At its January 13 meeting, the Marlborough Town Board proposed the addition of a new special use for the Highway Development (HD) district lining Route 9W, thus allowing cluster-type housing there for senior citizens. This proposal, along with other proposed changes to the zoning code governing the highway district, will be the topic of a public hearing set for Monday, January 27 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

 

The proposed rule defines “senior citizen housing” as units designated for adults who are 55 years of age or older. Town Supervisor Scott Corcoran noted that such housing is already permissible in areas zoned C-1 and C-2, which are commercial zones. The change would take place via the addition of language to the town’s zoning code, exempting these uses from rules governing development in the HD Highway Development District: multiple-family dwellings, adult multiple dwellings, senior citizen housing, and affordable senior citizen housing. The proposed language would also encompass “any other specific section of the Code of the Town of Marlborough designed to make exception to this restriction.” 

 

“We need 55-plus housing,” said Corcoran. “This measure would allow for low for this type of housing for seniors [to be built in the HD district], but only if you have town water and sewer service at the site.” This would be important for providing emergency services to such units as well as to the day-to-day needs of the seniors who would occupy them. Such units would consist of two or fewer bedrooms and could be designed with attached or detached units.

 

Projects would also be subject to a minimum acreage requirement of three acres, with a maximum density of eight units per acre, and a minimum lot width of 200 feet. Setback requirements of 75 feet would also apply to all front, rear, and side yards.

 

In addition, the Town Board unanimously approved two additional measures. The first authorized the highway superintendent to sign an intermunicipal shared-service agreement with other towns. Under such agreements, municipalities can lend – and borrow – equipment, materials, and people for projects. 

 

The second measure was a $2.25-per-1,000-gallon increase to the town’s water rates, as a temporary charge to allay a current deficit at the water company. Under this measure the 2025 rates will be $15.85 per 1,000 gallons, for up to 75,000 gallons used; $16.85 per 1,000 gallons, for up to 150,000 gallons used; and $17.85 per 1,000 gallons, for 151,000 gallons used or more.

 

Among other business, Mici Simonofsky, chairperson of the town’s Conservation Advisory Committee, reported on a request from Corcoran to follow up on an email he received from EVUnited, which is offering up to $33,000 in funding for the installation of an EV charging station.

 

“The timing seems quite appropriate with the work under way at the Highway Department building,” said Simonofsky. “It makes sense that we think about placement of a charging station on municipal property.” EVUnited, which has done similar projects in Connecticut, would work with Central Hudson Electric and Gas and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to obtain funding for an EV charging station project. 

 

Working with these two partners, the town would still be responsible for about $4,000 in costs for each charging station. Such chargers could be placed at the Highway Department or at the Marlborough Community Center, making them easily accessible to drivers along Route 9W. In addition to EVUnited, Simonofsky said she intends to consult additional companies that operate locally for proposals, using the Hudson Valley Regional Council as an informational resource.

 

Councilwoman Sherida Sessa asked if such chargers could be designed to provide a modest revenue sum for the town. “We could have an upcharge for people from out of town,” she said. Under this arrangement, Marlborough residents would receive such service for a lower cost.

 

“These EV charging units would be used mainly by travelers,” noted Councilman Manny Cauchi. “People who live locally and own EVs likely have their own charging setup at home.”

 

County Legislator Tom Corcoran noted that companies offering to build charging stations do so for a key reason: They are then in line to keep any revenue generated by people stopping to charge their vehicles.

 

During the public-comment portion of the meeting, Simonofsky noted that the proposed Orchard-On-Hudson condo development in Marlboro’s center is expected to pose significant environmental issues. She noted that public hearings on environmentally sensitive projects need to be moved forward in the process, giving the CAC – and the public at large – more time to weigh any such issues.

 

Corcoran used this occasion to celebrate the town’s accomplishments for 2024 and offered a look ahead to what’s in store for 2025. Topping the list, the town had its grand opening for the Marlborough Community Center last June. Other noteworthy achievements included its final agreements with the CSX rail line and completion of a new crossing at Milton Landing, completion of the first phase of the Milton Landing waterfront project, completing the second-phase Cultural Resource Historical Survey for the town, and finishing repairs on Old Indian Trail and at the Milton Landing’s North Pier.

 

“We also put out to bid and started the Highway and Water Department building renovation and expansion project,” Corcoran said. “We worked with two major developers who are investing over $100 million dollars each into our town, to build the Buttermilk Falls Resort Hotel and Marlborough Resort Lattintown.”

 

Among the things to watch for in 2025 will be the completion of the Highway/Water Department building, finished repairs on the Old Post Road bridge, completion of the NEXAMP solar farm at the town’s landfill, and completion of an upgrade and expansion at the Marlboro Wastewater Treatment Facility.

 

In the recreational arena, Corcoran said town residents can look forward to the debut of a new pavilion for the third bocce court, as well as new pickleball courts, at Cluett Schantz Park, and the completion of a lighting installation and electrical upgrade at Young’s Field. And those are just the highlights, he said. 

 

“I really want to thank our board for, working very hard to get a lot of these accomplishments done, and to thank our department heads, our employees, and all our committees for their hard work as well,” said Corcoran.