Two lightly-attended public hearings, the Buttermilk Falls expansion project and the proposed solar farm on Bingham Road dominated the Marlborough Planning Board’s Monday, July 15 meeting.

 

A public hearing took place on a proposal for the restart of the Marlboro-on-the-Hudson condominium complex at the corner of South Street and Highland Avenue. The original proposal called for a total of 36 condos as well as a clubhouse and pool, which would be built under the restarted plan. The original developer stopped construction at just 12 units because of the 2008 recession and the consequent real-estate market downturn. 

 

“The Board heard concerns from two residents who had issues with drainage and questioned whether the applicant was authorized to be completing site work without receiving approvals,” noted Planning Board Chairman Chris Brand. However, the project requires coverage under a construction stormwater permit from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, copies of which must be received prior to the developer’s plans getting the final okay to proceed. 

 

The Planning Board will assist in the DEC MS4 acceptance form, which is key to the state permitting process. Ultimately, the Board voted unanimously to authorize its attorney to draft a resolution of approval for its next meeting, which is scheduled for their attorney to draft a Resolution of Approval for the next meeting, which is scheduled for August 5.

 

A public hearing also took place regarding a subdivision proposal for DiViesti Drive, but there were no public comments. In reviewing the proposal, the Planning Board discussed ongoing issues with the number of proposed lots utilizing a private road. Applicants Michael and Jennifer DiViesti were advised to rectify this issue prior to receiving approval.

 

The Planning Board continued its review of the multipart expansion at the Buttermilk Farms complex in Milton. “The Planning Board moved to act as the lead agency for this project,” noted Chairman Chris Brand. “In addition, a revised stormwater pollution prevention plan has been submitted and is under review by us.”

 

A public hearing has been scheduled to take place on Monday, August 5. This date coincides with the date for the board’s next meeting.

 

The owners of Buttermilk Farms have unveiled an ambitious expansion plan that would, if okayed by the town, be completed in stages. The popular bed-and-breakfast inn would be expanded to include a new 65-room hotel facility, 35 guest cabins, a 60-seat restaurant, and a 300-seat banquet facility. As part of that, the owners’ plans have been scrutinized by Poughkeepsie engineering firm Creighton Manning for their impact on local infrastructure and the environment.

 

Of note, the town’s code enforcement officer, Tom Corcoran, and Milton Fire Chief Stephan Rivecchio, recently okayed a proposed 15-foot-wide fire access road for the complex. Both noted that it complies with state regulations. 

 

Still outstanding are reviews by the state’s Department of Environmental Compliance of the water and sewer systems, and approval by the state’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation. That state office reviews projects such as this for their impact on lands in New York that may be of archaeological significance.

 

The complex’s new stormwater plan also includes a provision increasing the frequency of site inspections for stormwater discharge. Under this rule, the inspections would need to take place at least twice every seven calendar days. The inspections would also have to be separated by a minimum of two calendar days. 

 

ELP Marlborough Solar’s plans for a solar farm on Bingham Road is also making its way through the application-review process. Those plans were first unveiled in March.

 

“The applicants have submitted the interconnection agreement between the project and the utility [Central Hudson],” Brand noted. This document is currently under review by the Planning Board’s attorney. 

 

Among other concerns, the Board discussed the project’s stormwater pollution prevention plan, the property’s contours and the angles proposed for the solar arrays, a proposed landscaping plan and whether existing fruit trees will stay, and a glare study conducted by the project team. The applicants have also said they intend to conduct visual simulations of the project’s visual impacts. The Board further directed ELP Marlborough Solar to obtain a signoff or comment letter from the responsible emergency-services agency.

 

Finally, the Board scheduled a public hearing for August 5 regarding a two-lot subdivision proposed by property owner John Mazza for 2 Dragotta Road.