Master plan passes in Milan

By William J. Kemble, Correspondent Daily Freeman January 31, 2006

MILAN - Town Board members have adopted the town comprehensive plan in a supermajority vote that overrides Dutchess County Planning Department recommendations about mining, but otherwise largely conforms with suggested changes.
The plan was given 4-0 approval during a Town Board meeting last week. Councilman Al LoBrutton abstained.
Supervisor Van Talmage acknowledged that there are concerns about wording that includes considering a Planned Purpose Development designation for hamlet areas.
"It's a concept that gives us more tools as we're going forward," he said.
"We're not trying to implement it," Talmage said. "We just want the town to be able to consider it in the future and that's how we phrased it in the comprehensive plan."
County recommendations provided last week agreed a Planned Purpose Development would allow a flexible density requirement.
"We are please to see that compact development in the hamlet districts of Rock City and Lafayetteville is reaffirmed in the plan," wrote county planning Commissioner Roger Akeley. "The balance in keeping outlying areas rural is to encourage development in centralized places which is in keeping with the town's historic development pattern."

Other comments about the comprehensive plan by the county include:
* Suggestions that town officials develop zoning regulations that acknowledge the need for affordable housing.
* Concern that town officials won't provide zoning designations for mining and mentioned findings in Red Wing Sand and Gravel reports that mineral resources are "limited in this area" and are important for the county economy.
* Support for efforts to limit commercial development along state Route 199 and to encourage new businesses in area where neighborhoods are evolving.
* Support for the addition of a town recreation strategy and use of trails to encourge pedestrian traffic.
"With the exception of the mining issue, we are pleased with the proposed plan," Akeley wrote.

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