At its July 9 meeting, the Milan Planning Board reviewed an updated master plan for Mirror Lake Retreat, a campground at 64 White Drive.
Mirror Lake is seeking to increase the number of recreational vehicles, or RVs, on its 220-acre campus from seven to 15, with an additional five RVs planned for an unspecified future date.
A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for the board’s next meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 5.
Although RVs and campgrounds are not allowed under the current town code, the board said, Mirror Lake was grandfathered in because the site predates the code and has a religious use. The retreat was established in 1966 as Camp Taconic by the Church of Nazarene, and director Ron Pankey said at a February 2025 meeting that the retreat remained part of the religious organization.
Board members Hannah Diamond and Lauren Cawse suggested consulting a lawyer or professional planner for guidance on how much projects that are allowed to operate because they predate the town code can be permitted to expand.
“Between 2018 and now, they’ve almost tripled it. That seems to me like it doesn’t quite fit in with the idea that, well, this pre-existed so you can keep doing it,” said Diamond, referring to the retreat’s 2018 approval for accessory uses like dining facilities and cabins. “It feels more as though you’re saying, well, because they preexisted, we can vastly increase them.”
Before the public hearing, the board plans to prepare a list of questions seeking clarification from Mirror Lake about its septic systems, water availability, and whether the RVs have showers. The board also asked Mirror Lake representative Tom Harvy to bring a larger copy of the master plan for display at the hearing.
In other business, Debra Blalock, chair of the town’s Natural Resource Inventory Committee, urged the board to consider ways to promote cluster housing for subdivisions and new developments instead of large lots with long driveways, an approach intended to help preserve the town’s natural ecosystems.
Although the town code defines cluster subdivisions, Blalock said, it does not specify what criteria, such as lot size and soil type, should be included in the review process or where such developments would be appropriate. Board member Thomas Darby said the idea could help address affordable housing while preserving open space. The board agreed to continue discussing the idea.
The board also approved a subdivision for Charles Hapeman and Barbara Hendrickson on Academy Hill Road, separating about 20 acres from their 117-acre property, and approved a lot line adjustment for Jefferys’ Salisbury Turnpike property.
Peter SennYuen, who was scheduled to appear at a public hearing to discuss the site plan for SennYuen Farm, which includes a farm store and education center, did not attend. Representatives for the proposed eight-lot subdivision at Cold Spring Hill also did not attend.
Milan needs to carefully consider the “retreat” issue. That many new RV’s will be a problem for the disposal of “waste” and need of water. As it stands now, the zoning dept. seems to be overwhelmed with just taking care of the zoning issues that they have now. Especially in the Jackson Corners area. It seems as though many people as just doing as they wish without concern for permits. Perhaps the zoning dept. needs to be enlarged in order to be on top of zoning issues.