Check this page often for the latest documents and other media pertaining to current issues and happenings in the Town of Ulster, NY!
PRESS RELEASES
CITIZENS GROUP FAVOR COUNTY RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS IN TOWN OF ULSTER
TownofUlsterCitizens.org encourages citizens to advocate for county’s planning board recommendations to be incorporated by the Town of Ulster
February 27, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Hartmann, townofulstercitizens@gmail.org ULSTER – The TownofUlsterCitizens.org is encouraging residents to attend Planning Board and Town Board meetings to witness first-hand how these town authorities interpret and respond to the County Planning Board’s recommendations regarding the proposed housing development and solar farm projects.
“We are strongly encouraging our town’s Planning Board members to thoroughly review the county board’s reasoned guidance and incorporate it into their own decisions regarding the Whitestone proposal to create 298 housing units on the Ridge behind Adam’s Fairacre Farm store and the Lightstar solar project in a forest on the same Ridge slightly north of the Whitestone proposal. Although separate proposals, they are of a single environmental piece that concerns the county and our town residents. We understand that the county’s assessments are recommendations, and the final determination rests with the town officials, but we find these to be persuasive and based on expertise and a depth of experience with such things,” said Laura Hartmann, chair of the citizens group.
Ulster County Principal Planner Robert Leibowitz summarized the county planning board’s recommendations in two separate documents, each project having two advisory comments and seven required modifications. NY Municipal Law distinguishes “advisory” (okay…but) from “required” (not-okay…and). In other words, if a town overrides a county’s required modification, they must explain the decision in writing to the county. Required modifications addressed traffic concerns, community character, visual impact, fire safety, stormwater mitigation, sustainability, historic impacts, wildlife habitats, setbacks, inconsistencies with the town’s comprehensive plans, and housing affordability concerns. Many of these issues were also raised by TownofUlsterCitizens.org representatives during public comments at previous town meetings.
“Our organization is supportive of percentages of workforce housing within all housing proposals because people who live in our town cannot afford so-called market rates, thus engendering indeliberate or deliberate gentrification. That means that people who grew up here count for less than outsiders with deeper pockets,” co-chair Regis Obijiski said.
The county’s Planning Board agreed. It noted: “The Town of Ulster now has at least 1,100 new housing units proposed. Still, it has yet to propose a single affordable housing unit or seek to update its zoning statute to meet the demand for housing at a price point affordable to renters living at income of 60% of average median income {AMI} for the County, let alone 80% of AMI.”
The county Planning Board also questioned the location for the Lightstar Renewables solar proposal. Its three-page letter of recommendations clarified how the current plan appears to contradict the Town of Ulster’s Comprehensive Plan: “Typical standards require sites to have a minimum of 20 acres for large-scale solar arrays with a maximum of 50% coverage incorporating the square footage of the arrays and a maximum amount of clearcutting to be allowed. The proposal calls for over 28 acres of disturbance, exceeding the requirements of a typical large-scale solar standard. Placing some arrays above the ridgeline creates challenges regarding slopes and access roads. In addition, this placement appears inconsistent with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, which calls for their protection and is also problematic to stormwater erosion and soil control.”
In a separate letter to Town Supervisor James Quigley, Ulster County Planning Board Chair Mike Baden encouraged a short-term moratorium on all solar project proposals until the town updates its zoning code and Comprehensive Plan to include such projects.
Hartmann and Obijiski say their organization supports that moratorium. They pushed back, however, on the notion that TownofUlsterCitizens.org is opposed to every solar project, noting the group’s explicit support for the solar farm in Eddyville. It was built on the site of a former quarry, required a limited number of trees to be felled and helped the county increase its use of solar power. Hartmann said the approximately 300 residents she represents are not anti-development. They have a track record of supporting smart development proposals such as the revitalization of iPark87, and they are willing to engage with those who want to enhance this area. The group’s work with Bread Alone’s CEO, Nels Leader, is an inspiring example of a business willing to listen to the group’s concerns and work together to modify an expansion of Bread Alone’s production center on 9W next to Central Hudson’s facility. Not only did the company and TownofUlsterCitizens.org show that collaboration was possible, but also they forged a relationship that resulted in Bread Alone employees volunteering with residents to build a park on Buckley Street along the Lower Esopus Creek.
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About TownofUlsterCitizens.org
Launched in 2018, the TownofUlsterCitizens.org a non-partisan, citizen-run community organization focused on increasing citizen engagement and creating a better Town of Ulster. It promotes educational opportunities for Ulster residents to better understand their local government and engage with their officials. The organization also advocates for smart development in Ulster, greater transparency in decision making, and a town where all voices can be heard.
5-7-2019
LETTER: Town of Ulster leads the way in power plant regulation
3-6-2019 – Housing Media
At our March 4th, 2019 meeting, we had a presentation by RUPCO CEO Kevin O’Connor, and Jennifer O’Donnell of Hone Strategic. Below are videos:
And here is Kevin’s PPT presentation to download – ToUC Housing Ulster 3-4-2019
2-1-2019 – GlidePath Changes Their Project
GlidePath has responded to the overwhelming negative community feedback to their fossil fuel Peaker plant proposal, and has changed the project to a battery-storage only project. While some questions remain, this is very welcome news, and shows the power of organizations like this one, and our coalition partners.
