Final Carvel DEIS hearing generates further discussion

However, the first speaker, Department of Environmental Conservation Regional Director William Janeway, said he would not speak for or against the project. Instead, he told the Planning Board he would give formal comments about the potential development at another time.

"But we do have great confidence that we can address various issues in a productive way," Janeway said. "The review of this proposal by the [DEC] is ongoing. There are a few issues that caught our eye that we look forward to resolve through the [DEIS] process. There may be potential for the design of this proposal to evolve to make sure we are not negatively impacting resources including vernal pools and wetlands. There are some wetlands crossings that seem to be problematic, as well as clean water issues and storm water issues. The department suggests that there are opportunities to possibly cluster and downsize parts of this project to promise we are looking for a green smart proposal."

After Janeway spoke, two professionals hired by Pine Plains United, a community activism group, spoke for an extensive period of time.

David Clouser from New Paltz, a professional engineer and licensed surveyor, spoke out against the planned project and said it did not fit into the town’s Comprehensive Plan.

"The message I want to get across is that in reviewing the DEIS you have to go more into than just what you read and see," Clouser said. "It doesn’t seem to fit in many ways and comply with the Comprehensive Plan. This is a really a large project and the DEIS underplays it in many ways. The DEIS states that the landscape will remain visually similar to the way it is now. I strongly disagree with that."

John Lyons, attorney from the practice of Grant and Lyons of Rhinebeck, said there is a lack of completeness in the DEIS regarding potential adverse impacts.

"SEQRA [State Environmental Quality Review Act] requires that a DEIS must list the ways in which any adverse impacts of a proposed action might be minimized," Lyons said from his prepared speech. "Mitigation insures that the DEIS does not simply become a mere disclosure statement. And yet, our experts tell us this DEIS is just that. Mitigation has been paid lip service only."

Pine Plains United backlash

Later in the hearing, TC21 executive committee member Brad Mitchell spoke for the group and not only spoke in favor of the project, but he also spoke loudly against Pine Plains United.

"I’m able to speak my mind because I have significant business outside of Pine Plains," Mitchell said. "There are many people who are reluctant to speak their minds because of economic retaliation by Pine Plains United which has occurred, or has been threatened to occur."

While he said he was not going to attack Pine Plains United with the rest of his allotted time, he did attack the group several times in his speech.

"Please do not be bullied or intimidated, stand tall," Mitchell told the Planning Board. "And that includes standing tall to Pine Plains United. There is a claim saying that the project does not fit into proposed zoning. How ridiculous of an argument. Proposed zoning is just that, a proposal. No one knows the final shape it would take or how long it will take. When people say it doesn’t comply with the Comprehensive Plan, what do they mean by that?"

Support for the Dursts

Steve Liberta also spoke in favor of the project and said that, since farming industry in the town has dwindled, the town has been dependent on second-home communities.

"As the years have passed and the times have changed, the majority of the businesses have been second homes," Liberta said. "I have worked with the Dursts at McEnroe Organic Farm for 15 years now. I don’t want to drive the Dursts out of down due to the fact we might get other developers out here. They won’t be as nice as the Dursts."

Ray McEnroe, Durst’s partner at McEnroe Organic Farm, spoke in favor of the project at the meeting and repeated what he said in a full-page advertisement promoting the development

"The Dursts are good partners and good people," McEnroe said.

Near the end, after attending five hearings, Alexander Durst of The Durst Organization broke his silence to address both the Planning Board and members of the public at the hearing.

"I would like to thank the public for sharing their comments and thoughts on this project, we take these comments very seriously," Durst said. "We started on this project many years ago. In the time since then, we have come a very long way. There is still a lot of work ahead. The FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) and permitting will take significant work."

Size an issue

Joan Osofsky, owner of Hammertown Barn, said even though the development would bring her more business, she was against it.

"Its just too big of an impact of size," Osofsky said. "The development goes against what Pine Plains wants. It’s only for developer profit."

Meeting and comment details

At the beginning of the meeting, Planning Board Chairman Don Bartles said the Planning Board will meet on Tuesday at Town Hall to discuss future actions by the board on the DEIS. The meeting was held right before The Millerton News went to press and an article on it will be published in next week's paper.

While the public hearing is closed, the public comment period remains open until Monday, May 5.

Written comments about the DEIS can be sent to the Planning Board until Monday, May 5, to 3284 Route 199, PO Box 955, Pine Plains, NY 12567.

Copies of the DEIS are available for public review at the Pine Plains Town Hall, Pine Plains Free Library and the Milan Town Hall. The DEIS may also be viewed at carvelpropertydevelopment.com.

If the project is approved, it will add 951 homes to the town. They will be built on 2,200 acres of land purchased by real estate developer Douglas Durst in 2003.

Of that land, 1,772 acres are located in Pine Plains, the 428 remaining acres in Milan.