Photos and Story by Max Oppen
TANNERSVILLE — The Village of Tannersville Board held a planning board meeting on December 9, followed by a regular Village Board meeting, which included updates on several key community projects.
Town of Hunter Supervisor Sean Mahoney, in his role as Executive Director of the Hunter Foundation, presented plans to renovate a property next door to Rooted, formerly Vanity Fur. The property, a two-story building, is slated for transformation.
"We're looking to repurpose an inefficient two-bedroom apartment," Mahoney explained. "The bottom floor will become a retail space, and the top floor will be renovated into an efficient two-bedroom apartment with a separate entrance."
The retail space will feature an open floor plan, and Mahoney noted, "We don't have a plan for the [incoming] business, so we'll make it a rentable [retail] space." Once complete, the Foundation will market the retail space for lease.
The Village Planning Board, with assistance from Town of Hunter Planning Board Chairman Marc Czermerys, acting as a consultant, approved a motion to be the lead agency for the project. The next step includes consultations with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), with a public hearing scheduled for January 13, 2025. Mahoney confirmed he already has a building permit for demolition work on the site.
A group of residents presented updated plans for a new skatepark in the Village to honor the late Danny Legg. Presenters included Jasper Kahn, Matt Soranno, ToniAnn Morabito, Cathy Legg, Frank Cabrera, and an “anonymous community member.”
Soranno and Morabito shared updated site plans and requested a letter of support from the Board. The proposed project, with costs estimated between $500,000 and $1 million, faces challenges, including its location in a floodplain.
"Moving forward, we'd like clear communication from the Board," Soranno said. Let us know what exactly you need from us to present to you. We want to focus on what comes next to have a concrete idea of how much money we'll need and how we'll get it."
Village Deputy Mayor David Kashman expressed support but emphasized the importance of thorough planning. "The letter of support gets us started if we seek grant money from other municipalities, LLCs, and representatives. It gets the ball rolling," he said, noting the holidays might delay progress.
Village Trustee George Kelly raised concerns about the project's feasibility. Kelly wrote in a text addressed to the Board, "They don't have capital… We, as a Village, do not have the capital. Let us, in quick fashion, give this nice group and the public a cohesive upfront answer – not a protracted campaign of 'keep trying, guys.'"
The Board acknowledged that navigating the floodplain issue and coordinating with the DEC and DEP would be critical. Czermerys explained, "They're not going to tell you yes or no. They're going to tell you what you have to go through." He suggested the applicants begin consulting engineers to assess the project's viability.
Community member and skatepark advocate Cabrera asked, "So the next move from the Board is to make those phone calls to determine if what we're discussing is a viable endeavor?"
Kashman responded, "We have enough information to make those calls now. Clearly, you guys are serious about it, and the Board is supportive of it."
In a text message following the meeting, Soranno said, "We are well aware of the challenges this project faces. As a team, we are moving this mission forward, and now, with the Village expressing full support of the project, it's time to take the next step -- and we are ready to go."
Soranno credited Morabito for concisely updating the site plan, which he said "Strongly addressed every point of interest the Village requested."
The Board also addressed concerns about snowmobilers entering the Upper Lake Redevelopment site illegally. Kashman suggested putting up snow fencing along Upper Lake Road and Rip Van Winkle Lake's shoreline to secure the area.
Cathy Legg of the Kaaterskill Snowmobile Association recommended additional snow fencing. Mayor David Schneider urged residents to report illegal activity, noting that signs placed at the site had been removed or knocked down. "It's mostly on the weekends, so maybe we can get more [police] patrols in that area," Schneider said.
Town Supervisor Mahoney proposed large signs at entry points warning, "Snowmobiling is not permitted in this area, it is dangerous." Trustee Kelly suggested confiscating a snowmobile to deter violators and send a strong message to trespassers.
The conversation turned back to the skateboard park. Supervisor Mahoney said, "At the end of the day, they have limited funds. So what's the best way for them to utilize those limited funds?" Mahoney added, "This is a Village capital project. Let's not beat around the bush here. To me, it is a waste of their money for them to spend it on engineering, etc. As a suggestion, maybe they should formalize. Maybe they should spend the money to become a formalized not-for-profit with 501(c)(3) status. I think that would be a good use of your funds. However, the issue here is that once you get past $20,000 in receivables, it costs more money to be a 501(c)(3) because then you're getting audited every year. And that costs a lot of money. So, right now, you can raise $20,000, and I do not doubt you will. I'm just saying once you get past that threshold, it becomes a pain no matter which way you do it -- which brings me back to this – which is that it makes the most sense to me for the Village to get behind this. Either you're for it, or you're against it."
Mahoney added that the money raised could go to the Village, which already has an engineer and is already a 501(c)(3). Mahoney added, "I'm just saying just one phone call [from the Village] to an engineer saying 'Hey, we have these plans. How much would it be?" Village Clerk Robin Dumont added, "Most of the grant funds for these types of projects are from municipalities or not-for-profits, so we would probably have to be the lead agency." Kashman said, "We appreciate you guys coming in. Great report. I think we're on the right track. It's on its way to the Village, so you guys continue doing what you're doing."
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