Shandaken authors present draft comprehensive plan, invite public comment

Consultants leading Shandaken's plan update presented a draft comprehensive plan and asked residents for detailed feedback at a public session. Elka Godfried, director of the Center for Housing Solutions at Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, said the draft is online and remains open for public comment as the authors continue to incorporate community input. “We are the authors, but in fact, the authors were the community,” Godfried said.

The presenters summarized outreach: four surveys, community mapping and three in-person days of engagement. They said the first survey drew nearly 470 responses and that environmental protection, cell service/broadband and affordable housing were the top priorities identified. Officials said the town has secured $100,000 to begin a follow-up rezoning effort, which will come after plan adoption and include at least three public hearings and further community work over an expected multi-month to multi-year process.