Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The North Salem Planning Board held a regular meeting on October 7, 2026, beginning at 6:30 PM. The meeting included public hearings (carried over), regular agenda items, and a work session. Key actions included approval of an extension for Gilport Development Corp., referral of First Purdys LLC's building facade proposal to the Architectural Review Board, approval of a wetland permit for Watson, and referral of proposed land conservation special permit amendments to the Town Board.
The board considered a draft resolution for the 20th 90-day extension of final subdivision plat approval and reapproval of the freshwater wetland permit. The motion to grant the extension from October 23, 2026 to January 21, 2027, and to reapprove the wetland permit to expire concurrently on January 21, 2027, was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously.
Representatives presented a proposal to paint the building exterior, replace soffit lighting, and add screening to obscure rooftop antennas. Planning consultant Will MDRA's memo was discussed. The board voted to refer the proposal to the Architectural Review Board (ARB) with added comments, including a suggestion from board member Chris to consider a less stark color that blends with the Hamlet environment. The board also noted that the lighting can be set to 3000K (code compliant) and that the screening appears effective from Route 22. The referral motion passed unanimously.
The board reviewed a draft resolution for a wetland permit at 10 Cottage Lane. Reports from the wetlands inspector and town engineer were considered. After confirming that minor planting amendments from the planner would be incorporated, the board approved the nine-page resolution as written. Motion passed unanimously.
Bonnie, representing the applicants, explained a proposed lot line adjustment involving parcels on Nash Road. She provided historical context (parcel landlocked since 1928) and responded to the planning consultant's memo. A waiver was requested for plotting historical utility easements that lack metes and bounds descriptions. The board accepted the information and asked for a further submission addressing easement details and wetlands notation. No vote was taken; the item will return.
Daryl Gresham (on Zoom) presented a proposal to remove abandoned Sprint equipment at 121 feet and relocate/upgrade Verizon equipment to 122-123 feet. The planning consultant's memo requesting additional information was acknowledged. The board noted that the removal bond for the Sprint equipment should be checked with the town attorney. The item will be continued to the next meeting.
Chair reported on a site visit to the Hewlett property, where a wetlands permit is sought to expand a home by filling in the floodplain. The chair expressed strong concerns about the necessity and potential impact on neighboring properties. The board expects the applicant to modify the proposal.
The board reviewed the latest draft amendments for a new section on conservation grounds and modifications to the existing recreational use section. Discussion covered timber harvesting (selective harvesting vs. heavy equipment), member-only activities (merged with mission-related activities), and hunting (exception for GBH-style hunts). The board decided to refer the draft (dated September 30, 2026) to the Town Board with two edits: refine the timber harvesting language to minimize impact, and clarify the hunting exception. Motion passed with one abstention (Chris abstained).
Meeting. Opening the regular meeting, the first item on the agenda is Gilport Development Corporation, who would like to continue with their extensions. For the record, I'm not aware of any um changes in any of the legislations involved with this permit, so it seems okay to extend it. Um resolve that the North Salem Planning Board hereby grants Skillport Development LLC a 20th 90-day extension of their final subdivision plat approval from October 23rd, 2026 to January 21st, 2027. Purther written requests from Stephen Rabel of McCulloch, Old Berger and Stout LLP. And whereas the wetland approval has expired and there are no known changes to the wetlands legislation. Resolve that the North Salem Planning Board hereby grants Skillport Development LLC a reapproval of their freshwater wetland permit to expire January 21st, 2027 to be concurrent with the extended subdivision approval. I will make that motion. Do we have a second? Second. Thank you, Ed. All in favor? And I vote aye. Thank you very much. Thank you, Linda. Next item on the agenda is first purdy's LLC. I believe we have Tim Allen here representing the owners. Let's see if I can do this. Oh right there. So just to get oriented, this is what the site looks like today. Um pretty beige. Yeah. And let's stop sharing that. And you are in front of us to us to consider a new look for the uh at least the front facade of the structure. So Tim. Right. Uh Tim Allen of Bible Associates representing uh Beantown properties with me tonight is Joel Sarchuk of uh JPL architects. Um on the Zoom is uh I believe Theo Resnick of uh Beantown Properties. Um we're simply here before you tonight to uh Joel will go into a little more detail on the building itself. Um but to paint the building, give it a new look, uh switch out some lights that are soffites uh in front of the building and provide that sheathing above for the uh screening of the antennas that are on the building. Um we're in receipt of uh Will's memo, a couple things we want to talk to the board about and procedurally, obviously. We really would like to get some paint on this building before the winter comes around, so we would ask the board that uh at a minimum tonight that you allow us to paint the building. But we'll get into the specifics of uh of the plan and Joel walk you through that because you've already seen the building is kind of sloppy and and messy. We really want to give it a new look and uh attract tenants to it. Okay, basically what we're gonna do is paint the exterior uh in a similar color. Um it's a china white, an off-white, and then paint all the wood frames and the uh socket material in a black discreening um which would be added will also be black aluminum. Um that's basically what we want to do, repair the windows that are uh damaged. Um that's it. Is that framework around the windows now? And yes, it's the same color as the well no right now, yes. Right now it's the same color as the sighting, but we're gonna accentuate it. Um, you know, to pull it off. What's the effectiveness of the uh screening that you have on the roof? If I was standing on the ground in front of the building, does that mean I would no longer see the um