Amenia Planning Board continues discussion of new subdivisions

Amenia Town Hall
Photo by John Coston
AMENIA — Two current subdivision applications were discussed at the regular meeting of the Planning Board on Thursday, Sept. 25, both progressing toward public input phases but needing more clarity on environmental and visual impact.
Cascade Creek
Representing developer Hudson River Housing, a Poughkeepsie nonprofit, was Senior Planner Peter Sander of Rennia Engineering who provided a summary of the plans for the conservation subdivision along Cascade Road. A conservation subdivision allows for reduced lot sizes, Sander explained.
Plans call for 28 residential lots with two parcels allocated to provide underground utilities, including common wastewater treatment. Potable water supply would be sourced from on-site wells.
The conservation analysis was accepted by the Planning Board in June, Sander noted, adding that the area is surrounded by similarly-sized lots.
“We believe that the application is ready for action and scheduling of a public hearing,” Sander said.
“A voluminous amount of material has been submitted,” agreed Planning Board engineer John Andrews who said that the studies embedded within those materials appear to show no information that would lead to an adverse environmental impact.
Those materials include a traffic study, ecological study, discharge analysis, archeological assessment and an analysis showing conformity with the town’s comprehensive plan for development, Andrews said.
Board attorney Paul Van Cott noted, however, that before scheduling a public hearing, the board would still need to arrive at an environmental determination of whether there exists any significant adverse impact.
Board member Ken Topolsky said that he continues to have concerns about density, visual impact, and whether the housing would be defined as affordable housing or workforce housing. He also had concerns about impact on the nearby creek and the effect of stormwater runoff, as well as the effect on bog turtle migration.
Hearing the concerns, Sander asked the board to provide him with a written listing, feeling also that the concerns were answered by data contained within the materials already submitted.
“[HRH] is an organization that wants to benefit the community,” Sander said.
Continuing his concern about traffic and public safety, board member Walter Dietrich noted that 28 homes could produce 56 cars making daily trips. He also noted the absence of streetlights in the planning.
“How does that not impact?” Dietrich asked.
Agreeing with Dietrich, board member James Walsh noted the number of vehicular accidents in that area, close to Freshtown Plaza.
“Streetlights would make for more visual impact,” Sander noted, a topic that is already a “hot issue.”
Planning Board chairman Robert Boyles expressed concern on behalf of the fire company about the capacity of the planned hydrants, feeling that the water volume might be insufficient to extinguish a house fire.
By unanimous accord, the board agreed to discuss the application again at their Wednesday, Oct. 22, meeting, giving Sander time to extract and summarize the data from submitted documents in response to board concerns.
Keane Stud
Taking a step toward review of the visual impact of plans to subdivide Keane Stud acreage, the Planning Board learned that a “scope analysis” has now been submitted for their consideration.
Representing the Keane Stud developers was attorney Diana Kolev, Partner of DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise Wiederkehr, LLP, of White Plains. Since June, the developers have worked to define environmental and visual impacts of the proposed subdivision, advised by the board’s visual consultant George Janes.
Attorney Van Cott explained that the scope analysis needs to be “owned by the board” and he suggested a public meeting to introduce and review the information.
Accordingly, the board voted unanimously to publish the scope analysis on the town website and to schedule a review and discussion of the document at its next scheduled meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Board member Nina Peek recused from the vote; board member Jamie Vitiello was absent.
PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains FFA Ag Fair brought a crowd to the high school on Church Street Saturday, Oct. 11.
Kicking off the day was the annual tractor pull, attracting a dedicated crowd that sat in bleachers and folding chairs for hours watching Allison-Chalmers, International Harvesters and John Deeres compete to pull the heaviest weights.
A large collection of food was on offer from the Pine Plains FFA and each one of the classes in the Pine Plains Central School District. The football team was selling pickles.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd enjoyed a dip in the dunk tank to raise money for the Pine Plains teachers’ union-sponsored scholarship.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd got dunked several times during his half-hour shift in the dunk tank. Proceeds from the throws benefitted the Photo by Nathan Miller
The Rev. AJ Stack, center right, blessing a chicken at the pet blessing event at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia on Saturday, Oct. 4.
