Planning Board

Planning Board

Regular Meetings

  • 4:30 p.m.
  • 1st Tuesday of every month
  • Orange County Emergency Services Center
  • 22 Wells Farm Road
    Classroom 1, 1st floor
    Goshen, NY 10924

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.
View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Members

  • Elaine McClung, Chair
  • Michael Sweeton, Vice Chair
  • Paul Ernenwein
  • Louis Marquet
  • David Niemotko
  • Cleveland Best
  • Elinor Hart


Overview

There are nine members of the Planning Board.  Planning Board terms are contiguous with that of the County Executive, and otherwise are set as follows: three members are appointed for a term of one year, three members for a term of two years, and three members for a term of four years.  Each term expires on December 31st of the last year of the term, except that the County Executive may remove members for non-performance of their duties or for conduct inappropriate to assigned responsibilities. Any vacancy is filled as though it were the original term. Members serve without compensation and must reside in Orange County.  Members must be a minimum age of 18 years.

The Orange County Charter states that the Planning Board shall meet regularly to:

  • Consider requests from the County Executive and/or the County Legislature to review and/or study planning issues of Countywide significance;
  • Advise the County Executive and/or the County Legislature on regional planning matters affecting the County; and
  • Engage in a long-term planning process that gathers information, tracks change and consults with the County Executive and the County Legislature on the identification of alternative County futures. 

The Orange County Planning Board has previously advised the County on special studies and projects such as the Tri-County Regional Housing Needs Assessment, the Orange County Design Guide, and the 2012-2013 Agricultural Districts 8-Year review.  Ongoing projects include updates to the Orange County Comprehensive Plan and its addenda, including the County Open Space Plan and the County Transportation Plan.  The County Planning Board has also begun reviewing trends in the land use referrals made to the Planning Department under New York State General Municipal Law Section 239.

Members of the County Planning Board also serve as members of the Climate Smart Advisory Task Force, which meets quarterly as part of the County Planning Board meetings. Orange County is a New York State Certified Climate Smart Community, which required the County to make a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve climate resiliency.  As part of maintaining this certification, the Climate Smart Advisory Task Force meets to review actions toward reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, improved climate resiliency, greater energy independence and improved quality of life for County residents.