After a brief public hearing at its November 13 meeting, the Marlborough Town Board okayed a measure to alter the boundary spaces allowable between buildings on multifamily building sites greater than 20 acres in size.

 

The new regulation is known as Local Law No. 5 of 2023, and specifically amends Chapter 155, zoning article VI, of the town’s zoning code. In section 155-30(B) of the code covering design standards, the new rule only alters part four; parts one through three remain unchanged, as do lot, yard and density rules covered under section 155-30(A).

 

The new rule codifies a limit of 15 feet between multifamily structures on parcels in excess of 20 acres; the rules remain unchanged for parcels below 20 acres. The new rule further stipulates that such structures must be built in accordance with the New York State Residential Building Code.

 

“We’re not doing anything outside of New York State code [with the new rule],” said Town Supervisor Scott Corcoran. “We’re making our code more friendly to folks who want to do business in our community.”

 

“Are both fire chiefs on board with this?” asked Mici Simonofsky, chair of the town’s Conservation Commission. Corcoran responded that they are and noted that the measure has been determined to pose no significant adverse effects as outlined by the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act.

 

The measure was submitted to the Town Board by attorney Mark Blanchard of Blanchard Wilson, based in White Plains, in the interest of a site-plan applicant. “We are finalizing our site plan now, and will be before your Planning Board very soon,” Blanchard said. 

 

Among other key actions, the Town Board also approved a resolution accepting the donation by Jeffrey Aldrich of the 5.22-acre Young’s Park to the town. Previously, the town leased the parcel from Aldrich on a yearly basis for youth baseball and softball. As a town-owned field, Young’s Park will continue that mission, and Aldrich’s donation will be commemorated in a plaque at the park.

 

The resolution also approved reimbursing Aldrich for engineering, recording or other fees incurred in transferring the parcel to the town. The Board set a limit of $16,000, though the actual amount of those fees is expected to be considerably lower. The fair market value of the property is $57,000.

 

The Board okayed the hiring of Michael Troncillito and Emily Aldrich as part-time police officers for the town. Tronicillito has already completed phase one of police training at Ulster County Community College; he required sponsorship for phase two, which takes place at the Ulster County Police Academy. His goal is to become a full-time police officer.

 

Aldrich has been a full-time dispatcher for the Marlborough Police Department for the past two years. In being hired as a part-time officer, the Department will sponsor Aldrich for both phases of police training. Aldrich’s family has an extensive history of police work, and she also plans a career as a full-time officer.

 

Among other measures, the Town Board approved the hiring of Coupart Construction Company for remaining construction work on the town’s Community and Recreation Center on Route 9W. Coupart’s bid of $249,760 was the lowest submitted. Corcoran said the remodeled building is on target for a spring 2024 completion. The Board also okayed a resolution authorizing Corcoran to sign a contract with Ulster County for energy-efficient lighting and other improvements at Young’s Park and Cluett-Schantz Park. The County allotted the town with $100,000 in funding from grant money it received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for these purposes.