This is the design that you allowed, by voting for the construction bond, to be used to build the addition to the Comeau Building, a building for which, long before the addition’s construction, the Town Historian applied to receive a “historic designation” with the State Historic Preservation Office. One would think that the design of the addition would therefore complement the Comeau Building, rather than, as this design does, ignore its historic aesthetics. 

A lavoir (wash-house)                                 

Source: Wikipedia                                                 Source; Pinterest   

  

                                               

  

    

   

 

            Did you know that cutting down certain trees planted within 20 feet of either side of any properties ,fronting on or contiguous to or located within 20 feet of New York State Highway Route 212 between the point where Plochmann Lane intersects  Route 212 to the point where Route 212 intersects the Bearsville-Wittenberg Road in the hamlet of Bearsville, is not allowed unless a permit is issued by Woodstock’s Town Board ?

 

Makes no sense

      As opposed to other types of roofs, a shed roof has a single slope that can vary in steepness depending on its design. That is the type of roof chosen by the architects for the proposed Comeau addition.

     Woodstock annually gets about 48 inches of rain and 51 inches of snow; 10 inches of melted snow or one inch of rain equates to .64 of a gallon of water per square foot of roof, so that the runoff from a 2,800-square-foot roof would amount to approximately 1,800 gallons of water. What do you think would be the overall effect of the rain and snow runoff since the addition is only 10 feet away from the Comeau building and the roofs slant towards each other?

 

Comeau Building Renovation

           Based upon the article in last week’s issue of HV1, it appears that the Comeau building has a good chance of qualifying for National Historic Register status. A status “which would give the town a lot of money to handle the renovation.” Which would save us taxpayers approximately $840,000 as well as the cost of maintenance and upkeep. However, the Comeau addition project as proposed “will kill any chance of our qualifying” for the funding. If you have any questions / comments please respond.

ADA Consciousness

Jacqueline Manganaro, an ADA advocate is quoted in HV1 as saying “The Town of Woodstock seems to be ignoring a large community of people with disabilities. I’ve made attempts for three years on an advocate level. ……I took many pictures of broken, dangerous and/or lack of sidewalks in our town. These are dangerous obstacles for the community of people with disabilities. I’ve spoken to our town supervisor….. What I’m told is, “The town is only responsible for certain sidewalks and the store-owners are responsible for their own sidewalks.” Is there a plan in the works to correct this condition.

On another note, what about the Comeau addition whose current design, it appears, is not in compliance with ADA regulations ,will that be addressed prior to its construction. What is currently being foisted upon us, aside from CCD issues, are 48 inch wide hallways/corridors that according to the following source and an ADA attorney does not comply with ADA regulations.

https://legalbeagle.com/7829693-ada-hallway-requirements

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Housing

 

Our Zoning Law -  Obey it - Change it - Enforce it - but don't violate it

Are you concerned that there are not enough buildable lots?  

Woodstock's 1965 Zoning Law allowed, in the R-A and R-1 districts which covered the majority of the town, “one family per 2 acres. “

A possible solution would be to change the current Zoning Law to allow the subdividing of a property to create an undersized lot . There would be a minimum required size of the lot as well as compliance with other standards, and restrictions so as not to diminish the character of the neighborhood.  This would not only provide buildable lots but also increase the Town’s tax base.

Stay tuned for more . . .

EMPLOYMENT

Hamlet and Neighborhood Commercial Districts, as well as Home Occupations, should be looked into as potential locations to create additional jobs. This would require participation of the public and the business communities and changes in our Zoning Law. My thought is to increase the allowed uses in the Hamlet Commercial and Residential Districts, increase the type of Home Occupations, and add additional Neighborhood Commercial Districts, all of which would increase employment opportunities. In addition to requiring a Special Use Permit, the changes would have to meet other standards so as to maintain the integrity and character of Woodstock.