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Town of Poughkeepsie Wetlands Protection When the current Master Plan for the Town of Poughkeepsie was reviewed three years ago for recommendations not implemented, it was noted that the 1990 Master Plan recommended that a local wetlands and steep slope ordinance be enacted. In response to a request from members of the Town Board, the Conservation Advisory Commission assumed the task of preparing both of these ordinances. The proposed Town of Poughkeepsie Aquatic Resources Protection Law, Chapter 116 of the Code of the Town of Poughkeepsie, represents approximately two years of research and extensive discussions amongst the Town Board, the CAC, Department Heads and other Administrators from the Town including Planning, Zoning, Highway, Engineering and Legal. For questions regarding the CAC’s proposed ordinance, please email Pokopenspace@aol.com and a response will be provided as soon as possible. Last year a small group of developers and business people, believing that the CAC had not adequately consulted with the business community and the public in preparing its proposed new wetlands and steep slope ordinances, came together to form a Coalition others to review and provide input on the proposed ordinances. The Coalition includes representatives from the Poughkeepsie Area Chamber of Commerce, the Builders Association of the Hudson Valley, the Dutchess County Association of Realtors. The Coalition has proposed an alternative approach entitled Proposed Revisions to Existing Wetlands Law Town of Poughkeepsie, New York. The alternative approach has been reviewed with the Town Board Members, the CAC, and department heads from the Town including Planning, Zoning, Highway, Engineering and Legal. For questions regarding the Coalition’s approach, please email dsk.dsk@verizon.net and a response will be provided as soon as possible. To date, neither the proposed law nor the alternative recommendations have been adopted by the Town Board. In July, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater joined Scenic Hudson, the Dutchess Environmental Management Council and others to present an informational forum on Wetlands and Wetlands Protection. The meeting was very well attended by more than 150 people. At that time, Town Supervisor Joe Davis announced the Town Boards intention of Town appointing a Task Force to review the recommendations of both groups, do independent research and make recommendations to the Town Board before the year is out. Recently the following persons were appointed to the Task Force: Town Councilmen Dick Buckey and Stephan Krakower, Robert Hankin (developer), Professor Tom Lynch, and Wayne Thompson. Clearwater has volunteered to use this portion of it’s website to keep people informed of this important process to protect the community’s natural resource while supporting appropriate economic development.
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