Amenia residents comment on Powder House Road applications

AMENIA — A handful of residents offered comments during public hearings on lot size variances for two Powder House Road duplex rental properties at the Monday, Oct. 6, meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Representing the applicants for the two properties at 8 and 14 Powder House Road was Joshua Mackey of Mackey Butts and Whalen LLP of Millbrook.

A previous application that had described multi-family units was withdrawn in August by the applicants who downsized the number of units to two-family duplexes, each with two bedrooms, being built on the two lots, one on each lot.

Building official Mike Segelken reported that both lots have town water and health department approval for their septic systems.

Comments from neighboring residents centered on concerns about dense housing affecting the community and the neighborhood. Parking plans were also of concern, residents noting the proximity of the buildings to the road and seeking assurance that tenant parking will not be allowed between the buildings and the road.

Discussion ensued about confusion over interpretation of existing code regulations.

After the close of the two hearings, the ZBA discussed the residents’ comments and their own views of the applications.

ZBA attorney Robert Stout agreed to draft resolutions for each of the two lots to be voted on at the next ZBA meeting scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3.

“It’s pretty straightforward,” said ZBA member James Wright. “They’ve done all that they needed to do. They had building permits.” Wright spoke of the local shortage of rental units.

“Codes are open to interpretation,” Segelken said. “The code needs to be updated.”

“It’s difficult when it’s not clear,” ZBA chairman Terry Metcalfe agreed in regard to the code.