“I’ve been hearing through the grapevine that some of these developers just cannot get bonds. It’s that simple. They just can’t do it,” said Richard Hoyt, attorney to the Town of Montgomery Planning Board.

Hoyt spoke in regards to the multiple requests for extensions that came before the Town of Montgomery Planning Board at their regular meeting on Monday night.  Hoyt also mentioned what has become the nemesis of many U.S. residents, the “economic climate.”
The Ponds at Montgomery, a 14-lot major subdivision with one commercial lot, located on Route 17K, was granted a 90-day extension on their conditional final approval.  St. Andrews Place, a 9-lot clustered major subdivision located on St. Andrews Road, was granted a six month extension on their conditional preliminary approval.

Some projects were repeat customers.  Devitt Commercial, located on Goodwill Road and seeking a site plan and lot line change, was granted their last 90-day extension, while Coldenham Manor, a 12-lot major residential clustered subdivision on Coldenham Road, was the sole applicant that did not receive an extension.

After some discussion, the board decided not to take any action in regards to Coldenham Manor’s request, due to some recent issues with the developer.  According to Chairman Jeffrey Crist, a neighbor to the property reported that the developer was clearing trees and exceeding what he was supposed to be clearing.

Crist went out to the property and advised the other board members Monday night that the developer had been “clearly exceeding” what he was supposed to be doing.

“It was significant.  These were some very large trees,” Crist said.  “[And] I think by the time I got up there they had cleaned up already.”

In addition, the trees cleared were apparently some of those that were to be protected with a conservation easement, which the applicant had not yet signed.  The developer told Crist that the people he had cutting down the trees went a little overboard and he had not been aware of the situation.

“I don’t know if it was intentional or not,” Crist said.

Hoyt stated the developer did not technically do anything wrong, since the conservation easement had not been signed.

The board chose not to take action on the developer’s request for an extension.

Other projects before the town on Monday did move forward.

The public hearing in regards to the Zubalsky project, located on Route 17K, was continued and closed.  With only minor changes, cleanups and clarifications, the project sailed through, the board also voting unanimously to approve its site plan.

Oak Hill Properties, LLC, a 6-lot subdivision located on Coleman Road, flew by even faster as the board made motions to accept the negative declaration, granted preliminary approval and even final approval.

After some discussion regarding an electric mule and a question regarding its noise, the board accepted the negative declaration in regards to New England Motor Freight (NEMF), located on Neelytown Road.

The Hudson International Business Center (HIBC) also came before the board.  The board made a motion accepting the negative declaration.  The applicant reported that they are working on the FEIS and all of the comments.

While the board had a full agenda, they didn’t dig into any of the items quite like they did into one of the final items on the agenda, making their recommendations and comments on Local Law 7 of 2009.

The board did complete their final adjustments and a motion was passed for their recommendations and comments to be revised and sent to the Town Board.

“I think we have something that obviously took a lot of work, and I hope the Town Board will read it carefully,” Crist said.

By RACHEL COLEMAN