Committees & Projects
6 Mulberry
The Village of Rhinebeck is lead agency on an application to redevelop 6 Mulberry by Dutchess Shepherd, LLC, which includes the former Bulkeley Middle School (also known as the Father Brogan Center), a ~15,000 square foot institutional building that is a contributing building in the Rhinebeck Village Historic District. Information pertaining to the project will be posted here as it is filed with the Village Clerk. This is an ongoing process, so please check back.
The Latest Announcements
(tagged 6 Mulberry, listed in reverse chronological order)
On September 14, 2021, Dutchess Shepherd, LLC, approached the Village of Rhinebeck Board of Trustees with a rezoning request for 6 Mulberry Street to allow for the adaptive reuse of the ~15,000 square foot facility into an apartment building, a use currently prohibited in the Village Residential Zone. The owner would also redevelop the vacant surrounding land into four single family homes. This rezoning request can be found here.
The Village Board held a public comment on November 4, 2021. The correspondence from that session can be found here.
In response to the comments, Dutchess Shepherd petitioned the village with a revised rezoning request on June 10, 2022, found here.
On June 28, 2022, the Village Board approved Resolution #06282022-01, Authorizing Preliminary Review of the Proposed Bulkeley School Rezoning, found here.
On September 20, 2022, the Village Board heard from the planner that it hired, per Resolution #06282022-01, on the preliminary assessment of Dutchess Shepherd’s request for rezoning, found here.
On October 25, 2022, the Village Board held another public comment during which the Board heard from various members of the public, including the owners of 6 Mulberry as well as several neighbors, who had chosen to retain legal representation. The correspondence from the public, as well as an analysis of the rezoning application submitted by the neighbors, an updated preliminary assessment from the Village planner, and some further information submitted by Dutchess Shepherd can all be found here.
Also on October 25, 2022, the Village Board approved Resolution #10252022-01, Authorizing Review of Proposed Bulkeley School Rezoning SEQRA Review, found here.
On November 8, 2022, the Village Board reported on the circulation of its Notice of Intent to be Lead Agency, per Resolution #10252022-01. This documentation can be found here.
On January 3, 2023, the Village Board received a letter from Dutchess Shepherd, found here.
On January 10, 2023, after having heard no objections from other interested agencies, the Village Board passed Resolution #01102023-01, Declaring the Village Board Lead Agency for SEQRA Review of Bulkeley School Proposal, found here.
The neighbors’ attorney submitted a letter to the Board of Trustees on January 9, 2023, found here. Dutchess Shepherd responded on January 31, 2023, found here, and the Village Zoning attorney responded on February 24, 2023, found here.
Per the February 24, 2022 letter, the Village will provide all documents subject to the New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) related to this project on this webpage for interested members of the public.
The neighbors’ attorney submitted a letter to the Board of Trustees on April 7, 2023, found here. The Village Zoning attorney responded on April 20, 2023, found here.
As part of the SEQRA review, Dutchess Shepherd provided a Traffic Impact Study, a Literature Search and Sensitivity Assessment & Archaeological Field Reconnaissance Survey, a Preliminary Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, and an Engineering Site Plan to the Village Engineers.
On June 28, 2023 Tighe and Bond provided a peer review letter.
On August 11, 2023 the attorney for the neighborhood group submit a comment letter to the Village attorney.
As part of the SEQRA review, Dutchess Shepherd provided an updated Traffic Impact Study dated 9/5/23, an updated Preliminary Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan dated 9/2/23, a subdivision plan dated 9/8/23, a water capacity request to the Village of Rhinebeck dated 9/6/23, a water capacity acknowledgement from the Village of Rhinebeck in response, an updated main building plan dated 9/13/23, and the Existing Conditions Site Map dated 3/17/21 on September 13, 2023 to the Village Engineers.
As part of the SEQRA review, Dutchess Shepherd provided a letter concerning Construction Noise and Hours and a Design Development Presentation on September 15, 2023 to the Village Engineers.
As part of the SEQRA review, Dutchess Shepherd provided a letter of approval from the Rhinebeck Fire Department on October 13, 2023 and the Dark Sky Lighting analysis and proposal on October 14, 2023 to the Village Engineers.
On October 24, 2023, Tighe and Bond provided a peer review letter.
On November 8, 2023, Dutchess Shepherd provided the Village with a response letter to Tighe & Bond’s traffic and lighting October 24 comments.
As part of the SEQRA review, Dutchess Shepherd provided a revised lighting plan and photometrics on November 14, 2023, to the Village Engineers.
On November 28, 2023 the attorney for the neighborhood group submit a comment letter to the Village attorney.
On November 30, 2023, Dutchess Shepherd provided an updated EAF Part 1.
On December 1, 2023, Tighe & Bond provided the Village Board with a draft EAF Part 2 to the Village.
On December 6, 2023, Dutchess Shepherd provided the Solar Array Site Line Analysis and the Phase I Environmental Study to Village Engineers.
David Ashen, a neighbor on South Street, submitted a design question and idea to the Village Board on January 17, 2024.
On January 17, 2024, the attorneys for Dutchess Shepherd provided the village with a letter from the State Historic Preservation Office, dated 1/17/24.
On January 19, 2024, Tighe & Bond provided the Village Board with the final version of EAF Part 2.
On January 19, 2024, Tighe & Bond provided the Village Board with a draft EAF Part 3 to the Village.
On January 19, 2024, the Village received a letter from a group of neighbors concerning the draft EAF Part III.
