Parking rules a hurdle for proposed Millerton apartments

MILLERTON — Plans for new apartments on South Center Street are facing uncertainty over parking regulations in the Village of Millerton.

The buildings have a total of four apartments located at 26-32 South Center St, though only three have been occupied in recent years. Owner Alex Magalhaes described plans to renovate the interior of the building and utilize the empty unit.

Planning Board members raised a concern over available parking. They noted that village code requires 1.5 off-street spaces per residential unit. The property currently has no off-street parking and owner Magalhaes said there’s no room to install additional parking.

Magalhaes explained that apartment residents would use the municipal parking lot across South Center Street.

“When we first purchased, it had in the lease that we can use the parking,” Magalhaes said.

Dutchess County owns that lot, prompting questions from Planning Board members about whether that’s permissible and under whose authority.

Board Chair Andrew Rebillard, along with board member Kevin Webb, doubted the Planning Board had the authority to permit parking in that lot.

“I would propose that we get guidance from counsel,” Webb said. “To see what our ability is here.”
Webb asked if the property could fit additional off-street spaces. Magalhaes said the property has space for a small driveway in the northwest corner, but there was not any additional space for cars.

Despite the uncertainty, board members voted to set a public hearing on the plans for their next meeting on Wednesday, July 8. That meeting is expected to happen barring news from the county that the lot can’t be used for residential parking.

“It doesn’t sound like it’s something that’s going to stop this project,” Rebillard said. “Rather just make it take longer.”