TOWN OF TUSTEN, NY — It’s June, and the Tusten planning board has received only one new application since October.

Ken Baim, the planning board chair, told the River Reporter it’s not the first time the board has gone months without an application. If there are no changes of use or subdivision applications to consider, he said, there’s no reason for the board to meet.

It looks like the town will get a juice and smoothie bar. At the May planning board meeting, the board approved a special use permit application by Valorie Gregoretti and Jordan Sullivan to open Nectar at 6606 Rte. 97 in Narrowsburg.

The application asks for a change of use to a food business for the location, which was previously a law office. It will serve smoothies, acai bowls and fresh juices. The application says no gas or flame will be used in the space. 

The planning board approved the application contingent on a boundary line agreement being signed between the property owner and the adjacent business to clarify the location of certain parking spots.

Steve Gregoretti, the property’s landlord, said it’s not easy to fill spaces.

“As a landlord in Narrowsburg I try not to duplicate anything else that’s in Narrowsburg,” he said. “So trying to find a tenant that fits the requirement to not have an impact, to be something that the town would like, it’s not easy sometimes. And coming up with the idea that we had and a business plan for it, and two people being on board that really want to do it, I feel very fortunate that everything fell into place and that the board is going to accept it as well once everything goes through the channels.”

90 Main St.

The only other business before the board was a vote to make it lead agency for a special use and signage for 90 Main St., which used to house Rasmussen Funeral Home and furniture store. The board asked that 90 Main St. apply and establish an improved special use permit for the entire building based on each unit’s occupancy and classification.

Depending on what fills the units, 90 Main St. might not need to return to the planning board, which can then review the building as a single application, with each of the occupancy classifications within it.

The applicants, Nick and Laura Santana, asked if the application was necessary. It requires a public hearing that would add a month to the opening timeline. Nick Santana said everyone is eager for the space to open.

Baim explained that Jim Crowley, the code enforcement officer and building inspector, needs planning board approval on specific occupancies to bring the building into compliance. 

The board set a public hearing for next month’s meeting on Wednesday, June 26, at 7:25 p.m.