New inn proposal advances to July 24 hearing

DOVER PLAINS — A proposal to convert a lakeside residence into the Lake Ellis Country Inn will move to another public hearing on Thursday, July 24, at Dover Town Hall as the Planning Board continues reviewing the project.

The Lake Ellis Country Inn is proposed for a property on Lake Ellis that is currently used as a private residence. Rennia Engineering Design, PLLC, has proposed converting the property into a lodging facility with 18 guest rooms spread between the main lake house and the lake house annex.

The Lake Ellis Country Inn will be the first new Inn to open in Dover Plains since the restoration and re-opening of the Old Drovers Inn in 2014. The Old Drovers Inn has a rich history dating back to 1750 and serves as a historic landmark as well as a bed and breakfast. The Preston Barn was added to the property in 2017 and serves as a space to host large events in the community.

Similar to the Old Drovers Inn, The Lake Ellis Country Inn has deep historical roots linked to the town of Dover. According to the Dutchess County Historic Resource Survey, the site has existed since the 1850’s and was used as a summer camp before being sold and turned into private residential property by the late 1980s, according to Planning Board application documents.

The land is owned by Chippawalla Properties Inc., an entity that is planning the project in collaboration with Rennia Engineering Design PLLC. The Inn is intended to be used for events such as weddings, vacations, retreats and conferences, and will provide access to outdoor activities like hiking and fishing.

Peter Sander, senior planner for Rennia Engineering Design, shared updates from the fire department and the highway superintendent at the July 6 meeting. The fire department approved the current structure layout, and the highway superintendent confirmed that there were no issues with the existing driveway or approach leading to the site.

Sander voiced that he received a letter from the JHK Hose Co., and they will be meeting to address whether the roadways and pathways to the site are adequate. There are still discussions about the number of events that can be held per year, and how many guests are permitted on the property for events.

During the meeting, Rennia Engineering Design was urged to consider the planning board’s comments, including how many events would be held throughout the calendar year, how to alert neighbors to those events and parking near the site. The planning board requested an extension of the deadline, and member Villano moved to extend the project until July 24.