At its Aug. 6 meeting the Ancram Planning Board approved a subdivision at Sky High Farm that will allow the property’s co-directors to give two parcels to longtime residents.
Ryan Loust, an engineer with Crawford and Associates, an engineering and land surveying firm representing the farm, said the 70-acre lot at the intersection of Hall Hill Road and County Route 7 will be divided into three parcels. Sky High co-directors Josh Bardfield and Sarah Workneh plan to give two one-acre parcels to the current residents, who live there in mobile homes.
“We’re not selling the parcels,” Bardfield said. “We’re giving the parcels to the current residents because they’ve been there for a combined many decades. If they choose to sell those parcels, then it will be their responsibility, either them or the new owner, the responsibility to drill the well.”
The two lots currently share a well, Loust said. If either property owner eventually decides to sell, he said, the purchaser would be responsible for drilling a well within 12 months of taking title.
Loust said the two one-acre parcels have existing driveways and that no changes would be required to create individual access points. He also showed the board potential locations for septic systems on each lot if they are ever needed.
During the public hearing, Town Board member and Ancram Fire Chief David Boice urged the Planning Board to approve the application.
“This is the essence of affordable housing,” Boice said. “These people are already residents of our town and members of different organizations, part of our fire company, part of our town highway [department], and they’re living here and working here.”
The board also rescheduled its next meeting for 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10.