draft
Town of Red Hook Planning Board
Meeting Minutes
December 6, 2004
CALL TO ORDER/ DETERMINATION OF QUORUM
The meeting was opened at 7:38 p.m. by Chair Paul Thomas and a quorum
determined present for the conduct of business.
Members present— John Hardeman, Christine Kane, Mary Lou Muirhead, David
Wright and Chair Paul Thomas. Sam Phelan and Paul Telesca were absent. Town
Engineer Dan Wheeler was also present.
BUSINESS SESSION
The Board confirmed its next regular meeting for December 20, 2004.
The Chair announced that the 7 Pines, LLC/ Norton East and West matter had
been withdrawn from the agenda by the applicant.
The minutes of the November 15, 2004 meeting had been sent to the Board
members and reviewed. David Wright made a motion to accept those minutes. The
motion was seconded by John Hardeman, and all members were in favor.
REGULAR SESSION – PUBLIC HEARINGS
Bard College / Center for Curatorial Studies – Blithewood and Garden Roads –
Applications for Amendment of Special Use Permit and Site Plan Approval
Peter Setaro, P.E. and Darin Dekoski, P.E., both of Morris Associates, and
John Gall from Bard College were present in support of applications which
would authorize the construction of expansions totaling approximately 19,000
sq. ft. to the existing Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College in the
Institutional and National Historic Landmarks Districts.
The Chair opened the public hearing continued from November 11, 2004 and asked
if there was any public comment. There was none, and the Assistant Clerk said
that no letters of public comment had been received.
Mr. Setaro said that at 4 p.m. that afternoon, he had received a faxed memo
from NYSOPRHP saying that the office had no comments regarding the
archaeological survey of the site. He added that he had also submitted a
sign-off letter from the Town Fire Chief.
The Chair asked Town Engineer Dan Wheeler if he had any comments about the
project. Mr. Wheeler said no.
The Chair then closed the public hearing.
The Board issued a Negative Declaration for the project under SEQR, and the
Chair said that he would request Planning Consultant Art Brod to prepare Parts
II and III of the long EAF for his signature.
Since the applicant had met all requirements and recommendations set forth by
the Board, the Board proceeded to consider an offered resolution granting both
an amendment to the “educational campus” special use permit and conditional
approval of the submitted site plan. David Wright made a motion to adopt that
resolution, and Christine Kane seconded the motion. All members present voted
in favor. A copy of this resolution is attached to, and made part of, these
minutes.
Bard College / Manor House – Manor Road – Applications for Amendment of
Special Use Permit and Site Plan Approval
Chuck Simmons and Jim Brudvig, both from Bard College, were present in support
of applications to authorize the creation of kitchen and dining facilities and
some offices within the existing Manor House dormitory on the Bard Campus.
The Chair read the public hearing notice that appeared in the Kingston Daily
Freeman on November 30, 2004. He then opened the hearing for public comments.
There were none. The Assistant Clerk said that the Planning Board had received
no written comments about the project. The Chair then closed the public
hearing.
The Chair then read part I of the EAF and, with input from the Board,
completed part II.
John Hardeman made a motion to adopt an offered resolution granting an
amendement to the “educational campus” special use permit and also granting
site plan approval to the café. Mary Lou Muirhead seconded the motion, and all
members present voted in favor. A copy of that resolution is attached to, and
made part of, these minutes.
The Chair said that this resolution would authorize the Zoning Enforcement
Officer to issue a Certificate of Occupancy for the facility.
Bard College / Robbins House Residence Hall – Robbins Road – Application for
Site Plan Approval
Pete Setaro, P.E. and Darin Dekoski, P.E., both from Morris Associates, Chuck
Simmons from Bard College, and Peter Reynolds, architect from Ashokan
Architecture, appeared before the Board in support of an application to
authorize construction of both a 50,000 s.f., 162-bed, addition to the Robbins
House Residence Hall and an associated 70-car expansion of a parking lot
opposite the Residence Hall.
Mr. Reynolds gave an overview of the proposed addition which, he said, would
be constructed of heavy gauge steel, clad in stucco with zinc ornamentation,
and designed in the manor house style to harmonize with neighboring buildings
and to blend in with the existing facility.
The Chair opened the public hearing. There were no comments from the public,
and the Assistant Clerk said no written comments had been submitted.
Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Setaro acknowledged that there were still a number of
documents that must be submitted. Among them were: new drawings revised to
reflect the concerns raised by Town Engineer Dan Wheeler in his report of
November 15, 2004, a landscaping plan, a tree identification map and tree
removal plan, a sign-off letter from NYSOPRHP regarding the required
archaeological survey of the site, and a height variance from the ZBA. Mr.
Setaro said that the archaeologist had finished his survey of the area but had
not yet written his report.
Mr. Reynolds said that he had been told that he must obtain site plan approval
from the Planning Board before he could make application to the ZBA for a
height variance. The Chair and several Planning Board members were under the
impression that the height variance must be in place before site plan approval
could be granted. The Chair directed the Assistant Clerk to contact Planning
Consultant Art Brod and ZBA Chair Tim Ross to clarify the process and then to
pass the correct information on to Mr. Simmons.
The Board by consensus agreed to continue the public hearing until the January
3, 2005 meeting.
Bard College / Updated Campus Master Plan – Application for Amendment of
“Educational Campus” Special Use Permit
Jim Brudvig and Chuck Simmons, both from Bard College, came before the Board
with an application to amend the “Educational Campus” Special Use Permit to
include near-, middle-, and long-term projects. Mr. Brudvig distributed new
revisions of the Master Plan Update but said that the representative who was
to bring the revised EAF had been unable to travel because of inclement
weather and would bring it at a later time.
Mr. Brudvig described the proposed projects, which had been divided into
groups according to their anticipated dates of initial construction. Some of
the “short term” projects had already been approved by the Planning Board.
The Chair said that because the EAF had not yet been submitted, the Board
could not begin the SEQRA process. The Board members were requested to review
the Master Plan Updates, and the proposal was tentatively scheduled for
reappearance at the January 3, 2005 meeting.
REGULAR SESSION (NEW BUSINESS)
Bard College / Science and Computation Center – Annandale to Campus Roads –
Application for Site Plan Approval
Pete Setaro, P.E. and L.S., and Chuck Simmons were present seeking site plan
approval for construction of a 54,600 s.f. (combined 2 stories and basement)
Science and Computation Center on the Bard Campus in the Institutional (I) and
National Historic Landmarks District.
Mr. Setaro said that the proposed building would be located near the current
building and grounds complex and that Campus Road would be repositioned with
the goal of grouping the building and grounds facilities together while
serving the proposed science center.
Mr. Setaro went on to say that a geothermal wellfield has been incorporated
into the site design and that most of the building will sit in a lawn area,
with a small part extending into the woods. He said the building had been
designed to harmonize with its surrounding existing landscape.
Outlining some of the engineering aspects of the project, Mr. Setaro said that
the water supply and sewage systems serving the building would be extensions
of existing campus systems. He said that major improvements to the water
supply line were planned and that these improvements would benefit this
project as well as other planned facilities. Finally, he pointed out on the
map a small, naturally wet area which he said would become part of the storm
drainage plan.
Mr. Reynolds concluded the presentation by saying that the building skeleton
would be concrete and steel and that at completion, seventy-three percent
(73%) of the building would be glass. He acknowledged that an archaeological
survey would have to be done.
David Wright asked if new parking lots were being proposed for the building.
Mr. Setaro said that because cars had been siphoned off to a new lot serving
the building and grounds facilities, enough spaces had opened up in the old
nearby lots to preclude the necessity of adding a new lot for the proposed
science center.
The Chair said that because the EAF had been submitted along with the
application and initial site plans, the Board could begin the SEQRA process.
Additionally, because the proposed building would be located within 500 feet
of a County road, the documents must be submitted to the Dutchess County
Department of Planning and Development.
Mr. Setaro said that he had not yet finalized the drainage report but that he
would finish that document soon and would send it to the Town Engineer and the
Planning Consultant.
Christine Kane made a motion to adopt the following offered resolution
accepting the application and additional documents as sufficient for
consultant and SEQRA review.
