News
Village concerned about proposed subdivision
By Paul Crossman
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
According to Planning Board Chairman Angelo Nero, the village has granted conditional approval for an 84-lot subdivision just off upper Main Street, with the intention of using it for residential development purposes.
This in itself wouldn’t be a major cause for concern, except that several months ago the village board denied a similar proposal to be used for senior housing. According to Village Trustee Helen Schneider, one of the main reasons was ongoing problems with the water and sewer plant, which would have trouble handling the added capacity without much repair and renovation.
But several residents, including Schneider, said it was not made public knowledge that DeVito had also offered the village $500,000 towards the repairs.
“If I had had knowledge that he was offering $500,000, I wouldn’t have denied him our support,” Sheneider told the Register-Star. “It was a bad decision and we missed out.”
The issue at this point though, gets slightly more complicated than just the village approving one subdivision and denying the other. According to Nero, Ron DeVito — the contractor proposing the senior housing subdivision— never came before the planning board with his proposal.
According to Trustee Helen Schneider, at an earlier point, the contractor went before the village board to discuss the issue but was read a prepared statement that was then backed by the board, saying they did not support him.
Though he has not done it yet, Schneider says that it is still within DeVito’s right to go before the Valatie Planning Board and, if approved, begin the building process.
“He doesn’t need our support to go ahead with his project,” she said, adding though, that the lack of support by the board may be taken into account by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals.
Other Valatie residents, like former mayoral candidate Francis McKearin agree that not supporting DeVito’s proposal may have been a mistake, and not just because they missed out on $500,000.
“I am disturbed because an 84-lot subdivision is bound to increase the school tax burden — not just to the residents of Valatie, but for all those in the village of Kinderhook,” McKearin states in a letter. “Senior housing does not put more kids in school, and is in desperate need given the demographics of our county; the concept of which has been supported by the mayor and the village board on numerous occasions.”
He went on to say that If Tim Holk, the contractor who proposed the more recent subdivision isn’t offering the village at least the same amount as DeVito was to assist with sewer upgrades —and, according to Nero, he isn’t— then why would the village pass up one and support the other?
McKearin says it doesn’t make sense to deny a contractor who is offering $500,000 to fix a major problem in the village and accept another who isn’t, when both proposals would have similar effects on the sewage plant.
Another concern, according to Schneider, is that the current water and sewer pipes leading to the residential site is barely adequate for residents already living in the neighborhood, and would have to be replaced— a process that could cost thousands of dollars.
According to Nero though, the piping is one reason the new subdivision only received conditional instead of final approval.
“There were a few changes which needed to be addressed in the plans [...] blacktop changes in the roads, and we need to have new water and sewer lines brought to the project.”
He said removing the old pipes and installing new would be the contractor’s responsibility if final approval is given.
Holk is slated to return before the planning board in November and present an amended plan and request final approval.
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To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e-mail. pcrossman@registerstar.com.
This in itself wouldn’t be a major cause for concern, except that several months ago the village board denied a similar proposal to be used for senior housing. According to Village Trustee Helen Schneider, one of the main reasons was ongoing problems with the water and sewer plant, which would have trouble handling the added capacity without much repair and renovation.
But several residents, including Schneider, said it was not made public knowledge that DeVito had also offered the village $500,000 towards the repairs.
“If I had had knowledge that he was offering $500,000, I wouldn’t have denied him our support,” Sheneider told the Register-Star. “It was a bad decision and we missed out.”
The issue at this point though, gets slightly more complicated than just the village approving one subdivision and denying the other. According to Nero, Ron DeVito — the contractor proposing the senior housing subdivision— never came before the planning board with his proposal.
According to Trustee Helen Schneider, at an earlier point, the contractor went before the village board to discuss the issue but was read a prepared statement that was then backed by the board, saying they did not support him.
Though he has not done it yet, Schneider says that it is still within DeVito’s right to go before the Valatie Planning Board and, if approved, begin the building process.
“He doesn’t need our support to go ahead with his project,” she said, adding though, that the lack of support by the board may be taken into account by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals.
Other Valatie residents, like former mayoral candidate Francis McKearin agree that not supporting DeVito’s proposal may have been a mistake, and not just because they missed out on $500,000.
“I am disturbed because an 84-lot subdivision is bound to increase the school tax burden — not just to the residents of Valatie, but for all those in the village of Kinderhook,” McKearin states in a letter. “Senior housing does not put more kids in school, and is in desperate need given the demographics of our county; the concept of which has been supported by the mayor and the village board on numerous occasions.”
He went on to say that If Tim Holk, the contractor who proposed the more recent subdivision isn’t offering the village at least the same amount as DeVito was to assist with sewer upgrades —and, according to Nero, he isn’t— then why would the village pass up one and support the other?
McKearin says it doesn’t make sense to deny a contractor who is offering $500,000 to fix a major problem in the village and accept another who isn’t, when both proposals would have similar effects on the sewage plant.
Another concern, according to Schneider, is that the current water and sewer pipes leading to the residential site is barely adequate for residents already living in the neighborhood, and would have to be replaced— a process that could cost thousands of dollars.
According to Nero though, the piping is one reason the new subdivision only received conditional instead of final approval.
“There were a few changes which needed to be addressed in the plans [...] blacktop changes in the roads, and we need to have new water and sewer lines brought to the project.”
He said removing the old pipes and installing new would be the contractor’s responsibility if final approval is given.
Holk is slated to return before the planning board in November and present an amended plan and request final approval.
***
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e-mail. pcrossman@registerstar.com.
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