Representatives from the Hudson Company told the Pine Plains Planning Board on Wednesday, July 16, that their proposed sawmill at the intersection of Routes 82 and 83 would not significantly raise noise levels.
Michelle Mormile, an engineer with Crawford and Associates, said sound monitoring was conducted at six locations on the property, each for a 30-minute period. The results, she said, showed “no projected increase above the ambient noise level,” even during peak operating hours.
Karen LoBrutto of LaBella Associates, the planning consultant for the project, explained that noise levels dissipate over distance. “At every doubling of distance, there’s a six-decibel reduction,” she said, noting that the nearest homes — on Myrtle Avenue — are more than 1,000 feet away from the saw.
During public comment, resident and architect Tom McElroy raised concerns about potential noise impacts, referencing portions of the study that lacked data for one measurement point. Mormile acknowledged the concern and said her team would follow up with the full methodology.
McElroy and other residents were invited to visit the site for a demonstration. “We had a full conversation next to the saw,” said Jamie Hamill of the Hudson Company. “It’s like a homeowner’s saw — you don’t need hearing protection.”
Planning Board member Ethan DiMaria suggested that plantings such as evergreens could help buffer any future noise, while LoBrutto noted that fencing could also be considered as mitigation.
Public comment on the Hudson Company application will remain open until the next Planning Board meeting. The board cannot vote on the proposal until the Department of Environmental Conservation issues its findings, which LoBrutto said are expected soon.
Board members also discussed the long-term potential for pedestrian access through the site. Scott Chase, a former Trails and Bikeways Committee chair, requested that the site plan include a legal easement for a future rail trail. The applicant expressed openness to the idea, though Town Attorney Warren Replansky raised concerns about the enforceability of such a provision on private property.
The board also floated the idea of constructing a sidewalk along Routes 82 and 83 to improve access between the sawmill and nearby amenities, such as Stewart’s Shops.
In other business, the board approved a lot line adjustment for Steve Hobson of HTWO Properties to separate a residential home from his adjacent commercial property on Route 199.
Ariel Schlein of Dutch’s Spirits presented a sketch plan to subdivide approximately 22 acres of residential land at 70–98 Ryan Road. The land, which lies south of the distillery, is currently farmed. Schlein, who leases the full property from owner Danny Adams, said the subdivision would allow for more flexible land use. The board directed him to submit survey documents and consult with the town’s engineering firm before returning.