The Town of Red Hook Planning Board hereby acts as follows on the Application
by Bard College for Site Plan Approval for the intended construction of a new
54,000 s.f. academic building, the Science and Computation Center, on an
approximately 3.0-acre project site within its 54-acre campus within the
Institutional (I) and Hudson River National Historic Landmarks Districts, all
as described in a Full EAF Part 1 certified by Peter Setaro, P.E., Morris
Associates, on November 24, 2004, in Preliminary Site Drawings, Sheets C1.0
through C1.4, issued on November 8, 2004, by Morris Associates, and in both
related photographs of a building model and preliminary architectural
elevations by Rafael Vinoly Architects PC:
1. Accepts the above-cited information as adequate for the limited purpose of
initiating review of the Proposed Action under SEQRA, Article 8 ECL, and
related Title 6 Part 617 NYCRR.
2. Classifies the Proposed Action as a ‘Type I Action’ under SEQRA due, among
other factors, to its above-cited location within the Hudson River National
Historic Landmarks District.
3. Declares the Planning Board’s intent to serve as SEQRA Lead Agency for
coordinated environmental quality review of the Proposed Action and, thus,
authorizes the Clerk to distribute with the attachments noted therein the
annexed Notice of Intent to Serve as Lead Agency to the listed involved and/or
interested agencies.
John Hardeman seconded the motion, and all members present voted in favor.
The Board agreed by consensus to schedule the project for a reappearance at
the January 17, 2005 meeting.
John Lenahan (P.J. McGlynn’s) – NYS Route 9 at Metzger Road – Application for
Site Plan Approval
The applicant was not present with his application. The Assistant Clerk will
contact him to discuss a future appearance before the Board.
REGULAR SESSION (OLD BUSINESS)
Jeffrey Agrest – 138 Rokeby Road – Subdivision Sketch Plan
Marie Welch, L.S., appeared before the Board in support of Jeffrey Agrest’s
request for sketch plan endorsement for the creation of an additional 3.0-acre
residential building lot from a portion of Parcel A, an existing house lot,
through Resubdivision of Filed Map 9526 E as filed in the Dutchess County
Clerk’s Office on September 22, 2004.
Ms. Welch said that when the Planning Board denied Mr. Agrest’s original
request for a 5-lot subdivision at the Rokeby Road location in 2003,
then-Chair Marcella Appel referred him to Town Attorney Al Trezza for advice.
Ms. Welch said that it was Mr. Trezza who advised Mr. Agrest to view the
parcel as two separate parcels and to subdivide the parcels one at a time.
Ms. Welch went on to say that since the last Planning Board meeting, Mr.
Agrest had sent a letter to the law firm of Keane & Beane but had received no
response.
Ms. Welch continued with arguments in defense of Mr. Agrest’s application. She
said that the parcels were technically separate with two separate owners—one
belonging to Mr. Agrest and one belonging to Blue Zucchini, LLC, of which Mr.
Agrest is a partner with his daughter. She also contested the location of the
site within the Agricultural District saying that Mr. Agrest had been unable
to find a farmer willing to grow corn on the parcel and that it was too small
for a viable agricultural use. She said that Mr. Agrest was unaware that land
must remain in the Certified Agricultural District until the owner requests
its removal. She added that she had spoken with Noela Hooper, senior planner
with the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development, who had said
that the Farmland Protection Law was not rigid but was rather a regulation to
be worked with. Finally she said that Mr. Agrest had urged her to submit the
second subdivision application for some time before the first subdivision was
finalized but that she had been busy and had not submitted it until one (1)
day after the first subdivision had been filed with the County Clerk.
Therefore, the appearance of intentional segmentation was incorrect.
The Chair read an offered resolution denying the application as improper
segmentation .
John Hardeman pointed out that because this subdivision application was
presented in two phases, it limited the options available for the parcel. He
said that admittedly the parcel was small and that it would be difficult to
find a viable agricultural use for the site. He said that in the future, the
Town might discuss a size requirement that would trigger a farmland protection
plan. At present, however, there was no such requirement.
Mary Lou Muirhead said that, having been on the Board for many years, she
remembered Mr. Agrest’s subdivision proposals going back for years and that
she had never, until last month, heard of any person or entity depicted as
owner of the property other than Mr. Agrest.
