Adopted in April 2010, the Ancram Comprehensive Plan guides the town’s decisions about future development and is the basis for the Town’s zoning, land use and subdivision laws.

Transforming the Comprehensive Plan from concept into reality requires many actions. One major action is revising the town’s zoning ordinance to coincide with the vision, goals, and strategies of the Comp Plan. Enacted in 1972, the current zoning ordinance served adequately for many years, but no longer contains sufficient guidance about priorities, standards, and procedures, nor does it consistently reflect changes in New York State law.

Accordingly, on February 19, 2010, the Town Board appointed a Zoning Revisions Committee (ZRC) to bring the Town’s zoning and subdivision laws into alignment with the Comprehensive Plan and to identify all town laws pertaining to land use and consolidate them in a single land use laws document. The committee consists of twelve members with varied backgrounds, expertise, and interests. Nan Stolzenburg, AICP CEP, of Community Planning and Environmental Associates, serves as consultant to the committee. John Lyons of Grant & Lyons, LLP, is legal counsel.

The ZRC normally meets every Monday at 7:00 p.m. in the Ancram Town Hall. All meetings are open and the committee often includes participants from the community in discussion. Believing that agreement among committee members will aid agreement among community members, the ZRC usually reaches decisions by seeking consensus.

The ZRC reviews and revises the 1972 Zoning Ordinance section by section and, as appropriate, may submit several sections together as one package of amendments for Town Board action. Town Board review includes consideration of comments from the Ancram Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Conservation Advisory Council; from the Columbia County Planning Board; and from a public hearing for community members.

The Town Board adopted the first package of zoning amendments on July 21, 2011. This package comprises Section I: Title and Scope, Section VII: Administration and Enforcement, Section VIII: Zoning Board of Appeals, Section IX: Planning Board, Section X: Amendments, Section XI: Interpretation and Application, and Section XII: Definitions. The Town Board adopted the second package of recommended amendments on October 20, 2011. This package comprises Section XIII: Site Plan Review, and Section V (I): Open Space Conservation Subdivisions. The Town Board adopted the third package of recommended amendments on September 20 and October 18, 2012. This package comprises Section II: Establishment of Districts, Section II E: Floating Business District, Section III: Use Regulations, Section IV B, Area and Bulk Regulations—Density Control Schedule, Section IV I: Density Bonuses, Section V J: Special Use Permits, and Section VI: Non-Conforming Uses, Buildings and Lots. The Town Board adopted the fourth package of amendments on March 21, 2013. This package comprises Section IV F: Compliance with Minimum Lot Area per Dwelling, Section IV J: Density Calculation, Section V: Supplemental Regulations, Section V J: Individual Standards for Selected Uses, and Section XII: Definitions. The Town Board is reviewing the fifth (and final) package of amendments. This package comprises Section V H: Ridgeline Protection.

After all sections have been revised and adopted as individual amendments to the current ordinance, the complete compendium of revisions will be reconfigured for adoption as a single, coherent Local Law.

ZRC Members

Hugh Clark, Chair
Terry Boyles
Barry Chase, Vice Chair
Barbara Gaba
Donna Hoyt
Bonnie Hundt
Kyle Lougheed
Don MacLean
Bob Mayhew
Jim Miller
Bob Roche
Jane Shannon
Dennis Sigler