A summary of results from Shandaken’s second community survey with key priorities answered by residents, including environmental protection, affordable housing and economic development. (Materials courtesy of Town of Shandaken) 

SHANDAKEN — The Town of Shandaken is moving closer to finalizing a long-term blueprint that will shape land use, housing, infrastructure and economic development across its 12 hamlets, as officials collect public feedback on a draft comprehensive plan prepared with the help of Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress. 

The draft plan, released this spring for public comment, is the culmination of nearly two years of work that included two town-wide surveys, community meetings, and extensive data analysis. Several public hearings are expected later this year before the Town Board considers adopting the final document. 

Town Supervisor Babs Mansfield said the update is necessary in part because the town’s existing plan is outdated. 

“The last one was done at least 20 years ago,” she said. 

Mansfield noted that while minor revisions have been made since the last plan was approved in 2005, the current effort represents a comprehensive overhaul. Once adopted, the plan will serve as the policy foundation for future zoning changes, capital projects and grant applications. 

Comprehensive plans are often required when municipalities seek state or federal funding, Mansfield said, and keeping them current helps towns remain eligible for those opportunities. 

According to Mansfield, the updated plan reflects significant community input gathered over time. She said residents across Shandaken’s hamlets have identified three main priorities: protecting the town’s natural environment, improving cell service and increasing access to affordable housing. 

“We went to a great deal of effort to reach out to the community,” Mansfield said, adding that the response from residents has been highly engaged. 

The town is currently collecting final written comments from residents on the draft recommendations prepared by Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, a Newburgh-based regional nonprofit planning organization. Mansfield clarified that this stage is not an initial survey, but rather an opportunity for residents to provide final input before the plan moves into formal public hearings. 

“This is more a ‘give us your final comments’ kind of thing,” noting that earlier, more extensive surveys have already been completed. 

Mansfield said public feedback could still lead to changes in the final version of the plan. 

“If we get many people commenting on one thing that they don’t want in it, we’re certainly going to have to edit that,” she said. 

The “Draft Recommendations for Public Input” document outlines dozens of policy recommendations organized around land use, housing, the local economy, infrastructure, and community character. A central theme is directing new development toward existing hamlet centers—particularly Phoenicia and Pine Hill—while preserving open space and environmentally sensitive areas elsewhere in town. 

According to the March 2026 report, the plan “prioritizes Main Street hamlet centers of Phoenicia and Pine Hill for increased density, mixed-use development, and reduced lot sizes,” while discouraging sprawling development in undeveloped areas. 

To address housing affordability, the draft recommends allowing accessory dwelling units, sometimes known as ADUs, and encouraging what it describes as “gentle density” in existing residential areas. The report notes that these strategies are intended to expand housing options without changing the town’s rural character or imposing large-scale development.  

The plan also emphasizes conservation, recommending tools such as conservation subdivisions that preserve significant portions of land as permanent open space. According to Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress’s draft, these approaches are meant to “preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical environmental areas” while still accommodating limited growth.  

Infrastructure challenges—particularly broadband and cellular service—feature prominently in the recommendations. The report calls for the town to continue advocating for improved telecommunications infrastructure and to coordinate with service providers and regional partners to close coverage gaps. 

For next steps, residents may share written comments via an online form. They will also have opportunities to speak at upcoming public meetings. Several hearings are expected over the next few months before the plan is adopted. 

The updated comprehensive plan is expected to have long-term impacts on the town, particularly in shaping future zoning regulations. Mansfield said Shandaken has not significantly updated the zoning code since the 1970s. 

“It’s going to inform what our new zoning will be,” Mansfield explained. “You take that and then you do laws based on the direction that the people want to go.” 

The online feedback form is open until May 5 and can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/shandakenfeedback Mansfield mentioned that those residents without internet access can receive assistance at local libraries, including the Phoenicia Library and the Morton Memorial Library in Pine Hill. 

More information, including the draft recommendations, survey summaries, and instructions for submitting public comments, is available on the town’s comprehensive plan webpage. 

This story was created by student reporters through the OnNY Community Media Lab, a program of SUNY Oneonta and the SUNY Institute for Local News. 

Supervisor Mansfield (center) during a recent meeting.