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Willow Lake developers seek variances for 80‑unit Fishkill retreat; ZBA schedules Feb. 17 public hearing
Summary
Willow Lake Partners Group told the Fishkill Zoning Board of Appeals it plans an 80‑unit cabin‑style retreat and asked for variances including front‑yard setbacks, parking in the front yard, retaining wall height and disturbance of 0.11 acres of steep slope; the board accepted a verbally amended application and set a public hearing for Feb. 17, subject to a formal amendment due Friday.
Willow Lake Partners Group told the Fishkill Zoning Board of Appeals on Jan. 20 that it plans to convert the Willow Lake property into a commercial cabin‑style retreat with 80 units and is seeking several area variances to proceed. The board voted to accept a verbally amended application and scheduled a public hearing for Feb. 17, subject to the applicants filing a formal amendment by Friday.
"My name is Alex Freeman. I'm one of the principal partners at Willow Lake," Freeman said, describing the team and the property, which the applicants purchased about a year ago. He said the project would include "cabins ... 80 total units comprising of 36 buildings," an amenity space for events, and fitness and accessory buildings to support the use.
Zach Cam of Dynamic Engineering, appearing on behalf of Willow Lake, told the board the group is asking the ZBA for four area variances: "the front yard setback for the front line and center line" for a building connection between an existing house and garage; permission to allow parking in the front yard (four valet parking areas); retaining‑wall height over six feet in the front yard; and steep slope disturbance. Cam said the planning board has reviewed the project repeatedly since August and has declared its intent to act as lead agency for environmental review.
On the steep‑slope request, Cam explained the town defines steep slopes as greater than 20% over a horizontal distance of more than 100 feet and said the site contains roughly 50 acres of steep slopes. "We are asking for a variance of .11 acres and it's really just in the area of the proposed restaurant where there are some outdoor cabanas and a waterfall feature," he said.
Board members and applicants discussed accepting a verbal amendment to the application so the town can refer the proposal to Dutchess County planning and the fire department. The board then moved to accept the application as verbally amended — variances 3–6 plus the slope variance — "subject to the submission of a formal amendment by this Friday," and to schedule the public hearing for Feb. 17. Arnold seconded the motion and the board voted in favor; the motion passed.
Chair closing remarks confirmed the applicants will submit the written amendment and that the board will hold the Feb. 17 public hearing on the variances. The applicants were told to provide the revised materials to the planning clerk by the stated deadline.
The ZBA meeting record indicates the application has been before the planning board multiple times and that any final approvals will follow the public‑hearing and referral processes required by town code and county review. The board did not record a roll‑call vote tally in the transcript excerpt provided; the minutes show only that the motion carried and the public hearing was scheduled.
