AMENIA — Two citations levied by the local Code Enforcement Officer were resolved without complication and by unanimous vote at the regular meeting of the Planning Board on Wednesday, Jan. 22. Both concerned exterior improvements to existing buildings without a building permit having been obtained.
Planning Board engineer John Andrews and Board Attorney Paul Van Cott were absent from the meeting, although both provided written comments about the issues involved.
Considered a “minor project,” renovations to an existing structure on Main Street in Wassaic to create a retail, low impact space, were executed by property owner Jeff Barnett-Winsby without filing a site plan and obtaining a building permit for the work.
Noting that the majority of the work has been completed, Engineer Andrews indicated that a site plan still needs to be approved. Barnett-Winsby agreed to submit site plan documents to satisfy local regulations and building permit guidelines.
Planning Board member Jamie Vitiello asked for historical perspective. Barnett-Winsby replied that the building was a distressed property where the interior had been demolished. His intent was to improve the look of the building and by extension to make Wassaic more attractive by reclaiming the retail space.
“I think we did a good job, affordably,” Barnett-Winsby said, noting the project took some time to accomplish as it also returned a second-floor balcony and deck to the façade.
“You just returned the building to what it used to look like,” said board member Nina Peek, although she agreed a building permit would have been needed.
“Nothing but good comes from fixing a building and improving the downtown,” Vitiello said.
The retail space may become a wine shop or similar use, Barnett-Winsby explained, adding the proprietor would need to use The Lantern’s restroom facilities, absent such plumbing in the retail space.
“What it won’t be is a zombie house any longer,” Barnett-Winsby told the board.
Also cited for failure to obtain a building permit was property owner James Heelan who made façade changes to his commercial building at 3306 Route 343 in Amenia as he completed a window replacement project. The project would have required a site plan and approval by the Planning Board.
A stop-work order had been issued by the Code Enforcement Officer in October, 2024.
The work had begun as a project to replace a cracked single-pane front window but grew when the wood surrounding the original window was found to be rotted beyond repair, and installation of smaller double-hung windows ensued.
Board member Peek reported the town’s building inspector had thought that the former windows were going to be repaired.
“We put the new windows in and corrected the framing,” Heelan said, unaware of historic district restrictions.
“We need a full application,” Peek said, calling for submission of a site plan.
Local cannabis law
In response to the Town Board’s request for Planning Board comment on a proposed local law which would permit a cannabis dispensary retail establishment, planning board member Peek indicated that public hearings on the law have been held open to allow time to hear from the planning board.
The planning board agreed to provide comments by email to Attorney Van Cott who will assemble those comments into a document to be furnished to the Town Board. If there should be conflicting views among planning board members, then the planning board agreed to call a special meeting to resolve those differences.
Meg Sher, executive director of the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village.L. Tomaino 
