Unofficial summary. This is a community summary of the town's official minutes, provided so the record is searchable and readable. It condenses the meeting and may omit detail. The official signed PDF is the complete record of authority.
Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — October 1, 2025.
Public hearings
At 7:00 p.m., there were none.
Regular meeting
Members present: Frank Alessandrini, Kasey Casas, Elizabeth Hale, and Chris Reynolds. Absent: Dan Clow, Peter Klotz, and Vince Ragone. James LaValle, Attorney, was present.
Approval of prior minutes
The Board reviewed the September 3, 2025 minutes. Kasey Casas moved to approve them as submitted; Chris Reynolds seconded. Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Hale, Reynolds · Nays: None.
Liberty Ridge Farm — Special Use Permit & Site Plan Review pre-filing conference
Cynthia Gifford, owner of Liberty Ridge Farm, appeared. Chairman Alessandrini gave the Board the history of the farm operation, in an RA (Residential/Agricultural) district on Stillwater Bridge Road. In 2002 the Giffords consulted the then-Town Supervisor, Jean Carlson, about operating a corn maze at the Stillwater location; at the time a corn maze was considered corn harvesting and growth, and therefore an agricultural use. Over the years the operation has greatly expanded to include additional buildings and a variety of activities — so a Special Use Permit and Site Plan Review are now required to meet the Zoning Code.
The Giffords bought the adjacent property at 96 Bevis Road and now own both sides of Bevis Road; they would like the Town to abandon Bevis Road so they can use the additional property to their business’s advantage. The Chairman emphasized that Liberty Ridge is an asset to the Town.
Ms. Gifford described the property’s development: purchased with an existing residence in 1973; the house and a portion of the land were later sold, leaving 96 acres for growing corn; a pick-your-own operation began in 1999; and the farm now holds many festivals (strawberry, blueberry, harvest) and school trips. Public water and sewer are available, and she believes all buildings have been inspected with one exception. The Giffords have operated the business for 26 years. Ms. Gifford recently met with Code Enforcement Officer Scott Frisino, Town Attorney David Brennan, Town Supervisor Tim Salisbury, and a DEC representative. She is prepared to submit a Site Plan Review application but was unclear whether a Special Use Permit is necessary and would like to research it; she wants the business to meet zoning requirements before the operation passes to the family’s daughter.
Chairman Alessandrini advised that the Special Use Permit and Site Plan Review may be entertained simultaneously, explained the application sequence, and will forward the necessary forms. He will also speak with Steve Dean, the engineer the Giffords have retained.
ASD Solar III — highway garage screening (Tax Map #21.-2-4.2)
Chairman Alessandrini spoke with Phil Lockenwitz, surveyor with ActiveSolar, about the screening plan for the ActiveSolar project at the highway garage site along the NYS Route 67 corridor. The trees removed were not outside the property lines, but the remaining trees do not provide adequate screening. Mr. Lockenwitz proposed sub-planting either holly or lilac bushes; the Board preferred holly. The Chairman will relay the Board’s decision on October 2.
(This project is covered in our news feature: Route 40 & 67: a Dollar General and a solar farm.)
The public hearing for the Frann 697 application will be held at the November meeting.
Other business — code enforcement
- Eastside Marina (Pleasantdale). The Chairman updated the Board on code-enforcement issues at the marina; a court appearance was scheduled for Monday, October 6.
- Genesis Vault and Constable Tree (NYS Route 40). The Chairman plans to speak with Code Enforcement Officer Scott Frisino about a lack of compliance at the Genesis Vault business (operated by David Baker) and the Constable Tree business (operated by Michael Constable), both on NYS Route 40, and intends to review each of their site plans.
Adjournment
Chris Reynolds moved to adjourn at 7:47 p.m.; Kasey Casas seconded. Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Hale, Reynolds · Nays: None.
Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk, Planning Board.
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