CarMax, Solar Panels, Monopole coming to town - Planning Board April 3

During the Public Hearing at the April 3 Planning Board Meeting, the CarMax Spokesperson waxed eloquently about how long they have been planning the project for the Wappingers Falls Store, how wonderful it has been to work with the board and the town's professionals -- and a resident plaintively asked "When do I, as a 52 year resident of the town, get to ask questions, get my voice heard". And she is right, while the Public Hearing is the designated time for residents to voice their opinion... it is very late in the planning process - when large investments have been made by the developers, when the planning board has been briefed on all the professional opinions and understand the trade-offs and design/technical decisions. "Allowing" residents to express their concerns and questions at the tail end of the planning process.... just before approval... and viewing them with sympathetic, but unmoving gazes does not make residents feel like they are part of a community or matter in the community that they have built and continue to contribute to.

So despite concerns about water, view sheds and traffic.... the project is moving ahead... public hearing has adjourned to May 1.

The Town Attorney offered his advice on Landscaping Options for the Myers Corners Solar Farm which also had a Public Hearing.

A Subdivision on Ketchamtown Road was approved - splitting 34.4 acres into two building lots.

The Tassone Court Site Plan for the Route 9 property was approved.

After discovering that the requirement for a sidewalk at the 2321-2325 Route 9D property was going to cost at least $40,000 (the length, utility poles, repositioning guy wires etc) the property owners requested that the planning board revise the approval enabling them to provide an easement for a sidewalk, or if additional uses to the property are requested in the future a sidewalk . The board seems obsessed with the Town's comprehensive plan objective of making Hughsonville a walkable hamlet - thus requiring sidewalks - which was a very nice objective before they approved a large scale gasoline station in the middle of the hamlet -- not known as a destination for pedestrians, unless they have run out of gas. The planning board granted the applicant's request.

Verizon presented a plan to test siting for a 120 foot monopole on Diddell road -- using a 3 foot balloon - preferably before the leaves emerge on trees.

After sitting for more than 2 hours, the Heritage restaurant spokesperson presented their plan to install a pergola around their patio, replacing umbrellas -- which can cause problems when very windy or stormy.