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Planning board continues site plan public hearing on driveway dispute at Packard Cook/Ackerd Hook Road to April 21
Summary
The Rhinebeck Planning Board continued a public hearing on a single‑family site plan because the applicant has not yet decided whether the driveway will connect at Packard Cook Road or via an existing Barrett/Veratilen easement; the board asked the applicant to confirm the chosen route and to supply engineering plans for any Packard Cook cut by April 21.
The Rhinebeck Planning Board continued a public hearing on a contested single‑family site plan because applicants and the board have not agreed on where the driveway should connect to the public road network. Neighbors and board members have repeatedly urged the applicant to use the established Barrett/Veratilen (referred to in the transcript as Barrett Tyler) Road easement rather than creating a new cut on Packard Cook Road (sometimes transcribed as Ackerhook/Ackerd Hook), citing historical map notes, safety concerns with sightlines and the existing town roadway layout.
Planning staff and board members summarized the history of the parcel and earlier subdivisions showing a common access easement that the board says was intended to serve lots in the area; the applicant has argued that a neighboring lot used a different access arrangement and said they prefer the Packard Cook Road location. The board requested a clear, written statement from the applicant by the April meeting confirming which driveway alternative they intend to pursue and asked the applicant to provide engineering plans (graded sections, cut/fill, retaining walls, slope stabilization and drainage) if they intend to pursue the Packard Cook Road cut.
Board members noted an outstanding stop‑work/notice of violation related to prior on‑site activity that will have to be addressed as part of any final approval; they also pointed out that remediation or mitigation required by enforcement would affect the final site plan approval. Several board members cautioned against spending significant engineering dollars if the applicant intends to follow the board’s preferred route (Barrett/Veratilen Road) because the design approaches are substantially different and could require more tree removal and slope cuts on the Packard Cook option.
The Planning Board voted to continue the public hearing to April 21 and asked staff to send a letter to the applicants asking them to state by that date whether they will proceed with the Packard Cook driveway or adopt the Barrett/Veratilen access and to provide associated engineering documentation if they propose the Packard Cook cut.
