A bunch of new faces, a handful of familiar projects making baby steps of progress.
That was the agenda Wednesday when the Sharon Springs Joint Planning Board met to hear updates to the Sharon Springs and Pavilion Cottages applications.
The new faces included JPB members Ryan Ducharme, Oliver Kindling, Frank Sabler, and alternate Seth Brow.
They replace members Ted Huggins, Arianna Parsons, Dave Hall, and Shierley Spieler, who’ve retired or resigned because of their jobs.

Sharon Hill solar
There’ nothing new on Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure’s plans for a 2-5MW solar project on 15 acres at Sharon Hill and Argusville Road, JBP Secretary Ron Ketelsen said.
Code Enforcement Officer Jerry Weis referred the proposed project to the Zoning Board of Appeals, Mr. Ketelsen said; the ZBA bounced it back because the site is landlocked and so can’t get a variance.
Also, zoning doesn’t permit solar there and the proposed project doesn’t meet the minimum acreage requirement of 15 acres “for producing electricity on land not farmed,” two other issues that would require variances.
There’s been no formal application.

Sharon Springs Inc.
After reviewing a findings statement from consultant Doug Van Deusen of Lamont Engineers, the JPB issued a negative declaration for SSI’s proposed 10-room hotel with both indoor and outdoor spas, at the Imperial Baths’ Inhalation Building
SSI is seeking a special use permit for the project. The “neg dec” ruling means the JPB ruled the project would have no negative environmental impact.
The project also needs a variance from the ZBA and needs to go before the County Planning Commission.
There was some discussion over whether the JPB should wait for the variance before sending it to the CPC, which meets September 3, but on the advice of attorney Michelle Kennedy and in an effort to move the project ahead, members agreed to take their chances and refer it now.
There’s also the possibility that the ZBA, which meets on an as-needed basis, could hold a meeting before the 3rd.
Once the CPC and ZBA act, the project will come back to the JPB for a final decision, hopefully by September or October.

Pavilion Cottages
The JPB also reviewed revised plans for the Pavilion Cottages, a five-phase resort with “cottages” and cabanas.
Mr. Van Deusen and developer Nick Drummond are in the process of gathering the needed environmental impact data.
Then, the JPB will hold a public hearing on the proposal.
There were some concerns over a project with so many phases taking too long to complete; Ms. Kennedy said the JPB could include a timeline as a condition of its approval.
Each phase, she said, would have to go to the CEO for the necessary permits.
“We’re just zoning,” she said.