Carvel's environmental impact questioned


PINE PLAINS — Planning Board members meeting March 14 briefly discussed the proposed Carvel development of 951 homes.

At a January meeting, archaeological consultant for the town Christopher Lindner told the board that Carvel’s study of the site left something to be desired. He said the team’s criteria for digging (parcels that lie within 100 feet of bodies of water and less than 12 percent slopes) was too restrictive.

Additionally, New York state requires that 16 test holes be dug per acre on a parcel that may be archaeologically significant.

Carvel did about a quarter of that, Lindner said.

Archaeological review partly consists of two phases — 1b and 2 — the former being reconnaissance, the latter site evaluation.

Lindner strongly suggested Carvel conduct both tests as soon as possible.

However, the camp said it thought a phase 2 study could be deferred until after the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), a document required by the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), is deemed complete by the board, partially indicating the project will not harm the environment.

When discussion that night passed the two-hour mark, both the board and Carvel’s representatives agreed to seek the advice of the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) on survey criteria, the amount of tests that need to be conducted and when Carvel should proceed with the two phases.

Chapter 6 of Carvel’s DEIS is dedicated to archaeology.

Carvel is in the process of retooling the DEIS, which was deemed incomplete by the board last April, so the Planning Board can start its completeness review.


Discussion


Last Wednesday night, board Chairman Don Bartles Jr. noted that a recent roundtable discussion among Carvel, the board, Attorney to the Town of Pine Plains Warren Resplansky and the board’s consultants gave Carvel "a good idea of where we’re at."

The chairman said the last meeting, which was dominated by back and forth between Lindner and Carvel’s archaeologist and whether or not SHPO should be contacted, was "confusing." He said he hopes most of the outstanding issues will be cleared up when Carvel makes a presentation at the board’s April 14 meeting.

"We can’t provide a presentation tonight, but we’ll work with you folks to give you what you need," said Nelson Johns, Carvel’s legal representation.

"I thought you were going to respond to Christopher Lindner’s letter," board member Jon DePreter said to Johns, as well as Alex Durst, the son of Carvel developer Douglas Durst.

"I think that’s what the presentation will include," Bartles said.

The DEIS has been significantly retooled since it was deemed incomplete by the board last April.

The re-submittal was a "rolling submission," meaning that chapters were handed in one or two at a time, not all at once.

Since then, the board’s consultants, primarily Town Planner Nan Stolzenberg and Town Engineer Ray Jurkowski, have been reviewing the chapters and submitting comments to the board.

"Our goal is to get the DEIS in shape," Johns said, noting that Stolzenberg, Jurkowski and others are currently poring over chapters three, five, seven and eight, as well as chapter six. "We’ll respond to all of those and then hopefully you’ll be prepared for completeness review."

While Stolzenberg was not present at last Wednesday night’s meeting, Bartles noted that most of her comments, except ones pertaining to the sixth chapter, we’re substantive.

Before the meeting came to a close, town of Milan Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman Ross Williams, who acts as Milan’s liaison to the Planning Board, said he wanted to bring an issue to the board’s attention.

A roughly 100-unit subdivision, currently not in use, lies on the Carvel parcel.

Milan councilman said if the units are used by the developer, they should be subject to SEQRA review.

He also noted the developer wants to make lot line adjustments so the parcels can be expanded.

"The adjustments are to bring it in conformity with lots described in the town of Milan’s zoning code," Durst returned. "The lots are very small."

"I’m not sure that changes anything," Williams returned, adding that if the units are used it could bump up the total number of Carvel units from 951 to more than 1,000.

"I think we all should look at that," DePreter agreed. "I think it’s a topic of discussion."

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