Pools, ponds and problems for Washington Planning Board

WASHINGTON — The Washington Planning Board met on Tuesday, Aug. 3, with an agenda that concerned a mining operation, a swimming pool, a land division and patios with tree removals.

The first matter on the agenda was old business, a request to relocate an existing common driveway involving Bancroft Farms and RDR Millbrook Properties on Verbank Road. This matter has already had a public hearing that had closed. Chris Lapine of the engineering firm, Chazen Companies, was on hand to speak about the details of the project. The request to relocate the driveway was granted.

The second matter involved the Mailman Conservation Area Project, which is requesting a special use permit for 113 Woodstock Road by the Chatillon Realty Corporation. Christopher  Mailman has applied to re-adapt a former mine, about 35 acres in size, into a conserved area of woodland meadow with about 20 acres of open water and a shallow wetland for maximum biodiversity.

In order for this to happen, Mailman wants to remove up to 2 million tons of sand and gravel through a mining process that would involve trucks and heavy duty equipment traveling on local roads to haul out the materials. He said traffic flow would not be greatly impacted, according to studies he has had done. The property has a view of a waterfall. The project involves a 350-foot stretch of Shaw Creek.

It was brought to the board’s  attention one of Mailman’s neighbor would be subject to trucks passing their home a reported 35 times a day, with the prime egress to Mailman’s property being on Route 82.

According to the application, no regulated wetlands are within the area that is to be disturbed. Additionally, the applicant said the water should drain internally. Mailman also said no processing of the sand or gravel would be done on site and the drivers would not be based there. He added work hours would be between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Mailman’s request; it said the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will need to weight in on the request, which will also have to go before the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).

A request for a waiver of a public hearing was made by Apollo Millbrook Trust for a lot-line revision. The revised tax parcels would be compliant with the requirements of the Rural Residential and Land Conservation Zoning Districts, apparently, and no new tax parcels would be created. The application and escrow fees have been paid and the board approved the request.

David Mellins applied for a Wetlands and Water Course Permit for his property at 119 North Mabbettsville Road for the removal of ash trees killed or debilitated by emerald ash bore. He is also seeking to remove some sugar maples he said threaten electric poles and lines, as well as his house and deck.

Mellins said he wants to thin the trees’ branches and understory to improve the view of a waterfall, and to construct two patios connected by a cement walkway.

The board was told that his neighbors had reported Mellins for taking down several trees, chipping the wood from those trees and disposing the wood chips in the creek.

Mellins was asked to cease and desist all activity until a wetlands and waterway permit is issued or authorization from the town obtained. Mellins reportedly did not complete the application properly and was told to resubmit it.

The last item on the agenda was a request to install an in-ground pool at 580 Oak Summit Road by Marcia Renert. On July 27, Renert submitted an application to the town, paid the $600 fee and assumed she could install her pool. She thought she needed only a 50-foot buffer zone; she offered to move the pool as far as she could or re-situate it. She got the permit, she said, and then hired a contractor to install the  pool on Aug. 5.

When her neighbors found out, they complained because Renert’s property is considered wetlands. Renert was told to go to the Planning Board. The board discovered she also filled out her application erroneously and also must appeal to the ZBA before return to the Planning Board.

Renert seemed visibly upset, as she had already paid the pool company and town permit fee and has to cancel or postpone the installation. It could take until October until the Planning Board reviews her application.    

The next Planning Board meeting is set for Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall or via Zoom. For more information and the Zoom link, go to www.washingtonny.org.

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