There’s a new player on the supermarket scene

NORTH EAST — The Southern Realty Development LLC (SRD) application to build a 36,000-square-foot supermarket before the North East Planning Board continued on Wednesday, Nov. 10, without any real hitches. Despite the relatively normal proceedings, there was an unexpected announcement that could, perhaps, throw a wrench into SRD’s future expectations — Freshtown is considering taking over the current Grand Union and setting up shop in Millerton.FreshtownFreshtown principals Noah and Daniel Katz did not present a formal application to the town; they simply presented their ideas and said they were in the “preliminary stages” of talks with Grand Union and its landlord.“They didn’t submit anything to us, but they asked our opinion of certain things,” Planning Board Chairman Dale Culver said. “We listened and said we can’t do anything unless there’s an application. If they wish to apply and move forward on that, we, as a Planning Board, don’t write the rules, so whatever they submit or apply for will be reviewed. We’ll see what the next meeting brings.”There are currently two local Freshtown supermarkets, in Amenia and Dover Plains; the Katz family has about 60 stores in total, according to Culver. The Katz brothers made a presentation of stores they’ve remodeled as examples of what could be done to the Millerton Grand Union, which is located on Route 44 in the Millerton Square plaza along the Boulevard District. The site is just a couple of hundred yards away from where the unnamed supermarket proposed by Southern Realty Development is planned to be built behind Thompson Plaza.“It was asked if they [the Katz brothers] thought the town could support two supermarkets,” Culver said. “I know what my personal feelings are, but I can’t use them as a gauge when the application is before me. It’s about if the application meets codes and other requirements.”Southern Realty DevelopmentBefore the presentation regarding Freshtown, the board was engaged in a discussion with representatives from SRD. The site plan review for that project is continuing to move forward, and the applicant has asked for a public hearing to be scheduled. According to Culver, however, the Planning Board wants at least another meeting so it can take a concrete look at what’s been submitted thus far and have a better understanding of more of the project’s details.Specifically, details regarding the project’s architecture, landscaping and parking need to be fleshed out. Letters from Town Engineer Ray Jurkowski and Town Planner Will Agresta, of Matthew Rudikoff Associates, both reviewed some of the town’s concerns regarding those issues, as well as how the applicant plans to deal with lighting and storm water pollution prevention. The board is also keeping on top of other issues, such as making sure easements be put in place and that there are no existing violations on any of the affected or adjoining properties (to be in line with the new town ordinance passed this April).There also are continued concerns about how the applicant intends to deal with the exterior design of the building, especially the “big box” design of the structure. From the start, members of the Planning Board have spoken about their desire to have that look broken up to fit in with the town’s rural character. The issue was addressed again last week.“It was the same kind of discussion we had in the preliminary discussion before the application, about the use of dormers or faux windows to break up the outline of the building,” Culver said. “I’m not surprised [we have to revisit the issue]. I just think in the planning process in some projects, it seems, that we spend an awful lot of time looking at possible options, and we can ask the applicant for possible mitigation for what we see as issues, but it takes them a while to figure out what to do [sometimes], so it’s kind of an elongated process. But it gets there eventually.”Culver said it must get there, because final approval requires the applicant and the Planning Board have a “meeting of the minds.”