get enough support from the council Tuesday to earn a public hearing.

Councilman Bill Richards made a motion to schedule public comment on the law at the board's next meeting, but none of his colleagues seconded the motion.

''I'm not in support of a moratorium law,'' Supervisor Jack Hayes said just before Richards' motion.

Board members brought up familiar concerns -- that 12 months was an arbitrary length of time and that the planning board is not now inundated with applications.

Richards argued zoning laws still do not match the 1991 master plan, and with a new master plan now being drafted, the town should take the time to enact zoning laws to match it.

Echoes of Awosting

Though Richards said ''this is not a witch hunt'' and never mentioned the Awosting Reserve development proposal by name, many see the drive for a moratorium as a way to block that development.

Owner John Atwater Bradley and developer Chaffin Light Associates want to create a 349-lot gated community with a golf course on 2,660 acres mostly in Gardiner, at the foot of the Shawangunk Ridge.

Bradley said after the meeting he believes the moratorium is aimed at his plans. But public opposition is misplaced, he said, because the development will emphasize conservation and good land stewardship.

''The real view is this is a great community,'' he said, ''not just a bunch of fancy houses.''

About 70 residents were in the audience, and they were divided over the good of a moratorium law and the Awosting Reserve plans.

''I was appalled ... the town board would even refuse a public hearing. What kind of town board do we have presently that does not want public input?'' Susan Lehrer said.

Others pointed out boards typically agree on the language before putting a law to a public hearing, and the Gardiner council did not yet agree.

Chris Martinez said the board's non-vote was just democracy in action.

Even though he doesn't necessarily want to see the Awosting Reserve community built as proposed, he believes Bradley has the right to use his land within the law.

''The majority spoke,'' Martinez said.