Silo Ridge condo plan public hearing continued

AMENIA — A public hearing on an application by Silo Ridge to eliminate 13 planned townhouses and substitute ten condominiums in the same space on a single lot was discussed at the regular meeting of the Planning Board on Wednesday, July 9, and then continued again until the Wednesday, Aug. 13, meeting of the Planning Board.

The public hearing on the townhouse to condo planning had begun on Wednesday, June 25. In the meantime, the Housing Board has been drafting a response to the Planning Board’s request for an opinion because local workforce housing laws are a consideration in Silo Ridge master planning. The Housing Board’s opinion has been furnished to the Planning Board, but the board felt more time was needed to digest the contents.

Of concern to planning board members at the June 25 meeting was a potential loss of tax revenue to the town due to the reduction in number of residential units.

“The change will result in no reduction in tax revenue,” said Silo Ventures consultant Patrick O’Leary at the July 9 meeting. Since the June 25 meeting, O’Leary had examined the plans and completed further fiscal data analysis, leading to his conclusion.

“We are here to be transparent and to provide clarity,” O’Leary told the Planning Board.

A workshop requested by O’Leary has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, to allow Silo Ridge developers to describe how the three units being eliminated will be added back in. The July 23 meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

“So, when you come back in, you will do a fiscal analysis,” asked deputy planning board chair Nina Peek

“We want to talk with the Planning Board,” O’Leary explained.

Discussion ensued seeking clarity on the number of units involved in the phased planning to understand the history of the addition and subtraction of units.

“It evolved over time,” said Planning Board engineer John Andrews.

“The Silo Ridge numbers match exactly with John Andrews’ numbers,” O’Leary said.