Letters to the editor — Thursday, October 8, 2026

Coverage missed key points in Keane Stud hearing

Although my concerns are directly addressed to the Millerton News, in its “Our Towns” coverage of the Amenia Planning Board Public Hearing on September 23, the Journal editor may also be interested.

This hearing dealt with a developer’s proposal (Keane Stud) to build mini-mansions spread out upon the classic, celebrated “View from Delavergne Hill”, a matter of concern to anyone who drives or has driven the Old Sharon Turnkpike, now Route 44, between Poughkeepsie and the Berkshires. There is that magic moment when one rounds the hairpin turn and when the whole Harlem Valley Agricultural Landscape opens up with the Taconics in the distance.

Coverage of my comments in your coverage of the Hearing:

First, my presentation was misrepresented as though I was merely speaking for myself as an individual who owns the General Store in Wassaic. However, I clearly stated that I was speaking on behalf of the Civic Committee to Save the View From Delavergne Hill, a group that has been gathering signatures against development of any kind in this viewshed . The Co-Chairs are Dr. Julian Strauss and William C. Kroeger. I am functioning as the Secretary and in this hearing I presented 14 pages of petition signatures to the Planning Board for our Committee. This was not mentioned and I was not identified accurately.

The second thing I did on behalf of the Committee was to brandish the large green training manual for Planning Boards in New York State that was put out jointly by Hudson Valley Greenway and Dutchess County Planning, which actually uses this “View from Delavergne Hill” as it’s prime example of the kind of viewshed that should be given permanent protection, while housing land use should be put in other types of locations. All this action, content and documentation was omitted from your coverage.

Other major omission:

The other error in coverage of that event was in regard to former Amenia Town Supervisor Leo Blackman’s eloquent statement. Leo, an accomplished land use planner, spoke against any future development of those agricultural fields and forests in this viewshed which are directly visible from the NY State designated Observation Point on Delavergne Hill, part of the State Scenic Roads Program. Blackman should have been identified in your coverage as the “former Town Supervisor” not merely as a “resident of Wassaic” and the viewshed as it is generally known in local history and culture, as well as in the Master Plan (1990) and the Comprehensive Plan (2008) and the State Scenic Road Program. (blue signs)

Sharon Daniel Kroeger

Amenia

Finding ways to break free from heating oil

I moved from Long Island to Amenia in 2023. I’ve done COD oil delivery for years. When I purchased my house the existing oil company contract transferred to me. I didn’t renew at the end of that contract and resumed COD deliveries. Fortunately, last season I watched the oil prices very closely. I didn’t pay over $4/gallon last season. It just so happened that I needed oil when the prices dipped here and there. After watching the price of oil spike and change very rapidly I had a pellet stove installed in March, 2026. Even while living in the previous home I had long considered purchasing a wood stove or pellet stove for pleasure and possibly for heating. My original intention was to use it as a back up heating method but it heats my entire 2,500 sq ft. colonial!

Then there’s hot water. When the pellet stove was installed I had recently had my oil tank filled for 3.749/gallon. I had about 3/4 tank at the time. Prices skyrocketed after that. Since then the oil has been used up to heat my home’s domestic water. It’s time for another oil delivery. Instead, I purchased and installed a hybrid hot water heater and shut my oil burner off. Drained the baseboards and everything. My garage is filled with several tons of pellets and my oil burner will remain off this winter. I couldn’t be more pleased with the water heater. I’m expecting the electric bill to bump up but not to the tune of purchasing a season’s worth of oil consumption. Remains to be seen but in the cold months I use a tank of oil each month.

Another thing I did last year was make and install my own storm windows.Those have cut down and eliminated some drafts completely! Of course, I do thermal panel curtains, lift the blinds way up in sunny windows, and everything else I can to harness/save heat.

The deal with the oil prices is frightening. I’m grateful that I could make the changes I did. Many cannot and that’s unfortunate.

Karen Bryson

Amenia

Amenia needs growth as well as open space

I would like to clarify my position on the Keane Stud Subdevelopment application as relates to my statement at the Public Hearing on Sept. 23.

I did say as part of my statement that I do not want to see the rural character of our town disappear. However, the impression that was left by adding “echoing the concerns of other speakers” in the Oct. 1 article, leaves the impression that I am against that planned subdivision. Nothing could be further from the truth. I also said that I felt that the plans submitted to the Planning Board help to maintain the rural character of Amenia. But the point I tried to stress most is that Amenia needs to expand its tax base if we want a town that our children, seniors and new families will be able to afford to live in. Many of the comments against Keane Stud spoke about the “ultrarich” buying property in our town. We have almost no businesses, and Silo Ridge, which pays 52% of the property taxes in Amenia, faces attacks and resentment on a regular basis.

I think we all appreciate the beauty of our landscape, that is a large part of why we live here. But the Keane Stud plan retains much of the acreage as open land. Many of the people who spoke against the Keane Stud subdivision are in favor of a 26-house subdivision on a small portion of a 24-acre plot across from Freshtown. That concentration is certainly less in line with “rural character” than Keane Stud, but it seems the concern depends on whose backyard the houses are.located in and how much money the buyers have. I don’t care how much money someone else has if they are helping to keep my taxes at a level that I can afford.

Judy Moran

Amenia