August Issue – Greater Monroe Chamber of Commerce

GMCoC Main Street Minutes — August 2026

This month at a glance

What local boards did — and what to watch next

This issue uses only the attached municipal records. Where a source is an agenda or draft, it is labeled plainly so you can separate a final decision from something still in progress.

Dates to watch

Keep these dates on your calendar

Dates and details below come from the attached records. A date tied only to an agenda or draft is noted that way.

Monroe — Town · August 3The attached July 13 agenda lists a possible continuation of the Seven Springs Road public hearing to this date. The packet does not confirm that the continuation was approved.
Harriman · August 5Zoning Board of Appeals meeting.
Harriman · AugustThe Village’s draft minutes place Route 17M drainage and utility work in August before milling and paving in September and October.
Harriman · August 11Village Board meeting.
Woodbury · August 13, 2:00 p.m.Bid opening for the second animal-shelter site-work contract at Town Hall, Lower Level.
Monroe — Village · September 12, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.Cheese Festival, with downtown street closures and setup beginning at 7:00 a.m.

Area report

Monroe

Village and Town updates, shown separately.

Village of Monroe · Board of Trustees

Proposed water-rate increase goes to public hearing

The Board discussed a proposed increase to cover water-system operations, maintenance, and payments on four capital projects. It scheduled a public hearing for July 29 at 7:00 p.m. The same meeting record says the Board denied a courtesy credit for a water leak because water that passes through the meter is treated as used and billed. The minutes’ weekday/date pairing for the hearing should be confirmed.

Bottom line for your business: This is not a final rate change in the attached minutes. If you are a Village water customer, verify the hearing details and watch for the final rate action. Treat water leaks as a possible full-bill expense unless the Village tells you otherwise.

Source: Village of Monroe Board of Trustees minutes, June 16, 2026.

Sidewalk and traffic projects are moving forward

The Board awarded the 2025 CDBG ADA Sidewalk Improvements contract to A-Tech Concrete Co. for $339,620. The work includes 33 accessible curb ramps, removal of noncompliant ramps, pavement restoration, and crosswalk striping. CDBG is grant funding for local community improvements. The Village has a $175,000 grant; any cost above that grant is the Village’s responsibility. Separately, the Mayor reported that Orange Turnpike intersection work is underway and that improvements at Spring Street and Mapes Place would begin shortly.

Bottom line for your business: The minutes do not give a construction schedule, full list of locations, or detour plan. If a storefront depends on curb access or deliveries, watch Village notices before making staffing, delivery, parking, or event plans.

Source: Village of Monroe Board of Trustees minutes, June 2 and June 16, 2026.

Cheese Festival is set for September 12

The Board approved a special-events permit for the Village of Monroe Cheese Festival from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Setup begins at 7:00 a.m., and the festival will bring vendors, music, and downtown street closures.

Bottom line for your business: Downtown businesses should plan for both added foot traffic and temporary access limits. The minutes do not state vendor application details, so do not assume space is available without checking directly.

Source: Village of Monroe Board of Trustees minutes, June 2, 2026.

Town of Monroe · Town Board

Source status: No approved Town Board minutes were attached for the July activity. The packet contains a June 9 record marked DRAFT and July 13 agenda materials with notices. The item below is not a final Board decision.

Seven Springs Road and water-district decisions are not confirmed in the attached packet

A July 13 agenda lists a possible motion to keep the Seven Springs Road public hearing open until August 3. The attached notice describes about 1,950 feet of work near Seven Springs Mountain Road and Lanzut Court, with an estimated cost of $4,665,468.36 to be paid by the petitioner. The same agenda called for a July 23 special meeting to consider water projects and related financing for Water Districts No. 2 and No. 14. The packet does not show either final action.

Bottom line for your business: If you use the Seven Springs corridor or are in Water District No. 2 or No. 14, check final Town minutes and notices before relying on the August 3 date, a construction plan, a project approval, or a rate impact.

Source: Town of Monroe July 13, 2026 agenda packet; June 9, 2026 draft minutes.

Area report

Harriman

Village Board.

Source status: The July 14 record includes meeting minutes, but the pages are stamped DRAFT.

Route 17M work is heading toward paving

The Village reported that the NYSDOT Route 17M project involves more than paving. The schedule in the draft minutes places drainage and utility-structure work in August, followed by milling and paving in September and October. Milling means removing the top layer of pavement before new pavement goes down. The record does not include a road-closure schedule.

Bottom line for your business: Build extra time into deliveries and customer appointments near Route 17M. Watch field signs and Village updates because the attached draft does not identify lane closures or exact work dates.

Source: Village of Harriman draft minutes, July 14, 2026.

The Board approved water shut-offs for July 16

The July 14 draft says the Board approved shut-offs for July 16 and one-time penalty waivers on three water accounts. It does not list a later shut-off date.

Bottom line for your business: If your business account is past due, do not assume a waiver will apply. Contact the Village office promptly to confirm your account status and avoid service disruption.

Source: Village of Harriman draft minutes, July 14, 2026.

The Village renewed its permit reminder

The Mayor asked owners to contact the Building Department before starting work when they are unsure whether a building permit is required. The June Building Department report in the packet lists 10 building permits and two sign permits.