Christine Kane made a motion to adopt the offered resolution denying sketch
plan endorsement. David Wright seconded the motion, and all members present
were in favor. A copy of that resolution is attached to, and made part of,
these minutes.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Chair said that copies of the revised fee schedule would be sent to the
members for their review. The schedule would be discussed at the December 20,
2004 meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon being advised by the Chair that there was no further business to come
before the Board, Christine Kane made a motion to adjourn. David Wright
seconded the motion, and all members present were in favor. The Chair
adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Paula Schoonmaker
Assistant Clerk to the Planning Board
Attachments
Resolution amending ‘Educational Campus’ Special Use Permit and granting
Conditional
Site Plan Approval to Bard College for expansion of the Center for Curatorial
Studies
SEQR Negative Declaration for the Center for Curatorial Studies
Resolution amending ‘Educational Campus’ Special Use Permit and granting Site
Plan
Approval to Bard College for the Manor House Café
Resolution Denying Sketch Plan Endorsement to Jeffrey Agrest
Letter from Keane & Beane, attorneys at law
Notice of Intent to Act as Lead Agency for the Bard College Science and
Computation
Center
Town of Red Hook Planning Board
Resolution Amending the ‘Educational Campus’ Special Use Permit and Granting
Conditional Site Plan Approval in the matter of the Bard College Center for
Curatorial Studies Building Expansion on Blithewood and Garden Roads within
the Bard College Campus
December 6, 2004
Motion made by David Wright
Seconded by Christine Kane
The Town of Red Hook Planning Board hereby acts as follows on the January 21,
2004, Applications by Bard College for Site Plan Approval and Special Use
Permit, as amended on July 22, 2004, to authorize, in tandem with an Amendment
to the Campus Master Plan and related ‘Educational Campus’ designation, a
composite 19,000 s.f. building expansion of an existing arts facility, the
Center for Curatorial Studies, and related site improvements, including
expansion of an existing parking area through placement of Item 4, located
within its 550-acre campus and more specifically situate between Blithewood
and Garden Roads, all as depicted on a 3-sheet set of ‘Curatorial Center
Expansion’ Site Plan drawings (C 1.1 / Existing Conditions and Demolition
Plan, C 1.2 / Proposed Site Conditions, and C 1.3 / Details) prepared by Lohan
Caprile Goettsch Architects, Inc., and issued on July 23, 2004, and through
related data submitted to the Planning Board, including proposed Building
Elevations:
1. Determines in consideration of the Full EAF Part 1 submitted by the
Applicant, its own completion of EAF Parts 2 and 3, the comments of the
Dutchess County Planning Department, and the ‘sign off’ comments of NYOPRHP,
and the ‘criteria for determining significance’ set forth at Title 6 Part
617.7.c NYCRR, that the Proposed Action, a Type I Action under SEQRA due to
its location within the Hudson River National Historic District, will not
cause any potential significant adverse effects on the environment and, thus,
deems an environmental impact statement to not be required and directs the
issuance of the annexed Negative Declaration in the manner prescribed under
SEQRA.
2. Determines the intended expansion of the Center for Curatorial Studies to
have neither major impact on either campus infrastructure nor external impacts
on lands adjacent to the Campus or within the community as a whole and, thus,
deems the project to be consistent with the Bard College Campus Master Plan
though not specifically provided for within the approved Master Plan which
underlies Bard College’s designation through Special Use Permit as an
‘Educational Campus’.
3. Amends said ‘Educational Campus’ Special Use Permit to incorporate the
intended 19,000 square foot expansion of the Center for Curatorial Studies and
limited associated parking and other site improvements.
4. Grants Site Plan Approval for the intended 19,000 s.f. composite expansion
of the Center for Curatorial Studies, as depicted by the referenced drawings
and other supporting data, and authorizes the Chair to stamp and sign the Site
Plan upon the Applicant’s satisfaction of each of the below conditions within
the next six (6) calendar months:
a. Modification of the Site Plan and supporting data as may be necessary to
address to his satisfaction any outstanding technical comments set forth by
the Town Engineer in his review letter of August 2, 2004.
b. Submission of Site Plan drawings in the number and form specified within
the Town’s Zoning Law.
c. Payment of any outstanding fees or reimbursable costs due the Town of Red
Hook.