AMENIA — After serving more than five years as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia, the Rev. AJ Stack announced Tuesday, Oct. 7, that he will resign from the church and Food of Life/Comida de Vida pantry. His last day at his current post will be Sunday, Nov. 2, the conclusion of the Feast of All Saints.
The news was shared in two emails from Stack — one to Food of Life pantry subscribers and volunteers, and another to parish members.
“I write tonight with difficult news, and I wanted you to hear it from me as soon as the Vestry and I had a chance to meet,” he wrote. “After much prayer and careful discernment, I have submitted my resignation to the Vestry as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas, and therefore as Executive Director of Food of Life/Comida de Vida.”
Stack provided few details about his departure. At time of publication, he had not announced his next steps but said the decision was “not sudden,” and followed careful consideration over a period of months. He will not be leaving the area or the diocese.
An announcement about his path forward and the transition process is expected soon. In the meantime, Stack said he remains “fully present” at the church, and the food pantry services will continue without interruption.
Stack expressed gratitude for the community and the growth of St. Thomas’ mission during his tenure. “Together we have welcomed new neighbors and strengthened our outreach in meaningful ways,” he said. “I trust that good work will continue.”
He joined St. Thomas in March 2020 and guided the church and community through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent interview with The News about the food pantry, Stack estimated that it serves 653 individuals from 156 households each week, highlighting a significant contribution to the community.
The announcement was met with messages of reassurance from pantry volunteers. Jolly Stewart, a Vestry member and volunteer, wrote to the community with words of reassurance following the announcement. “I have complete faith in the strength of the parish of St. Thomas,” she wrote. “Our history shows how we have done this time and again, each time becoming more than what we were before. We can, without a doubt, do this now.”
MILLERTON — Ten candidates for office in the Nov. 4 election will answer questions from Dutchess County voters at a candidate forum on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Annex at the NorthEast-Millerton Library located at 28 Century Blvd.
The forum, which is sponsored by the library, will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Candidates for local and county offices will answer questions from residents in attendance or from residents who have submitted questions in advance.
“We’re excited to keep the tradition of the candidate forum going,” said Rhiannon Leo-Jameson, director of the library. “Some years we can’t always get candidates together.”
This year’s forum will include:
Rachele Grieco Cole, a Democrat, and Chris Mayville, a Republican, who both are running uncontested for the North East Town Council;
Casey McCabe, a Democrat, also running uncontested for North East Justice.
Among Dutchess County races:
Tracy MacKenzie, who is endorsed by Republicans and Democrats, is running uncontested for Dutchess County Family Court Judge;
Kara Gerry, a Democrat, and Ned McLoughlin, a Republican, are in a contest for a Dutchess County Court judgeship currently held by McLoughlin.
Chris Drago, D-19, and Tonya Pulver, a Republican, are competing to represent Dutchess County’s19th District seat currently held by Drago.
Democratic incumbent Dan Aymar-Blair and Will Truitt, the Republican chair of the county legislature, are competing for the Dutchess County Comptroller position currently held by Aymar-Blair.
Leo-Jameson is encouraging questions for the candidates to be submitted in advance, which will not be revealed to candidates beforehand. Dutchess County residents may pose questions during the forum. To submit a question on the library’s website, go to the calendar at nemillertonlibrary.org and find the link in the Oct. 24calendar entries.
The format calls for opening statements from the candidates, followed by questions from residents, and candidates will be able to stay after the forum to answer questions personally.
The “Elusive Ki Shusui” koi were temporarily relocated into a tub before being returned to their home pond at Maxine Pietro’s annual koi harvest at Broccoli Hall Farm in Amenia on Friday, Oct. 10. Speaking of their yellowish beauty, Pietro is pictured pointing out that the fish are scaleless but for scales that grow along the “zipper” on each fish’s dorsal ridge. The koi in the photo are estimated to be 6 or 7 years old.