Bottom line for your business: Before changing a sign, remodeling, or starting site work, ask the Building Department what approval is needed. It is easier and cheaper to confirm first than to correct work later.

Source: Village of Harriman draft minutes and attached June Building Department report.

Area report

Chester

Town Board. Sugar Loaf items are reported separately below.

Source status: The July 8 Town Board record is marked DRAFT. It describes the following resolutions as adopted, but final approved minutes were not attached.

A major zoning update is in motion

The draft says the Board adopted a new comprehensive plan and zoning amendments. The package creates the Town’s first special-use-permit framework—an extra approval process that can set conditions for hours, traffic, parking, and site circulation. It also describes new restrictions on data centers and large-scale battery storage, along with more detailed rules for day cares, religious institutions, bed and breakfasts, fast-food businesses, and solar projects.

Bottom line for your business: If you are opening, expanding, changing use, or considering a property in Chester, review the new rules with the Building Department before spending on plans or leases. A special-use permit may now be part of the path for some uses.

Source: Town of Chester draft minutes, July 8, 2026.

The building and battery-storage pauses will end after state filing

The draft says the existing building moratorium and the battery-energy-storage moratorium will be lifted when the new local law is filed with the Secretary of State. A moratorium is a temporary pause on certain applications.

Bottom line for your business: Permit applications may begin moving again once the filing occurs, but the new zoning rules will control. Confirm the filing date and application requirements before treating the pause as over.

Source: Town of Chester draft minutes, July 8, 2026.

Johnson Road paving was added to Town capital work

The Board adopted an amendment to include paving Johnson Road, using a $115,000 Senator Skoufis grant. The minutes do not include a work date, bidder, or traffic plan.

Bottom line for your business: Businesses that use Johnson Road should watch future Town notices for timing and access changes. The attached record does not announce a new bid opportunity or construction start date.

Source: Town of Chester draft minutes, July 8, 2026.

Area report

Sugar Loaf

Items pulled from the attached Chester Town Board record.

Source note: Sugar Loaf items are pulled from the July 8 Chester Town Board draft minutes. Sugar Loaf does not have a separate board record in the packet.

A Sugar Loaf water-rate increase is only a preliminary estimate

A Council Member said the Sugar Loaf water district might need a rate of $14 per 1,000 gallons to cover water-purchase costs. He called these preliminary research figures and said further analysis and possible cost sharing could change the number.

Bottom line for your business: Do not budget this figure as a final rate. If you are in the Sugar Loaf water district, watch for a formal rate proposal, hearing, and vote before adjusting prices or operating budgets.

Source: Town of Chester draft minutes, July 8, 2026.

The new plan reinforces mixed residential/business zoning in the hamlet

The Chester draft says the zoning package reinforces the mixed residential/business pattern in Sugar Loaf. In plain language, that means the Town is keeping a code framework that recognizes both homes and businesses in the hamlet.

Bottom line for your business: Existing and prospective Sugar Loaf businesses should still check the use rules, parking, and permit requirements for a specific property. “Mixed” zoning does not mean every business type is automatically allowed.

Source: Town of Chester draft minutes, July 8, 2026.

The Car Show road-closure request was not approved

The Board tabled the Sugar Loaf Community Foundation’s road-closure request until the group meets with police on a traffic-management plan. The attached minutes give no approved closure date.

Bottom line for your business: Do not plan customer access, staffing, or promotions around a car-show closure yet. Watch for a later police-approved traffic plan and Board action.

Source: Town of Chester draft minutes, July 8, 2026.

Area report

Woodbury

Town Board.

Source status: The attached Town Board minutes are dated June 18 and July 2, 2026. Neither file is labeled draft.

Animal-shelter site work is open for bidding

The Board authorized the Town Clerk to advertise for bids for the second part of the animal-shelter site-work contract. The bid opening is August 13 at 2:00 p.m. at Town Hall, Lower Level; the minutes direct bidders to submit sealed bid documents to the Town Clerk at 615 Route 32, P.O. Box 1004, Highland Mills.

Bottom line for your business: Contractors should review the official bid package and submit exactly as directed. The attached minutes announce the opportunity but do not include the technical specifications.

Source: Town of Woodbury minutes, July 2, 2026.

The roller-hockey and pickleball contract has been awarded

The Board awarded the Roller Hockey Rink/Pickleball Court Project to A Plus Striping for $70,930 after bids were opened June 16.

Bottom line for your business: This contract is already awarded, so it is not a current bid opportunity. Businesses near the work should watch Town updates for construction timing and access changes.

Source: Town of Woodbury minutes, June 18, 2026.

A new Municipal Center has state grant funding

The June 18 minutes report a $4 million grant to purchase and renovate the St. Patrick’s Education Center for a Woodbury Municipal Center. The record breaks that into $1.9 million for the purchase and $2.1 million for renovations and improvements. It does not provide a procurement timeline.

Bottom line for your business: The project could create future work and service-location changes, but the attached minutes do not announce renovation bids or dates. Watch future Town notices instead of assuming contracts are open now.

Source: Town of Woodbury minutes, June 18, 2026.