Public preservation concerns and SHPO letter stall East Clinton firehouse hearing
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Summary
Public commenters, led by the Clinton Historical Society, raised historic-preservation and EAF-completeness concerns about the East Clinton Fire Districts proposed firehouse and community room. SHPO/State comments arrived hours before the meeting; the planning board kept the public hearing open and requested further screening, narrative updates and county circulation.
The Planning Board continued the public hearing for the East Clinton Fire Districts proposed fire station after sustained public comment from the Clinton Historical Society and receipt of a State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) letter submitted to the board hours before the meeting.
Cynthia Cook, president of the Clinton Historical Society, told the board she was "appalled" that the project's EAF did not list the Creek Meeting House and adjacent cemetery as National Register properties and argued the proposed station (which applicants said is about 11,000 square feet) would dramatically alter the setting of the 1,500-square-foot meeting house. "It will no longer be that" open field, Cook said, warning that nighttime events, lighting and five apparatus bays immediately adjacent to the historic property would harm the site's character and activity schedule.
East Clinton Fire District supporters, including EMS Captain Susan Dehaan, said the larger building is necessary for training and public-safety functions. "We need this space desperately," Dehaan said, stressing the districts volunteer training needs and local EMS instruction.
Applicant counsel Kyle Stellar and district representatives said archaeological testing and a phase-1 program were completed and that consultants identified a subsurface anomaly that will not be disturbed. Stellar read a letter responding to the Historical Society and described the community room as "a multi purpose community room intended for fire district training, community events, meetings, fundraisers, and limited rental use to help defray operating costs," not a commercial catering operation. Stephen Forsler, chair of the East Clinton commissioners, closed the letter saying the district is "willing to discuss refinements to landscaping, lighting practices, and event management to address legitimate concerns."
Board members discussed whether SHPOs recommendations are binding (they are not) and whether to amend or reaffirm the board's previously adopted negative declaration under SEQR. Staff recommended acknowledging SHPOs recommendations in the negative-declaration narrative and circulating updated materials to Dutchess County Planning and other local reviewers. The board agreed to keep the hearing open and requested additional data from the applicant on screening, specific landscaping plans in the bay area, lighting controls and a clearer record of the archaeological findings. The hearing was continued to Feb. 3 for further consideration.
