Grafton Planning Board Action – Slow And Steady

by Kieron Kramer
In March surveyor Brian Holbritter, representing Lawrence “Jamie” Meracle, Jr.,  presented a plan to the Grafton Planning Board during the informal discussion for a subdivision, located both  in Pittstown and Grafton, of the old Harbinger estate on Edelmann Lane which is near Tamarac Road. Having incorporated the Board’s suggestions, and the suggestions of Pittstown officials, he returned to the Planning Board meeting on Monday, April 15, to continue the informal discussion.
[private]Meracle’s development is composed of six lots in Pittstown and three lots in Grafton. Two lots in Grafton will be developed and one, of about 144 acres, will be “remaindered.” A road, Meracle Way, starting at Edelmann Lane to provide access to all the parcels, is being constructed by the developer. After visiting the site, Planning Board Chairman Tom Withcuskey and Grafton Highway Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck agreed that the topography makes the remaindered 144 acres unlikely to be developed. In March Hasbrouck suggested that the new road meet the Grafton road specifications for access to the Grafton parcels so it would also be adequate for the traffic in case the remaining 144 acres in Grafton were ever developed. Holbritter had originally planned to have the road end in a “hammerhead” just over the Grafton line. Withcuskey thought that the hammerhead should be in Pittstown, abutting the Grafton parcels which would still have enough frontage to satisfy the Board, and Withcuskey felt it would be more efficient if the road was entirely in Pittstown with the construction supervised by its planning board.
The revised plan that Holbritter presented Monday, with plot maps, widens the right of way of Meracle Way to be constructed through the Pittstown parcels to 60 feet and widens the right of way of the road through the Grafton parcels to 60 feet. This will allow any road constructed in Grafton to be in accordance with the Town of Grafton Road Specifications. The hammerhead is now a cul de sac of 96 feet in diameter in accordance with the NY State Fire Code and as required by the Pittstown Fire Department and is entirely in Pittstown, abutting the Grafton parcels. Holbritter said that the County Health Department has “requested minor changes that will not affect the lot lines or roads” in the plan and that they are “being worked on.”
Wisely, Holbritter has moved deliberately through discussions with both towns’ planning boards and officials to refine the original plan. “They [the Pittstown Planning Board] are happy; if you guys are, we can proceed,” he said. Withcuskey suggested that he, Hasbrouck and the Pittstown highway superintendent and planning board chairman meet so they would all be on the same page. Holbritter said he would like to do this in the next week or week and a half so he could submit the subdivision application and the project could move forward. Withcuskey told him that the subdivision in Grafton is considered a minor subdivision and that only a short form Environmental Assessment Statement (EAS) will be needed with the application.
Edelmann Subdivision
Holbritter presented another subdivision in the informal discussion that would come off of Edelmann Lane very close to the east of the Meracle subdivision. It is a major, 5 lot subdivision by Clark Edelmann and his sister, MaryLou MacNaughton. Their mother has died, and they are breaking up the farm for family members. All the new lots are in Grafton, with two Pittstown lots having already been approved. Hasbrouck said he had met with Edelmann and his son in law who wants to build on one of the lots “right away.” Hasbrouck informed them that they would have to “guarantee” that fire and emergency service vehicles can have access to the new lots which means they would guarantee that the road will be maintained and plowed for the Fire District in a “Family Homeowners’ Agreement” which will be filed with the map. Withcuskey said, “This is a family subdivision, but who can tell what will happen in the future in 20 or 30 years.” Holbritter had already included a 60 foot right of way in his plot map for access to the lots in this subdivision and plans to widen the section of Edelmann Lane leading up to the Y to 60 feet. As with the Meracle subdivision, he wants to get prior approval before making the application. Hasbrouck suggested that the application could go forward with the guaranteed road access as a contingency for final approval. Since this is a major subdivision a long form EAS would have to be submitted, Withcuskey said, and there is also a fee structure different from the minor subdivision rates.
Board Member Jim Goyer was absent from Monday’s meeting.
Moment Of Silence For Boston
Withcuskey asked for a moment of silence “for the people killed and injured today in Boston, another tragedy for our country.” The meeting adjourned after the silence at 7:10 pm.[/private]