FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:    Mary@TheRhinebeckPlan.org

A public hearing on the town of Rhinebeck’s Comprehensive Plan proposal will be held on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. at Rhinebeck Town Hall auditorium, 80 East Market Street in Rhinebeck. The hearing before the Comprehensive Plan Committee will provide the opportunity for town residents to express their opinions and concerns about the revised plan, and to ask any questions that they may have about the plan. The meeting is open to everyone, and all Rhinebeck citizens are encouraged to attend.

“Having worked for nearly three years on creating an innovative plan that addresses the attitudes and reflects the choices of the majority of Rhinebeck residents, the committee looks forward to hearing from the community about the tools that we’re proposing to accomplish them,” said Sally Mazzarella, chair of the Comprehensive Plan Committee. “We learned the preferences and priorities of townspeople through a detailed, town-wide survey and nine visioning sessions,” she continued, “and through the public hearing proces, the committee will learn whether we have accomplished the goal of helping to create and preserve a Rhinebeck that reflects the way that its residents actually want to live.”

The proposed plan can be reviewed on the Web at www.TheRhinebeckPlan.org and at the Starr Library. Those who want hard copies or CDs of the plan may obtain them at Town Hall in the Town Clerk’s office for a nominal copying fee.

Mazzarella went on to say that among the priorities gleaned from the extensive research conducted on residents' attitudes and preferences included (in no particular order of priority): averting sprawl and preserving open space; preventing "big box," franchise and formula businesses, as well as strip development, and preserving Rhinebeck village as the town's commercial center; providing diverse housing choices which Rhinebeck's workforce, new workers and fixed income residents can afford; and connecting the town and village with sidewalks and biking trails.

"The plan addresses every aspect of life in the town, including: economic growth; affordable housing; home-based work; agriculture and open space; historic resources; fire districts; water/sewer; transportation; and recreation and cultural resources, among myriad others," explained Mazzarella. "Every suggestion emanating from the community on the entire spectrum of issues has been considered and evaluated against the hopes and dreams of the majority of the community."

The 22-member Comprehensive Plan Committee comprises Rhinebeck residents, including planners, architects, land use experts, business owners, town officials and others, representing diverse backgrounds and interests.

Citizens can access a copy of the proposed Plan, as well as survey and visioning session results, the build-out and fiscal analysis material and information on the actual planning process utilized to develop the Comprehensive Plan on The Rhinebeck Plan Web site at: www.TheRhinebeckPlan.org

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The Town of Rhinebeck Comprehensive Plan Town Hall 80 East Market Street  -  Rhinebeck, New York  12572 therhinebeckplan.org copyright 2003