SAY NO to Massive Route 9 Expansion. Immediate Response please. Town Board is meeting Tuesday evening. The current proposed Rhinebeck Zoning Law includes allowing a massive development by the Stop and Shop on Route 9, including 320 townhouse and multi-family units and 125,000 square feet of additional commercial space. This is nearly three times the size of The Woods development with additional commercial space much like is found along Route 9 in Hyde Park. This Astor Flats Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) would turn the section of Route 9 north of the Rhinebeck Village into a suburban strip mall and housing complex, add significant traffic problems to an already congested area and compete with the Historic Rhinebeck Village Center. The development would also be located on extremely environmentally sensitive land that includes a significant concentration of valuable wetlands. I have walked this land myself and cannot see how this would be a positive change, as currently proposed. The draft zoning text is available at the Town Web site at: http://www.rhinebeck-ny.gov/files/zoning/Article_VIII_July_2008.pdf If the link doesn't work you can call me to send the PDF. The Town Board will be deciding on the Proposed Zoning and the Astor Flats TND in the near future. Please sign the petition below to tell the Town Board to say NO to a proposal that threatens substantial harm to Rhinebeck's historic character.

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