Planning Board schedules May 21 public hearing for two Gumwood Drive lots

The Town of Chester Planning Board set a public hearing for May 21, 2026, on a site‑plan application for two single‑family houses at 6 and 8 Gumwood Drive (Poinsettia Estates LLC), contingent on the applicant filing missing materials by May 7.

Planning staff described the project as two separate site‑plan applications for lots inside floodplain and stream‑corridor overlay districts. Counsel and staff reviewed variances recently granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals, and board members debated whether the grading disturbance exceeded thresholds that would make the application a "major" project requiring a public hearing. The applicant indicated the project falls under the "minor" category for one lot but that two of the related lots were part of the overall submission.

The board also noted missing items in the application packet: an erosion and sediment control plan and, potentially, a special‑permit narrative if the flood‑plain provisions require one. Staff recommended scheduling the public hearing for May 21 provided the applicant delivers remaining materials by May 7; the board agreed.

Separately, the board classified the proposal as a Type II action under SEQR, meaning no further environmental review under SEQR would be required for that classification. "So, then I would need a motion to type this action as a type two action under SEQR," the staffer said; the motion carried by voice vote.

Next steps: the applicant must upload outstanding materials (erosion control plan and any required special‑permit narrative) two weeks prior to the May 21 meeting to make the application complete and maintain the scheduled hearing date.