Owner seeks approvals for greenhouse, sauna, hot tub and EV charging at 33 Grinnell Street; board schedules hearing

The Rhinebeck Planning Board accepted a site‑plan application from the owner of 33 Grinnell Street for changes that include a 200‑square‑foot greenhouse, an adjacent sauna, a partially sunken hot tub, a proposed EV charging station, and a 400‑amp electrical service upgrade; a public hearing was scheduled for May 5.

Homeowner Rob Torbo (recorded in the file as the applicant) told the board landscaping and evergreen screening would hide new service equipment and the EV charger; he also agreed to remove an existing treehouse rather than seek a variance. Board staff asked for clarified plan scales, consistent sheet numbering and offset measurements for the building department and asked that the location of septic tanks and leach fields be shown on the plans to demonstrate code separations from new facilities.

The board requested additional details on the EV charger (mounting, lighting and screening), consistent plan scale bars and clarification of duplicate graphic elements shown on some sheets (ghost generators and repeated items). Staff requested phase 1A/1B archaeological findings be included in the record (the applicant had a phase 1 survey showing clay soils and low archaeological sensitivity). The draft procedural resolution found the application materials adequate for review, classified the action as Type II under SEQR and scheduled a May 5 public hearing.

What’s next: Applicant to correct plan inconsistencies, show septic tank and leach field locations and add EV‑charger specifications. The board will send materials to advisory committees and Dutchess County Planning and will hold the public hearing on May 5.