Approximately 80 to 100 people attended HRVR's Public Meeting on April 29 at the Rosendale Recreation Center.
HRVR's team included Tim Allred (Project Manager), Rick Steele (Manager of Hudson River Valley Resorts, aka HRVR), Joe Eriole (land use attorney of Veneziano and Associates), Brandee Nelson (project engineer of Crawford and Associates) and Anita Peck (partner of HRVR).
The HRVR team's presentation included the following:
1. Anita Peck's announcement that the purchase of Williams Lake had closed on April 10th, 2008 and that she was pleased to be a partner in the HRVR project
2. Rick Steele providing an overview of HRVR -- a small group of socially and environmentally focused, for-profit investors whose objective is to upgrade Williams Lake to a modern, green resort community focused on wellness, sustainability and nature. The project will be marketed primarily to resort guests and second home buyers from the metropolitan New York City area.
3. Tim Allred providing an overview of the current concept plan for the site. Tim presented a summary of the land and it's unique environmental and historic features and constraints, a summary of the resort program (130 room LEED certified hotel; spa; wellness center; and a total of 160 homes (2/3rds of which are clustered at the south and SE of Williams Lake). Tim described LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and how the LEED process ensures an energy efficient, low-impact project. (A summary of the LEED process was handed out and is attached to this post). Tim also presented general discussion of how the concept plan is informed by the land's constraints to minimize impacts through careful siting of buildings in previously impacted areas, sensitivity to endangered species' habitats, clustered development to preserve open space, etc.
4. Brandee Nelson provided a summary of environmental engineering for the concept plan. In particular, Brandee discussed that Williams Lake is contemplated as the main source for water supply and that the projected consumption numbers in the SEQR application are very conservative and based on full, year-round occupancy without considering any water conservation strategies or water recycling. The project will employ numerous water saving and recycling strategies (rain water capture, native landscaping to reduce irrigation, etc.) and we expect the water use number to reduce significantly. Brandee also discussed the plan to install a private, packaged wastewater treatment facility downstream of the discharge point of Williams Lake that will discharge to DEC's highest standards of Intermittent Stream Effluent Limits. This packaged treatment facility is a considerable improvement to Williams Lake's current septic field system that is hydrologically upstream of Williams Lake. Brandee also presented information on Stormwater management and the various strategies in the concept plan to minimize run-off, soil erosion and sediment delivery through retention ponds, constructed wetlands, pervious roads, green roofs, etc.
5. Joe Eriole provided a summary of the approval process including a summary of SEQR and HRVR's requested zoning text amendment. Joe explained that residential housing is permitted under the current zoning code at one home per 1.5 acres and that a resort hotel is allowed under Special Permit. However the code is ambiguous regarding bulk and area for the hotel and HRVR's request for an amendment to the zoning code is to provide controls (for the Town) and certainty (for HRVR) regarding what precisely will be allowed. Joe also presented an 'as of rights' concept plan that would maximize residential housing on the site (at least 183 homes) in a sprawling residential subdivision. This is not the plan HRVR prefers to pursue, but is a plan that can be pursued under current zoning. This plan also would have higher municipal impacts as the Town would maintain roads and water/ sewer. The 'as of rights' subdivision plan would also have a much higher number of year-round residents with school-aged children and thus a higher cost impact on the school system
6. Tim concluded the presentation with a summary of the expected benefits of the project in terms of Rosendale's Comphrehensive plan:
a) Preserve Resources -- HRVR's commitment to sustainability and the LEED hotel ensure this
b) Improve Rosendale's Financial
Capacity -- the HRVR project will significantly increase tax revenue to the town with limited municipal impacts
c) Enhance Value -- the HRVR project will generate secondary spending from resort guests and home owners in Rosendale and Ulster County; hundreds of long-term jobs (professional as well as low-wage hospitality jobs) will be created; high-quality, beautiful real estate will be built; labor and materials wil be locally sourced from Rosendale and the surrounding area.
The presentation was followed by over an hour of excellent questions and comments from the audience and a constructive dialogue of the issues raised. Though many topics were covered, many of the questions covered fiscal/ tax issues.
Please feel free to comment if you would like more information.
