In an unusual move, the Town of Saugerties Planning Board held a public hearing even though neither the developer nor his agent were present to answer questions from the public. The proposal was for a two-lot subdivision on Houtman Road, presented by Ronald Frank. The plan shows lots, one of 8.8 acres and the other 2.1 acres.
While there were some questions from neighbors about potential runoff and possible clearing of trees, much of the discussion centered on the legality of the public hearing itself. Two of the speakers said they were not informed of the public hearing in writing, as is required.
One neighbor said that she heard about the meeting from her neighbor, but never received a card. “You are on the list and a letter was sent,” board secretary Becky Bertorelli said. “I have a receipt from the applicant and the letter was sent. I don’t know why you didn’t get it. Another speaker said the card was in his mailbox; the postman did not give the certified letter to him to sign, as is required with certified mail. “I called the Post Office, and they said he is allowed to leave the card,” he said. “If we hadn’t checked the box, we never would have known,” said his wife. Bertorelli said the applicant had mailed the notification, and if people did not get it, the Post Office was apparently at fault.”
Bertorelli said there were 25 people on the list to be contacted. “Right now we see two people here who were on the list. I don’t know if the others have been contacted,” said Planning Board member Carole Furman. “Something has to be worked out with the Post Office because this is important.”
Planning Board member Ken Goldberg said certified mail requires a signature, and the neighbor should complain to the Post Office, as failure to have the notice signed is illegal.
Neither the board nor planning consultant Beltrani had an answer to Eleanor Minsky’s question regarding the developer’s intention toward a stand of trees that screened his property from Minsky’s. She also wanted assurance that the development would not affect her well. Beltrani said areas of woodland should be shown on the map. She also noted that the runoff should be shown and both questions were on her list to ask the developer.
The public hearing will remain open until the board’s next meeting on August 17.
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