The Gardiner town board authorized the development of an ad hoc smart growth committee on June 11 to capitalize on tourist traffic through the town.

Ralph Erenzo, co-founder and ambassador of Tuthilltown Spirits, pitched the proposal to the town board.
Erenzo is working with State University of New York New Paltz professor Eric Streiff to develop a two-semester course in which students will survey the services currently available in the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway and make suggestions on ways each town can capitalize on the tourism passing through while keeping its original character.

“This survey and my project is a way of looking at what we have and making a plan so that we’re prepared for the inevitable growth of traffic and visitors,” Erenzo said.

The Shawangunk Scenic Byway is comprised of nine towns: Crawford, Gardiner, Marbletown, Montgomery, New Paltz, Rochester, Rosendale, Shawangunk and Wawarsing.

The Gardiner ad hoc smart growth committee will survey the town’s current services for tourists and residents and develop ideas for the direction they would like to see the town move in. Deputy Supervisor Laura Walls said the town’s comprehensive plan recognizes tourism as an economic driver of the town.

“Town policies should recognize and support tourism as an important part of the local economy,” the town’s comprehensive plan states.

Town board member Warren Weigand was the only dissenting vote against authorizing the ad hoc committee, stating he did not want to encourage tourism in Gardiner because of potential adverse effects for residents.

“I can see the benefit of this project to the businesses,” Weigand said. “I don’t see the benefit of this project to the town of Gardiner and I also think there are a lot of residents of Gardiner who think tourism is growing just fine, maybe even too fast.”

Erenzo said the project is not encouraging more tourism but capitalizing on the tourists that are already passing through Gardiner and other towns in the Scenic Byway.

“The money that is in the pockets of all the tourists that pass through Gardiner every year is money that’s left on the table,” Erenzo said. “We get nothing out of it.”

Erenzo said tourist traffic has increased through Gardiner due to changes in technology. When looking at a map, the easiest route to attractions such as the Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park is to exit the freeway at New Paltz.

However, many travelers now use GPS, which picks the fastest route. That route is through NYS Route 300 and Route 44/55, which travels through the town of Gardiner and other towns in the Scenic Byway.

Erenzo said more businesses in the town would offset taxes for residents, putting money back in town residents’ pockets. He said it would be wise to create a plan for the town so it can keep its original character during an increase in tourism and development.

“It will get out of hand if you don’t plan for how you want [Gardiner] to progress because whether you like or not more people are coming every year,” Erenzo said.