MAMAKATING – High on the agenda at the Mamakating Town Board reorganization meeting on January 15 was the question of rezoning in four designated Planned Office zones, located near the exits off Route 17 and around the high-density housing project under construction on Winterton Road. Town Supervisor Harold Baird announced that he has been having ongoing meetings with "city planners" on this issue. He reiterated his hope to see some type of commercial development on Winterton Road, as well as some retail and storage yards near the exits to what will soon be redesignated as I-86.

Councilwoman Regina Saunders agreed with Baird that some sort of commercial growth is necessary, but hopes to find a happy medium that does not detract from the villages of Bloomingburg and Wurtsboro. Councilman John Moul expressed his opposition to more high-density housing, as well as to strip malls and contractor yards within the PO zones in question. Instead, he would like to see a 5-star hotel and a 5-star restaurant, for example. Councilman Bob Justus felt that the Rural Community Coalition, a grass-roots citizens group with strong local support, should have a voice in any rezoning matters.

A large contingent from the RCC attended the meeting, and a spokesperson for the group presented each member of the board with a zoning map and charts delineating the RCC's preliminary proposals for Bloomingburg (viewable at www.ruralcommunitycoalition.com). Basically, these plans call for some commercial development around the exits from Route 17, but for the areas on Winterton Road to remain residential. Also, the RCC recommends that any future high-density housing projects should be split up into smaller clusters throughout the town.

But it was pointed out that Baird may not be open to these suggestions. One RCC spokesperson reminded him that he had thrown members of the RCC out of his office when they tried to speak with him about the PO zones.

Also during the public comment section of the meeting several speakers asked Baird for information on which city planners he was consulting with on this issue. He mentioned Stu Turner and Alan Sorensen, but refused to divulge the names of any others.

Highway Superintendent Buddy Platt had an exchange of angry words with Baird over his department's equipment needs, and the need for local residents to get roads plowed in a timely fashion. It was unclear whether the tiff was personal, professional or political, or a mixture of each.