
The existing inn would undergo an expansion.
Photo courtesy of the Salisbury Planning & Zoning Commission
The existing inn would undergo an expansion.
SALISBURY — The second round of the public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission on Aradev LLC’s application for a special permit to redevelop the Wake Robin Inn in Lakeville featured changes on the plans from the applicant, intensified opposition from neighbors, and criticisms of the commission’s process.
The hearing was continued to Wednesday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m. on Zoom.
P&Z chair Michael Klemens, in introductory remarks, said “we regulate use, not users” and that the qualifications of the applicant are not in the commission’s purview.
He noted that the commission can require bonding and has other ways of ensuring that a “project is completed in a satisfactory manner.”
He warned against speculation about future uses of the property. In particular, he addressed rumors that the property would be subsequently converted to a religious use.
Klemens said he found this alarming because the town could find itself in danger of violating the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000.
Citing a case in Cromwell, in which the town was subject of a punitive judgment of $5 million (later reduced to $2 million), Klemens cautioned “This is not an abstraction.”
Mark Arrigoni of SLR Consulting took the lead in presenting revised plans in response to comments from the public and from the commission at the first session of the public hearing Sept. 3.
Rendering Courtesy Salisbury Planning & Zoning CommissionRendering above shows a revised driveway entry and exit along Route 41.
Changes included: Reworking the height of the main hotel building and expansion to be lower than the maximum allowed by regulations; moving the exercise equipment to the main building and out of the spa building; adding a vestibule and limiting doors and windows on most of the event barn building to cut down on noise; fencing and a retaining wall along Wells Hill Road to cut down on visibility from the surrounding neighborhood.
The item that received the most attention was Aradev’s proposal to change the front access to the property on Sharon Road (Route 41), adding a separate road and exit off the existing drive.
During discussion commissioners asked if parking, especially at the pool and spa area on the Wells Hill Road side of the property, couldn’t be reduced more.
Other suggestions included moving the cottages to the Wells Hill side and relocating the pool/spa or the event barn, and enclosing the event barn porch with glass designed to deaden sound.
Public comment was again uniformly negative, although the intensity varied.
One suggestion from Mark Hochberg, that the developers meet directly with the neighborhood group or groups, received a positive response from Klemens, and, toward the end of the meeting, from Aradev attorney James Mackey, who accepted the offer on behalf of his client and provided contact information.
Neighbors from Sharon Road and Wells Hill Road objected to the potential for increased traffic and warned of accidents; the extra load on the town’s sewer system; light pollution; noise pollution; late night events; the look of the proposed fencing along Wells Hill Road (one resident said it reminded her of the San Diego Freeway).
Residents questioned the validity of the traffic study provided by the applicant; wondered aloud about the applicants’ bona fides and business plan; and criticized the commission’s process.
At several points, Klemens and Land Use Director Abby Conroy had to ask participants to stop using the Zoom webinar “chat” feature for anything other than technical problems.
One criticism found a sympathetic reception. Angela Cruger said it was impossible to read all of the relevant materials, especially when they are added to the town website days or hours before the hearing.
Klemens agreed with that, saying the commissioners have the same problem.
He asked Mackey, the Aradev attorney, if his client would commit to getting all materials submitted a week before the hearing resumes on Oct. 16. Mackey said yes.
Long-term town employees were recognized at the Town Board meeting on Thursday, June 12. Honorees pictured with Town Supervisor Leo Blackman, were Judy Carlson, Office Manager at the Town Garage, center, for her 35 years of service to the town and Megan Chamberlin, current Highway Superintendent, for 20 years.
AMENIA — Acknowledging the many years of service accumulated by town employees, the Town Board paused to honor that service at its meeting on Thursday, June 12.
“Thank you for making a difference,” said Town Supervisor Leo Blackman in recognizing Judy Carlson, Office Manager at the town garage, for her 35 years of service.
“Megan’s job is not an easy one,” Blackman said, honoring Megan Chamberlin, current Highway Superintendent who has served the town for 20 years.
Also among those honored was Town Clerk Dawn Marie Klingner for 20 years of service as Court Clerk.
Maureen Moore, Court Clerk, was also honored in absentia for her 20 years of town service.
In anticipation of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution in 2026, new historic markers are appearing at each of the local cemeteries where Revolutionary War veterans are buried. Unveiling the new marker at Amenia Union Cemetery on Saturday, June 21, were left to right, Town Historian Betsy Strauss, Jim Middlebrook representing the regional chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Gail Seymour, President of the Union Cemetery Association.
AMENIA — One by one, new historic markers are appearing at local cemeteries where Revolutionary War dead are buried. On Saturday, June 21, community members gathered to see a new marker unveiled at Amenia Union Cemetery on Leedsville Road.
