Amenia Planning Board hears introductory Hudson River Housing plan

Amenia Planning Board hears introductory Hudson River Housing plan

Town Hall in Amenia on Route 22.

Archive photo

AMENIA — In addition to opening a pair of public hearings and then continuing them to its January meeting, the Amenia Planning Board at its regular meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 11, heard preliminary conceptual plans for Hudson River Housing to develop an affordable housing project to be known as Cascade Creek.

The first public hearing to be continued was to hear comments on plans for construction of an indoor pool at Troutbeck as part of Troutbeck’s Phase 8 construction planning. As a result of the continuation, comments will be heard during the January Planning Board meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

Residents did offer comments on plans for a sign at a new business, Da Vinci Windows, located at 3430 Route 343. Leading off the discussion, John Andrews, Planning board Engineer, detailed plans for the recently renovated property to create a window showroom to the first floor and an apartment above.

The business sign was originally proposed to be internally lit, but that type of sign is prohibited by local sign regulations. The applicant changed the sign’s lighting design to include exterior lighting from the bottom, but the sign code specifies that the lighting needs to shine down from above.

Planning Board member Nina Peek said that the plan should be revised to show the proper sign design.

Neighboring property owners expressed concern about debris on the property and a paved driveway near a wetlands buffer. Other neighbors raised questions about sight lines being obstructed by the new sign, pointing to speeding traffic in that stretch of highway where a blind spot exists.

Cascade Creek

Representatives from Hudson River Housing of Poughkeepsie preliminarily described plans to develop acreage at 34 Cascade Road to offer workforce housing to first-time homebuyers.

“This is the first time this is in front of you,” Andrews said of the planning for the property that is zoned suburban residential.
“We are going to need Planning Board guidance,” Andrews said, adding that on-site water and septic are envisioned for what is planned as a conservation subdivision.

Of initial concern, Andrews said, is that the maps on file are inconclusive in showing acreage that the applicant is describing.
“We need to know the size of the parcel,” Planning Board Attorney Paul Van Cott said.

Andrews added that the applicant is proposing to construct homes to become workforce housing, and that any workforce housing plan must be referred to the Housing Board.

Architect Peter Zander, describing the Hudson River Housing project and accompanying vice-president Mary Linge, reported that four construction phases would be planned with seven homes to be built in each phase for a total of 28 homes, each on a one-acre lot.

Zander said that there are no wetlands on the parcel, no endangered species, and no archeological history.

Linge indicated that single-family homes are envisioned to be sold to first-time home buyers. She added that she understands the process and she and Hudson River Housing are prepared for the long haul.

Attorney Van Cott said he will study the conservation analysis.

Planning Board member Ken Topolsky praised the work of the applicant in presenting the cultural history of the land, dating back thousands of years, as part of their efforts to plan a conservation subdivision.

Zander said that a certified survey will expand upon the conservation narrative.

Latest News

A scenic 32-mile loop through Litchfield County

Whenever I need to get a quick but scenic bicycle ride but don’t have time to organize a group ride that involves driving to a meeting point, I just turn right out of my driveway. That begins a 32-mile loop through some of the prettiest scenery in northern Litchfield County.

I ride south on Undermountain Road (Route 41 South) into Salisbury and turn right on Main Street (Route 44 West). If I’m meeting friends, we gather at the parking area on the west side of Salisbury Town Hall where parking is never a problem.

Keep ReadingShow less
Biking Ancramdale to Copake

This is a lovely ride that loops from Ancramdale north to Copake and back. At just over 23 miles and about 1,300 feet of elevation gain, it’s a perfect route for intermediate recreational riders and takes about two hours to complete.It’s entirely on quiet roads with little traffic, winding through rolling hills, open countryside, picturesque farms and several lakes.

Along the way, you’ll pass a couple of farmstands that are worth a quick visit. There is only one hill that might be described as steep, but it is quite short — probably less than a quarter-mile.

Keep ReadingShow less
North East town records brought into the digital age

Chris Virtuoso reorganized parcel records in the North East Town Hall basement by parcel number during the process of scanning and digitizing the documents.

Photo by Grace DeMarco

MILLERTON — Within the walls of the two-story Victorian housing the North East Town Hall lies a room-full of town records dating back to the late 19th century. Stored in labeled cardboard boxes and protected by dehumidifiers, the records are in the process of being dated, organized, and scanned into categorized online programs.

As the Town Hall works to relocate to 5603 Route 22 at the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, the consolidation and digitalization of records, as well as the disposal of those unneeded, is a time-sensitive project. Marcy Wheatley, the Deputy Town Clerk, emphasized their current heavy focus on organizing and scanning. “Now, when we move, we can get rid of a lot,” Wheatley stated.

Keep ReadingShow less
Fun, food and facts bring crowds to downtown Millerton

Nora Garcia, 6, of Millerton, bottom right, gets a face painting treatment from Maddy Rowe, a Webutuck High School senior. Nora’s sister, Juliana, 8, top right, is decorated by Giana Kall, a Webutuck senior. The program was sponsored by the Webutuck PTA.

Photo by John Coston

Correction: the Millerton News Street Fair was a collaborative effort between the Millerton News, the Millerton Business Alliance and the North East Community Center.

MILLERTON — Locals and visitors packed into downtown Millerton Saturday, June 28, for the first ever Millerton Street Fair hosted by the Millerton News, the Millerton Business Alliance and the North East Community Center. Representatives from local nonprofits, businesses along Main Street, Bee Bee the Clown and face painters from Webutuck High School drew in crowds all afternoon.

Keep ReadingShow less