Amenia Planning Board votes unanimous approval for Silo Ridge and Troutbeck plans

AMENIA — Following months of discussion, the planning board voted unanimously at their meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 14, to approve resolutions granting permission for a merger of two lots at Silo Ridge Field Club to accommodate construction of a large residence and to approve the erection of seasonal athletic domes at the closed community.

Also approved by unanimous vote was revised planning for plantings at the Troutbeck Conference Center on Leedsville Road.
Planning board engineer John Andrews reported that he had reviewed the Silo Ridge site plan for the lot merger and that it met all town regulations. He indicated that the plan was also reviewed by an internal review committee at Silo Ridge.

Planning board member Nina Peek asked for clarification of the relationship between the Design Review Committee (DRC) at Silo Ridge and the Homeowners’ Association (HOA), noting that only principals at Stone Leaf Construction had approved the planning, according to their own meeting records. She observed that those principals were the only people in attendance at the Silo Ridge DRC meeting.

Also asking for indication that the Silo Ridge HOA had approved the lot merger, planning board member Kenneth Topolsky said that he was looking for an indication of that approval. He felt that it might be possible that the Silo Ridge community is not well involved in the process.

Plans to add seasonal athletic domes to house cold-weather sports at the Silo Ridge Field Club were approved following months of discussion that included concerns about visual impact, lighting, and rules of use.

The board was assured that the domes will not be visible from the scenic overlook on DeLaVergne Hill, although they will be seen from points along the rail trail.

According to the approval, landscaping must be completed before the domes can be erected.

Planning board member James Walsh recused himself from discussion.

Engineer Andrews noted that the plans were originally presented and reviewed in 2022. He said that most issues have been resolved surrounding the plans for the domes that will provide shelter for the winter sport of platform tennis. The domes will be deconstructed and stored between May and October annually.

Of interest to the board is that rules of operation for the domes be established, particularly any fee schedule that might be implemented as the facility could be used by outside groups.

Troutbeck

Following final review of revised drawings of the visual perspectives from Route 343 in connection with the 8-phase development plan for the Troutbeck Conference Center, the planning board unanimously approved those plans.

Project engineer Rich Rennia reviewed the planned plantings that will provide vegetative screening to mask construction work and the conference center, indicating that orchard trees of a mature size will be planted. Asked about traffic mitigation, Rennia responded that Leedsville Road will receive added construction traffic and that no traffic will exit Troutbeck onto Yellow City Road, the more dangerous intersection.

Following the unanimous vote to approve the planting plans, Planning Board member Topolsky praised Troutbeck’s approach to their application, indicating that all of the board’s concerns had been met throughout the process.

Following agreement to cancel the second meeting in August, the Planning Board scheduled its next meeting for Wednesday, Sept. 11.

Latest News

Employment Opportunities

LJMN Media, publisher of The Lakeville Journal (first published in 1897) and The Millerton News (first published in 1932) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization.

We seek to help readers make more informed decisions through comprehensive news coverage of communities in Northwest Connecticut and Eastern Dutchess County in New York.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pine Plains Bombers defeated at Section IX Regional

Giana Dormi, no. 3 of Pine Plains, and Michelle Blackburn, no. 12 of Pine Plains, put the pressure on Juliana Manginelli, no. 11 of Tuckahoe, as she tries to find a pass during the second round of the regional tournament at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y. on Tuesday, March 11.

Photo by Nathan Miller

NEWBURGH, N.Y. — The Pine Plains Bombers were knocked out in second round of the Section IX regional tournament after a hard fought game against the Tuckahoe Tigers on Tuesday, March 11.

The Bombers won the tip and got off to an early lead, but the Tuckahoe Tigers outpaced them quickly and finished the game 59-25.

Keep ReadingShow less
County comptroller releases special report on federal funding

Dan Aymar-Blair

Photo provided

POUGHKEEPSIE — Dutchess comptroller Dan Aymar-Blair released a special report early last week on federal monies and how they move through the county level, including the disbursement process in the county; how federal funding benefits Dutchess residents and whether any fiscal distribution issues have surfaced locally as a result of actions taken on behalf of the Trump administration.

According to Aymar-Blair’s report, federal programming represents roughly 10% of Dutchess expenditures, not including any COVID-19 assistance. As an illustration of federal- to county-level distribution and spending, in 2023, under the Biden administration, the county received approximately $65 million from the U.S. government with $25 million going toward direct aid in support of such programs as home energy assistance and food stamps. Federal monies were also disbursed — and continue to be directed — toward county-level agencies, programming and supports such as adoption, foster care and child care needs, emergency/disaster assistance, infrastructure development and maintenance, and workforce initiatives.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘Selected Shorts’ comes to Stissing Center

The Stissing Center was bustling just before the show on Sunday, March 9.

Photo by Alec Linden

PINE PLAINS — The Stissing Center was packed on Sunday for an afternoon performance of podcast and NPR series “Selected Shorts.” The sold-out show, which was recorded for national broadcast at a later date, brought a lineup of four accomplished actors and storytellers to the Pine Plains stage to recite a selection of short stories from award-winning authors.

“Selected Shorts,” a product of Manhattan-based performing arts powerhouse Symphony Space, features prominent actors who recite works of short fiction. The full program usually revolves around a theme; Sunday afternoon’s focus was “transformations.”
Comedian, writer and actress Ophira Eisenberg — or “renaissance woman of storytelling,” as Stissing Center Executive Director Patrick Trettenero introduced her — assumed hosting duties, warming up the crowd with jokes about Brooklyn egg prices and doctors with self-esteem issues — “I want a megalomaniac with a god complex and no hobbies.”

Keep ReadingShow less