Big plans for former Country Road site

MILLBROOK — The Thorndale Farm/Miller Time Acquisitions site plan application and subdivision was the only business presented to the Planning Board at its meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26.The Thorndale Farm is an estate that used to be the location of Country Road Associates, a business that made furniture using antique lumber. It was located at 63 Front St., near the post office. The building burned down two years ago. Oakleigh Thorne purchased the property under Miller Time Acquisitions LLC. Thorne has been working with the Planning Board recently to get approval to begin new construction on the site of the former Country Road property.A public hearing for the application was opened at a December Planning Board meeting. During that meeting, Thorne presented a scale model of the proposed new building, along with charts, graphs and photos showing the specifications of his proposal.The building is planned as an administrative business office for a company that will relocate from Chicago. Thorne said there are six people who are currently working there and he hopes to hire more employees from the Millbrook area, anticipating that 21 people will work in the new office space.The office building is designed to match the architecture and landscape found throughout the village of Millbrook. Thorne has been working with Joseph Zarecki from Zarecki & Associates LLC as the engineers, architects and surveyors for his project. At the December meeting, a large number of residents and village business owners submitted letters voicing their support for the project. Community members said they believe it will impact the town in a positive manner.At the Jan. 26 meeting, Zarecki appeared before the Planning Board after finalizing some requests from the board at the previous meeting. The applicant was waiting for the approval of an easement from the Village Board. There is a sewer main that goes through the property, and the village needs to access it for repairs it may need to address in the future.Thorne is responsible for the lateral running of the line from the property to the main sewer. However, the main sewer is the responsibility of the village. The village was granting an easement to access the main sewer on Thorne’s property. The easement was approved at the Village Board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 24. The Planning Board approved the project with the understanding that some of the logistical details of the project have yet to be finalized.If all goes according to plan, construction for site will begin in the spring.