SENNETT - Highland Park Golf Course has received conditional approval for its Planned Development District from Sennett's planning board during a town planning board Thursday night.

Highland's final PDD and site plan review (State Environmental Quality Review) approval depends on whether or not it will have adequate water pressure to provide domestic water and to operate sprinklers for fire protection in its planned clubhouse.

Highland has 30 days to provide calculations from a certified water engineer to show that the plan meets the proper standards.

The planning board has agreed to work with Highland's engineer and the town engineer, Tim Buhl.

Planning board chairman Peter Montross also said he would confer with the engineers when necessary to help expedite the process.

Montross instructed the town clerk to put the recommendation in writing in a letter to the town board by Friday.

Dom Basile, president of Highland Park, expressed concern about unexpected glitches in the process.

“My question is, if we come off a 10-inch line and the waterflow isn't sufficient to meet the needs, who's responsible?”

“I guess you guys are,” Montross replied.

He emphasized that the applicant is responsible for meeting the criteria to receive a building permit.

“This is your project,” he said. “Your engineers have to do the test. I've explained this to your architect and engineer many, many times.”

“Does the town have any responsibility to show they have pressure?” Basile asked. “If we spend all that money to put a tap on the line and it doesn't meet the needs, then what?”

Planning board members expressed some frustration at Highland's not having had its plan filed in a timely fashion, yet coming back and expecting special treatment.

“I would like to move forward here and do whatever Mr. Montross says,” Basile said.

Town attorney Tom Blair said that developers normally bring all the criteria to the board.

“If the town engages a consultant to do a study, that cost is normally passed back to the applicant,” he said

Basile wanted Montross to talk to the engineer because of his concerns about the diameter of the water pipe needed.

The pipe serving the original clubhouse was 4-inch pipe, but the planning board wanted at least a 6-inch pipe installed.

These pipes would be run off a 10-inch main.

“Is it the intent of the board to accept whatever inch line works?,” town attorney Don Cheney asked.

“As long as it works,” Montross said.

“This is a tough process,” Cheney said.

He referred to the insurance company seeking reimbursement from the town after the fire that destroyed the clubhouse last September.

“This is going to fall right back on the town,” he said.

“We'll comply with whatever the town board wants as long as we can get through it,” Basile said.

Montross stressed that the planning board would forward its conditional approval of the PDD and site plan, contingent on the engineering study, and they would accept the study when it meets the requirements for water pressure and for water flow.

Once the planning board approves the plan, they will recommend it to the town board for their approval and a public hearing after all studies are in. Then the code enforcement officer will issue a building permit.

It would be about four months from the time paperwork was submitted in April until they might actually start building in August.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net