Roll Call Vote:
Member John Hardeman yes
Member Christine Kane yes
Member Mary Lou Muirhead yes
Member Sam Phelan absent
Member Paul Telesca absent
Member David Wright yes
Chairman Paul Thomas yes
Resolution declared: APPROVED
Resolution Certified, Filed with the Town Clerk and Mailed to the Applicant
_______________________________________ ______________
Paula Schoonmaker, Assistant Clerk to the Board Date
SEQR Negative Declaration
Notice of Determination of Non-Significance
December 7, 2004
Lead Agency:
Town of Red Hook Planning Board
Lead Agency Address:
Red Hook Town Hall, 7340 South Broadway, Red Hook, New York 12571
This Notice is issued pursuant to Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation
Law and 6 NYCRR Part 617, the Implementing Regulations pertaining to said
Article, together known as the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”).
The Planning Board of the Town of Red Hook, as duly designated SEQRA Lead
Agency, has determined that the Proposed Action described below will not have
any potential significant adverse effects on the environment and, therefore,
issues this Negative Declaration deeming a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement to not be required.
Title of Proposed Action:
Bard College / Center for Curatorial Studies
SEQR Status:
Type I Action / Proposed Action located within Hudson River National Historic
Landmarks District
Description of Proposed Action:
The Proposed Action includes the issuance of an Amended Special Use Permit for
the Bard College “Educational Campus” and the grant of Site Plan Approval by
the Town of Red Hook Planning Board and related permits, approvals and
compliance determinations from other involved agencies to authorize
construction by Bard College of building additions comprising a composite
19,000 s.f. expansion of its Center for Curatorial Studies and associated site
improvements including lighting, walkways and utility connections and the
limited expansion of an existing parking area within an approximately 3-acre
project site within Bard College’s 550-acre “Educational Campus” in the Town’s
Institutional (I) District, all as depicted on Site Plan drawings (C1.1
through C 1.3) and Building Elevations prepared by Lohan Caprile Goettsch
Architects, Inc., and issued on July 23, 2004, and the subject of an
Archaeological Study by Dr. Christopher Lindner.
Location:
Blithewood Road west of Annandale Road (CR 103), Bard College Campus, Town of
Red Hook, Dutchess County
Reasons Supporting This Determination:
The Planning Board of the Town of Red Hook has reviewed the EAF Part 1,
prepared and certified by the Applicant, considered a ‘no comment’ response of
December 6, 2004, by NYSOPRHP with respect to the location within the Hudson
River National Historic Landmarks District and the associated archaeological
investigation by Dr. Lindner, and completed EAF Parts 2 and 3 in consideration
of the “criteria for determining significance” set forth at Title 6 Part
617.7.c NYCRR.
The Planning Board has concluded the environmental effects of the Proposed
Action will be as follows:
· Although there will be some short-term construction period effects as the
Center for Curatorial Studies Expansion Project (hereafter referred to as the
“CCS Project”) is undertaken, there will be no substantial adverse change in
existing air quality.
· Although there will be some construction period effects and a minimal
increase in overall storm water runoff upon completion of the CCS Project,
site disturbance will be limited, occurring wholly within the heretofore
disturbed and developed area adjacent to the existing building, and both
short-term and long-term mitigation will occur to the extent pertinent in
accordance with NYSDEC requirements under NYSDEC Stormwater SPDES General
Permit GP-03-01, and thus, there will be no substantial change in ground or
surface water quality or quantity.
· There will be no substantial adverse change in traffic or noise levels as a
result of the CCS Project; some additional traffic and noise will however be
experienced as is routine during the construction period.
· Although generation of an increased amount of solid waste as typical of a
educational/ arts facility is projected upon completion of the CCS Project,
the increase in solid waste production will not be so substantial an increase
as to have an adverse effect on the community’s ability to manage such solid
waste.
· The CCS Project will be carried out to the extent pertinent pursuant to the
above-cited NYSDEC Stormwater SPDES General Permit GP-03-01 and will not cause
a substantial increase in potential for erosion, flooding or drainage
problems.
· Although there will be some removal of vegetation (i.e. lawn and associated
landscape materials adjacent to the existing building) to carry out the
proposed building expansion and site improvements included within the CCS
Project, this loss shall neither be large nor important and new landscaping
adjacent to the building and the expanded existing parking area will be
provided as appropriate to the Campus setting.
· The CCS Project will not cause substantial interference with the movement of
any resident or migratory fish or wildlife species.
· The CCS Project will not impact a significant natural habitat area.
