To: Town of Amenia Planning Board Date: January 31, 2015 Project

To: Town of Amenia Planning Board Date: January 31, 2015 Project #: 29011 From: Amanda DeCesare, P.E. Re: MDP and Site Plan Phase 1 Comments Silo Ridge Resort Community Applicant’s Responses to Public Comments This document addresses all public comments received during the comment period on the Silo Ridge Resort Community project, which opened on September 4, 2014. Comments from the Planning Board’s consultants and attorney were submitted in writing (and are separately addressed), and public comments were submitted in writing and also expressed orally at the Public Hearings held on September 4, 2014 and September 18, 2014. Copies of the Public Hearing transcripts are in Attachments A and B and written comments are in Attachment C. Public hearing testimony and written comments are extensive. Silo Ridge Ventures, LLC (the “Applicant”) has made a diligent, good faith effort to distinguish substantive comments from broad general statements and personal opinions about the desirability or potential impacts of the project, and to respond to all substantive comments directed to the principal applications currently before the Planning Board, for approval of (i) proposed modifications to the October 8, 2009 Master Development Plan, and the related special permit for the project granted by the Planning Board on June 25, 2009, (ii) the proposed site plan for the first phase of the project (including the golf maintenance facility, golf course improvements, and wastewater treatment plant on the adjoining property) , and the related subdivision plan. As used in this document, the term “approved project” refers to the development program under the current approved October 8, 2009 Master Development Plan, and the terms “Project,” or “Modified Project” refer generally to the development program under the proposed amended master development plan (the “Amended MDP”), and to the proposed first phase site plan of the Modified Project. Public hearing comments are from stenographic transcripts of the hearings. Comments are generally organized according to the content of the question. Similar comments have been grouped to allow a single comprehensive response to multiple comments on the same issue. The response “Comment Noted” means that in the Applicant’s judgment, the comment is either (i) not substantive, (ii) not directed to the applications currently pending before the Planning Board, or (iii) a broad general statement or personal opinion about the project not for which there is no specific, substantive response. 50 Main Street, Suite 360 White Plains, NY Ref: 29011 January 28, 2015 Page 2PC This document is submitted by the Applicant to assist the Planning Board in its review of the project and consideration of consultant and public comment. This document is not a draft or final environmental impact statement, and all responses are the Applicant’s, and not the Planning Board’s. All commenter addresses are in New York unless otherwise indicated. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to: (i) the “Amended MDP” are to the Amended Master Development Plan dated January 2015; (ii) the “Addendum to [the] EAF” are to the Addendum to Environmental Assessment Form dated January 2015; (iii) the Site Plan Drawings are to the plans and drawings last dated January 8, 2015; (iv) the Preliminary Subdivision Plat and to the Subdivision Drawings are to the drawings last dated January 8, 2015; and (v) to the “Amended MDP Drawings” is to the drawings accompanying the Amended MDP narrative, all last dated January 8, 2015. A. General Project Comment A.1 – Kevin McEneany, Amenia – September 4, 2014 Public Hearing Testimony (PHT): I was here in the spring for the presentation and this presentation today in the same room is very much the same, but I did notice one major difference that -- that I thought I would like to call attention to, and that is it was said back in the spring that there would not be any building on the upper ridge and it was said quite emphatically. And at this presentation I did not hear that, and so my question to the Town Board is, has that changed, have you given permission to build on the ridge? Response A.1: All proposed buildings are below the ridgeline. The elevation of the top of the highest building is 288 feet below the adjacent ridgeline. Comment A.2.a. – Bart Wu, on behalf of Arlouine Wu, Amenia – Written Comment (Letter # 1) dated September 18, 2014: The prospects of a competent cluster development which comprises the core of the Silo Ridge project is an exciting dream for the applicant, and, in many ways, may be for the Town. My concerns, identified at the Meeting, are that we are entirely dependent upon the members of an untested partnership to ensure that the applicant's dream has a successful and happy ending, and does not amount, upon realization of