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Dover Site Review Gets Board OK
Former Psych Center Area is Focus of Plan
01.03.2006
By Michael Woyton
Poughkeepsie Journal
DOVER PLAINS - The development of the former Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center moved closer to reality with the start of the environmental review process.
After four hours of discussion Thursday, the Dover town board declared itself lead agency for the Dover Knolls application to redevelop the 800-acre Wingdale site.
"We were, in fact, convinced that there were enough good things in the plan to start the [State Environmental Quality Review Act] process," Supervisor Jill Way said.
The decision, in effect, means the developer's application had been accepted and possible environmental impacts could be reviewed.
Under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, the lead agency is charged with determining whether the project is environmentally significant and coordinates with the other interested parties throughout the environmental review process.
Plan was revised
The Benjamin Companies, a Long Island firm that bought the former state hospital in October 2003 for $3.95 million, had revised its initial proposal after the town board rejected it in November 2004.
"We are pleased with the progress made [Thursday] evening," said Peter Cris, spokesman for the Benjamin Companies. "We have been anxious to get to this point."
"The project will move forward," he said. "Now, we go from here to do whatever has to be done to make the project work for everyone."
The original plan called for more than 1,400 residential units to be built, with initial construction concentrated around the nine-hole golf course west of Route 22.
The revision would have 1,272 residences - from apartments and townhouses to estate-type homes. Initial construction would include building residential units and rehabilitating existing structures for commercial use near the Metro-North Railroad station.
Rezoning was sought
To maximize the number of housing units that could be built near the golf course, the developer had asked the board to rezone an 83-acre parcel at the northwest corner of the site from residential to mixed use.
Way said the parcel, known as the Dykeman farm, didn't have to be rezoned if housing was the only intended use.
If it were rezoned, "I would prefer to see some real public benefit for the 83 acres," she said.
The request was withdrawn by the developer when the board agreed to include the parcel in future discussions.
Wingdale resident Allan Zellnock lives near the Dykeman property. He is pleased the town board was able to reach a compromise.
"I'm not pro-development, but sooner or later something is going to be put there," he said. "I'd rather see what [Dover Knolls] proposed than end up with 40 individual houses."
Michael Woyton can be reached at mwoyton@poughkeepsiejournal.com
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