PINE PLAINS — Revised plans for a grocery store and restaurant at 7723 South Main St. in Pine Plains went before the Planning Board on Oct. 14, after months of delays over groundwater and drainage concerns.
The proposed 14,067-square-footbuilding would hold an 11,819-square-foot grocery and a 2,248-square-foot restaurant. Earlier plans for an ice cream shop are gone, and four existing structures would be demolished. The existing weigh station, which currently houses a cannabis dispensary, would remain.
No grocery operator has been named, and the project needs at least two zoning variances. The district caps building footprints at 6,000 square feet, plus traffic, stormwater and wastewater review. The town engineer asked for a traffic study and Railroad Avenue improvements. The board next meets on Nov. 18.
The plans are an expansion. Earlier, developers had submitted designs for an 8,989-square-foot grocery store, an ice cream shop, and a cannabis dispensary. The cannabis dispensary has since opened as planned.
Budget & litigation resolutions
The Pine Plains Town Board passed two resolutions last week at their monthly meeting. The first was a motion to potentially raise property taxes beyond the tax levy limit for fiscal year 2027. The resolution is something of a precaution while next year’s budget is being finalized. “It’s identical to what we’ve done before,” said Town Attorney Warren Replansky.A public hearing on the measure was scheduled for Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.
The second involves potential litigation against local utility companies. The town has asked Central Hudson Gas & Electric to remove several utility poles, and while the board still hopes to resolve the matter without litigation, passage of the resolution was necessary in the event that the disagreements persist.
Replacement police vehicle
The Pine Plains Police Department was granted authorization to start searching for a replacement police vehicle. The vehicle is estimated to cost approximately $50,000 to $60,000, depending on availability. A patrol car was totaled in July after an officer rear-ended a stopped vehicle on Route 199. Driver inattention was cited as the cause, and both officers in the vehicle were injured. The civilian car’s passengers did not require further medical attention.
The Police Department also received approval for the installation of a prescription drug drop-off box, where residents can deposit unused or expired prescriptions. The box is sponsored by the nonprofit MED-Project, and will be available to the town free of charge.
Cemetery tours return Oct. 23 and 24
Cemetery tours will return to Pine Plains Oct. 23 and 24. Attendees will encounter actors portraying historical figures from Pine Plains’ past as they wind through the town’s cemetery. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and have sold out in the past.
Preliminary budget discussion postponed
Deliberation of the 2027 town budget was delayed until Thursday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m. Supervisor Brian Walsh was unable to attend the Town Board meeting, and the remaining members decided to wait until his return to take up the budget. The Thursday meeting will then be able to account for the fire department’s budget deliberations, which were scheduled for the night of Wednesday, Oct. 21. A public hearing on the budget is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 10 at 6 p.m.
Photo by Graham Corrigan
