The best source for local news from Marbletown, Rochester & Rosendale
Published the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month | Vol. 27, Issue 11
Unified team wins season — Go, Ganders!
June 3, 2022 | $1.00
How's the spring real estate market doing?
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'Art Colonies of Ulster County' opens PAGE 20
150th anniversary of the Rosendale ‘trestle’
Town hearings on big topics Rochester residents have their say on accessory dwellings, land-use moratorium and a Comprehensive Plan addendum Ann Belmont BSP Reporter
Above the Rosendale Viaduct today photographed by historian, Matt-Kierstead. Although commonly called a “trestle,” the Rosendale railroad bridge is actually a “viaduct” in engineering parlance, a long bridge with multiple distinct spans supported by separate piers or towers. Early viaducts were masonry structures, and later ones were made of iron or steel.
150th anniversary of Rosendale ‘trestle’ with walk & talk Led by historian Matt Kierstead Join the Wallkill Valley Land Trust to celebrate the anniversary of the Rosendale “trestle” with a walking tour led by industrial historian Matt Kierstead, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 11 (rain date, June 18), at the bridge. A narrated and illustrated tour of the history and engineering of Rosendale’s two railroad viaducts (technically not trestles) includes a walk across and a visit under the bridge to discuss its significance and structure. 2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Wallkill Valley Railroad and the first railroad bridge at Rosendale. The original viaduct, completed in 1872 by the Watson Manufacturing Co., was replaced with the present viaduct by the King Bridge Co. in 1896. Kierstead specializes in documenting and interpreting historic engineering, industrial, and transportation resources, with particular interest in railroads, bridg-
Photo courtesy of D&H Historical Society industrial historian Matt Kierstead
es, and mining and is currently working on history signage for the Hudson Valley Rail Trail segment of the Empire State Trail.
Tour admission is $12. For more information, visit wallkillvalleylt.org/events or call 845-255-2761.
Three public hearings were held at the Rochester Town Hall on the night of May 25, the Town Board was in attendance to listen to local residents' comments. The meeting started with a hearing concerning the proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) law. A first hearing for this law several weeks ago was well attended, but this time only one individual, prior town board member, Bea Haugen-Depuy, wished to speak. She asked, “What was the final decision on the square footage?” Town supervisor Mike Baden said that, as presently written, a maximum of 900 square feet would be allowed for an ADU. Haugen-Depuy thought that sounded too large. “If it’s going to be an accessory then that’s what it needs to be.” Baden replied, "We have heard comments from a number of people that it should be considerably less." He said the final version of the ADU law may contain some modifications, including square footage, “and if the changes are substantial, we would reconvene for another public hearing." The board's proposal for a six-month land-use moratorium (with two extensions possible by board resolution), mostly affecting new large subdivisions and site plans requiring planning board approval, was also having its second public hearing. Baden said in his introduction, "The purpose is to give the Town Board the ability to consider changes to the zoning code, the subdivision code, or possibly other land use statutes.” He cited a long list of exceptions to the moratorium: applications
See TOR Hearings, page 6