Planning & Development

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST THE RELEASE OF FUNDS

January 15, 2025

County of Dutchess
85 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 107
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
845-486-3600/cdhousing@dutchessny.gov 

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the County of Dutchess. 

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about February 1, 2025, the County of Dutchess will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended (PL 93-383), to undertake the following project:

Project Name: T. Clinton Friends Park Improvements II
Project Description: This project involves adding a new combo tennis/pickleball court (1 full size tennis court capable of being used as 4 smaller pickleball courts) to Friends Park in the Town of Clinton, NY, including a standard chain-linked fence that will surround the courts. A short asphalt path will also be added that connects the courts to an existing bathroom building.
Project Cost: Total project cost is estimated to be $125,000 with $125,000 being provided by HUD CDBG funds.
Project Location: 2350 Salt Point Turnpike, Clinton, New York 12514

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The County of Dutchess has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at the County of Dutchess, Department of Planning and Development, 85 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 107, Poughkeepsie NY 12601 and may be examined or copied weekdays 9:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development at 85 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 107, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, or via email at cdhousing@dutchessny.gov. All comments received by January 31, 2025, will be considered by the County of Dutchess prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The County of Dutchess certifies to HUD that Eoin Wrafter in his capacity as Commissioner of Dutchess County Planning and Development consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied.  HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the County of Dutchess to use Program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the County of Dutchess’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the County of Dutchess; (b) the County of Dutchess has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality.  Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to Abigail Ford, Community Planning and Development Director, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development at 26 Federal Plaza, Suite 3513, New York NY 10278, or via email to CPDRROFNYC@hud.gov.  Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Eoin Wrafter, Commissioner, Dutchess County Planning and Development
85 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 107, Poughkeepsie NY 12601          

Funding Opportunities 

We are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Community Development Block Grant Municipal Program (CDBG) and the 2025 HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME).  

The CDBG Municipal Program provides funding for critical infrastructure needs that benefit low-to-moderate income Dutchess County residents.  Applicants must hold a public hearing and submit a Letter of Intent by February 3, 2025.  Final applications will be due on March 3, 2025.  Application instructions and guidance can be found here. 

The HOME Program provides funding for the creation, preservation, or rehabilitation of affordable housing for Dutchess County residents.  Applications are due February 21, 2025.  The 2025 HOME Program policies and procedures can be found here.

Environmental Planning Updates

• Natural Resources Inventory

We are excited to announce the release of Dutchess County’s latest Natural Resource Inventory (NRI)! Please visit nri.dutchessenvironment.com to learn more about the natural resources of Dutchess County. Be sure to use the accompanying Environmental Mapper application, which helps guide land-use decisions and natural resource protection.

• CAPI (Climate Action Planning Institute)

In 2023, Dutchess County began participating in the Hudson Valley Regional Council’s (HVRC) Climate Action Planning Institute (CAPI). CAPI is a facilitated, collaborative working group through which a select group of local governments develop greenhouse gas emissions inventories and climate actions plans. 

Dutchess County's Government Operations GHG Inventory Report and Communitywide GHG Inventory Report have recently been published, and following a yearlong planning endeavor including a several week public comment period, the County has adopted its first Climate Action Plan for government operations on July 3, 2024 via Executive Order.

• Climate Smart Communities Task Force Annual Report

Please see the Dutchess County Climate Smart Task Forces Annual Progress Report for 2023 to learn more about the many programs, projects, initiatives, and goals the Climate Smart Task Force members have accomplished in 2023, and will continue to work on in 2024.  

Housing Reports
Find out about annual and special housing reports published by our Department:

• 2022 Rental Housing Survey – Analyzes rental and vacancy information for several types of rental housing. Previous reports available for review date back to 1999.
• 2022 For-Sale Housing Report – Analyzes sales, prices, new home construction, and housing characteristics for one-family homes. This is a new effort, so previous reports date back to 2021. 
• 2022 Dutchess County Housing Needs Assessment – Housing affordability challenges are not new in Dutchess County but have taken on a renewed sense of urgency as a tightening housing market and rising prices bring this issue to the forefront for many. Dutchess County commissioned a countywide Housing Needs Assessment, published in 2022. The report includes an evaluation of housing, demographic, and economic trends from the past 10-20 years to help us understand what’s been shaping our current housing market, a projection of future affordable housing needs, and a strategy for action.

DCPF eNewsletter – Current Issue:
Protecting Wetlands and Streams in Your Community – Grasping their Vital Role as New York Implements Regulatory and Mapping Changes, January-March 2024