Planning Board closes public hearing on Silo Ridge plan change

Planning Board closes public hearing on Silo Ridge plan change
Amenia Town Hall
Photo by John Coston

AMENIA — Members of the planning board closed the public hearing on a Silo Ridge site plan adjustment at their regular meeting Wednesday, Aug. 13 due to an absence of additional public comment.

Silo Ridge representatives are seeking to construct ten condo units where townhouses were initially planned.

In the absence of any additional public comment to be offered during a hearing on a Silo Ridge application to alter an original site plan to substitute ten condo units for previously indicated townhouses, the Planning Board closed the public hearing at their regular meeting on Wednesday, August 13.

“We have a path forward,” said vice-chairperson Nina Peek.

Silo Ridge consultant Patrick O’Leary reminded the board that it has been a four-month process to consider the change to the site plan and he asked for board approval to allow Silo Ridge Ventures to proceed with work on drawing a subdivision plan showing changes to the original Master Plan and current site plan.

The Planning Board’s vote was unanimous to allow work to begin on the subdivision plan, while emphasizing that the site plan would need to be signed before any subdivision plan could be approved. Planning Board member Jamie Vitiello abstained from voting.

“From a technical standpoint, we are good to go,” said Planning Board attorney Paul Van Cott, commenting on the status of compliance with the Workforce Housing regulations. Signing of the site plan will be contingent upon submission of a fee schedule to be paid in place of planning to provide workforce housing on site.

“It’s important for us to get through the process,” O’Leary said.

“There may be a path forward,” said Van Cott, noting that the Planning Board needs to provide official direction about zoning law.

A tour of the Silo Ridge development was scheduled for Monday, Aug. 18, to orient the Planning Board to the existing development landscape and potential future plans. Because the tour would be classed as an official meeting of the Planning Board, members of the public were also invited to attend.

The orientation tour will be followed by additional workshops, scheduled during regular meetings of the Planning Board.

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