GlidePath Statement and Revised Plan
Town of Ulster Supervisor James Quigley Statement
Town of Ulster Citizens.org Press Release
Ulster power plant plan nixes fossil fuels
Older Media
Download our Glidepath Lincoln Park Grid Support Center Fact Sheet
Glidepath’s concept plan
Here is Glidepath’s original Draft Scope and Environmental Impact Form (which list potential impacts). eaf part 1 and eaf part 2.
SEQRA calls for public comment and questions to be added to the draft scope. Here’s what we came up with. We worked countless hours to come up with thoughtful, pertinent questions on how this dangerous, unnecessary project would be built and run.
We weren’t the only ones with questions. Other local environmental and citizen organizations joined in. Here are Lincoln Park Scoping Comments from a joint effort of the following groups: Catskill Mountainkeeper, Coalition Against Pilgrim Pipelines – New York (CAPP-NY), Kingston Citizens, Kingston Land Trust, Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson, and Woodstock Land Conservancy.
And here’s the final scope after our questions. Our questions were, in general terms, completely ignored by the lead agency (which is the town board). The Town Board ignoring the work it specifically asked citizens to do is a little strange.
IMPORTANT: Let’s compare the documents
We wrote this letter to James Quigley 3rd expressing our disappointment. To make sure he understood, Town of Ulster Citizens.org president Laura Hartmann read it at the May 2018 town board meeting.
BIG NEWS – Ulster County Executive Michael Hein has come out against the 20-megawatt electric-generating plant that Minnesota-based GlidePath Power Solutions wants to build along Frank Sottile Boulevard in the town of Ulster, and he’s asked two state agencies to step in. Read His Letter Here.
12/9/2018 – The City of Kingston asks the state to require enhanced participation plan from Glidepath developers. Read More
12/4/2018 – Glidepath says their draft Environmental Impact Statement will not be ready until the first quarter of 2019. Read More
10/18/2018 – Town of Ulster Citizens.org members read statements at the town board meeting regarding GlidePath and the below zoning issue. Laura Hartmann directly discussed the zoning denial and citizen due process, Eileen Murphy,talked about environmental issues and global warming, and Dan Furman discussed how GlidePath is really a faux “utility company” with no fossil fuel experience.
10/12/2018 – As noted in the below, we’re concerned there is no designation in the Town of Ulster of what constitutes a “Utility Company Structure”. We asked the Zoning Board of Appeals to review such. They refused. Here’s Our Appeal.
9/18/2018 – Our request for zoning clarification is denied.
9/14/2018 – We then petitioned the Zoning Board of Appeals to review the matter. Here’s Our Letter
On 8/16/2018, Town of Ulster Citizens.org presented this letter to the town, and asked that its contents (asking for a Moratorium due to Zoning issues) be discussed at that evening’s town board meeting. Not only was the letter NOT put on the agenda, supervisor Quigley refused to even discuss it or answer any questions regarding it, instead calling on the town lawyer to address questions.
Other Recent Published News
10-18-2018 – GlidePath project lawfulness questioned under Ulster town zoning. Read More
9-21-2018 – Town of Ulster residents keep the heat on Glidepath Power Plant. Read more.
“Ulster town officials asked for electric plant moratorium” Read More
“Kingston Mayor wants enhanced public participation in review of proposed Ulster power plant.” Read More
“Advocates say Ulster power plant review process gives short shrift to public’s concerns” Read More.
“Town of Ulster gets two additional weeks to frame review of proposed electric generator” Read more.
“Power plant opposition letters irk town of Ulster supervisor” Read more.
“Town of Ulster might seize land near proposed power station to maintain access to transfer station” Read more.
“Ulster Town Board members declare proposed electric generating plant may harm environment” Read more.
“Critics of proposed electric generating station plant in town of Ulster seek more time to comment” Read more.
“Company wants to build power plant in Ulster” Read more.
Town of Ulster Citizens.org has been writing letters to the various local publications in an effort to get the word out about the Power Plant
“GlidePath Project Strikes Out Both Locally and Globally” Read More
“LETTER: GlidePath proposal deserves deliberate review” Read More
“LETTER: Glidepath Executive’s Claims are Dubious” Read More
“LETTER: Power proposal for town of Ulster will pollute air” Read more.
“LETTER: Critics of Proposed Ulster Generating Station see flaws in environmental review document” Read more.
“LETTER: Power plan for Ulster is to dirty local air for profit” Read more.
“LETTER: Glidepath plant dangerously sited in Ulster” Read more.
“LETTER: Ulster power plan hinges on capacity to dirty our air” Read more.
“LETTER: Ulster’s green energy plan cannot include Glidepath” Read more.
“LETTER: Ulster power plant sponsor’s are inexpert” Read more.
“LETTER: We don’t want to be Glidepath’s guinea pig:” Read more.