New Powder House Road homes before the ZBA

CORRECTION: The recently completed duplexes on 8 and 14 Powder House Road that were the subject of the Sept. 15 Amenia Zoning Board of Appeals meeting and the Oct. 6 scheduled public hearing of the ZBA are market-rate housing constructed fully at the cost of the developers and not affordable housing units as originally reported, Wooly Pardoe said in an interview with the Millerton News. Pardoe and Berry have not begun construction on the duplex for which they were granted $200,000 from the Dutchess County Housing Trust Fund. The developers are seeking a special permit to allow construction of that duplex on 8 Powder House Road, but that has not yet been discussed at public meetings.

AMENIA — Recently constructed housing units contained within two buildings on Powder House Road came under discussion at the regular meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals on Monday, Sept. 15. Although construction is complete on one of the duplexes, the owners have yet to be granted a Certificate of Occupancy by the town, needed before tenants can occupy units.

Residents Wooley Pardoe and Olivia Berry, owners of 8 and 14 Powder House Road, were represented at the meeting by Attorney Joshua Mackey, Managing Partner of Mackey Butts and Whalen of Millbrook.

Following discussion, a public hearing was scheduled for the next meeting of the ZBA on Monday, Oct. 6, beginning at 6 p.m. One of the buildings is completely built; the other is nearing completion. The applicants are seeking an area variance on lot size.

Mackey sought to resolve interpretation of local regulations specifying lot sizes in relation to septic planning, noting that both lot sizes are in excess of the minimum requirements. The construction, he said, conforms to the character of the neighborhood.

Following discussion, Mackey and ZBA attorney Robert Stout plan to meet to examine the existing regulations and arrive at an agreeable interpretation in advance of the public hearing.

“They thought they had permission when they were granted a building permit,” Mackey explained about the applicants’ actions to proceed with construction.

The septic system has received the approval of the local Health Department, Mackey noted.

ZBA member Craig Meili saw potential that the project may be an example of higher density housing, particularly because the applicants described their intention to build another rental unit toward the rear of the property in the future.

The applicants noted the ongoing expense they are incurring in servicing borrowed funds while being unable to receive income from renters while they await a resolution to the situation that is delaying issuance of a CO. They asked that the process be expedited.

Clark Hill Construction has been awarded a grant from the Dutchess County Housing Trust Fund in the amount of $200,000 to assist in the construction of a duplex housing unit holding two apartments, each with two bedrooms, on the 8 Powder House Road property. The project was seen as a potential model for providing small-scale solutions to local rental housing shortages. The County Housing Trust Fund has as a goal the creation of 100 affordable rental housing units throughout the region.

Builders have yet to break ground on that project. Pardoe and Berry have applied for a special permit with the town to facilitate additional units on the parcel.