Amenia Planning Board reviews plans for workforce housing

AMENIA — Plans for workforce housing to be built on rear land across from the Town Hall were preliminarily reviewed at a regular meeting of the Amenia Planning Board on Wednesday, Oct. 11. 

Plans for the parcel had been previously presented to the Housing Board in July and the Town Board in August, as the nonprofit developer, Hudson River Housing (HRH) of Poughkeepsie is gathering advice on how to proceed with a project.

Representing Hudson River Housing, the owner and developer of the more than 15-acre property, were Mary Linge, vice president of real estate development, and Javier Gomez, director of community development and impact.

The development would allow qualified homebuyers to purchase homes built in the form of duplexes that would house two working families each. There would be seven such duplexes housing a total of 14 families. A homeowners’ association would oversee management of the duplex properties.

Also planned for the property would be a seven-unit apartment building that would be available for workforce renters. Each apartment would have one bedroom. HRH would manage these rental apartments.

Planning Board engineer John Andrews provided a preliminary list of detailed reports that would be essential for the Planning Board before the plans could be considered. The reports include a plan for sprinklers and fire hydrants, and emergency vehicle and general vehicular access. In addition, Andrews said that multi-family apartment units are not allowed in the zone where the project is proposed and therefore, a special permit process would be required.

Looking at the zoning codes, Andrews told the Planning Board, “We are unclear about how they arrived at the planned density.”

Because it could be a special permit situation, Andrews said, HRH would need to go before the Housing Board, and should also consult with the fire district and determine a water source.

Planning Board attorney Paul Van Cott pursued a thought, offered by Planning Board member Nina Peek, that HRH might approach the Town Board to request a zoning change for the parcel, an action that could resolve the density issue.

If HRH were to approach the Town Board for a zone change, the next step would be for the Town Board to refer that application on to the Planning Board, Peek explained. A special use permit could amend the use of the land.

Neighboring property owners expressed concern that they had not been properly notified of the plans. Others asked for specifics on plans for wastewater, with one neighbor noting that the leach field abuts her property. Neighbors were also concerned about the likelihood of increased traffic and the difficulty of egress onto Route 22.