Mid Hudson Times Jan. 25 2017 | Page 2

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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , January 25 , 2017

PUBLIC AGENDA

THURSDAY , JANUARY 26

Town of Newburgh ZBA , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 1496 Route 300 , Town of Newburgh . Newburgh Enlarged City School District Board of Education , 6 p . m . Board of Education Auditorium , 124 Grand St ., Newburgh ( Postponed from an earlier date )

MONDAY , JANUARY 30

New Windsor Town Board work session , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 555 Union Ave ., New Windsor .

WEDNESDAY , FEBRUARY 1 New Windsor Town Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 555 Union Ave ., New Windsor .

THURSDAY , FEBRUARY 2 Town of Newburgh Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 1496 Route 300 , Town of Newburgh

By LAUREN BERG

The Town of Newburgh Planning Board Meeting held this past Thursday night , which included the swearing in of its chairman John P . Ewasutyn , focused heavily on the visual impact clear-cutting lots will create on the town .

Costubbs LLC is applying to clear and grade a 3.5-acre area in the southeast corner of a 5.6-acre lot on 2 Lakeside road . The proposed area is bordered by Route 17k and Interstate 84 and is highly visible from both the Lakeside Road / Route 17k intersection and the Interstate 84 westbound off ramp . There is a NYSDEC freshwater wetland located in the center of the area that will be exempt from the clearing . The company has been undecided as of this past Thursday as to what level of clear-cutting it would do in this area . Representative of Costubbs Darren C . Doce , an engineer with Doce Associates , stated at the board meeting that his client initially wanted to cut the trees while leaving behind the stumps , but now they are unsure and may remove the stumps as well , deferring to the recommendation of the planning board . Patrick J . Hines , planning board consultant with McGoey , Hauser and Edsall Consulting Engineers , has commented in the Technical Review on the project that leaving the tree stumps would help eliminate soil disturbance , but would also create a “ significant visual impact on the very busy intersection .”

The proposal has faced additional questions from the planning board members . Concern was raised by board member Frank S . Galli as to the prospect of the property sitting unsold for a long time , “ It could sit that way for a year or two years , and we are concerned about what that is going to look like if it ’ s not sold ...[ it ’ s ] right in a prime location coming off 84 .”

Doce has stated that they “ don ’ t have an immediate buyer ” for the property , but that clearing the lot would “ make it more marketable .” Recalling a previous case where similarly a lot was cleared speculatively , but then sat so long that it had to be cleared a second time before it was finally developed , Hines has suggested preserving large diameter trees in bulk setback areas , particularly along the portion where the I-84 ramp

Board member Kenneth Mennerich has agreed with Hines , and has noted that there could be potential for a buffer zone of trees left standing , at least until it ’ s known what kind of development will occur there . He referenced the former Marketplace development site , which initially had a huge buffer of trees along the property ’ s borders with route 300 and Interstate 84 . He added that when the Marketplace project moved forward and cut down those swaths of trees , and then was hit with further delays , locals have since noticed , and have asked “ why is it left all open like that ?”

Ewasutyn has emphasized the importance of coming to a solution that addresses the concerns of visual impact while also satisfying the interests of Costubbs . “ It needs to be a balance at this site ” Ewasutyn said .

In response to these concerns , the board has decided to schedule a public hearing on February 16 to address the clear-cutting proposal and other possible solutions for the 2 Lakeside property .

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The Mid Hudson Times , ( USPS 000-5947 ) is a weekly newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh , NY 12550 , with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , NY . Single copy : $ 1 at newsstand . By mail in Orange , Ulster or Sullivan Counties : $ 40 annually , $ 44 out of county . Periodicals permit at Newburgh , NY . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Mid Hudson Times , 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , NY 12550

Bob McCormick

The Vails Gate Fire Department responded to a head on collision on Route 747 in New Windsor on January 19 . A tractor trailer and a motor vehicle crashed head on . Two people were taken to Saint Lukes Cornwall Hospital by New Windsor EMS . New Windsor Police were assisted at the scene by New York State Police and members of the State Police Commercial enforcement unit checking the tractor trailer . New Windsor Police are investigating the accident .