Proposed Hyde Park subdivision drainage district set for public hearing

A petition seeking to create a drainage district on Ruth Drive for a new residential subdivision will receive a public hearing next week.

At its April 7 meeting, the Hyde Park Town Board set the hearing for its April 28 meeting at 7pm on the petition from Woodland Grange, the owner of the 85.1 acre parcel on which the 31-unit development called Woodland Grange Estates would be built.

The drainage district would be the first of its kind in the town.

The subdivision, which will be served by Ruth Drive and Adams Lane off Forest Drive, east of Route 9G, was approved in 2005 by town planners. But according to town engineer Peter Setaro, the project was stalled because of the bad economy and only recently was the developer ready to work with the town on creating the district.

The petition calls for a road within the subdivision to have a drainage system that includes two stormwater management ponds, six manholes, 26 catch basins and stormwater collection pipes. The location of the road has not been specified, and town attorney Warren Replansky indicated to the town board that the full specifications for the drainage project have not yet been finalized.

Replansky explained that the costs of the drainage district will be paid for by the residents of the subdivision, not the town.

“Even though it’s a little more administration for us, we think it’s a good idea to facilitate in moving forward with the development,” he added.

The resolution to create the district states that the maximum amount for the maintenance and operation of the district for one year would be $7,750. For most residences located within the proposed district, there would be no hook-up fee, but there would be an annual cost per property of $250 to cover the estimated maintenance and operation costs.

Even though the drainage district would be a first for Hyde Park, Councilperson Emily Svenson noted that there are similar districts in other towns and added, “It’s becoming more popular because communities have the responsibilities for maintaining the stormwater systems.”

The petition is available to the public at the Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall.

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