No action on Sylvester Manor site plan: Environmental study must be completed

Just when it appeared the Town Board was about to solidify approval of the Sylvester Manor site plan, perhaps as soon as Monday night, environmental consultant Katelyn Kaim said revisions are needed in the application to comply with the State Environmental Quality Review Act.

Ms. Kaim’s report is based on a July 10 memo from Principal Building Inspector Reed Karen calling for a revised site plan dealing with the following concerns:

• The roadway fails to meet fire code and would need to be widened and allow for turnaround of fire apparatus.

• Information on the sizing of the water tank to evaluate the sprinkler suppression system

• Evaluation of wetlands that would raise issues of archaeological sensitivities.

• Any additional site disturbance that would occur to comply with information requested.

• A decision from the State Historic Preservation Office of the revised site plan.

Before the Town Board can move forward with its decision, the SEQRA plan must be completed, Ms. Kaim and Mr. Karen each said.

On the advice of Town Attorney Thomas Crouch, the public hearing that had been left open for written comments is now open for the new material Sylvester Manor would be expected to file and the timing will depend on how long Sylvester Manor officials need to comply with the requested information.

“We’re aware that the Town is requesting additional information and will do everything we can to comply with their requests in a timely manner,” Sylvester Manor Executive Director Stephen Searl said. “We submitted our Site Plan Review application nearly a year ago, back in August of 2025, and look forward to completing this process as soon as possible so that work on rehabilitating the Manor House can start.”