· The CCS project will not have significant adverse effect on threatened or
endangered animal or plant species.
· The CCS Project will not have other significant adverse impacts on natural
resources.
· The CCS Project will not impair the environmental characteristics of a
Critical Environmental Area (CEA) as designated by NYSDEC.
· The CCS Project will not create a material conflict with the Town’s current
plans as officially approved or adopted, including but not limited to the Town
Master Plan and the Town Zoning Law, as well as the Bard College Campus Master
Plan which underlies the College’s “Educational Campus” Special Use Permit
designation pursuant to the Town’s Zoning Law.
· The CCS Project will not impair the character or quality of important
historical, archaeological, architectural or aesthetic resources or existing
or community character, including nearby properties listed as “contributing
structures” within the Hudson River National Historic Landmarks District.
· Although the CCS Project will upon its completion require the use of
additional energy for heating, cooling, lighting and other purposes, there
will be no major change in the use of energy by either quantity or type
associated with the Proposed Action.
· The CCS Project will not create a hazard to human health with all
construction and site development activities undertaken in accordance with
pertinent environmental regulations.
· The CCS Project, the construction of building additions comprising a
composite 19,000 s.f. expansion to an existing arts facility within the
550-acre Bard College Campus, will not cause a substantial change in the use,
or the intensity of use, of land including agricultural, open space or
recreational resources, or in the capability of land to support these
resources.
· The CCS Project will not encourage or attract a large number of people to a
place or places for more than a few days, compared to the number of people who
would come to such place absent the Proposed Action; further the CSS project
is simply a facility improvement and not part of an overall expansion program
intended to accommodate a substantially greater student population at the Bard
Campus.
· The CCS Project will not cause the creation of a material demand for other
actions that would result in one of the above consequences.
· The CCS Project will not cause changes in two or more elements of the
environment, no one of which has a significant impact on the environment, but
when considered together result in a substantial significant adverse impact on
the environment.
· The CCS Project will not, in combination with other projects either on-going
or known to be proposed within the vicinity of the Proposed Action, none of
which has or would have a significant impact on the environment, cumulatively
meet one or more of the criteria set forth at Title 6 Part 617.c NYCRR.
For Further Information:
Contact Person: Paul G. Thomas
Chairman, Town of Red Hook Planning Board
Address: Town Hall, 7340 So. Broadway, Red Hook, New York 12571
Telephone: (845) 758-4613 (Telephone) / (845) 758-0492 (FAX)
Distribution of Copies of This Negative Declaration:
· New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Main Office,
Regulatory Affairs, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233
· New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Region 3 Office,
Division of Regulatory Affairs, 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, New
York 12561
· New York State Office for Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Field
Services Bureau, Peebles Island Complex, P.O. Box 189, Waterford, New York
12188
· Dutchess County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, 387 Main
Street, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
· Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development, 27 High Street,
Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
· Town of Red Hook ZEO / Building Inspector’s Office, Town Hall, 7340 South
Broadway, Red Hook, New York 12571
· Supervisor, Town of Red Hook, Town Hall, 7340 South Broadway, Red Hook, New
York 12571
· Environmental Notice Bulletin, Fourth Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York
12233-1750
· Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 12504-5000 / Attn: Dr. James
Brudvig, Vice President for Administration
· Morris Associates, 9 Elks Lane, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601 / Attn: Peter
Setaro. P.E.
Town of Red Hook Planning Board
Resolution Amending the ‘Educational Campus’ Special Use Permit and
Granting Site Plan Approval in the matter of the Bard College Manor House Café
within the Bard College Campus
December 6, 2004
Motion made by John Hardeman
Seconded by Mary Lou Muirhead
The Town of Red Hook Planning Board hereby acts as follows on the October 18,
2004, Applications by Bard College for Amendment of its ‘Educational Campus’
Special Use Permit and Site Plan Approval to authorize certain improvements
within a portion of, and immediately adjacent to, the Manor House Dormitory to
permit use of the converted space and associated limited addition for kitchen
and dining facilities, the Manor House Café, and office space, all as depicted
on drawings prepared by Robert Nilsson, Architect, and dated July 20, 2004:
1. Determines upon review of the EAF Part 1 certified by the Applicant,
completion of the EAF Part 2 by the Planning Board, and with due consideration
of the ‘criteria for determining significance’ set forth at Title 6 Part
617.7.c NYCRR, the Proposed Action, a Type I Action under SEQRA, involving no
modification in building footprint or related site improvements, will cause no
potential significant adverse effects on the environment and, thus, issues a
Negative Declaration deeming an environmental impact statement to not be
required.
