New Millbrook Bank branch application moves forward

MILLERTON — The site plan for the Bank of Millbrook was approved during the North East Planning Board meeting on Sept. 18.

The application plans to open another branch on Route 44 in Millerton, where Elizabeth’s Jewelry and Fine Gifts is located. The bank plans to convert the 2,500 square foot store to host different amenities for the public.

“The applicants are proposing to convert an existing 2,500 square foot jewelry store into a branch of the Millbrook Bank,” said Peter Sander, a representative for the bank. “Included in part of these proposed improvements is a new drive-through lane, which will access a teller window and have a bypass lane. We will also be installing an exterior ATM.”

According to Sander, the new entrance will provide better sight lines and regulate traffic flow by having one way out and one way in. Some board members were wary of the new proposed entrance and exit and agreed with the applicants to come back if they feel that is not working in the town’s best interest.

In the last board meeting for site approval, the Bank of Millbrook was sent back to reduce its lighting yet again. The board requested lowering the wattage of the lamp poles around the site.

“In response to planning board comments where we significantly reconfigured the lighting plan, we reduced the intensity, and we put some dark sky-compliant fixtures in,” Sander said. “We still need New York state banking regulations.”

The plan given to the board members showed three 50-watt poles on the west side of the building and two 80-watt poles in the front of the building.

“As we talked about in the past, one of the ways to reduce glare and also to reduce over lighting is to have more lights that are dimmer,” said board member Bill Kish. “I think that the two lights in the front that are 80 watts should be replaced with 50-watt lamps … We should also see a third 50-watt lamp added.”

Sander responded, “The areas you are referring to as being overlit vary between 1.3 to maybe 5 [foot candles], and those are sidewalk pedestrian areas and places where people park so they can withdraw hundreds of dollars out of an ATM.”

According to Sander, reducing the light in the front and adding another pole, as Kish suggested, would put the Bank of Millbrook under the requirement for New York State Banking, which the bank had already expressed concern about.

The applicant’s first proposal consisted of 12-foot candles, which are now at 5.5 in the higher-lit parts of the bank.

“They’ve achieved reductions; this is an improved lighting, and I think the applicant was trying to do what it thought you guys asked,” said Chris Langlois. “In some cases, they [lights] are down by half. I think there has been a compromise. There has been improvement.”

The board asked the applicant to consider putting in a motion-activated light or a timer to reduce the glare going into the town, the road and the sky.

All board members except Bill Kish approved the site plan for its next steps.

In an earlier Planning Board article, legal representative for the Bank of Millbrook Peter Sander was incorrectly identified.