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Residents concerned about retreat center

Feb 28, 2019 12:45 pm
Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Catskill residents filled town hall Feb. 26, for a public hearing on a proposed retreat center. Piaule Landscaping Retreat has applied to the planning board for a special-use permit because the project is proposed for a rural-residential zone. Piaule plans to build 20 mini-cabins and one 4,000-square-foot house at the site. The main structure will feature an indoor pool, a dining area and spa and an event venue. The facility will occupy 5.3 acres on a 30-acre parcel off of Mossy Hill Road. Neighbors raised concerns about this kind of development in a residential neighborhood. Resident Paul Lvovsky thinks the project is not compatible with the local community. “This is a residential community with little car or foot traffic,” he said. “We’re being taken advantage of because of outdated zoning laws.” Mossy Hill is a narrow road, Lvovsky said, adding that an increase in traffic would be unsafe. The planning board voted to close the hearing, giving them 62 days to decide whether to issue the permit. Planning Board Chairman Joseph Izzo encouraged residents to continue to send the board written comments for review. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.