Watchful eye on Durst

The applicants behind the Carvel Property Development are once again in the public eye, as they presented a pre-application to the Pine Plains Town Board last Thursday, Jan. 21. At that time they also made a presentation to the public about the current status of the project and what can be expected as it develops.

Those presenting the plan represented developer Douglas Durst, who plans to transform the former Thomas Carvel property into a luxury home and golf course community. With new town zoning bylaws in place, Durst and his planners, attorneys, engineers and other representatives have direction for their plans. It’s the town’s job to make sure they synchronize with, and respect, the zoning regulations.

The submission of the pre-application will provide the applicants with critical analysis from the town that can act as a guide while they shape their formal application. By early February. The applicants will make a similar presentation to the Planning Board; in March (the date has yet to be set) a joint meeting among all three entities will occur to discuss the project in detail.

The fact that the Durst camp appears to be so willing to cooperate with the town is a good sign. It seems indicative of the relationship the Dursts clearly want to continue into the future (and which they have had with the town in the past). They have also reached out to the public, in small ways, to open communication about the project as the process moves forward. In fact, project attorney Jennifer Van Tuyl submitted a digital copy of the pre-application to the Town Board to post on the town’s Web site, pineplains-ny.gov, for the public to access and review. That acknowledgement of the importance of the public’s participation in the process is significant, especially in a town like Pine Plains, where the community takes such a vested interest in local affairs and has been following the Carvel project so closely.

Certainly it behooves Durst to promote the project, with both town government and the public. But not all applicants are so cooperative, believe it or not, nor so smart to do so. They should be encouraged to continue to be so obliging — it benefits both the town (residents included) and the applicants — it’s a win-win.

But make no mistake about it; the town must continue to scrutinize the pre-application, the application and any other submissions from the Carvel project. It must do its best to protect the town and its residents on all fronts, which is why it’s comforting to know that it has its own group of professionals at the ready to do exactly that. This paper takes great comfort in knowing that Attorney to the Town and planning consultant Warren Replansky, planning consultant Bonnie Franson, Town Planner Nan Stolzenburg, Town Engineer Ray Jurkowski and the entire Town Board and Planning Board are closely reviewing the Carvel application. They have their work cut out for them, but they also have shown great insight and knowledge in their given fields.

The process has begun again with the proposal by Durst. All sides are setting their strategies. Let’s just hope everyone can work cooperatively with the end goal being a better Pine Plains for all.