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Neighbors press Planning Board on parking, density for 21 Bluestone Court walkable‑neighborhood plan
Summary
The board continued review of a walkable‑neighborhood regulatory plan for 21 Bluestone Court after residents raised concerns about potential build‑out density, lack of required parking, circulation and flooding risk; developers said they are updating plans and will submit revised drawings.
The Planning Board on April 21 continued the public hearing for a walkable‑neighborhood regulatory plan at 21 Bluestone Court (SSLI Holdings LLC). Neighbors urged the board to require more off‑street parking and lower density; developers said they have revised the layout, are updating soils/drainage and lighting data, and will provide a fuller set of plans in advance of the next meeting.
Why it matters: The regulated plan would create narrow lots and a new internal street pattern that would allow duplexes and small multiplex units. Neighbors warned that the area currently has limited on‑street and no sidewalks on nearby Lucas Avenue, and said the proposed density (multiple 4‑unit multiplexes that could total roughly 46 units at full build‑out) would worsen parking pressure and safety for pedestrians, including schoolchildren.
Public commenters cited the Ulster County Planning Board advisory letter, which called attention to parking and recommended exploring garage or on‑site parking options. Speakers also said area road widths and lack of sidewalks make the neighborhood poorly suited to higher density without additional off‑street parking and pedestrian improvements. Developers told the board they have revised the roadway radius and central median, relocated drainage collection areas to the center median to preserve street parking, prepared supplemental soil testing for drainage design and will show typical duplex and small‑multiplex lot layouts in the next plan set. The applicant said they plan to require driveways for each lot and intend to make driveway depth sufficient for two stacked cars per lot in many designs.
Board members emphasized that the regulated plan will fix which building types can be developed on each lot and that future owners would need board approval to change from the designated building type. The applicant and staff said they will prepare a formal response to the Ulster County Planning Board and submit updated plans that show driveway locations, photometrics, stormwater data and a more detailed parking layout. The board voted to table the item and keep the public hearing open pending submission of the revised materials.
