Planning Board Regular Meeting Minutes, July 24th, 2025

Members Present: Paul Slutzky, Chairman
                                      Carl Giangrande, Board Member
                                      Ed Kaplan, Deputy Chairman
                                      Penny Sikalis, Board Member
                                      Gail Shegerian, Alternate Member
                                      Harout Dermenjian, Board Member

Also Present: Scott Ouimet, PE, with Kaaterskill Associates representing 8050 Main Street LLC & 7776 Main Street LLC; Haley Bigando, PE, with LaBella Associates and J.C. Alten PM with Finn Partners representing 7961 Main Street—Creekside Retreat House

Open Regular Meeting:
Chairman Slutzky opened the regular meeting at 7:00 PM.

Review and Approval of the Minutes of the Planning Board Meeting of June 26, 2025:
E. Kaplan made a MOTION to approve the minutes as presented. C. Giangrande seconded the MOTION, which was carried by all.

Privilege of the Floor: none requested

New Business:

• Creekside Retreat House—7961 Main Street—Sketch Site Plan Review—Haley Bigando, PE, with LaBella Associates and Jean Claude Alten, Project Manager with Finn Partners presentingH. Bigando presented plans and elevations of the proposed retreat building for the artists-in-residence of the Catskill Mountain Foundation. She advised the existing building and attached garages in rear would be fully demolished and a new building with two floors and a third floor loft would be constructed. It would include fourteen double occupancy bedrooms with private baths, kitchen for in house meal preparation, meeting rooms and lounge areas. It would be utilized to house the artists for CMF presentations, such as: Catskill Mountain Shakespeare Festival, Horton By The Stream performances, Manhattan in the Mountains music residency, and Works and Process at the Guggenheim & Joyce Theater Foundation dance residencies.The Board reviewed the concept plans and agreed the project is located in the Village Business District and as the rooms would not be available for public occupancy, it’s use would be classified as Cultural Facility-5,000 Square Feet or Less. The Board determined the building would not be located in the floodway, but would be in the 100 year floodplain.

  H. Bigando advised the building would be fully sprinklered, and a NYCDEP SWPPP would be required, due to the building’s proximity to the Schoharie Creek. She further advised that minor Area Variances would be required for front and side setbacks as well as for building height, as the necessity to elevate the first floor grade a minimum of two feet above the floodplain elevation may push the building height a few feet above the prescribed 45 foot maximum height.

  J.C. Alten discussed available parking for the proposed retreat building. He said while onsite parking would be very limited, there is ample parking available on the street, behind the Hunter Village Square building and at the Red Barn facility. He added that most of the artists-in-residence come to Hunter by van or motor coach and he did not think many parking spots would be required.

  Chairman Slutzky advised that the following would be required for Preliminary Site Plan Review:

  • Area Variances for west side Setback, front Setback, Mean Lot Width and Building Height
  • 239 Referral Review by Greene County Planning due to proximity to State Highway 23A
  • Long Form Environmental Assessment Form for an unlisted action
  • Completed Site Plan Application with fee payment of $100 plus $50 for each of the 14 dwelling units—totaling $800He also said the Board would likely seek Lead Agency status in a Coordinated SEQR Review, with NYCDEP, NYSDEC, NYSDOH, NYSDOT and SHPO as involved agencies. He added that Architectural Review would also be undertaken by the Planning Board. He said colored renderings of the proposed elevations and materials to be used on the building façade would be needed for this review.Chairman Slutzky advised that as soon as the Variance request form is received from La Bella, he will present it to the Zoning Board of Appeals for their review and action. He will ask the ZBA to schedule a meeting to review the requested variances. He further advised it would likely take a minimum of two meetings of the ZBA to make a determination, as a public hearing on the requested variances would have to be held.

    After discussion, the Board agreed that the project could continue the Site Plan Review process while the ZBA reviews the variance requests.

    H. Bigando said she hoped to forward the Variance request form, site plan application, building plans and other required submissions in time to be on the agenda for the Planning Board’s August 28 meeting.

Old Business:
8050 Main Street—Major Residential Subdivision Preliminary Plat and Site Plan Review—Scott Ouimet, PE, presenting

S. Ouimet presented copies of the proposed Final Plat for review. He advised the only change from the previously approved Preliminary Plat was the inclusion of the extension of Linda Lane and the cul-de-sac at it’s end, in Lot 5. Lots 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 would all be parties to the previously submitted road Maintenance agreement.

After discussion, Chairman Slutzky made a MOTION to waive the requirement of a Public Hearing as the Final Plat is in substantial agreement with the Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat which the Board approved at its June 26, 2025 meeting and as a Public Hearing was held on the Preliminary Plat on December 5, 2024 and all public concerns were addressed at that time. C. Giangrande seconded the MOTION, which was carried by all.

After further discussion, E. Kaplan made a MOTION to approve the Final Plat as presented. P. Sikalis seconded the MOTION, which was carried by all. Chairman Slutzky advised S. Ouimet to have the applicant sign the paper and mylar copies of the Final Plat and return to the Village Hall for signing by the Chairman. Applicant would then have 62 days to record the Plat at the County Clerk’s office.

7776 Main Street—Sketch Site Plan & Major Residential Subdivision—Le Jardine de Hunter—S. Ouimet presenting

S. Ouimet presented and reviewed the proposed Preliminary Subdivision Plat with the Board. He reviewed the meeting he had on July 11 with Village Trustee Jason DiLeo and Jason Priesner of Lamont Engineering wherein it was determined that the Village would have adequate water to service the development. He indicated this was possible as the Village has retested their well #1 and found it safe to bring on line and as the Village intends to drill a new well between the Schoharie Creek and Dolan’s Lake by October of this year.

S. Ouimet said the Long Form EAF submitted 5/24/23 will need to be revised due to regulatory changes that took effect on January first of this year. He also advised the project would likely be undertaken in three or more phases, but the entire project will be reviewed at this time. Chairman Slutzky asked all Board members to review the revised Long EAF prior to the August Board meeting.

Chairman’s Report: none

Adjournment:
P. Sikalis made MOTION to adjourn at 8:50 PM. C.Giangrande seconded the MOTION, which was
carried by all.

Transcribed By:
Paul Slutzky