MAMAKATING – The potential buyers of Paradise II Resorts, a hotel/resort located on 44 acres on both sides of South Road, returned to the planning board to request a number of waivers for their proposal to turn the premises into a summer sleepaway camp. The board had requested extensive documentation in order to approve the project.

The attorney for the applicant contended that since the requirements for a camp are less restrictive than those for a resort, and since the planning board approved the site plan for use as a resort as recently as 2003, that it was ridiculous to make this religious group go through the ordeal of extensive documentation.

Town attorney John Cappello agreed that a summer camp on the property would be less non-conforming than a resort, but nevertheless pointed out how town codes have changed since 2003, and the board has the responsibility to ensure that the camp will conform to current health and safety standards.

Planning board chairman Stosh Zamonsky concurred. He noted that 2003 was a long time ago, that codes have changed, and that the current board is trying to make all of the area camps safer.

The requirements that the applicant requested be waived were then considered one by one. A request for a certified survey to determine the exact boundaries of the property was upheld, while a request for a topographical survey with a 2-foot contour map was upheld only for those areas of the camp that would be in use.

The attorney for the applicant angrily protested this latter decision, maintaining that most of the activity at the proposed camp would be Talmudic study indoors, and that it was "ludicrous" to require a contour study in case someone might trip while walking outside.

"You're holding us to a different standard," he said. "This town reeks of discrimination."

Cappello disagreed: "Prior boards may not have done their due diligence," he said. "You heard the safety issues this board is concerned about, so why don't you show us how you're going to address them?"

Next, the board granted waivers for the mapping out of established trees, water courses and wetlands unless and until new construction was to be undertaken. The requirement for elevations of existing buildings was also waived, unless modifications are to be done. The applicant must still document the use and scope of the outdoor lighting system and proposed PA system. A new stormwater run-off plan will not be required, although the system must be in working condition. It was also noted that the Department of Health will require permits for the water and sewer systems.

In another camp discussion, Zamonsky thanked representatives from Camp Echo for their diligence and cooperation to resolve issues while aiming to reopen in the coming months. Recognizing that there were improvements made to the camp without permits, the board decided to approve the use of those buildings once they are ascertained to be code-compliant. Camp Echo was granted conditional site plan approval, contingent upon complying with a list of stipulations from building inspector Mary Grass and town engineer Larry Paggi.

Also, New Cingular Wireless was granted a one-year extension for their installation after Cappello noted that the site plan approval had been challenged by some neighbors. They now have nine months to decide whether or not to file an appeal.

After returning from executive session where the board heard advice from counsel concerning the development at Chestnut Ridge, a due process hearing was scheduled for June 16 to consider rescinding approvals for Chestnut Ridge in light of documents which were recently unsealed, and which indicate that the project developers officially presented to the town a project that was significantly different from the one that, from the beginning, they intended to build, and are now in the process of building.