On-going saga of parking at Hudson Valley Volkswagen

Oct 23

2 min read

The October 19th Planning Board meeting Agenda consisted of 5 items for discussion, with the start of the meeting delayed as the board went into a client/attorney session to discuss the Downey Lawsuit.

The Board voted to accept the Planner's resolution to create a 2-lot subdivision on 7.497 acres at 340 River Road, South.
Wappingers Fresh Market - a proposed amended site plan at 1604 Route 9 - was reviewed. Discussion about number of parking spaces, county's recommendation to change 1 way entrance, to extend sidewalks etc. At the next Planning Board meeting a Public Hearing will be scheduled.
Then a very long discussion with the engineer for the Amended site plan for Hudson Valley Volkswagen. Apparently all car dealers are accomodating a change in business requirements that is pushing them to have more inventory "instantly" available -- meaning that they are parking cars in areas that have been designated as landscaped space on their approved site plans. The Planning Board was pushing to have some kind of barrier installed - guardrails, large rocks etc -- with the owners pushing back because they want the flexiblity to push snow there when clearing their lots. So around and around the conversation went... until the board directed the planner to draft a resolution to be voted on at the next board meeting.
Mr. O'Donnell of Wheeler Hill Road wants to divide 10.20 acres at 660 Wheeler Hill Road into two lots. The division would require the demolition of a house on the property, currently rented, which he stated was in disrepair. He has received approval for a second driveway, expects to connect town water (the town board needs to approve the additional connection), the BOH has been working with him re: siting of septic. Mr. O'donnell plans to put easements on the property to ensure that the view shed is preservered for neighbors. A Public Hearing for November 16 was scheduled. The board indicated that any new buildings would be subjected to architectural review.
The consolidation of two lots at 97 New Hamburg Road, previously approved by the board but never executed on was also on the agenda. Since the application timed out the applicants have to go through the process again, requesting the merging of two lots into 1 lot. The board approved the planner to write a draft resolution approving the merger of the lots.

Then - because of an action the board took in their last meeting - -directing an application to get an interretation of a variance from the Zoning Board -- was determined to be inappropriate (the ZBA interprets the code.. not the variance) -- the board rescinded that resolution. Not exactly sure where that leaves the applicant (a request to allow a plumber to use the garage space recently made available). More to come...