Tusten board adopts new comprehensive plan

Future of school remains an issue

By FRITZ MAYER

NARROWSBURG, NY — The Tusten Town Board voted to adopt a new comprehensive plan, which will pave the way for updating the zoning code.

At the town meeting on September 10, the board voted to accept the plan after a discussion with members of the Town of Tusten Comprehensive Planning Committee and town residents.

The issue that brought the most discussion was the future of the Narrowsburg school, which was closed in 2005. Though the school is owned by the Sullivan West Central School District, Bill Pammer, the director of planning for Sullivan County, who was deeply involved in the creation of the plan, said that addressing the school issue in the plan would give the town a “menu of options” for utilizing the school should the district decide to sell it at some point in the future.

The plan calls for public officials and interested citizens to create a task force to research the feasibility of using the school as an educational facility or another purpose, such as senior housing. Some residents complained that the language did not clearly spell out that the primary use the town desired was as an educational facility, with other uses being considered only after the educational one was rejected.

Supervisor Ben Johnson slightly adjusted the language regarding the school, but it was not enough to satisfy some residents and board members.

Another issue, which was raised by resident Charles Hoffman, was that the plan that was available on the town website had not been updated with the latest revisions. Members of the planning committee said the revisions were not substantial, other than those involving the school, which had been discussed in detail.

In the end, the board voted three to two in favor of adopting the new plan. Council member Eileen Falk voted against the plan largely because of the language concerning the school. Council member Carol Wingert also voted against adoption because she said some aspects of the plan merited further discussion by the board, including regulations regarding outdoor woodstoves, cluster developments and road signage.

Now that the plan has been adopted, the planning board and zoning board of appeals can begin to consider revisions to the town’s zoning laws.