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Jan 2, 2008
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"The Chronicle"
Hills projects continue dispute over roads
By Edie Johnson
Plans will proceed for through-road across Chester-Goshen border
Chester — Plans will continue for a proposed through-road across the Goshen-Chester border, despite opposition from neighbors and planners on the Goshen side.
A lively planning board meeting grew heated recently when developer Steve Esposito gave a presentation on the Hills of Chester, a 24-lot single-family subdivision proposed for 42 acres sandwiched between Whispering Hills in Chester and the Hills of Goshen.
Development plans were halted several years ago when Chester instituted a moratorium on new building. The site’s original senior citizen housing complex, or planned adult community, was scratched because it did not have access to state and county roads.
Meanwhile, a county traffic study recommended cutting through the Hills of Goshen to improve traffic flow. The only options leading out of the development are through the Whispering Hills housing development to Route 94, or through the Hills of Goshen to Arcadia Road. When Goshen was presented with the choice of displeasing Chester or contributing to traffic congestion on Arcadia Road, the town agreed to allow only an emergency access road to the Hills of Goshen.
Astonished and angry at Goshen’s decision, Bill Johanson, the Chester Planning Board chair, said it flies in the face of good planning. “The whole idea of planning is interconnectivity and free flow,” he said.
The Goshen Planning Board wanted to know: How will Chester be able to allow emergency vehicles and school buses to pass through and still be able to stop other traffic?
The people who live in the Hills of Goshen and on Arcadia Road do not want the through traffic. But neither do those who live in Whispering Hills, which is already a giant cul-de-sac.
Murmurs of a “border war” and “It’s practically a blockade” could be heard rippling through the room.
“Where does a planning board go with this kind of problem?” Johanson asked. Other board members said Chester has “the county behind us.”
The Chester board felt it needed to come to a decision about what to do for the developer, who had done his part to complete the application process. He had a traffic study done and appeared before both planning boards. The board and its lawyer consulted the town zoning code, which says the board is responsible for approving a site plan “to provide a convenient transport.” But the board had done what it could.
Esposito said Chester should let the project continue with its plans and be happy that “at least Whispering Hills will finally have an emergency exit.”
The planning board decided to force the issue by allowing the applicant to continue with his plans.
"The Chronicle"
Hills of Chester, and its problematic through road, begins hearings
By Edie Johnson
Chester — The long clash over a through-road crossing the Chester-Goshen border continued at a public hearing Wednesday night. On one side of the debate are the many practical advantages of having connecting roads; on the other, the desire of residents to preserve the privacy and safety of their neighborhoods.
The developer of the proposed Hills of Chester has proposed a cut-through to the Hills of Goshen. Although the Hills of Chester will have only 24 houses, it borders the massive condominium complex of Whispering Hills.
Long established as a kind of city unto itself, Whispering Hills has clubhouses, pools, and tennis courts, as well as its own subculture. Many parents in the complex are frightened at the prospect of a through-road that would allow upward of 700 vehicles to travel from Route 94 through their community, and its parks and playgrounds, to Arcadia Road.
Goshen has heard the same complaints from residents at the other end of the road, and so decided to limit incursions to “emergency vehicles and school buses only.” But, to date, there is no convincing plan for enforcing this restriction.
In general, planners consider it vital to have at least two access roads for any large development. Wednesday night’s public hearing on the subject brought up as many questions as answers.
Some Whispering Hills residents wanted to know: if Goshen can refuse access, why can’t Chester do the same?
Meanwhile, Orange County planners say “connectivity” between neighborhoods should be the highest priority but admit they cannot force either town to take action.
Confusing the issue, part of Whispering Hills is in the Village of Chester, part is in the Town of Chester, and part is in the Town of Goshen. This creates a grab-bag for apportioning out emergency services, school routes, road repairs, and snow plowing.
After some discussion over the proper name of the main access road off Route 94, several Whispering Hills contended there are actually two roads — one a road and one a lane. The one to the right, which the builder plans to use as his main access, passes the clubhouse and pool, and is privately owned.
“Putting the road there will put you right through our pool, and it is owned by the condominium complex,” said one resident, who said he is on the Whipering Hills board.
The lawyer representing the Hills of Chester promised not to go through the pool. This raises the question of whether the builder has a legal access road.
The only other alternative, where the entry road bears to the left and then past a kiddie park, is believed to be a village-owned road.
“What will you do to compensate us if we have to move our park?” asked a mother from Whispering Hills.
To make matters worse, village officials present at the meeting said they were amazed they had never heard of the project or been given the opportunity to give their input.
Planning Board Chair Ray Johanson assured the village its input would be welcome.
Ted Talmadge, a farmer on the other side of Route 17M, questioned the drainage pattern created by all three of these subdivisions.
“For years, developments have been adding water to the creek that goes along 17M,” he said. “They are pulling more and more water into our stream, and it just can’t handle any more.”
Talmadge said that if he should decide to subdivide his farm in the future, further saturation of that portion of his land might render it unbuildable. He said the project’s engineer excavated ditches along the upper portion of the property in order to get acceptable water tests. “I hope that when these ditches fill in you will still have water for houses on the high side,” he said.
Because of the many unsolved issues connected with the project, especially the legality of the main access road, the public hearing will be held open until the first Wednesday of March.
[Editor’s note: An editor’s error resulted in an old story on the Hills of Chester being reprinted in last week’s edition. The Chronicle apologizes for any confusion the reprint may have caused.]
Anonymous said...
Anyone interested in The Hills and related access road - The Hills of Chester.........off Route 94, approx 24 homes (reduced from 200) - Background: The Planning Board objects to only access through Whispering Hills. The applicant was looking to get approval from Goshen for a connecting road to Arcadia but an emergency access is all that will be allowed. Public hearing open to Feb 6, 2008 - No further details at this time.
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