a partially constructed project, to a colossal nightmare that destroys Amenia's unique character and visual charm and bankrupts its finances. Comment A.2.b. – Bart Wu, on behalf of Arlouine Wu, Amenia – Written Comment (Letter # 1) dated September 18, 2014: The third point I'm addressing is air, not in the sense that you think of, but in the sense of financing. You've heard about what their financing is in the general sense and we are delighted to hear that Discovery Land has appeared, but what you don't know is whether there's sufficient financing to complete the project. This is like a dream, a dream where you get to close your eyes and imagine what it's Ref: 29011 January 28, 2015 Page 3PC gonna look like and how nice it's gonna be. It's a closed dream so you can't actually enter it because it's only gonna be for the people who live there, but it's a dream and a dream -- imagine what that dream is like when -- if you put your hand across the bottom part of that great image all you see are -- is the sky or the top hills. The problem with -- and the benefit is you get nine million dollars. I'm asking that you consider that factor that what happens when you wake up from that dream. I'd like to reserve the rest of my comments and offer them by way of written comments following this meeting. Thank you very much. Response A.2.a-b: Comment noted. As stated in Responses m-11-29A and m-12-PHT of the September 16, 2008 FEIS, “There is no legal basis for a Planning Board (or Lead Agency) to require financial pre-qualification from an Applicant, either in SEQRA or otherwise. Generally, the Planning Board's land use authority is confined to regulating uses, not users. SEQRA does not modify or expand this authority.” In response to the comment about the development team’s qualifications, the Applicant offers the following information: Discovery Land Company, LLC Discovery Land Company, LLC (“Discovery”) is a privately-held, full service real estate development company based in Scottsdale, Arizona, specializing in luxury residential private club communities and resorts in the U.S. and other popular North American locations. Discovery’s projects are all distinct from one another with their own themes and architectural styles inspired by the natural environment and traditions of the project’s locale. The private clubs have world-class resort amenities, high levels of service, and club programs that work in sync to create an appealing lifestyle and a culture that is focused on family. The Company was founded 16 years ago by Michael S. Meldman with just one project. Since that time, Discovery has grown to be one of the premier development companies specializing in world-class residential club communities and resorts in the luxury niche market. Over its decade-plus track record, Discovery has developed strong brand recognition and market awareness through its geographically broad portfolio of 16 projects across the United States, Mexico and the Bahamas. Discovery has expertise in all facets of its development business including acquisitions, land entitlement, master planning, amenity planning, design, and construction, club/ resort operations, project marketing, sales and re-sales, home design and building, and interior design/furnishing. Discovery’s integrated development approach produces cost efficiencies, a shared vision across project disciplines, and an appealing culture and service environment at its private clubs and resorts. Furthermore, Discovery has a database of over 10,000 loyal customers and qualified prospective buyers consisting of current owners, prior owners and people that have toured the projects. In addition, Discovery's golf courses host approximately 30,000 guest rounds per year. Discovery’s Ref: 29011 January 28, 2015 Page 4PC projects are well-known for having world-class service and amenities. The intimacy of the small private club atmosphere allows Discovery to provide member/owner service that Discovery believes is more attentive and hands-on than some of the world’s most luxurious resorts. As a result, Discovery’s projects have realized over $6 billion in sales from inception to present. Sales activity continued during the most recent recession as shown by the $3+ billion of transactions that closed at Discovery’s projects from 2009 through winter-2013. The project sales have been particularly robust since 2011, totaling in excess of $2 billion with an average unit price of $3 million. Comment A.3 – Norman Benson, Amenia – Written Comment (Letter # 2) dated September 18, 2014: This is no small subdivision. It is the largest development project ever considered by the Town of Amenia and it should be managed with great care in order to protect the integrity of the Town and its taxpayers, as well as its famous viewshed. Ownership of all Project infrastructure should remain with the developer under easement.

Load more