Show Up June 10th 6:00 pm (Clinton Town Hall, 1215 Centre Rd) and Tell the Clinton Town Board NO!
Dear Friends and Neighbors:
The Clinton Town Board is proposing zoning law changes that will not only allow the development of the Six Senses resort hotel, but open the door for more commercial resorts and hotels throughout our once rural town. They are eliminating protections that have been in place for years.
A sampling of Proposed Changes to Clinton’s Zoning:
- CLEAR-CUTTING MAY NOW BE PERMITTED in any parcel including Ridgeline Protection Areas – Currently, you cannot remove more than 29% of trees. Proposed change means cutting down ALL trees, so long as ONE tree is left standing. (IHG Six Senses HAS back property in Ridgeline Protection Area).
- EXPAND CONFERENCE CENTER DEFINITION to allow even greater uses including staff housing and new accessory uses including commercial equine operations.
- “HOTEL” DEFINITION CHANGED to EXCLUDE those made up of “villas” or “cottages”. If it doesn’t have interior hallways for room access, it’s not a Hotel, and therefore not restricted by NO-HOTELS zoning laws.
- A NEW CATEGORY – ”INNS” to allow more commercial lodging throughout town, not just hamlets already zoned for “hotels”.
- HISTORIC CHARACTER must no longer be considered during Planning Board reviews.
PLEASE read the full draft town zoning law changes HERE.
Two months ago, a MORATORIUM on Conference Centers was on the Town Board Agenda, then removed the day of the Town Board meeting, never to be re-introduced. (They said, “a typo”, but does it take MONTHS to fix a typo?) NOW, they are proposing to EXPAND the “Conference Centers” definition, enabling further commercial operations throughout the Town in agricultural and residential areas. MORE resorts, new “Inns”, perhaps big hotels and motels… and they will provide agricultural tax benefits for the developers while also permitting massive destruction of our trees and forests in previously protected areas with zero controls!
The Town Board is ethically OBLIGATED to the citizens of Clinton, to create or change law to be in ALIGNMENT with the Comprehensive Plan. Instead, they appear to be fast-tracking zoning law changes desired by developer interests.
The Public Hearing is June 10th 6:00pm Clinton Town Hall, 1215 Centre Rd. This may be our ONLY opportunity to let them know this is not acceptable. Send in written comments to: townclerk@townofclinton.com