Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene the Durham Town Board Tue., March 16, paused its review of the Blackthorne Resort expansion proposal to allow the applicants time to regroup with their newly retained attorneys. Town Supervisor Shawn Marriott said he wanted to allow the Handels time to decide whether to continue with the plan or to withdraw the application. The proposal calls for the addition of 30 campsites to the property located on Sunside Road in East Durham. That site plan has been under review by the town board since December and the public hearing, which began on February 2, remains open. The board agreed this week to allow the applicants six months to get all application related materials up to date. At the March 2 workshop meeting, Marriott had suggested the Blackthorne withdraw the application and complete a new survey of the resort, according to meeting minutes. “They will have a survey done with every lot on their property numbered and on the survey,” Marriott said. Once the survey is complete, Blackthorne could bring a site plan back to the board, Marriott said. The supervisor said there were discrepancies, but confirmed 30 sites and a bathhouse were conditionally approved by the state Department of Health in October 2019."It is concerning that laws that were made to protect the community would be thrown out the window because they haven’t been enforced,” resident Jan Perlin said. Resident Tom Lillis said, “There were a lot of sites along the creek in wetlands that were in violation of state regulations.” A 2018 stipulation agreement between the state Department of Health and the resort showed that 180 sites, a bathroom and a well had been created without approval, according to an attorney representing some Blackthorne neighbors. The sites have significantly impacted the community, he said. “Sunside Road has come to be used as if it were a private road for RV campers full of golf carts, children and people who appear to be under the influence wandering around.” Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.