At the August 24 meeting of the Marbletown planning board, Christ the King Church at 3021 State Route 213 in Stone Ridge discussed plans for the Acorn Waldorf School.

With an expected enrollment of 30 students in a Monday through Friday program, Acorn would like to begin nursery school classes in September. This school is intended for preschool and elementary school children, but there were a few questions from the board about traffic safety before the site plan received a permit.

Board Chairman Dave Cobb said there was “a fair amount of traffic in there,” and a safety screen is planned to create extra space so that faculty and parents picking up the approximately 30 students can clearly see one another. For safety, traffic cones and staggered pickup times are part of the plan. There are no plans for fencing.

The permit was then approved.

Amelia’s Pantry

Amelia’s Pantry at 155 Main Street in High Falls appeared once again for a “review of sign, site plan modification and limited-service food.”

This lounge-style “farm to fork” eatery plans for a 65-seat capacity. Measurements presented include 1,900 square feet of dining space indoors, 500 square feet for outdoor dining, and a “600-foot retail portion” with “cheeses, meats, our own bread” available. Additionally, expect “some other housewares and goods” in the retail space.

Per the plans, 39 parking spaces are planned to accommodate those grab-and-go options. Owners are also working on “an issue on the fabrication of the ADA ramp,” and an “interior alteration permit pending” in regards to Central Hudson electrical components.

The site plan was approved. The eatery’s 30-day advance notice requirement for alcohol sales had already been waived at the August 18th town board meeting.

Crosstown Development

A two-lot subdivision is planned for a 39-acre parcel on 16 Lower Sahler Mill Road. This property is “literally on the town line with Town of Olive,” calling for proceedings with the planning boards of both towns. There are no plans for extra driveway construction, as the owners “just want to separate the house” on a five-acre parcel.

This is pending, and “the Town of Olive hasn’t done their public hearing yet,” Cobb said.

Van Aken Farm

Tracy Kellogg indicated that Van Aken-Kaufman Farm is “finalizing the subdivision map in full.”

The 4366 Route 209 property, with a frequently photographed Dutch Colonial house, was a heavily-debated topic in the spring, when the owners came before the board seeking approval to divide the parcel into two lots to provide space for corn and sunflower farming.

Residents attending that meeting voiced concerns about earth-moving on a property which may have unmarked graves, including the graves of enslaved people, and other historical and ecological points of interest. In the process of “cleaning up some of the draft design,” these concerns were addressed with a revised map.

With the possibility of hidden graves and historical resources, the lawyers involved concur that a full archeological survey is needed.

Other Business

A special-use permit for “large-scale solar” was approved for four 123-kilowatt solar panel sections for the High Falls Water District at 176 Mohonk Road. These structures measure 97 x 15 feet. This has been determined through the SEQRA process to have no significant environmental impacts.

A “site plan approval for canopy, gate, fence, and access drive” for a pump chamber access site at 5 Aqueduct Way had proceedings rescheduled for next meeting. “They want a variance on the distance and the height,” Cobb indicated, adding that there are “a number of items we really need to see.”

Nevel Haus, with $5,000 in escrow, has requested “a 90-day extension on their conditional approval” on a subdivision. Engineering concerns will be examined to clarify “fine points in the road maintenance agreement.”

The next planning board meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 28.