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Residents press Green Hill Farm applicant to protect 8–10 acres as board keeps public hearing open for deed restrictions
Summary
The Beekman Planning Board heard lengthy public comment on a seven-lot subdivision for a 21-acre property called Green Hill Farm. Neighbors urged a conservation easement or deed restriction to protect views, wetlands and an 8–10 acre open space; the board closed the hearing but conditioned any sign-off on legally recorded protections.
The Beekman Planning Board on a night of heavy public comment weighed whether to require legal protections for a 21-acre subdivision proposed as Green Hill Farm.
Ernie Martin, the project engineer representing Green Hill Farm Holdings LLC, told the board the plan creates seven lots and adds streetscape plantings and temporary orange fencing to protect an existing pine grove. “We did add some street trees on Beach Road,” Martin said, describing changes to sheet 2 of the applicant’s drawing and noting the plan marks an old cemetery across the street.
Neighbors and board members pushed for stronger, lasting protections. “The suggestions made by the chair I think are excellent,” said Bill Crane, a Beach Road resident who urged preserving rural character and limiting pavement. Other speakers asked that the applicant put a conservation easement or deed restriction on the portion of the property that provides the viewshed and farmland character.
Board members framed two primary options: (1) require a conservation subdivision that clusters homes and preserves about 7–8 acres in open space held under a conservation easement; or (2) accept the current lot layout but secure a recorded restrictive covenant or deed restriction on identified portions of lots one and two to prevent future residential subdivision. Town staff and the board’s engineer noted constraints from DEC wetlands buffers and local steep-slope rules that already limit future resubdivision in parts of lot one.
After discussion the applicant’s engineer said his client was prepared to agree to a legal restriction preventing further subdivision of lots one and two. The board voted to close the public hearing but made that closure conditional: before filing the final map the applicant must provide recorded deed restrictions or equivalent legal instruments — subject to town attorney review — to ensure the protected acreage is preserved. The board reserved the right to reopen the hearing if the legal protections are not filed.
Next steps: the applicant will return with the legal documents for the board’s review and the town attorney will examine deed language before the chairman signs the filed map.
