MAMAKATING — Environmental conditions and water availability concerns surrounding a proposed development on Skylark Road came before the Town of Mamakating Board last Tuesday night, as a neighborhood association warned that it could pursue a moratorium on development in the area.

Speaking to the town board via Zoom, Skylark Road resident and representative of the Skylark Road Neighborhood Association, Pat Klewicki, voiced concerns over a potential development between Skylark Road and Mountain Road.

According to Klewicki, the proposed development calls for the subdivision of roughly 41 acres to build eight new homes, along with eight wells and septic systems.

In what he described as an environmentally fragile area, Klewicki said the neighborhood association is concerned about the potential impact development could have on existing residents.

He stated that seven households adjacent to the lot have recently experienced wells that have run dry or are currently failing, even before any of the proposed new wells have been dug.

“One neighbor had to drill 1,200 feet for his new well,” Klewicki stated.

The association also raised questions about details submitted with the development proposal, including what Klewicki described as assumptions regarding the area’s soil, topography and ability to handle water drainage.

According to Klewicki, the neighborhood possesses historical documentation dating back to the 1970s that is part of the town’s public records and, from the association’s perspective, conflicts with some of the assumptions in the developer’s proposal.

“[The documents we hold] show that the developer at one point acknowledged the existence of water issues,” Klewicki stated, noting that the association believes those concerns were later removed from the final proposal submitted to the Town of Mamakating Planning Board.

He also stressed that the Planning Board had been receptive to the neighborhood’s concerns, but stressed that its authority was limited.

Because of this, Klewicki said the neighborhood association is considering bringing its concerns before the town board.

Klewicki stated that the group could petition the board for a moratorium on development in the area, depending on the results of ongoing studies, until a complete environmental impact study could be undertaken.

“The eastern slope of the Shawangunk Ridge in Mamakating is showing signs of strain,” Klewicki stressed. “We must finally determine the limits of its capacity to support further development.”

No action was taken by the town board following Klewicki’s remarks, though the town thanked him for his input.

Putting the brakes on excess weights

On the subject of limits, the town is also placing a 10-ton weight restriction on Ferguson Road, following concerns about large vehicles traveling along the steep and narrow roadway.

During the meeting’s work session, Town Supervisor Peter Goodman explained that Ferguson Road, which runs from Shawanga Lodge Road down toward Route 209, is not designed to handle larger vehicles.

Those concerns were further highlighted by a recent incident involving a concrete pumper truck that reportedly lost its brakes while traveling down the hill before coming to a stop at the bottom of the road.

Goodman said the proposed 10-ton weight limit would bring Ferguson Road in line with restrictions placed on other town roads and back roads throughout Sullivan County.

The restriction would also provide clearer guidance to larger vehicles traveling through the area while giving the town additional protections should an overweight vehicle be involved in an accident.

Later that night, the resolution approving the 10-ton weight limit for the entirety of Ferguson Road was approved by the town board following a motion by Councilman Matt Mordas and a second from Councilman Gary Forthoffer.