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Town Board Gives Emerald Ridge Proposal Green Light
Adopting resolution is a study in persistence and compromise
by Edward Paul Greiff
In a roll call vote of four in favor to one opposed the Putnam Valley Town Board, at their July 18, 2007 Town Board meeting, approved the "Resolution to authorize Marsh Hill road improvements and exceptions, and to accept Emerald Ridge roadway and drainage district."
Town Supervisor Sam Davis cast the only nay vote, maintaining his opinion that the project only places more people into a dangerous situation that should not have been allowed in the first place; Marsh Hill road is a 14% grade as opposed to an 8% grade as allowed in the Town Code, the road's length of 3,900 feet exceeds the recommended maximum road length of 1,200 feet, and the extension of Marsh Hill road will be 18 feet wide instead of the 22 feet called for in the Town Code.
Supervisor Davis expressed his opinion that the exceptions place people at an unnecessary risk especially for school bus services, emergency services, town road maintenance services, and day-to-day ingress and egress.
Prior to the roll call vote Councilman Bob Tendy informed the audience that every board member did their own due diligence on this project and although they may appear to disagree, they do work as a team, it's just that they have different opinions.
Councilwoman Wendy Whetsel, when she introduced the proposed Resolution was immediately put on hold as Supervisor Davis allowed public comment that lasted almost two hours before a final vote was taken. One comment made inferred that Councilwoman Whetsel made a deal with developer Santucci to change her vote. Councilman Dan Ricci quickly jumped to Councilwoman Whetsel's defense. Ms. Whetsel stated she did her own investigation and believes the benefits of this project outweigh the negatives.
Councilwoman Priscilla Keresey questioned where this audience was when they had the Public hearing on this project and that the evening's crowd was the largest ever on this project.
In the end what has moved the project this far is the persistence of Mr. Santucci and his team and the willingness of both Mr. Santucci and the Town Board to find compromises that make the project acceptable to all parties involved. And for the audience observing it was a good chance to observe the democratic process in action. This project started four years ago and to date there have been no houses constructed. The adoption of this Resolution merely gives the developer the assurance that if he complies with all the projects requirements the Town's intent at this time is to accept the exceptions stated in the Resolution.
The Resolution calls for the developer to make improvements and modifications to Marsh Hill Road, provide stormwater management facilities, to convey to the town thirty-one acres for permanent open space, and to reduce the proposed twenty-five lot subdivision to ten new homes and committing not to further subdivide any of the lots.
To show further good faith Mr. Santucci had a tree expert identify those trees that could possibly fall across and block Marsh Hill Road during a storm and has offered to remove these trees.
The passing of this resolution now allows the developer to continue moving forward in the overall development process without jeopardizing the Town's project approval rights.
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