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National day of protest
Aug 20, 2025
Photo by Leila Hawken
A larger than anticipated number of protesters, all from area towns, assembled at Fountain Square in Amenia on Saturday, Aug. 16, to participate in the national day of protest themed “Fight the Trump Takeover.”More than 40 protesters populated the four corners of the intersection of Routes 44, 22, and 343, eliciting enthusiastic response from passing motorists, mostly supportive.
Photo by Leila Hawken
A larger than anticipated number of protesters, more than 40, all of whom were from area towns, assembled at Fountain Square on Saturday, August 16, to participate in the national day of protest themed “Fight the Trump Takeover.” Organizer Kimberley Travis of Amenia and protester Nick Lacy of Poughkeepsie paused for a photo.
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SHARON — Gold Dog LLC, the applicant behind a long-contested housing development in Sharon, was given the Planning and Zoning Commission’s nod to move forward with the project on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
The plans call for a 24-unit condominium complex of 12 duplexes arranged around a central driveway and cul-de-sac, situated on grove-like woodland between Hospital Hill Road and Amenia Road.
While not designated as affordable, the development may help provide some much needed diversification of Sharon’s housing market, several of the project’s supporters have said.
The approval was delayed from the Commission’s last meeting in July in expectation of a third-party review of the application’s stormwater runoff plans among other technical details, which was received in early August. At the July meeting the commission showed preliminary signs of approving the project, which has been hotly contested since P&Z reviewed a previous application from Gold Dog in 2023 that was denied.
That tone held last Wednesday, when P&Z Secretary and Fire Marshall and Building Official Stanley MacMillan Jr. read a motion to approve the plans. The motion, which is available in full in the Aug. 13 meeting’s minutes on the town website, stated the project is “consistent with infrastructure capacity and the development of the community” and “will allow for a reasonable use of the property which is consistent with the character of the underlying zone.”
The motion, which passed unanimously, contained 16 conditions of approval, including: the establishment of a homeowner’s association; that open space on the property, which is planned to be the majority of the eight-acre parcel, be conserved under easement; and that a six-foot tall non-transparent fence be built on either side of the proposed entrance driveway to the development on Hospital Hill Road to protect neighbors privacy, which has been one of the hottest subjects of debate throughout the hearing process.
Carol Flaton, who serves on the town’s Board of Finance, has submitted several letters advocating for the project since the hearing began in the spring. After the decision on Wednesday, she reiterated her stance: “I respect and understand the concerns that the neighbors have but this proposal is exactly what’s in the zoning regulations,” adding that she felt the plans align with the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development.
“It just kind of fits,” she said.
Residents in closer proximity to the development site were less pleased by P&Z’s verdict. “[P&Z] couldn’t care less about the neighbors,” said Pablo Cisilino outside Town Hall. Cisilino owns 71 Hospital Hill Road with his wife Silvina Leone, and both have been outspoken against the project since its application fell onto the Land Use Office’s desk. Cisilino said he would promptly speak to his attorney about possible avenues of recourse.
“We’re definitely going to do something,” he said as he stepped into his car.
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MILLBROOK — Extension of a walking trail as part of the planning for Bennett Park was discussed at the regular meeting of the Planning Board on Monday, Aug. 11.
Following discussion, a public hearing on the woodland trail extension was scheduled for the next regular Planning Board meeting on Monday, Sept. 8, to begin at 6 p.m. at Village Hall.
Reviewing the plans were Engineer Richard Rennia of Rennia Engineering and landscape architect Ryan Manning of R Design Landscape Architecture of Millbrook. The trail will enhance public use of the 35-acre property, once the campus of Bennett College.
A woodland trail as part of the site plan was previously approved as part of Phase One, but an amendment to extend the trail to an entrance off of Franklin Avenue brought the project back to the Planning Board for approval.
“The only modification is in how to make the walkway better,” Rennia said. Wood chips would be laid to define the 5-foot-wide trail, but the length of the connector to Franklin Avenue would be a harder compacted gravel.