2. Amends the Special Use Permit heretofore issued for the Bard College
‘Educational Campus’, as from time-to-time amended on a project-specific
basis, to incorporate the subject conversion of a portion of the Manor House
Dormitory though not specifically set forth within the Campus Master Plan.
3. Grants Site Plan Approval for the subject conversion of a portion of the
Manor House Dormitory to dining and associated kitchen facilities and office
space, as depicted within the above-referenced architectural drawings and
authorizes the Town’s Building and Zoning Department to issue a related
Certificate of Occupancy under the Town’s Zoning Code upon the College’s
satisfaction of all other laws, codes, rules and/or regulations pertinent to
the work undertaken and the occupancy intended.
Roll Call Vote:
Member John Hardeman yes
Member Christine Kane yes
Member Mary Lou Muirhead yes
Member Sam Phelan absent
Member Paul Telesca absent
Member David Wright yes
Chairman Paul Thomas yes
Resolution declared: APPROVED
Resolution Certified, Filed with the Town Clerk and Mailed to the Applicant
_______________________________________ ______________
Paula Schoonmaker, Assistant Clerk to the Board Date
Town of Red Hook Planning Board
Resolution Denying Sketch Plan Endorsement in the Matter of the Jeffrey Agrest
Proposed Two-lot Minor Subdivision at 138 Rokeby Road in the R1.5 and
Certified Agricultural Districts
December 6, 2004
Motion made by Christine Kane
Seconded by David Wright
The Town of Red Hook Planning Board hereby acts as follows on the September
22, 2004, Application by Jeffrey Agrest for Sketch Plan Endorsement for the
creation of an additional 3.0-acre residential building lot in the R1.5 and
Environmental Protection Overlap (EP-O) Districts from a portion of Parcel A,
an existing house lot, through Resubdivision of Filed Map 9526 E as filed in
the Dutchess County Clerk’s Office on September 22, 2004, the intended
Resubdivision depicted on a Surveyor’s Map entitled ‘Amendment to Filed Map
No. 9526 E / Minor Two Lot Subdivision prepared for Jeffrey Agrest’ prepared
by Marie T. Welch, L.S., and dated September 22, 2004:
1. Finds in consideration of the record of the Planning Board’s consideration
of Mr. Agrest’s prior Application for Subdivision Plat Approval, which review
led to the Board’s approval of the Subdivision Plat filed on September 22,
2004, as Filed Map 9526 E, and the timing of this subsequent Application for
Sketch Plan Endorsement there to be an improper attempt by the Applicant to
segment the subdivision review process in order to avoid through “one lot
exception” the requirements for consideration important farmlands set forth
within the Town’s Zoning Law.
2. Supports this finding through the annexed opinion letter of November 11,
2004, from the Planning Board’s land use attorney, Jennifer M. Porter of Keane
& Beane, P.C.
3. Denies, in an action further supported by the Planning Board’s land use
attorney, the requested Sketch Plan Endorsement on the grounds of segmentation
in that, in the words of Attorney Porter, ‘the submission of the piecemeal
subdivision applications is deemed by the Board to be an attempt to evade the
requirements for important farmlands within the EP-O District’.
4. Supports this denial through its understanding that Mr. Agrest has
transferred the residential building lot created through the prior subdivision
to another party and, thus, lacks the wherewithal to request Filed Map 9526 E
be in some manner stricken from the County Clerk’s records so that creation of
both the previously-authorized lot and the newly-proposed lot might be
simultaneously considered under the provisions of Section 143-47 of the Zoning
Code as applicable to important farmlands, including all lands within a
Certified Agricultural District.