A tent provided welcome shade for the attendees and refreshments as about 30 residents gathered for the unveiling and to share stories of local history with one another.
As with the first historic market installation at the Old Amenia Burying Ground, held in April, Amenia Union Cemetery graves of Revolutionary War veterans had been marked with American flags in advance.
Jim Middlebrook, representing the Columbia Mid-Hudson chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, attended along with other members of his chapter. Speaking before the unveiling, Middlebrook said that the historic marker project had begun in August 2024, and included a detailed process to certify the names on the graves.
Middlebrook described the work of the William C. Pomeroy Foundation of Syracuse whose mission is to promote “pride of place” by providing grants in support of installing historic markers and plaques nationwide to honor patriots for their service. Active now in seven or eight states, Middlebrook said, the foundation will soon add Connecticut and Massachusetts to the list.
The new Amenia Union marker honors “at least five veterans of the American Revolution interred between 1787 and 1810,” although Town Historian Betsy Strauss lists six veterans buried in the cemetery. The sixth, Gerhard Winegar, whose burial had been in 1781 could not fully satisfy the certification standards.
Strauss provided the following listing of six names:
Col. Colbe Chamberlain, 1739-1796
Capt. William Chamberlain, 1745-1810
Lieut. Samuel Snyder, 1712-1808
Gerhard Winegar, 1750-1781
Ensign Henry Winegar, 1723-1787
Capt. William Young, 1747-1806
Bee Bee the clown, face painters and a community wide scavenger hunt are among the activities planned for the Millerton Street Fair in Downtown Millerton on Saturday, June 28.
MILLERTON — The Millerton News, in partnership with the North East Community Center (NECC) and the Millerton Business Alliance, is hosting its first Street Fair on Saturday in a celebration of the town.
Rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, the fair will bring together local nonprofits and businesses, with live music, entertainment, kids’ activities, local eats, and family fun in Veterans Park, in front of the Millerton Inn, and beyond.
“The Millerton Street Fair will celebrate everything we love about this community — its spirit, its dedication to service and its creative energy,” said James Clark, publisher and CEO of The Millerton News.
Local nonprofits will showcase their work and impact, including Climate Smart Millerton, Eddie Collins Memorial Park, North East Historical Society, Townscape, Tri-Corner FEED, Village of Millerton, and the Webutuck Elementary School.Participating businesses include Bes, Little Red Bird Studio, NBT, The Elephant’s Tusk, and many more.Local retail and dining establishments will be open with special promotions. NECC’s Farmer’s Market will run during the event.
Among the planned festivities are live music from John Stey and the Resilience Brass Band, performances from Bee Bee the Clown, face painting by students from Webutuck High School, and a community-wide scavenger hunt for kids.Other kids’ activities include egg and spoon races, and a “touch-a-truck” open house at the firehouse.The Irondale Schoolhouse will be hosting a special exhibit, and the North East-Millerton Library will be offering signups for the Summer Reading Program, a science show from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., lawn games, and a cookie cook-off.
For more information, go to millertonnews.com/street-fair.
The Nine Partners Road Quaker Meetinghouse, built in 1780, will be the site of two summer lectures sponsored by the Millbrook Historical Society.
MILLBROOK — Long in the planning, the Millbrook Historical Society has announced that it is sponsoring two lectures in observance of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Both lectures relating to Quaker history are to be held in the historic Quaker Meeting House on Nine Partners Road.
For the first talk, scheduled for Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m., the historical society has invited Sarah Gronningsater, Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, to talk on “Quakers, Anti-slavery, and the American Revolution.” The topic will explore the role that New York’s Quakers, especially in the Hudson Valley, played in the rise of the anti-slavery movement that followed the American Revolution.
The second talk, scheduled for Sunday, July 27, at 2 p.m., invites Carl Lounsbury of the College of William and Mary and Colonial Williamsburg to speak on the architecture of the Nine Partners Meetinghouse. His talk is titled, “Nine Partners Meetinghouse Plan: A New Form in the Hudson Valley.” Expert in early American architecture, Lounsbury’s talk will compare Nine Partners with other later houses of worship in New York and New England.
Both lecture events will be held at the 1780 brick Nine Partners Quaker Meetinghouse in Millbrook. An earlier meetinghouse on the site had burned. The building has remained largely unchanged since the 18th century.
Given the age of the structure, handicapped access is limited and there are no rest room facilities.
Visitors should enter through the cemetery gate entrance.
The lectures are free and open to all, supported by a grant from the county and offered as part of Dutchess County’s participation in the nation’s 250th anniversary commemoration.