Plans avoid tree removal, Rennia said. Manning added that the plans are using wood chips to have less impact on the existing healthy trees.
No lighting is proposed for the interior trail. Existing lighting at the entrance would be retained.
“The plan was to protect trees and carve as little as possible out of the land,” Rennia said, describing minimal grading that would be needed at the site.
Planning Board chairman Frank Redl asked about what would be done with the few trees that will be removed. Manning replied that the trees would be chipped and used to line the path.
Looking to the future, Manning felt that as occasional storms fell trees, five or six benches could be planned to be fashioned from the trees and placed along the path.
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Photo by Aly Morrissey
MILLERTON — A handful of residents attended the North East Town Board meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14, to hear updates on the Altice/Optimum franchise agreement, up for renewal this fall, and proposed zoning amendments tied to a potential country inn and event venue. No action was taken on either matter.
Thursday marked the third public meeting on the Altice/Optimum franchise renewal, which applies only to cable services, not Wi-Fi or internet. An initial informational session was held June 12, and a representative from Altice attended the last two town board meetings — July 10 and Aug. 14 — to hear public comments. To clear up a common misconception, Town Supervisor Chris Kennan emphasized that the agreement is non-exclusive — other providers can offer service, though that remains unlikely.
The board is expected to vote on the renewal after a formal public hearing and contract negotiations proposed by Town Attorney Warren Replansky, who did not disclose his redline recommendations during Thursday’s meeting.
Also on the agenda was the ongoing discussion around a petition to amend the town’s zoning code to permit a country inn and event venue in the Agricultural District (A5A). The proposal, which involves changes to Code 180-40, is linked to a 36-acre parcel at Route 44/22 and Smithfield Road, where John and Kristen King hope to develop a winery, guest accommodations and event space.
Following last month’s board meeting, there was some expectation that the board might vote to approve the amendment during the Aug. 14 meeting. However, without written feedback from the Planning Board, the town planner or the Conservation Advisory Council, a vote was tabled for a later date.
Nevertheless, applicant John King addressed the board, acknowledging that in trying to avoid the risk of spot zoning, he and his team may have drafted the proposed amendment too broadly. He said he plans to ask his attorney to refine the language to better support agritourism and prevent the possibility of “hotels appearing along Route 22.” Supervisor Chris Kennan pointed out that if the proposal is amended, it has the potential to restart the feedback process, further delaying a vote.
Feedback from the Planning Board, which is not a governing body, and the town planner are expected by the Town Board this week to aid in decision making.
One vote that did occur resulted in the unanimous approval of a local law allowing the Town of North East to exceed the state tax cap, scheduling a public hearing for Sept. 11. This standard procedure takes place annually.
The meeting otherwise followed a typical agenda, including committee and department reports, approval of minutes and budget adjustments.
The highway department reported major road work, including 900 tons of asphalt poured and 4.5 miles of chip sealing, completed through a partnership with Amenia and Ancram based on reciprocal in-kind contributions. Recent improvements include Silver Mountain, Scribner, and Charlie Hill roads.
Town Clerk Tilly Strauss noted that hunting licenses are now available at Town Hall. She also informed the board that cyber security training will become mandatory in January, similar to required harassment training.
The Housing Committee reported progress on pro-housing filings, an effort to position the town for grants and developers to expand affordable housing. Chair Meg Winkler, praised by Supervisor Chris Kennan for leading the labor-intensive work, said required forms for 2019–2023 zoning and residential permits have been submitted. Certification could take up to 90 days, though she expects it sooner. The initiative has grown rapidly, from 75 certified communities when Winkler began to 342.
A newly formed public safety committee has developed an emergency action plan for residents. The initiative is spearheaded by Councilman Chris Mayville, who said the draft will be complete following feedback from fire and first responders. The committee plans to present the final document this fall.
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