A better way?
Developer challenges Marlborough planners on road siting

by David Decker Highland Mid Hudson Post February 10, 2006

The developer of the proposed Prospect Ridge subdivision wants time to prove his plan is better than the planning board's view.
The eight-lot proposal for Prospect Street near the hamlet of Marlboro is just the first phase with up to 30 more homes possible in the second stage. At Monday, Feb. 6's meeting of the Marlborough Planning Board, Bill James of W.E. James Engineering Associates and attorney Ken Stenger objected to the board's concern on the placement of a proposed road that would lead to phase two of their projects.
At last month's public hearing on the project, several residents and board members said a proposed road cut was dangerously located near a blind curve. Board engineer Patrick Hines and Chairman Joe Porco both visited the site since then and agreed the proposed town road should be moved farther north. The eight lots would also have driveways entering Prospect Street. With 35 of 43 acres left over, the preliminary plan shows a potential full-build out plan that could significantly increase the hamlet population and traffic if even completed. James and Stenger are also resisting designing the driveways for the first eight come off the rear of the property onto what would eventually become a town road serving the rest of the subdivision.
"I've walked the whole area," said Porco. "Where the entrance is planned now it the worst sight distance."
Porco is also opposed to the future subdivision road connecting with McLaughlin Drive, because he believes it would draw traffic away from the center of the business section of town
James said the entrance road was placed with the second phase in mind due to slope inclines. Moving it to the area suggested by Hines would disrupt the project's concept, all of which is likely to change anyway. "We have to come back with data to support our view that will avoid a radical redesign," added Stenger. The attorney persisted that the lack of adequate sight distance is a subjective view which might be disproved with objective data they will try to provide. Stenger continued that the back lots should not be affected by the first eight lots and both should be handled independently.
"I'm just trying to get a balance struck," said Stenger.
A full environmental review is necessary because, said Hines, "It's clear the intention here is that the subdivision will continue after this project." Despite Stenger's objection, the board left the public hearing open again until the March 6 meeting.

PUPPY PRODUCTION
Planner and surveyor Patty Brooks represented Thomas Montanya who wants to build a dog kennel on his Plattekill Road property. He wants to raise and sell pug, schnauzer and dachshund puppies. While it is an allowed use on a longtime farm where animal husbandry is already in effect, town police and the Ulster County SPCA issued Montana tickets just four days prior to the meeting for 41 unlicensed dog violations. Porco said the plan cannot proceed until the violations are cleared. Brooks said the kennel would have its own septic system for washing and waste removal, which is not required by either town codes or state agricultural and markets laws. "That's going to require some research," replied Hines.

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