Land to be Restored! and a Lesson Learned...

The July 12 Planning Board Meeting Agenda ended with a lawyer representing Chelsea Farm Subdivision - in which a 17 lot subdivision on 186.8 Acres in Chelsea was approved in 2014. This has been a long saga -- in which permission was given to clear the land... resulting in a moonscape appearance along Chelsea Road. There have been multiple extensions and the board had made it clear at the last appearance... no more extensions (and learned a bit of a lesson that approvals in perputity are not a good thing). The lawyer representing the applicant/owner asked for an extension at this point -- so that trees can be planted on the property in September (planting season) ... and that they will not be seeking an extension on the subdivision project. It is unclear what the long-term outcome will be for the property, but in the short-term, trees will be planted -- and if the current owner/future owner wants to subdivide or build on the property, the application process will have to begin anew. So yea for land restoration.

The meeting began, after a particularly fiesty workshop - which is open to the public, but not recorded, in which the process of notifications of town board actions seemed to be in dispute - but it seems as though it is now straightened out, with two public hearings.

Public Hearing #1

561-563 Old State Road Amended Site Plan. Updated plans for reclaiming currently derelict buildings into housing/small office space were presented. Some discussion about where gravel parking area is to be placed and additional suggestions for bollards around the refuse collection area occured. There were no public comments at the public hearing and the board approved a resolution for the planner to draft a resolution approving the project, with some conditions to be voted on at the next planning board meeting. It will be nice to see that property renewed.

Public Hearing #2

Central Hudson Gas & Electric - Chelsea HPFF DC Cable Terminal Replacement at 114 Carnwath Farms Lane. Additional details redgarding DEC, State Historic Preservation Office etc. were presented by the engineers, including a wetland evaluation report. There were no public comments during the public hearing, and the board approved a resolution for the planner to draft a resolution approving the project, including condition re: treatment of the wetlands.

The Suben, LLC Subdivision on New Hackensack Road and Widmer Lane, in which the public hearing was held and closed, where the applicant would like to subdivide into 2 residential lots, the engineer explained that the drainage plan will help the wetlands and will mitigate flooding issues which have affected neighbors in the past. The applicant agreed with the draft resolution approving the project, and the board voted and approved the resolution.

Then a very convoluted discussion occured concerning a small building at 2346 Route 9D (the former Trim-a-Cake Shop in Hughsonville). The owner had rented the building to a woman who was providing cyrotherapy services in the building. Prior to this rental, the building had been used for Retail Sales (Trim-a-Cake, Cabinets) which predated Zoning Laws. There was a long discussion about parking, easements etc. - with the explanation that the current use would require 1 car for the business owner/provider of service, 1 car for the client and potentially one other car for a waiting client.

The Concern brought to the board by the Town's Building Department was that a change in use from "Retail" to "Spa" -- could set a precedent for a Nail/Hairdressing business in the future which could potentially mean more customers/more cars... In the next breath, it was stated that the building is only 750 square feet, so that there is no potential for additional services with the current business (so why would not the same circumstances of 1 hairdresser, 1 nail technician not also apply? - that question wasn't asked) -- So, then, the leader of the building department convinced herself (this is with very little comment from the planning board) that the business could be considered an "office" -- so that it would be within the current code -- so everything is fine. The owner of the building/the lawyer accompanying him and the planning board, all a little dazed by this point, seemed happy with this conclusion. And the stop work order on the business, who was continuing to pay rent, will be lifted. Yea for small business!

A discussion of the proposed code changes - (see the Town Board meetings/summaries for the details) then occured -- with a decision that the Planning Board will meet on July 23 at 5:00 PM to discuss proposed Local Laws #2 & #3. This meeting is open to the public, but not for public comment (the time for that is the Public Hearing on August 19).

After the meeting was adjourned - the head of the building department mentioned that A&W scrapyard on Route 9D has new owners and that according to owner that the DEC is very happy with them (there have been ongoing issues at the site). She would like to allow them to continue to operate, the board requested that a note from the DEC be provided as well as a review with board in the future.

It was also reported at this time, that the Licari subdivision on Middlebush Road has not received permission to connect with Tri-Muni Sewer Complex. A Septic System will have to be considered.