News from the ZBA Meeting Tonight

Despite the six inches of new snow that fell today, the ZBA meeting went on as planned. The water harvesting zoning code interpretation was the only thing on the agenda. After a lengthy discussion, a motion was made that water harvesting for non-potable use is NOT a similar use to "water bottling and related uses" (which the town code allows). Here is exactly how the votes were cast.

Keith Johnson - No
Rolf Reiss - Yes
Tom Hickey - Yes
Joe Michaels - Yes
Gary Guglielmetti - No

So, in the end, the board voted 3 to 2 that water harvesting for non-potable uses is NOT similar to "water bottling and related uses" and is thus not allowed under the Shandaken Zoning Code. To us in Woodland Valley that means that the Poncic/Goodwater proposal to harvest non-potable water is NOT permitted in Shandaken.

I want to thank everyone who made their voices heard at the public hearing last month either in person or by mail. I also want to thank the Zoning board of Appeals for listening to those voices.