More housing planned for Keuka shore
H'port planning board OKs lake shore subdivision; Urbana planning board decision still to come
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

HAMMONDSPORT - The Hammondsport village planning board last week gave its conditional approval to a proposal from local developer Michael Doyle to subdivide about 11 acres of prime Keuka Lake shoreline into residential lots and a separate seven-acre lot whose use is still undetermined.

The larger lot earlier this year was the subject of eminent domain proceedings by the Town Urbana, which had sought to buy the property from The Bath-Hammondsport Railroad, of which Doyle is principal owner. Town residents eventually voted down a plan to issue $500,000 in bonds needed to purchase the property.

Doyle has subsequently submitted plans to subdivide the entire 11-acre parcel of railroad property, which is contiguous with the Garret Landing condominium project he is building with Buffalo developer Peter Krog.

The property is zoned for single family residential housing.

Village planning board members met in a joint session Thursday with the Urbana town planning board, whose members eventually recessed with plans to reconvene at a later date. Town planning board Chairman Randy Robinson said his board would review changes Doyle plans to make in his subdivision application with legal counsel before voting to approve the proposal.

The joint planning board, composed of both the town and village planning boards, issued a "negative declaration" after reviewing an assessment of the environmental impact of the subdivision. A negative declaration signifies the board's belief the subdivision will have no significant impact on the environment.

Village planning board Chairman Ralph Brown noted during a public hearing prior to the meeting the subdivision application contains no plans for construction on any of the lots.

Doyle, who attended the meeting, also indicated there are no firm plans for immediate residential development of the lots. And Brown stressed any plan to build on one of the lots will face environmental scrutiny.

Doyle's application is part of a larger trend toward the residential development of the southern shore of Keuka Lake, in which he is a key player.

Area residents attending a public hearing prior to the meeting noted that fact in questioning the joint planning board on details of the approval process. "You have an obligation to protect the public," said area resident Richard Orman after advising the joint board the proposed subdivision involves land that allegedly had been used as landfill.

Doyle noted several environmental studies of the property already have been completed. The developer also agreed to enlarge a right of way from 35 feet wide to 50 feet, in keeping with village regulations. He also will combine the sevenacre parcel with a narrow parcel in order to comply with village zoning regulations. Completing those amendments is expected to satisfy the conditions set forth by members of the village planning board.