Amenia hears revisions to Keane Stud subdivision plan

Amenia hears revisions to Keane Stud subdivision plan
Amenia Town Hall on Route 22.
Photo by John Coston

AMENIA — Continuing the process of developing subdivision plans for the Keane Stud acreage, the Planning Board heard a report from the planning engineers detailing a few plan changes at its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 9.

Representing Rennia Engineers, Senior Planner Peter Sander detailed plans for the parcel that stands in two zones: Rural Agricultural and Rural Residential, both requiring minimum lots of 5 acres.

Sander reported that two parcels have been removed from the planning, reducing the acreage from 704 to 605 total acres. The number of lots has been reduced from 27 to 23.

“We’ve enhanced the building envelopes,” Sander noted, having considered concerns about protecting the viewshed. Accordingly, 90% of each parcel will be reserved for conservation; 10% will be able to be built upon, Sander said.

The plans include a no vertical build zone in the area visible from Delavergne Hill, Sander said, adding that deed restrictions will limit the scale of development on each parcel.

Commenting on the plan changes, planning board engineer John Andrews asked that the plan drawings detail the outlined changes to agree with written submissions.

Sander said that the developer is asking for board input as well as comments from George Janes, the town’s visual resources consultant.

One of the visible impacts is the greenery or vegetative screening around each future home, board member Jamie Vitiello commented.

Covenant requirements are important in each instance, Andrews responded, citing lighting, building materials, and plantings that can be specified.

“The visuals flow from the deed restrictions,” Andrews said, noting that each building site plan will need to be considered by the planning board.

Board member Ken Topolsky asked about the permanence of the deed restrictions.

Andrews replied that when properly done, the restrictions run with the land, unless there are agreed-upon amendments. He added that the town will be a party to any such agreement.

“We want to listen to the Planning Board,” said owner-developer Juan Torres. He added that a footprint guide has been sketched on the plans for each future home with the height of each home restricted to between 21 and 28 feet, a protection against visibility. Plans have also specified a maximum amount of impervious surface on each sketched lot.

“If a future buyer wants to build a home, they will need to come before the Planning Board,” Torres noted. “This will help to ensure that the land remains agricultural into the future,” Torres added.

The Planning Board will continue discussion of the revised plans at its next meeting on Wednesday, April 23.

Latest News

Stanford home market sees nine sales in July and August

Built in 1820, 1168 Bangall Amenia Road sold for $875,000 on July 31 with the transfer recorded in August. It has a Millbrook post office and is located in the Webutuck school district.

Christine Bates

STANFORD — The Town of Stanford with nine transfers in two months reached a median price in August of $573,000 for single family homes, still below Stanford’s all-time median high in August 2024 of $640,000.

At the beginning of October there is a large inventory of single-family homes listed for sale with only six of the 18 homes listed for below the median price of $573,000 and seven above $1 million.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dutchess County Sheriff’s Report
Village of Millerton offices on Route 22
John Coston

Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Harlem Valley area activity reportSept. 18 to Sept. 30.

Sept. 23 — Deputies responded to 1542 State Route 292 in the Town of Pawling for the report of a suspicious vehicle at that location. Investigation resulted in the arrest of Sebastian Quiroga, age 26, for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree. Quiroga to appear in the Town of Pawling court at a later date.

Keep ReadingShow less
Out on the trail
Nathan Miller

Hunt club members and friends gathered near Pugsley Hill at the historic Wethersfield Estate and Gardens in Amenia for the opening meet of the 2025-2026 Millbrook Hunt Club season on Saturday, Oct. 4. Foxhunters took off from Wethersfield’s hilltop gardens just after 8 a.m. for a hunting jaunt around Amenia’s countryside.

Millbrook Library dedicates pollinator pathway garden

Joining in the fun at the dedication of the new pollinator pathway garden at The Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4, local expert gardener Maryanne Snow Pitts provides information about a planting to Lorraine Mirabella of Poughkeepsie.

Leila Hawken

MILLBROOK — Participating in a patchwork of libraries that have planted pollinator pathway gardens to attract insects and birds to their native plantings was one of the accomplishments being celebrated at the dedication of a new pollinator garden at the Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4.

“A lot of work went into it,” said Emma Sweeney, past President of the Millbrook Garden Club, who started the local library’s initiative two years ago.

Keep ReadingShow less