Millbrook village trustees and Planning Board meet together

MILLBROOK — After a regular village Planning Board meeting Thursday, May 27, when the members considered the plans for the erection of a new golf building at the Millbrook Golf and Tennis Club, the three village trustees and Mayor Laura Hurley joined them around the table at Village Hall for a joint session.

There was complete agreement that village parking remains the “biggest lame turkey,� and Trustee Stan Morse distributed an information package containing documents dating back to 1984. Hurley described the limitation on parking on new business applications as “difficult and controversial.�

“The Village Board is criticized as being unfriendly to business and I don’t understand why,� Hurley said.

The creation of a new, more flexible law was discussed as a possibility. There are two new business applications that have no parking spots, which will be coming before the Planning Board soon. Morse mentioned that the revival of downtown Saratoga began with abolishing parking regulations.

As the group grew more comfortable talking with each other, Joe Still said that in the past the relationship between the planning and the village boards “got to the point of animosity.�

“It’s silly not to have a dialogue,� agreed Hurley.

A report in The Millbrook Independent that Hurley was planning on appointing new Planning Board members reportedly upset the current board members who have been serving together for a long time.

Hurley said that she had already asked Linda Roberts, who was not present, to continue to serve as chairman. She further explained that she would be sitting down with each of the board members separately and that no decisions on reappointments would be made until another trustee was appointed to the Village Board. Hurley added that she welcomed the attendance of all Planning Board members at regular village trustee meetings.

Bennett College was brought up at the meeting.

“We followed the law,� said Still. “We are accused of having agendas. I’ve never gotten any new customers from being on this board. Because of this board I’ve lost customers.�

Dr. Thomas Murray, a gynecologist in the village, observed that being a member of the Planning Board has never affected his business, and his colleague, Joe Forte, claimed that he had actually picked up a few new clients as a result of his service.

Hurley brought up the issue of revising the comprehensive plan, which was last done in 1985.

“We need an update,� she said. “But we’re not ready for a full-blown plan yet.�

The group also touched on the recent oil spill in the village. Hurley brought the Planning Board up to date on the history of the spill, the lack of insurance coverage for pollutants, the absence of regulation on the companies that certified the oil tanks for the village, and the probable necessity to issue a long-term bond to pay for the remediation.

Thoughts on the prospects for the Thorne Building were also exchanged, with all present agreeing that it was a no-lose situation for the village, and hoping for the building’s success as a cultural and performing arts center. Hurley confirmed that no new lease had been signed yet and that negotiations are continuing with the Downings, with the cost of heating remaining an issue.

After the conversation with the Planning Board, the village trustees met together to discuss next steps on the oil spill. A public hearing on the Golf and Tennis Club structure was set for Thursday, June 24, which is the date of the next regularly scheduled village Planning Board meeting.

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