CarMax Sidewalk, Verizon & a Sugar Shack

The June 13th Planning Board Meeting was conducted in the Town Hall Senior Center - because the Large Meeting Room normally used has been reserved for voting - creating an amateurish tone to what are serious discussions. The Planning Board members soldiered on and did the best they could, but really, couldn't a better solution be found? At least remove the tables crammed into the Senior Center. Sitting among partially completed puzzles, with cheery decorations and no clear pathways for walking to a speaking position is just unacceptable.

There were two adjourned public hearings:

1) Bertero Subdivision on Stonykill Road. This application is taking the long road through the process, creating memory gaps and disconnects in the discussions. It has been confirmed that the wetlands have a Federal Designation - but there has been no DEC correspondence yet, a calculation for the amount of disturbance is required, a demo permit for an existing garage, and sign-off from fire prevention bureau is needed. This to divide 6.21 acres into 2 lots. The hearing has again been postponed to July 17th.

2) CarMax Auto Superstore. After the 11th hour request for CarMax to arrange for a sidewalk on Smithtown Road, the applicant conducted a traffic study and returned with two plans - one for the North Side of Smithtown Road and one for the South Side of Smithtown Road.

The northside plan would be contained within a Town Easement.... and is where the 6 people who were noted walking on Smithtown in two hours were walking to go to walk North on Route 9 (where there are no pedestrian paths, crosswalks or sidewalks.) The Southside Option will require utility pole changes, drainage and modifications to the CarMax Site Plan. A neighbor also sent in a request to have larger shrubs planted on the property line and that the waiver for higher light poles, despite all the design work to limit any light spillage and a reduction in the number of light poles be denied. The engineer, working on behalf of the town, clearly had not prepared to evaluate the plans submitted by CarMax... the tension in the room increased because CarMax's engineering/planning costs to comply with the Town's requests that were not articulated at the outset are clearly increasing. The Traffic study also determined that there would not be a problem with cars stacking at the light on Smithtown and Route 9. Clue to Town Professionals -- when you are subbing for someone else... please do your homework and review the previous meetings videos so you are current with the discussions ... fumbling is not a good look for the town. This required an executive session. And the board returned deciding that a sidewalk on the Southside of the property, the more expensive version, would be required, on CarMax property, with an easement allowing public access to the sidewalk. If people use the sidewalk, they will have to cross at the light - where there are no pedestrian lights or markings on Route 9. CarMax could probably offer lifetime Uber rides to the people who want to walk on the Southside of Smithtown Road and it would be a less expensive option.

The Board did agree with the light pole waiver (there has been nothing presented contradicting the lighting expert's findings that this design will provide much reduced light spillage) and a waiver for the employee parking dimensions. The Board agreed to the town planner drafting a conditional approval with a negative declaration and the applicant will make a final submission to the town's professional staff.

Next on the agenda - Discussions - Verizon has plans for Wappingers.

A previously discussed project to put a wireless service facility off of Diddell Road was reviewed. A balloon test was conducted in May and 64 photos from around the area were taken with only 7 showing partial visibility of the balloon. It was confirmed that the balloon was NOT visible from the Rail Trail.

The Planning Board then mentioned that they have yet to find an appropriately credentialed subject matter expert to help them review this application (something they mentioned in a previous meeting months ago -- who are taking these actions and following up?). The Verizon spokesperson then helpfully mentioned someone who has very good credentials. The Town engineer then chimed in that the person has been working with other municipalities in the area. Everyone cheerily agreed that the individual was great. The individual is surely a very nice, qualified person - but it has yet to be established if they are best to represent the interests of the Town of Wappinger residents - who will be paying his bill.

Verizon then presented two other new projects for "small cell" facilities which are mounted on wooden utility poles - the poles are 43' high with an antenna on top. These can't be placed on existing poles because existing poles co-locate with Central Hudson Gas & Electric services. The town attorney /town planner noted (again) that the Town Code regarding new utility technologies is out of date and doesn't appropriately handle these kind of requests. For example balloon tests, decommissioning plans etc. are not appropriate for the small cell facilities or the updated Federal telecommunication act provisions, and the town doesn't review the installation of regular utility poles. (Again, who is taking notes and following up on these kinds of actions?). The two locations are at the intersection of Kent Road and Baldwin Drive ... and the other at the intersection of Spook Hill road and Nancy Aleen Drive (this is NOT to be at the Spook Hill Park as noted in the Planning board agenda, the Verizon spokesperson said they say out of Parks.

At long last, the head of Randolph School on Route 9D explained that the school installed Lean-to sheds (8' x 12') during the pandemic lock-down, enabling them to continue their lessons and programs throughout the lock-downs. These were placed at the back of their property and 1 may be visible from Route 9D when there aren't leaves on the trees. They would also like to install a 16' x 24' Sugar Shack to be used during Maple Syrup Season to house the evaporating equipment - and during other times of years would also be used for education purposes. This building would be visible from Hunter's Creek. The board seemed amenable to these plans.

Myers Run, LLC Subdivision on Myers Corner Road requested and was granted an extension on the final subdivision application because they are waiting for the Health Department and Department of Public Works reviews. This is for a 12 lot single family subdivision on 22.9 acres.