Silo Ridge - Millerton News

10/9/2008 - Silo Ridge keeps community up to date

Amenia
Silo Ridge keeps community up to date
By CORY ALLYN
10/9/2008

AMENIA — Silo Ridge held two public meetings Saturday, Sept. 27, and Monday, Sept. 29 to keep the community informed of the project's status.

Daniel Leary, the legal counsel for Silo Ridge, described the process so far. The pre-application was in 2003, followed by scoping in 2005. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was accepted in October 2007 and the public comment period lasted until March 25, 2008. This summer the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was written up and accepted on Sept. 18, which is currently the most recent update.

The consideration period, which is open to public comment, will last until Oct. 24 at 4 p.m. The Planning Board will then issue a Findings Statement and the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) process will be complete.

The Chazen Companies, the engineering firm hired by Silo Ridge, was on hand to explain the FEIS. The FEIS is available for public review at the Amenia Library and Town Hall, and is also available online at www.siloridgeseqra.com.

Public comments can be sent to Lana Anguin-Cohen at Amenia Town Hall, 36B Mechanic St. , PO Box 126, Amenia, NY 12501 or e-mailed to asstsuper@ameniany.gov.

Saturday's meeting was held at Silo Ridge and according to Mike Dignacco, who is vice president of construction for Millbrook Ventures,  approximately 15 people attended. Monday's meeting at the Amenia Town Hall had a turnout of around 20 people.

"The response I heard was that it was very informative," he said. "Several people mentioned they were familiar with the information and some had already reviewed some of the FEIS online, but said it was good to see everything again. "

Amenia Planning Board Chairman George Fenn attended Monday's meeting and "thought it was very well done. It was just factual, and concentrated on several areas of importance in the FEIS: visual, fiscal and general comments. I think it makes it easier for people to find them in such a large document. "

As far as opposition is concerned, Fenn said that the only thing he had heard were "rumblings from a group in Smithfield Valley called Friends for a Better Amenia (FBA). They submitted a memorandum in August that showed concerns, but I don't know whether they're going to file suit or not. "

FBA's primary spokesperson Steve Benardete talked with The Millerton News about the group and its efforts.

"We're a really small group," Benardete said. "I wouldn't call them members, but we have about a dozen supporters. We're concerned about the SEQRA process and decided it would be in our best interest if we hired an attorney. "

FBA submitted a memorandum of comment with the help of Grant & Lyons, LLP, based in New York City. According to the letter, FBA is "focuse[d] primarily on two aspects of the environmental review: visual impact and community character impacts," and hopes to prove that the analysis by the Planning Board of both aspects are inadequate by both SEQRA and the town of Amenia's own zoning laws.

"I did attend one of [Silo Ridge's] public meetings," Benardete added. "I think they should be complemented for reaching out to the town. It was a nice job of community service, and they also sought to help many people navigate the FEIS. I have looked at the document, but it is extremely large and 30 days [the period allotted for public consideration] is not a lot of time. "

Benardete is unsure what the group's next plan of action is.

"Either individually or as part of the group we'll be submitting our comments on the FEIS," he said. "Unlike the DEIS, there is no legal obligation for the Planning Board to address the public's comments, so everything depends on their Findings Statement. "

Dignacco remained confident that the project was running smoothly. He has been attending all Planning Board meetings in case there are any additional questions as Silo Ridge awaits the board's Findings Statement.

"We're extremely pleased to have reached this critical point in the SEQRA process and we're delighted by the positive community response," Dignacco said. "We believe our proposal now strikes a wonderful balance between providing the growth the town desires and preserving what is best about Amenia. "

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