Amenia Town Board delays action on affordable housing at Spruce Hill

AMENIA — Based on opposition voiced by neighboring residents, the Amenia Town Board, at its meeting Thursday, Dec. 7, declined to move forward on a zone change request for the Spruce Hill neighborhood.

The zone change is being requested by Hudson River Housing (HRH) of Poughkeepsie in connection with an affordable housing project they have proposed for their 16-acre parcel at Spruce Hill; on Thursday, the Town Board declined to move the zone change request to the Planning Board for its consideration, effectively pausing the zone change until “more information” could be gathered.

Mary Linge, HRH vice president for real estate development and home ownership, presented a brief overview of the project that HRH is proposing. The zone  change would permit the multifamily units being proposed: preliminary plans for the Spruce Hill site include the building of seven affordable duplex units and one affordable seven-apartment building.

Attorney Ian MacDonald of Mackey, Butts and Whalen in Poughkeepsie, representing HRH, said that the affordable housing project would be “good for Amenia and all of Dutchess County.”

One of the adjacent neighbors, Salvatore La Rosa, voiced comments to the proposed zone change, indicating that he and his wife bought their home in 2022, expecting a quiet retirement in a scenic country setting.

La Rosa speculated that the recreational trail proposed by the developers would endanger the public because it would pass a former quarry that now contains a deep lake; that the entrance to the affordable housing complex, situated on a curve along Route 22, was dangerously sighted; that the common driveway to access Spruce Hill, which, according to current plans, would skirt La Rosa’s property, would create traffic flow problems; that a decision to accommodate HRH’s plan would lead to “spot zoning” because there are no contiguous parcels with the zoning designation being requested; that the septic system on the parcel would be uphill from neighbors’ properties; and that the 14 new housing units would require 42 additional post boxes at the Amenia post office, putting stress on available parking.

La Rosa’s comments were representative of other neighbors’ positions on the Spruce Hill project.

Charlie Miller, chairman of the Housing Board, spoke in support of the HRH plans for the property. 

HRH, a 40-year-old nonprofit, first proposed the development at a public forum on affordable housing in October 2022, at which residents met to discuss the need for affordable housing in Amenia.

Amenia currently has no affordable housing. The Housing Board is currently working with the town, hoping to develop what would become the town’s first unit of affordable housing, a single family home on Lake Amenia Road being considered for purchase by the town. The Wastewater Committee also hopes to locate a modern wastewater facility on land adjacent to that site.

Latest News

Empress EMS to purchase Northern Dutchess Paramedics
The Northern Dutchess Paramedics station on Route 22 south of the Village of Millerton.
Photo by Aly Morrissey

This is a developing story. Updates will be made as more information becomes available.

MILLERTON — Northern Dutchess Paramedics, the private emergency medical service provider contracted by North East, Amenia and Dover, is set to be acquired by Empress EMS, Town Supervisor Chris Kennan said at a special workshop meeting of the town board on Tuesday evening, Aug. 26.

Keep ReadingShow less
Busking in the Berkshires
Brent McCoy of Secret Circus Show at Berkshire Busk!
Roman Iwasiwka

While playing outside in the early post-pandemic days, Berkshire Busk! founder Eugene Carr had an epiphany: why not expand the idea of performing on the street (aka busking)into a full-fledged festival in Great Barrington?

As an entrepreneur and cellist, Carr envisioned a well-organized jamboree featuring regional talent, including musicians, acrobats, storytellers, fire-eaters, and more. He formed a team, connected with local businesses and the town of Great Barrington, and launched Berkshire Busk! in 2021. Since then, Berkshire Busk! has grown into a summer staple for Great Barrington.

Keep ReadingShow less
'Sylvia' brings heart, humor and one unforgettable dog to Sharon Playhouse stage

What if the dog onstage was played by a person? That’s the delightful twist in A.R. Gurney’s “Sylvia,” opening at the Sharon Playhouse on Aug. 29. In this clever and heartfelt comedy, the title character — a stray pup who disrupts the lives of a married couple — is portrayed not in costume but by an actor who brings insight, charm, and chaos to the role.

Stepping into Sylvia’s paws is Jen Cody, who is returning to the Sharon Playhouse in a starring role for her third year in a row, ready to bring this spirited dog to life. She’s joined by Jonathan Walker as Greg, the middle-aged man smitten with his new four-legged friend, and Jennifer Van Dyck as Kate, his wife, whose patience and identity are tested by Sylvia’s sudden presence in their home.

Keep ReadingShow less