On January 21, 2024, the Village engineers received the Privacy Screening strategy and diagram from Dutchess Shepherd.
The neighbors’ attorney submitted a letter to the Board of Trustees on January 21, 2024 concerning the Draft EAF Part III. The cover email stated: “My clients and I have reviewed the Draft Full Environmental Assessment Form [FEAF] Part 3 by Tighe & Bond which was posted on the Village web site on Friday. Please find attached our letter to you discussing the quality and tone of the draft and asking that your consideration of this draft be postponed until a revised draft of adequate depth and quality can be created and submitted to the Board for its consideration.”
On January 22, 2024, the Village received letters from residents Becky Tyre and Sondra Miscedra concerning the proposed development.
On January 22, 2024, Village attorneys provided an updated proposed BSO zoning amendment for the Dutchess Shepherd proposal.
The Board held a special meeting on January 23, 2024.
At the Special Board meeting on January 23, 2024, the Village Engineer provided a BSO SEQRA presentation.
At the Special Board meeting on January 23, 2024, Dod Crane asked the Village Board to make the 2016 Workforce Housing Study commissioned by the Town of Rhinebeck and completed by Patterns for Progress available to the public.
Steven Rosenberg submit the comments he made during the Special Board of Trustees meeting to review EAF Part III on January 23, 2024.
As part of the SEQRA review, Dutchess Shepherd provided a Development Feasibility Report, dated 5/19/2022 on January 23, 2024 to the Village Engineers.
As part of the SEQRA review, Dutchess Shepherd provided the response from Natural Heritage regarding rare or state-listed animals on January 25, 2024 to the Village Engineers.
On January 26, 2024, Lynda Christensen sent the Village Board an email concerning corner lot sizes in the historic district.
On January 29, 2024, John Clarke sent the Village Board an email expanding and clarifying his comments from the public meeting on January 23, 2024..
On February 1, 2024, the village engineers provided the Village Board with a comment letter discussing the materials submitted to the village between December 6, 2023 and January 19, 2024.
On February 8, 2024, the Village Board received a letter from applicant Dutchess Shepherd concerning the SEQRA process and questions regarding interior lighting.
On February 10, 2024, Village attorneys provided an updated proposed BSO zoning amendment for the Dutchess Shepherd proposal.
As part of the SEQRA review, Dutchess Shepherd provided an updated proposed site plan and ground floor layout to the school building on February 10, 2024 to the Village Engineers.
On February 13, 2024, Tighe & Bond provided the Village Board with an updated draft EAF Part 3.
As part of the SEQRA review, Dutchess Shepherd provided a revised on and off-street parking analysis on February 14, 2024 to the Village Engineers. This document addresses items #2 and #3 in the Review Comments letter dated 2/1/2024.
On February 14, 2024, John Bagwell, Diane and Victor Britton, Lynda Christensen, Spero Chumas and Vicki Haak, Brian Curran, and Sarah and Steve Miller sent the Village Board comments on the January 22, 2024 draft of the BSO zoning amendment as discussed on January 23, 2024.
On February 25, 2024, the neighbors attorney sent a letter to the Board which: (1) covers submission of a marked draft of the proposed zoning amendment; (2) responds to Victoria Polidoro’s February 8, 2024, letter on interior lighting impacts; (3) discusses the importance of a front entrance to the Bulkeley Schoolhouse; and (4) responds to John Clarke’s comments and letter to the Board.
On February 25, 2024 the neighbors attorney submit the latest version of the draft proposed zoning amendment with suggested edits from his clients.
The Board held a special meeting on February 27, 2024.
On February 27, 2024, the Village attorney submit a revised draft for the BSO local law for the Board to consider.
On March 1, 2024, the Village attorney submitted a final draft BSO local law and a final draft EAF Part III for the Board to consider. The Village Clerk then submitted those as well as the final EAF Part I, final EAF Part II, and all documents available on this website to Dutchess County Planning for review.
On March 20, 2024, the neighbors’ attorney sent a memo to the Board describing his clients’ fencing and screening proposal that they would like included in the draft zoning law.
On March 21, 2024, the Village Board received a letter from Dutchess County Planning regarding the draft BSO law.
On March 22, 2024, the Village Board received a letter from the Village Planning Board with comments on the draft BSO law.
On March 25, 2024, the Village Board received a letter from applicant Dutchess Shepherd responding to the comments from the Village Planning Board and Dutchess County Planning.
On March 26, 2024, David Ashen sent the Village Board a letter regarding the draft BSO law.
On March 28, 2024, the Village attorney submitted an updated final draft BSO local law (red line version) reflecting the comments heard from the public prior to and during the public hearing on March 26, 2024. This draft law will be discussed during the continued public hearing on April 9, 2024 at 6:30pm.
On April 2, 2024, Jeff Christensen sent the Village Board a letter encompassing his comments from the public meeting on March 26, 2024.
On April 3, the Village attorney submitted an updated final draft EAF Part 3 (red line version) reflecting the changes made to the updated final draft Bulkeley Schoolhouse Overlay zoning law.
On April 5, 2024, the Village Board received a letter from Dutchess County Planning regarding the March 28, 2024 draft BS-O law.
On April 8, 2024, the Village Board received a letter from Vicki Haak and Spero Chumas concerning fencing.
On April 8, 2024, the Village Board received a letter from Steven and Sarah Miller concerning screening.
On April 9, 2024, the Village Board passed a resolution approving the Bulkeley Schoolhouse Overlay District zoning code change and finding that there is no potential for significant adverse environmental impact under SEQRA.