Roll Call Vote:
Member John Hardeman yes
Member Christine Kane yes
Member Mary Lou Muirhead yes
Member Sam Phelan absent
Member Paul Telesca absent
Member David Wright yes
Chairman Paul Thomas yes
Resolution declared: APPROVED
Resolution Certified, Filed with the Town Clerk and Mailed to the Applicant
_______________________________________ ______________
Paula Schoonmaker, Assistant Clerk to the Board Date
Town of Red Hook Planning Board
Town Hall
7340 South Broadway
Red Hook, New York 12571
Notice of Intent to Serve as Lead Agency under SEQRA; Lead Agency Must Be
Designated within Thirty (30) Calendar Days
December 8, 2004
This Notice is issued pursuant to Part 617 of the Implementing Regulations
pertaining to Article 8 (State Environmental Quality Review Act) of the
Environmental Conservation Law for the purpose of designating a Lead Agency
for the coordinated environmental quality review of the following Proposed
Action:
Project Name: Bard College /
Center for Science and Computation Studies
Location: East of Annandale Road (CR 103), between Annandale and Campus Roads,
to the north of the Bard College’s Buildings and Grounds facilities, Town of
Red Hook, Dutchess County
SEQRA Status: Type I Action, located with Hudson River National Historic
Landmarks District
Project Description:
The Proposed Action encompasses an Application by Bard College for Site Plan
Approval by the Town of Red Hook Planning Board and related permits, approvals
and compliance determinations by other involved agencies, including height
variance, for a 54,600 s.f. building to house classrooms, laboratories,
lecture halls, and offices, to be known as the “Center for Science and
Computational Studies”, and associated site development and improvements
including grading and tree removal, construction of a new access road through
relocation of a portion of Campus Road, development of a geothermal well
field, water and sanitary sewage extensions, upgrades and connections, and
miscellaneous site work including storm water management facilities, vehicular
parking, lighting, walkways and landscaping on an approximately combined
6.0-acre to 8.0-acre project site within Bard’s 550-acre “Educational Campus”
in the Town’s Institutional District.
The Planning Board’s Amendment of the Bard College’s present Special Use
Permit providing for the “Educational Campus” designation following acceptance
of the College’s underlying Campus Master Plan Update, this matter being the
subject of an on-going proceeding before the Planning Board, is among the
prerequisites to the Planning Board’s grant of Site Plan Approval for the
Center for Science and Computation Studies.
Declaration of Intent to Serve as Lead Agency:
Please take notice that, under the applicable standards of Title 6 Part
617.6(d) NYCRR, the Town of Red Hook Planning Board has concluded that it
should be designated as Lead Agency for the coordinated environmental quality
review of the Proposed Action.
Therefore, this Notice, accompanied by the Full EAF Part 1 and a copy of the
Preliminary Site Plan and Building Elevations, is being sent to you and all
other identified involved agencies with request for consent in writing to the
Town Planning Board’s serving as Lead Agency. Should you not respond within
thirty (30) calendar days from the date shown above, it will be interpreted as
consent the Planning Board serve as Lead Agency. In either case you will
continue to be notified of any SEQR determination made and the scheduling of
any related proceedings and hearings. Copies of all subsequent environmental
documents will also be distributed to you.
Should you not agree with the Town Planning Board’s designation as Lead
Agency, you are advised to follows the procedures outlined in Title 6 Part
617.6(e) NYCRR.
In addition to your consideration of Lead Agency designation, the Planning
Board would welcome any comments you may have regarding the Proposed Action.
Receipt of these comments within thirty (30) calendar days would be
appreciated.
Contact Person: Paul G. Thomas
Planning Board Chairman, Town of Red Hook
(845) 758-4613 (Telephone) / (845) 758-0492 (FAX)
Distribution with Attachments:
Involved Agencies:
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Region 3 Office, Division of Regulatory Affairs
21 South Putt Corners Road
New Paltz, New York 12561
New York State Office for Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Field Services Bureau
Post Office Box 189 – Peebles Island
Waterford, New York 12188
Dutchess County Health Department
387 Main Street
Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
Town of Red Hook Zoning Board of Appeals
Town Hall
7340 South Broadway
Red Hook, New York 12571
Interested Agencies and Persons:
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Main Office, Regulatory Affairs
625 Broadway
Albany, New York 12233
Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development
27 High Street
Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
Town of Red Hook Zoning Enforcement Officer
Town Hall
7340 South Broadway
Red Hook, New York 12571
Project Sponsor
Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 12504-5000 / Attn: Dr. James
Brudvig, Vice President for Administration
Morris Associates, 9 Elks Lane, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601 / Attn: Peter
Setaro, P.E