Despite site plan approval, this Poughkeepsie project still faces hurdles. Here's why
Despite years of litigation and controversy, plans to build a market-value apartment complex around a 160-year-old mansion surrounded by green space overlooking the Hudson River will move forward after receiving conditional approval by the city's planning board.
The city of Poughkeepsie planning board last week unanimously approved the site plan for the Pelton Manor project which will include 39 market-rate apartments, six buildings, commercial space, an arts center, limited public access of the bluff and 69 parking spots on the 2.46 acres of land known to some as Wheaton Park.
Planning board member Paul Ackerman recused himself from the decision.
"We're moving forward to line up permits as soon as we can, and we're also moving forward with the art center," said Steve Tinkelman, who along with Wayne Nussbickel heads Pelton Partners, the developer for the project.
Approval: Poughkeepsie's historic commission approves Pelton Manor project
When will Pelton Manor be completed
While plans are moving forward, Tinkelman could not say when construction would begin, and another lawsuit could again stall the project.
A group of former members of the City of Poughkeepsie Historic District and Landmark Preservation Commission and residents are petitioning the Dutchess County Supreme Court to nullify the current historic commission's decision to give the project a certificate of appropriateness.
Holly Wahlberg, Tanya Pineda, Laura Strait and Arthur Rollins are suing the city, the HDLPC, City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Marc Nelson and Pelton Partners alleging that the city administration had "stacked" the commission with "unqualified appointees" in order to approve the needed certificate of appropriateness to move forward.
"That’s as ridiculous as the other baseless claims that have tied this much needed, transit-oriented development up in litigation for years," Nelson said.
The city has asked the lawsuit be dismissed due to a filing technicality and because it does not believe the plaintiffs are allowed to file the petition, as well as other grounds.
Appeal: Pelton Partners plan appeal of Wheaton Park court ruling in favor of city
Why the Pelton Manor project stalled
The City of Poughkeepsie Historic District and Landmark Preservation Commission had stalled the project by denying the developer's certificate for appropriateness in 2019, which would have allowed the developers to build five buildings consisting of 46 market-value apartments on the property. The commission was concerned the plans did not fit the property's significance and would impact views both of and from the mansion.
The developers appealed to the city's Common Council, which upheld the historic commission's decision.
Lawsuit: Wheaton Park developers sue Poughkeepsie over property's historical designation
"The presumption is that when you have a landmark property, you don't build anything on it, you protect it," said John R. Low-Beer, who is representing the plaintiffs. "The landmark commission could have said, 'No, you can't build here,' but they were very willing to work with the developer. They proposed a number of alternate designs that would have been more appropriate."
However, in April, after the Poughkeepsie mayor replaced some members of the commission, the group voted in favor of the developer's certificate of appropriateness. Nelson, who took over the position of mayor in January, had been vocal about his intent to see projects such as Pelton come to fruition.
What's next
The resolution allows for 39 apartment units to be built along with commercial space.
In order to get the commercial space, the project must appear before the Common Council for a zoning change. Once the zoning is approved, the project will need to go before the planning board again.
If the zoning is not approved, and commercial isn't allowed, the project will have 46 units.
Saba Ali: Sali1@poughkeepsiejournal.com: 845-451-4518
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Pelton Manor latest: Will Poughkeepsie mixed-use project move forward?
