Brookme appeals notice of violation over fundraising events; ZBA accepts appeal and sets public hearing

Sean (representing Brookme) told the Rhinebeck Zoning Board of Appeals that Brookme is appealing a March 4, 2026, notice of violation that alleges a series of fundraising events and meetings at the pavilion amounted to an impermissible commercial use.

Sean said the activities at issue — a takeout Fat Tuesday dinner, a St. Patrick’s Day dinner, a planned craft fair and a beekeepers’ meeting — were incidental to Brookme’s senior-care mission and intended to support resident programs. He said attendance at the meals was small (about 15 people at some dinners) and that earlier approvals and a January 2025 resolution had indicated some community and accessory uses at the pavilion should be permitted. “These are purely fundraising activities that are not meant to transform the campus into a commercial enterprise,” Sean said, adding that funds raised would benefit Brookme residents.

Zoning staff and board members noted that the notice of violation rested largely on the events being advertised or open to the public. Board members asked whether outside organizations had been allowed to hold events and pointed to earlier planning-board language and a 2017 special-permit narrative that listed certain community uses (for example, the Reinbeck Area Chamber of Commerce and regional nonprofit meetings) as anticipated uses of the pavilion. Board members and the applicant also discussed whether some events were subject to a distinction in the earlier decision between accessory uses closely tied to residents and more general public events (examples cited in the prior ruling had included blood drives, meetings with a clear nexus to residents, and community services).

The board accepted Brookme’s application as complete, classified the matter under SEQR/617.5 C37 as an interpretation/appeal of an existing code provision, and set a public hearing for July 15, 2026, at the applicant’s request. The applicant volunteered to supplement the record (for example, confirming whether the beekeepers charged a fee or how often groups met). The ZBA said it will take public comment at the hearing and consider the appeal in light of the 2017 planning submittal and the 2025 resolution.

What happens next: Brookme will file any supplemental documents requested by the board; the ZBA public hearing on the appeal is scheduled for July 15, 2026. The board’s classification signals the matter will be resolved through the ZBA’s interpretation of whether the listed events fall within accessory/allowed uses in the prior approvals or constitute a prohibited commercial use.