Clinton planning board hears Shore Farm townhome proposal; hearing left open after zoning, soils questions

Sam Shore, who identified himself as the property owner, told the Town of Clinton Planning Board the Shore Farm proposal would place three buildings of four units each on a 70-acre parcel off Clinton Corners Road, with a total disturbed area of about 4 acres and 28 acres to be protected in perpetuity. "Our hope is to be able to build 12 unit multifamily residential units and keep the land mostly agricultural," Shore said during an applicant presentation.

The board opened a public hearing on the site-plan and special-use-permit application and invited comments. Several residents spoke in support of preserving open land while providing the owner with additional revenue. "I applaud the zoning board for coming up with the hybrid solution of enabling him to have another, source of income," said Paula Vincent, who identified herself as a lifelong Clinton resident and president of the Lance McHale Trail Association.

But a nearby property owner, Kevin Magus, challenged key aspects of the application, raising legal and…