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Developer Seeks Study of Revised Dover Plan
Officials Want Public Comment First
03.30.2007
Michael Woyton
Poughkeepsie Journal
DOVER PLAINS - After months of squabbling about one of Dutchess County's largest housing projects, the Town of Dover and Benjamin Companies of Long Island remain divided over what should be studied next - and some residents are getting frustrated.
"The bickering has got to stop," said Dover Plains resident Linda French, speaking at a town board meeting Wednesday.
At issue this time is whether a formal environmental review should be conducted of a new design plan for the 1,400-home development instead of the original plan the public has already commented on.
Benjamin wants to perform environmental studies on a new design resulting from a series of workshop meetings held with the town in 2006.
The state sold the former Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center, 800 acres in the hamlet of Wingdale, to Benjamin in October 2003 for $3.95 million, after allowing most of the buildings to deteriorate. About 1,400 residential units are being proposed, ranging from apartments and townhouses to estate-type homes.
Originally, the developers had proposed homes that were more spread out across the property, especially on the west side of Route 22, where a nine-hole golf course and farm are located. The town had worked with Benjamin to get more of the first phase of development near the Harlem Valley-Wingdale Train Station to create a "walkable community.''
The town had sought another technical meeting about the overall plans. But after two hours of discussion and public comment, the two sides were no closer to reaching a consensus about how to proceed.
The developer proposed a memorandum of understanding, hoping to get the town to agree to let them study the new plan devised with the town.
A counter-memorandum was written by the town offering to reopen the public comment period to reflect the new design proposal.
Councilwoman Katie Palmer-House said the new design plan shows progress toward a common goal, but the new plan and the original are significantly different.
"The change means we need to know different things," she said, referring to the environmental review process called scoping.
Though the town's memo might provide an opening for conflict resolution, no agreements were reached Wednesday and no further discussions were scheduled.
Wingdale resident Edie Flood said a memo of understanding should be worked on together.
"I'm not married, but this sounds like a marriage," she said.
"Now it's 'he said, she said,'" Flood said. "My biggest fear is that the eyesore will continue."
Reach Michael Woyton at mwoyton@poughkeepsiejournal.com
or 845-451-4518.
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