A proposal by the Town of Marlborough to permit cluster-type housing for seniors in the Highway Development (HD) district along Route 9W resulted in limited comment at a January 27 public hearing.

The public hearing took place at Marlborough Town Hall in conjunction with the Town Board’s bimonthly meeting. The proposal being aired would add a new special use to the zoning rules for the HD district for this type of housing, which is already permitted in commercial zones C-1 and C-2. The measure was introduced at the Town Board’s January 13 meeting, and although the hearing focused on senior cluster housing, it would also ease the HD district rules governing multiple-family dwellings, adult multiple dwellings, and affordable senior citizen housing.

Conservation Advisory Committee Chair Mici Simonofsky was the sole resident who commented during the hearing. “I’m just wondering, is there a specific proposal that created the need for this change?” she asked.

“There’s a proposal for senior housing with mixed uses, for a possible doctor’s office,” said Town Supervisor Scott Corcoran. The site in question would be on the west side of Route 9W, near the intersection with Milton Turnpike and essentially across the street from Marlborough Town Hall.

Corcoran noted that special restrictions would apply to any such developments. “You have to have a minimum 10 acres, and you have to have town water and sewer service,” he said.

Projects could involve either detached or attached homes and would be subject to a maximum-density requirement of eight units per acre. The minimum lot width would be 200 feet, with setbacks of 75 feet for front, rear, and side exposures. The Town Board voted to close the public hearing, but no vote was taken on the new zoning measure.

The Town Board also aired a resolution to adopt a measure associated with the New York State Climate-Smart Communities Pledge. This resolution concerned partnering with Cornell Cooperative Extension in an ongoing climate-change education and engagement program. As part of that Cornell would provide the town with approximately 12 environmental posts each year, which would go on the CAC’s section of the Town of Marlborough’s website and would be distributed through social media.

Corcoran teed the measure up for a vote, but Councilwoman Sherida Sessa indicated reservations about the posts involved. “Twelve posts a year is a lot of content,” she said. “I just would want to know what’s going to go up before we commit to doing it.”

Ultimately the board voted to table the measure for a possible vote at the February 10 meeting.

Among other business, the board voted to set February 10 for a public hearing on a request to extend the boundaries of the town’s water district to encompass the proposed Marlborough Resort between Lattintown Road and Ridge Road. Currently, less than 20 percent of the property on which the resort will be built is within the water district’s boundaries. As proposed, the resort would include lodging, restaurants, recreational facilities, and a staff dormitory.

The agreement would also be contingent on the development commencing within two years.

The Town Board also approved a resolution authorizing Corcoran to sign a stormwater control facility maintenance agreement and easement with the developers of the Marlboro-On-Hudson condominiums on Hudson Circle, near the intersection of Highland Avenue and South Street. The agreement also calls for the developer to post a $49,902.31 security bond to ensure completion.

The original developer constructed 12 two- and three-bedroom condos on the 6.3-acre site about 20 years ago. Construction stopped during the 2008 recession. The new contractor is building out the original plan for 36 residential units, a clubhouse, and a swimming pool.

The Town Board unanimously nixed a request from ACR Trading of Hackensack, New Jersey, to operate a clothing-donation bin at a local shopping center. Board members noted that ACR is a for-profit company, and the donated items would likely go to stock vintage-clothing stores and would thus not justify the clutter such bins tend to attract.

Among other business, the board okayed a resolution to advertise for an opening on the town’s Ethics Board. Longtime board member Vince Mannese recently resigned, announcing his intention to relocate to the South.

As part of the CAC’s monthly report, Simonofsky reported on research she has conducted on companies that might construct electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the Town of Marlborough. This research was sparked by one company’s proposal to build such stations at a town location. Two companies have indicated an interest in this, and in providing some assistance – but have not spelled out the details on what that would entail, she said.

“I will continue to look for more data as well as following up on other funding options,” said Simonofsky.

“Unfortunately, nothing out there is free yet,” said Corcoran.

“They are much more expensive than these little carrots they give you would suggest,” Simonofsky agreed.

Among other committees, Sessa commended the other members of the town’s Recreation Committee for their ultra-fast work in organizing the town’s “Sledding Under the Stars” event. It took place on Friday, January 24. “We had a steady stream of people enjoying an old-fashioned night of sledding,” Sessa said. “And fortunately, the snow stayed around to make this a great event.”