Keane Stud impact analysis moves to public presentation

AMENIA — A continuing effort on the part of the developers of the Keane Stud subdivision to create a required environmental impact analysis was the subject of long discussion at the regular Planning Borad meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Termed a scoping analysis, since June the developers havde consistently sought planning board guidance on the preparation of the scoping analysis of the environmental and visual impacts of the proposed subdivision on the landscape, including the panoramic view from DeLaVergne Hill.

Representing the Keane Stud developers was attorney Diana Kolev, Partner of DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise Wiederkehr, LLP, of White Plains. The process is also being advised by the board’s visual consultant George Janes, in attendance at the meeting.

Following discussion, the planning board agreed to authorize Janes and planning board attorney Paul Van Cott to work together with the developer’s representatives to create a presentation that will detail the potential environmental and visual impact of the subdivision.

Due to the lack of a quorum at that point in the meeting, Van Cott advised that an authorization would suffice, rather than a formal motion. Planning Board member James Vitiello had abstained and board member Nina Peek had recused.

“The applicant is seeking to move the project forward,” Van Cott said.

Proposed Keane Stud subdivision plans call for 605 acres to be divided into 23 large agricultural lots.

Part of the public-facing process is to prepare an initial public presentation of the impact analyses well in advance of eventual required public hearings. Accordingly, the planning board has scheduled a public information presentation for Wednesday, Oct. 22, beginning at 8 p.m. A regular Planning Board meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

A copy of the scoping analysis is expected to appear on the town website in advance of the meeting.

“There are presentation alternatives within the draft of the scope analysis already,” said Janes, describing two ideas.

The first idea is a cluster design incorporating natural features that might create another Amenia hamlet.

“The present panoramic view has been shaped by men and women over the past 100 years,” Janes noted, adding, “There are no particular right answers.”

Van Cott suggested that the subcommittee should find alternatives that would help the applicant achieve goals, seeing potential for examining certain site areas that would be less visible than others.

“When you start to lessen one negative impact, you may worsen another,” Planning Board Engineer John Andrews observed.

“When you start clustering housing, then you need central water and sewer,” Andrews noted as an example.

“The hope is to look for something that will avoid visual impact,” Van Cott said.

Attorney Kolev reminded the board that the proposal is for a subdivision, dividing the acreage into agricultural lots.

Vitiello reminded the board to be looking for alternatives that conform with what has been proposed in the application.