Pancakes, Facelifts and Pet Crematory

The combination of the summer doldrums and a large agenda, because there is only 1 Planning Board Meeting scheduled in July (and in August), made the July 21 TOW Planning Board meeting particularly lugubrious - long pauses, hesitant remarks -- it was one step away from one of the members say "where am I, what am I doing here?" -- but they perservered and managed to get through the agenda.

Public Hearings

Kingdom Hall, on All Angels Hill Road, had submitted an amended site plan - replacing the building facade, a sign and lighting and parking lot changes. No public comment. The Board approved the waiver on the code requirement that lighting poles rented from Central Hudson comply with the height requirements (Central Hudson told the applicant they wouldn't change the poles, a nice demonstration of where the power, literally, is), the board approved the waiver required to increase the amount of footcandles of lighting from 5 foot candles to 7.5 foot candles of light at the northern entrance and the customizabe dimmer/motion detector for providing external lighting. The board directed the planner to prepare a resolution approving the ammended site plan.

T-Mobile Antenna Co-location at 30-40 Soccerfied Drive This request for a site plan amdendment does not change the height of the antenna, T-Mobile wants to install a wireless antenna on an existing monopole, increase the size of the concrete pad to 10'x15' and add a diesel generator. There was no public comment. The Board waived the requirement for an FR analysis and passed a motion to have the Planner prepare a resolution approving the ammended site plan.

Discussion

Old State Road - building remodel/restoration. With lasar like focus the town building department has been tracking the changes to a site with previously derelict buildings - counting the trees/shrubs in the landscape, the amount of paved area and the size of the refuse enclosure. The Applicant has been before the board several times explaining the site changes, has reviewed with the Storm Water Consultant/the Highway Supertindent and had his engineer document and explain the changes - most of which occured to accomodate new information found while doing the construction work -- and to accomodate storm damage to existing trees. The Board Ok'd the changes - and directed the planner to provide a draft resolution. The delays caused by this hypervigilence made the applicant request that he could get a Certificate of Occupancy on the residential building, because he had a potential renter who was desperate to get housing. The Board Ok'd that.

Hudson Valley Volkswagen - 1148 Route 9 - the applicant wants to amend the original site plan - to accomodate more parking/car storage, expand the service area and change the face of the building to have straight windows, rather than the current angled windows. The proposed parking solution requires filling in a storm water basin and putting in a drain system which will deal with the stormwater (the town engineer said this is well-proven technology). There are wetlands on an adjacent property - a long discussion ensued about the property line, getting information about someone else's property -- the building department head seem fluxmoxed by it all, the attorney had no comment -- and the chair of the Planning Board recalled that there was a proposal several years ago for developing the property in question - which required a biologist to weigh in - the suggestion was made that the applicant's engineer reach out to the biologist. One hopes that the town's records are organized enough to be able to provide that information.

Bank of America - 1469 Route 9 - the applicant wants to install a chain link fence (black with black slates) around a trash enclousre, resleeve exisitng bollards and sealcoat the paving area. The applicant had been before the board in a previous meeting to discuss other changes to lighting and building facade -- which the engineer kept emphasizing that those changes WERE NOT part of this amendment, despite some members of the board wanting to include those changes in this discussion. The board waived the requirement for a public hearing and approved the planner prepare a draft resolution approving the amendment (it is really not clear if these maintenance items are really worthy of the expense and resources to require a site plan amendment).

Village Pancake Factory - 1099 Route 9 - for some reason, some members of the board were interested in the other locations (Pleasant Valley, and at one time in the Galleria) - which really have no bearing on the plan to refashion the building into a pancake restaurant and event space. The owner wants to put in a 14' internally lit sign declaring this critical to his business (the code allows 10'). The board/building department kept pitching softballs to him to explain that it isn't allowed, but he "could " develop reasons where and exception or waiver "could" be granted. The applicant is doing extensive interior work -- and wants to start doing exterior work - changing siding, replacing windows with a different style, changing the landscape, replacing awnings, replacing lighting. Long discussion about septic size, recommendations from Board of Health etc. etc. Please remember this is their first time in front of the board. The applicant then applied pressure to the board to allow him to go ahead with the changes - and were they ok with his choices - because he wants to get the business open. Everyone understands that -- but then, plan AHEAD, and bring your proposal to the board EARLIER. But the board, hungry to get their pancakes, decided to wink, wink, nod, nod -- go ahead with the changes at "his own risk." So without an approved site amendment or a public hearing -- here we go.... what could possibly go wrong?

Architectural Review

Skin by Eve Facade - 735 Sgt. Palmateer Way -- (which is on the border with the village - so back story.. .the contractor went to the village re: Permits, was told he didn't need any... so started on the job -- replacing the siding -- and was shut down by the Town's buidling department). Can we make all of this any more complicated for people trying to improve their properties. So the Board, after the engineer sat through the whole meeting at this point - decided that the planned siding job is acceptable. Yea!

Conceptual Review

Heavenly Hearts Pet Crematory - 72 Airport Drive - The applicant is seeking a special use permit to put a Pet Crematory at the location. The facilities will not require water beyond bathrooms servicing the office, the proposed facilities meet DEC requirements (the height of the chimney will depend on the pitch of the roof on the building. A Public Hearing will be scheduled.

Extensions

Torregrossa Subdivision - 271 All Angles Hill Road - 3 lot subdivision on 5.67 acres. Extension requested (to begin retroactively from January 2025 through January 2026) to allow for compliance review and sign-off from town consultants. The board approved -- but retroactive extensions are really "interesting" Were the town consultants holding this up? How retroactive can one go? Why not -- do not pass, go back to start?

CarMax Auto Superstore - 1105-1115 Route 9 - the engineer sat through the whole meeting for the 30 seconds it took for the board to approve the extenstion from August 6, 2025 through August 5, 2026. They are working to satisfy the BOH and Planning Board conditions re: sewer/water of the original resolution.