BEECHWOODS – Despite an 11th-hour plea to halt the project until more research could be done, the Delaware Planning Board granted conditional ap­proval to a 9-lot, 60.3 acre subdivision on Gabel Rd. in the Beechwoods section of the Town of Delaware at its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday night at the town hall.

Attended by more than 40 town residents, the meeting started with a plea by Suzanne Devorca of Dela­ware Concerned Citizens, who was allowed to read a two-page letter addressing her group’s concerns with the Gabel Road Properties’ 9-lot development. Her letter summarized a 17-page letter which had been submitted earlier that day by the Albany law firm of Tooher & Barrone, which detailed the DCC’s concerns with the project.

“I’m here tonight concerned about my land and the land of my neighbors,” Devorca said. “We are asking that the Planning Board not grant any further approvals until all our issues are addressed.”

However, Delaware Town Planner Tom Shepstone quickly dispelled her request, stating, “The public hearing is over. I don’t appreciate it [the law firm’s letter].

“This is obviously a stalling tactic and is totally unprofessional,” Shepstone said. “We are not replaying this thing.”

Shepstone then went on to read parts 1, 2, and 3 of the Full Environmental Assessment Form, detailing the Project and Setting, Identifying Potential Project Impacts and Evaluating the Magnitude and Importance of Project Impacts.

Shepstone summarized his findings on those issues, which found that the development would have no significant impact on the environment or other issues as they related to the reports.

Shepstone said that given the very low density of the development – disturbing just 2.8 acres of the 60-acre subdivision – he believed the [rural] character of the area would be preserved and there would be no significant impacts to any of the criteria he reviewed.

Shepstone thanked the public several times for bringing its questions to the planning board’s attention and said, “We usually do not get into this level of detail with an 8-9 lot subdivision.

“But we felt it was important given the public concern,” he said. “We have looked at those things.”

Following his 35-minute presentation, the planning board, building inspector and town attorney were each asked by Shepstone if they had any questions or concerns they wanted to address. Several questions were asked and comments made.

At the start of the meeting, Planning Board Chair Warren Blumenthal made it clear he was again recusing himself from any discussion or vote on the project.

The three board members then voted to accept all Assessment Forms submitted to the board and also granted the project conditional approval subject to the Storm Pollution Prevention Plan being submitted to the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation and approved.

Several other stipulations were also noted in the resolution, including creating a homeowners assn.

The planning board then appointed member Scott Stevenson as the official signer of all documents for the project.

“We did take what you [the public] said seriously,” Shepstone told the public at the end of the meeting.

Other Business

The Planning Board heard  an update from Tom Rodger’s engineer on a proposed RV Park on Route 52, just west of the hamlet of Kenoza Lake.

The engineer discussed the scope of the project, which will include approximately 9 RV parking spots, 4 proposed cabins, in addition to a pond and walking trails.

Delaware Planner Tom Shepstone called it, “A pretty good plan.”

He said several criteria still needed to be met, including screening, and two parking spots for each RV.

“This is considered a transient campground and your sites do meet the criteria,” Shepstone said. “It’s a go in terms of concept.

The Planning Board also granted a one-year renewal to Benos Rochel, a girls summer camp on Swiss Hill Road, located at the former Valley View House.

The renewal was granted subject to more stringent conditions, especially as it concerned trespassing on neighbors’ properties, which was a concern last summer, town officials said.

In addressing Benos Rochel’s lawyer Perry Meltzer, who was in attendance, Town Attorney Ken Klein said, “This can’t go on [trespassing]. They can’t go on other’s peoples’ property. It has to stop.”

Mr. Meltzer said he would relay the message to Benos.