by Bea Peterson
Realtor Rick Tinkham appeared before the Hoosick Planning Board on Monday, December 14 on behalf of Bryan Pello. This was an initial conference. Pello owns 21.3 acres on Fog Hill Road that he would like to develop with two to five building lots. If three lots, Tinkham said, two of them would have 400 feet of road frontage and the third lot would have 50 feet. Tinkham said this was all preliminary. When he had completed his presentation, two families wished to read and present opposition letters to the Board. Acting Board Chairman William Dunigan told them this was an initial conference, not a public hearing. Tinkham asked the letters be read since, he said, he and Pello want to know everyone’s feelings regarding the property.
The letters from Barbara and Gary Sussman and Donna Marie de Creeft lament the loss of such scenic property to development noting the land contains panoramic vistas and is on a road designated by the County as a “scenic route.” The vistas have been the subject of many artists, and they feel the property should be preserved. The land also contains hiking and snowmobile trails.
There is marshland at the bottom of a field near the property, and they expressed concern that it might be spoiled by leaks from septic fields in a development. One letter suggested a State Environmental Quality Review be undertaken before the development is approved.
Tinkham said the land is for sale for $250,000 and Pello is open to anyone purchasing it to preserve it. At the moment, the plan to achieve that financial goal is to subdivide the property for building lots.
The only other person to appear before the Board was Avi Vyas on behalf of Farin Harris. The Board approved the request for a two lot simple subdivision dividing 4.26 acres from a 49 acre parcel on Harken Hollow Road.