AMENIA — The status of two applications and clarification of the next steps to move those applications ahead were topics of lengthy discussion at the regular meeting of the Planning Board on Wednesday, May 22.
The first of the two was an application from Siland to install seasonal athletic domes at the Silo Ridge development. The other application seeks approval of a subdivision application for the Keane Stud Farm property on Depot Hill Road, presently a thoroughbred breeding facility.
Reviewing the history of the Siland athletic dome application, Attorney Diana Kolev of DelBello, Donnellan, Weingarten, Wise and Wiederkehr of White Plains, noted that Siland is re-submitting an application for the domes, although the Planning Board had voted on the special permit for the project two years ago.
“They have some elements that are not shown on the plan,” said Planning Board Engineer John Andrews, reporting on his visit to the site on Friday, May 17, as confirmed in his memo to the Planning Board on Tuesday, May 21. He added that an operations plan has not been fully completed.
“This is a work in progress,” Andrews said.
Still at issue are plans for lighting the fabric domes and implementation of noise reduction, a concern for neighboring residents.
“The question is whether the board is satisfied with the information provided and whether the board wants to receive a current landscaping plan,” Kolev said.
The board’s planning consultant, George Janes, raised the issue of visual impact represented by the domes, and concerns that suggested plantings include species that are not native to the area.
“How can we get a better idea of what the domes will look like at night?” board member Nina Peek asked.
Janes responded that the domes’ interior lights would turn off at 6 p.m. in the winter, and up to 10 p.m. in the summer months, with minimal night lights for safety. He added that the fabric domes are to be opaque. Recreational activities under the domes would include a pool, tennis, pickle ball, paddle tennis and more.
Attending his first meeting as a planning board member, Ken Topolsky asked whether plans might incorporate renewable energy sources as an assist to the environment.
The applicant agreed to assemble information in response to planning board concerns and appear again at the board’s next meeting on Wednesday, June 12.
A subdivision application for the 705-acre Keane Stud Farm property on Depot Hill Road that proposes 31 lots, 26 of which are large residential lots was discussed by the developers who sought a review of the project’s status, visual concerns, and definition of next steps.
“The application is for a subdivision approval, not a site plan approval,” Attorney Kolev reminded the board.
Rennia Engineering, represented at the meeting by Rich Rennia, has created the subdivision drawings for review by the planning board.
Planning Board attorney Paul Van Cott instructed the board that it needs to be confident about what the applicant shows in projected home sizes and fencing plans, along with any risk of adverse visual impact. He said that the board needs to look at not only lines on the ground, but what the build-out will look like.
Van Cott said that no provisions of the present code restrict the size of a structure. Only the height of a structure or home is limited.
Andrews reminded the board that the developer’s application concerns subdivision of the land into lots that will be sold to buyers who would then need to approach the board with any plans to build on those lots.
“There are many ways to develop those lots,” Andrews noted.
Janes commented that 80% of each of the projected large-acreage lots would be designated for agricultural uses.
“What is a reasonable footprint of buildings,” Andrews asked.
“It seems like a lot of open land to do what you want,” Topolsky observed, reminding the planning board of the town’s comprehensive plan of 2007, now being updated.
Janes suggested that the developer create a viewshed map to define visual impact, with Peek voicing agreement.
Andrews reiterated that the application is for a subdivision of land, but agreed that the planning board will define deed restrictions for each lot.
In her role as Town Board liaison to the Planning Board, councilmember Rosanna Hamm raised the question of impact of the development on the underlying aquifer (town water source). The response indicated that the impact of 26 wells on a 700-acre property would be negligible.
Newly seated on the Planning Board and attending his first meeting was Jamie Vitiello who asked board attorney Van Cott for clarification of the code that would define home sizes.
Engineer Rennia had indicated that subdivision planning maps generally draw a 5,000 square foot home as an average size for planning purposes.
The Keane Stud developers will return with additional information at the Wednesday, June 26, regular meeting of the Planning Board.
"They had this in mind from last year," girls varsity head coach Les Funk of Pine Plains said. Funk said the young team wanted the sectional title and "never gave up," until they won it Wednesday, March 5, at Mount Saint Mary College.Photo by Nathan Miller
Naveah Rennie, no 34 of Pine Plains, was the Bombers' dominant scorer, racking up 20 points by the end of the matchup against S.S. Seward Institute during the Section IX Class C finals at Mount Saint Mary College on Wednesday, March 5.Photo by Nathan Miller
Lent: Time to consider social gospel movement
We are entering the annual Christian season of Lent this week.With its 40 days of contemplation and “little Easter” Sundays, it is a time to remember the healing ministry and the sacrifice of Jesus.During this season, we are invited to think deeply about our role as agents of grace and love in our hurting world.
There is a long history of making sacrifices and commitments for Lent, modeling our discipleship and hopes for a more heavenly world. It is through this lens that I invite you to join us in considering what gifts and services the community needs that we can commit to bringing forth in the weeks leading up to Easter.While many lean into solitary introspection during Lent, it may be particularly advantageous to use our meditations and sacrifices for the greater good this year.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, advised his followers centuries ago that “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness. Faith working by love is the length and depth and breadth and height of Christian perfection.”These words are connected to the firm belief of Wesley that a Methodist was fundamentally one who loved God with all their heart, mind, strength, and soul, along with loving one’s neighbor as oneself.He believed that being in love with God naturally also required loving other people, as every person was a beloved soul coming from the same source of life that we are.
Consequently, Wesley stood against slavery long before it was a popular view, prioritized caring for those who were poor and imprisoned, and made a point to do good to as many as he could for as long as he was physically able.
Indeed, the Methodists are not the only Christians who believe such things.These thoughts are primary messages of the Christian faith.In more recent history, we can note that during the time of the Golden Age, at the end of the late 19th century, the Christians mobilized to counteract the abject poverty, child labor, dangerous working conditions, and lack of education of the time.Famous theologians such as Washington Gladden, Walter Rauschenbusch, and W.E.B. DuBois began the Social Gospel movement, enacting with new verve the passion of Christ that empowers the community toward building the Kingdom of God.As Christians, they believed in uplifting the downtrodden and creating a community where all had a chance to thrive.Child labor laws were enacted, better working conditions were secured, Sunday School helped provide education, settlement houses were created, and the Salvation Army was born.
The social gospel movement continued in another wave of reforms and empowerment through the Civil Rights era.Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his intellect, energy, and life to help secure the reforms that enabled persons of color to vote, go to non-segregated schools, and have the right to share public spaces without discrimination.Like Christ, he paid the ultimate price for his prophetic vision.However, his impact on our society was formidable, lasting far beyond his short lifetime.
As Christians, it is very clear what to do in times of hardship, crisis, or challenge.Throughout the centuries, our call has been to help heal the world, doing whatever we can to uplift and transform loneliness into community, reminding each one how precious they are and how important it is to unite for the sake of the whole.Individually, the challenges can be overwhelming, even too much to bear.Collectively, we can do all things through the One who strengthens us.As they say, “We have the receipts!” We can do it again.
This Lent, let us give up our pessimism and fear, replacing it with a commitment to community and hope.Yes, things can seem dreadful, but our souls are not served by allowing ourselves to descend into the dark.We are keepers of the light.Let us do all within our power to create brightness so that its warmth may strengthen all as we live into the Social Gospel movement for our time.Chin up, friends, we can do this.We simply must be willing to get serious about doing it together.
Rev. Dr. Anna Crews Camphouse is pastor of Canaan, Lakeville, Millerton, and Sharon United Methodist Churches
Lead Pastor of the Northwestern Hills Cooperative
Parish UMC