Keep Olive Rural
We presume that you’ve found this site because you’ve seen our lawn signs in the vicinity of the Sahler Mills.
We are a group of 170+ neighbors who are objecting to a proposed development on Lower Sahler Mill Road in Olivebridge. Earlier this year, Seakill Builders of New Paltz and architect Frank Dunn of Hurley purchased a 64-acre farm on this road and submitted plans to the Town of Olive Planning Board to subdivide the property into 14 lots, ranging in size from 3 to 7 acres. Attached are their subdivision plat and examples of their farmhouse designs.
The two mile long Lower Sahler Mill Road currently has only 28 houses (3 of which are uninhabited and probably uninhabitable). The proposal of 14 new houses is a 50% increase located on just one quarter mile segment of the road. This suburban style development will sit between the 315 acre New York State designated wetland of the Great Pacama Vly and a Class A trout stream, the Rochester Creek. It will interrupt the wildlife corridor that connects to the wilderness of the high Catskills. Seakill’s estimate of a 4,600 gallon daily water usage, 14 septics dispersing the same daily volume of waste, and an increased volume of traffic in this sensitive area is an alarming addition to our quiet little road.
The Planning Board has yet to call for a public hearing or make a final determination on this project. The builder, however, has gone ahead with his vision and has built 2 houses and clear-cut several acres of land. They are actively marketing the proposed subdivision with the first house currently on the market for $895,000.
It is our mission to convince the Olive Planning Board of the inappropriateness of this project as it stands. We are not against development and would welcome ‘Sahler Mill Farms’ if its design and scope were more sensitive to both the environment and the community.
Olive is currently under great pressure to increase its housing stock. Our little battle is probably just the first shot over the bow. We need to decide our town’s future before the big developers decide for us.