The Village of New Paltz may be ready to revisit how neighbors are notified about nearby projects. When a public hearing is required before the zoning board of appeals or the planning board, the applicant must post a bright pink sign on the property, publish the full notice in a local newspaper and mail a copy to properties within a certain distance. The proof that must be submitted that this mailing was accomplished is a simple affidavit.
The board is considering switching from an affidavit — in effect, a written promise that the task was accomplished — to certified mail, for which there is evidence provided via the postal service that the mail was sent and, if signed for, that it was also received. This was spurred by members of the Jewish Congregation of New Paltz advising that they typically do not receive such mailed notices.|
At its October 23 meeting, the board took up the suggestion of adding a certified mailing requirement for planning and zoning applications. Instead, it decided to post information in more places online.
“Nobody wants certified mail,” said deputy mayor KT Tobin at the time. Since the signature requirement is proof the document was received, she reasoned that few people would accept it and thus it would not be read.
Another option is to send the same notice via first-class mail, If the goal is to increase awareness about projects, a more effective — and less expensive, for the applicant – an alternative would be to post such notices on Facebook as well as the village’s web site.
The project which spurred renewed interest in the requirements was an area variance for 66 South Chestnut Street. Several of those who testified asserted that no mailing had been received, but the requirement is only that the applicant promise that they were mailed. A copy of the notice was posted on the village’s site on November 30, but a review of the village’s Facebook page suggests that notices of public hearings are only posted there when they pertain to village board business, specifically.
Trustees Michele Zipp and Bill Murray mused that the notice requirements might not be sufficient during a pandemic. Trustee Alexandria Wojcik wondered aloud what’s being done in other communities, while the mayor said that reviewing those earlier minutes might be appropriate.
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