Photo courtesy Dutchess County ParcelAccess
The Pine Plains Planning Board on Wednesday, March 11 heard an early proposal to add six one-bedroom apartments above commercial space at a Pilch Drive property and voted to extend Stissing Center’s site plan approval for another year.
The proposal, presented on behalf of property owner Zeiad Fakhouri, would add a second story to the building at 15-25 Pilch Drive, listed on the agenda as 19 Pilch Drive, behind the U.S. Post Office off South Main Street. The plan would create six one-bedroom apartments above ground-floor commercial space. The mixed-use concept, referred to by the applicant as Pine Plains Estates, also calls for three storefronts.
The building was previously occupied by Ken Rudd’s physical therapy office, which closed in June 2025. It is currently occupied by Heaven’s Light Bakery. An application for Touched by Heaven’s Light Daycare was submitted in summer 2023 for a unit in the space, but the day care has never materialized.
Board members raised questions about septic capacity, parking, structural supports for a second floor, and whether additional commercial space is needed given existing vacancies in town. The project team said the septic system is currently beneath the parking lot and that there appears to be room on the property for expansion, though no formal Department of Health approval has yet been secured.
While one of the contractors discussed possible rental prices, board members noted that the property owner, who was not present, would ultimately determine rents. They also said the project would likely require review by the New York State Department of Transportation because of increased use of the Pilch Drive entrance onto Route 82.
No vote was taken on the proposal.
The board also granted Stissing Center a one-year extension of its site plan approval for ongoing renovation work at 2950 Church St.
Patrick Trettenero, the center’s executive director, said the current phase of construction, including structural stabilization and roof replacement, should be completed within about “a month or six weeks.” At that point, most of the scaffolding around the building is expected to come down.
Rear scaffolding will remain for about another year, Trettenero said, while work continues on an addition that will support HVAC equipment and house offices and a back entrance. Trettenero said the center still needs to raise part of the money required to unlock the remainder of its state funding, but said, “We are confident that we’ll get there.”
The next Pine Plains Planning Board meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on April 8.