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.