Chapter and verse: Details on the Lynch’s Marina project approval

(Chris McCutcheon)

Members of the village of Saugerties planning board were hard-pressed to remember the last time they’ve added such a level of detail to one of their resolutions giving approval to a developer. That’s what the board did at its August 10 meeting when it dotted its Is and crossed its Ts memorializing a resolution granting Tom Struzzieri a special-use permit and site-plan approval for improvements to the former Lynch’s marina on Ferry Street.

One of the three buildings at the site is now known as the Steam Boat Restaurant. It is open for dining on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays, and for use for special events such as weddings.

Board members decided to spell out in exacting detail what Struzzieri can and cannot do with his property. One of their motivations in doing so is to strengthen their legal position. A group opposed to the plan, Friends of the Saugerties Waterfront has threatened to take legal action against the board.

The memorialization also provides detailed explanation of why the board granted approval. The applicant must limit the number of people in the building to no more than 99, and be governed by the village noise law, the issue that most of the objectors to the plan raised. They were concerned that music from weddings held at the site would disrupt the quality of life of residents living in the area. (Village law prohibts noise levels of 50 decibels or more.)

The village also required Struzzieri to hook into the village line for water service and into the town wastewater lines.

The county health department deemed an existing septic system inadequate to serve the building. Struzzieri will have to use port-a-potties until he is able to hook into the town’s sewer lines. He’s working on doing that.

The board also required two Americans with Disabilities Act compliant parking spaces.