town of Gardiner LEGISLATIVE TIMELINE and key events

(Reverse Chronological Order - Source: Town Website; Dates are only identified where public mention of BESS topics were presented or revealed - Also see hyperlinks for additional information)

  • Jan 19, 2027 - Approximate date of third six-month moratorium extension

  • August 11, 2026 - BESS update planned, Jim Ulvestad, Town Councilmember: agenda here, Town Law Development Document Part 3 here

  • July 23, 2026 - 6 month moratorium extension begins

  • Jul 14, 2026 - Date of expiry of second six-month moratorium extension

  • Jun 30, 2026 - Special Board Meeting regarding Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for the purpose of discussing BESS draft local law. A (Part 2) Town Law Development presentation will be given by Town Board Member, Jim Ulvestad. The presentation proposed significant discussion items for action. Additional items included: Close Public Hearing on BESS Moratorium - Adoption of Law for BESS Moratorium Extension - Documents: BESS Town Law Development Part 2, Moratorium Extension Local Law # 2 Dated June 30, 2026 here, Agenda here, Legal notice here

  • Jun 22, 2026 - Town Board Special Meeting: Announcement regarding special Town Board Meeting scheduled for June 30, 2026 to discuss zoning, setbacks, tiers and the way moving forward - Agenda here

  • Jun 9, 2026 - Town Board votes on Local Law 2-2026 for extension

  • Jun 3, 2026 - Ulster County Planning Board meeting and comments

  • Jun 2, 2026 - BESS Update by Town Councilmember Jim Ulvestad - Public hearing on 6-month extension at Town Board meeting closes June 9, 2026. A special Town Board Meeting will be scheduled on June 29th or June 30th regarding BESS.

  • May 26, 2026 - Town Planning Board receives referral from Town Board to weigh in on proposed moratorium extension - Key documents: BESS Referral Resolution - Planning Board Referral Comments - Ulster County Planning Board Referral Form

  • May 12, 2026 - Town Board made a motion to set a public hearing on a 6-month extension to the moratorium to complete the draft law process with sufficient time for public comment - No minutes posted

  • May 5, 2026 - Town Board BESS presentation addressing tiers, zoning districts, proposed questions, and immediate next steps - Agenda here - No minutes Posted

  • Apr 14, 2026 - Town organized BESS Information Forum. NYSERDA Slide Deck, ESRG Slide Deck, Mr. Seidman Slide Deck

  • Apr 7, 2026 - In agenda; Mention of BESS forum on April 14, Town Hall, 7:00PM - Forum flyer here - No minutes Posted - Privilege of the Floor Statement from Resident here

  • Mar 10, 2026 - BESS Presentation by the Town Board (Utility Scale BESS in Gardiner, Thinking about Risk, Sample Choices Gardiner Could Make, Outline of Future Steps) - Agenda here - Privilege of the floor comments: Resident suggested considering view shed, size, setbacks, limiting physical footprints - another resident mentioned transmission lines in Ohioville acres - Draft Minutes here

  • Mar 3, 2026 - As noted in the Town Board Meeting Minutes: during privilege of the floor, Councilmember Clements stressed that the Board needs to start working on a BESS Law before the Moratorium expires

  • Jan 13, 2026 - Agenda notes Public Hearing on BESS Moratorium Extension - Minutes indicate four residents public comment and indicate a close of public hearing and adoption of BESS moratorium extension

  • Dec 2, 2025 - Town Board agenda identifies review of Town of Poughkeepsie BESS law and Schedule Public Hearing for BESS Moratorium extension - No minutes posted to Town Website for review

  • Nov 13, 2025 - No mention of BESS on Town Board agenda - Minutes reveal Councilmember Hartner noted that the Board has not been reviewing the BESS laws as previously agreed. The Board was assigned the task of reviewing the law recently passed by the Town of Poughkeepsie in preparation for the December meeting. Supervisor Majestic will verify the dates related to the moratorium and assess next steps needed to extend

  • Oct 14, 2025 - Discussion of Town of New Paltz local BESS law adopted on agenda - Minutes describe tier system that New Paltz established was favored by the board. Board determined they would review a Town Law per meeting to get an idea as to what would work best for Gardiner

  • Sep 9, 2025 - BESS follow up discussion identified in agenda. Minutes reveal Town Board will review other local laws and NYSERDA Model Law to help the board understand elements of the law they may want to include or exclude

  • Sep 2, 2025 - BESS local law list of concerns on Town Board Agenda - Minutes describe discussion of concerns and option of Board implementing a total ban on BESS with attorney

  • Jul 8, 2025 - Public Hearing on Battery Energy Storage System Six-Month Moratorium, Agenda here - Minutes here

  • Jun 10, 2025 - Review Comments from Planning Boards on proposed BESS moratorium law and schedule, Public Hearing for BESS Moratorium - Agenda here - Minutes here

  • May 13, 2025 - Adopt a resolution referring proposed moratorium on BESS to the Ulster County and Town of Gardiner’s Planning Board - Agenda here - Minutes here

  • Apr 22, 2025 - New Leaf Energy (Vidal Blanc) BESS Proposal (on McKinstry Road) to the Town of Gardiner Planning Board