RiverPlace Plans Rejected

by Kathleen Kirwin

The Hudson Planning Board decided to send the plans for RiverPlace, a shopping center to be built on Green Meadow Golf Course, back to the developers by a unanimous vote on Wednesday night, February 7.

The decision to send the plans back is the result of a proposed connector road in the plan that will affect over five acres of wetlands along the east border of the Green Meadow property. The plans must receive a wetlands special exception from the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) before the plans can proceed any further.

“Like most towns, there is a process to go through,” stated Hudson Town Planner, John Cashell, “They (W/S Develoment, Inc.) will need to follow that process, like everyone else.” Cashell also detailed, “Because this is affecting wetlands there is a litany of permits that needed to be obtained at the town and state level.” While “no one knows how long it's going to take,” especially at the state-level, “the permitting process itself may take from several months to up to a year,” Cashell estimated.

For example, the plans, which impact wetlands have to be approved at the state level, by the Department of Environmental Services (DES) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), cited Cashell. Each permit the State deems is required, such as DES and EPA, can “set this back from a few weeks up to 120 days.”

On the town side, Cashell suggested RiverPlace plans may be addressed at the Conservation Committee meeting on March 11, and by the Hudson Planning Board on March 28. While the next Zoning Board meeting is on February 22, it is doubtful that W/S Development will be able to get the wetlands special exception forms completed and in by then, or even if the ZBA’s input will be in for the March meetings.

Ed Vydra, RiverPlace project manager, stated, along with the site plan turned in on January 19, W/S Development Inc. also submitted two specific applications to the Conservation and Planning Boards concerning the Zoning Board of Adjustment wetlands special exception. W/S Development Inc. can't turn the plans over to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for the wetlands special exception, until both the Conservation and Planning Boards have filled out the applications, according to Vydra.

Bob Frasier, the VP of Development for W/S Development Inc., said the company understands that there are many steps that need to be taken before Phase 1 can be approved, not only in the town of Hudson, but at the state level as well. “There are a lot of moving parts to this,” stated Frasier.

Frasier and Vydra are in the process of trying to get a meeting with both the Conservation and Planning boards to push through their applications for the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

The plan put before the Planning Board in late January, was for Phase 1 of RiverPlace. This plan included the production of the 1.1 million square foot lifestyle center that will be located at the center of the project. The lifestyle center will be comprised of 110 shops, various restaurants, parks, a river walk, marina, outdoor skating rink, and amphitheater; this is only a part of the larger picture that RiverPlace will become.

With the extensive nature of the project, it is no surprise that some people have started to speak out against the build. Friends of Green Meadow, is one group that is comprised of people who live around the golf course. Another group, Hudson Grassroots Central, is made up of more than 70 people who have only communicated via e-mail so far. A February 15 meeting at the Hudson Police Department, will unite the two groups for the first time. The results of this meeting will be featured in next week’s Hudson~Litchfield News.

The latest vote by the town may be of some comfort to the opposition. While this is likely only a delay, the Planning Board’s rejection of the RiverPlace plans, demonstrates that the town will not be lenient when it comes to compliance with zoning laws, or enforcing the rules and regulations on W/S Development Inc.