The Town of Gardiner is nearing the finish line in its quest to update its Comprehensive Plan.

After more than a year of working with consultant David Church to update the plan for the first time since 2004, the Town Board voted 5-0 to close the public hearing at its April 12 meeting.

Since all five board members voted to close the public hearing and the board seems to have come to a consensus over the details of the plan in recent months, it is expected to be approved when they vote on it. The next scheduled meeting is May 3.

It has been a long, drawn-out process to finalize the document. The board had originally hoped to schedule a public hearing on Oct. 19, 2021, but that plan was scuttled by constant haggling by board members over the language in the updated plan.

Due to the many delays, the hearing was pushed back until the spring. The board even changed its composition during the process with former board member David Dukler being replaced by Carol Richman on Jan. 1, 2022.

The public hearing was a quick one with no comments from the town residents attending the meeting in person at Town Hall or those viewing the meeting via Zoom.

When no one spoke up, Supervisor Marybeth Majestic indicated that the public had weighed in previously at informational meetings and via email and written comments.

“We had so much input,” Majestic said.

Before the public hearing, Church reviewed comments about the Comprehensive Plan from the Ulster County Planning Board and the Town of Gardiner Planning Board.

Church said he would make some small changes to the draft document following the comments from Ulster County and Town of Gardiner planners and any other suggestions from board members and have it in the board’s hands “very quickly.”

The updated plan is intended to shape the overall pattern of development so that it conforms to the vision for the Town of Gardiner.