Planning Board postpones vote on Cascade Creek environmental review

AMENIA — Planning Board members postponed a vote that could require developers of the proposed workforce housing subdivision on Route 22 to undergo a full environmental impact review.

Board members convened at Town Hall on Wednesday, March 11, following a visit to the 18-acre grassy lot nestled in the corner of Cascade Road and Route 22/Route 44 that developer Hudson River Housing plans to construct 28 homes on. The board identified the remaining few issues to be addressed by developers of the Cascade Creek subdivision.

Once those concerns are satisfied, the conservation analysis phase will be completed, allowing the developer to advance to the next phase of presenting site plan drawings for review. Board members sought more water capacity for firefighting and a homebuyer selection system that could prioritize locals. Other concerns over home design and vegetation would be addressed during site plan review, the project’s engineers said.

Because the concerns seem close to being addressed, the Planning Board voted unanimously to table discussion of their resolution for a positive declaration in connection to New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act environmental impact analysis. The positive declaration would have required a full impact analysis study, a process that could delay approval up to an additional year.

Webutuck School District Superintendent Raymond Castellani appeared at the meeting to respond to the Planning Board’s interest in measuring the potential impact of the development on the school district’s enrollment.

“The word ‘impact’ is important,” Castellani said. “We could ‘accommodate’ the students generated by the 28 planned homes.” He noted that the present total school enrollment of 630 has been holding steady over the past few years.

“We could accommodate, but there could be an impact if the new students require services,” Castellani said, noting that about 30% of current students need some kind of services that can include transportation and involve additional cost.

“We welcome all kids,” Castellani emphasized. While the additional students can be accommodated, the budget impact is unknown.

The developer detailed changes incorporated into the plans, including enhanced landscape design, adding one tree to each house lot, along with supplemental evergreen plantings to provide vegetative screening.

Fire suppression continued to be of deep concern for Planning Board chairman Robert Boyles, debating adequate supply with the developers who offered two buried 20,000 gallon fiberglass tanks to total 40,000 gallons of firefighting capacity.

“We asked for 180,000 gallons,” Boyles countered. Speaking on behalf of the fire department, Boyles agreed to work with the developers and the department to arrive at an agreeable amount.

“They’ve gone above and beyond to agree to use fire-retardant building materials,” Boyles conceded.

Boyles asked about maintenance of the water supply systems. Project Engineer Richard Rennia responded that the Homeowners Association would be responsible, along with a professional water operator.

Water availability came under discussion. Planning board engineer John Andrews noted that health authorities have established a projection of 110 gallons of usage per bedroom.

“You will get a hard look at it during the site plan approval process,” Rennia assured the board.

Quoting the town’s Comprehensive Plan of Development, Planning Board member Ken Topolsky saw potential for a point system that could favor the selection of local homebuyers who contribute to the community in various ways, also suggesting a greater variety of home model styles to enhance the visuals.

Mary Linge, Hudson River Housing’s Director of Real Estate Development, indicated that her office would prepare a point system proposal to be submitted to the state Fair Housing officials.

Siland recreational facility

A public hearing on Siland’s request for a site plan change to revise parking configurations and adjust terrain for drainage drew no public comment. Siland Consultant Patrick O’Leary reported that the request no longer suggests lighting. At the Feb. 25 Planning Board meeting O’Leary had floated an idea to include lighting for after-dark platform tennis at the recreational facility.

New Meeting Time

By unanimous agreement, the Planning Board set its 2026 meeting start time one hour earlier. Accordingly, the next meeting on Wednesday, March 25, will begin at 6 p.m.