Unofficial summary. This is a community summary of the town's official minutes, provided so the record is searchable and readable. It condenses the meeting and may omit detail. Some private individuals’ personal details have been left out. The official signed PDF is the complete record of authority.
Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — May 2, 2018.
Public hearing
Wiley Timber Harvest (Tax Map #61.-1-17.21)
Opened at 7:30 PM. Nathan Piché, forester with New England Forestry Consultants, presented the proposed harvest of a 29.88± acre parcel at 7A Albert Drive (R district), on the side of Rice Mountain; applicant Dan Wiley acquired abutting property for access to the previously land-locked parcel. About 400 marked trees would be harvested to open the canopy for new growth. Surveyor Brian Holbritter said he surveyed and flagged the parcel and that the shelterwood harvest would take mainly red oak and sugar/red maples.
Neighbors and residents commented. An adjacent property owner expressed concern about post-harvest appearance and erosion on the steep terrain; Mr. Piché assured a remaining treed canopy, graded roads, and water bars, and the neighbor stated he had no objections. Another resident asked who surveyed the property, the wood type, and the harvest classification. A further resident stated he had no concerns. Applicant Dan Wiley, a Town resident since 1976 with a forestry background, said the overgrown forest needed thinning for a healthier stand and thanked his neighbors. No objections. Closed at 7:45 PM.
Regular meeting
Convened at 7:46 PM. Members present: Chairman Frank Alessandrini, Wayne Akin, Dan Clow, Brian Davidson, Elizabeth Hale, and Robert Weir. Jack Walsh was absent. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt was present.
- April 4, 2018 minutes approved as submitted (Akin · Clow — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Weir; Nays: none).
Wiley Timber Harvest — decision
Nathan Piché presented Dan Wiley’s harvest of the 29.88± acre parcel about 1.5 miles south of NYS Route 40 and the Melrose/Valley Falls Road. Harvest is anticipated to start December 10, 2018 and finish about four weeks later, with disturbed trails seeded and water bars controlling erosion. A $50 application fee was received.
- SEQRA negative declaration (Davidson · Akin — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Weir; Nays: none).
- Final approval of the Wiley Timber Harvest Special Use Permit (Clow · Hale — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Weir; Nays: none).
Sunshine Acres Subdivision (Tax Map #61.-1-9)
Engineer John Hartnett presented a 4-lot subdivision of a 14.49± acre parcel at Calhoun Drive and NYS Route 40; owner Don Kehn was present. Lots measure 2.60±, 2.62±, and 2.49± acres with a residual 6.78± acre lot retaining an existing dwelling; all have public water and individually designed septic. Lots #2 and #3 have side-by-side driveways. With application, maps, short-form EAF, and fee, a public hearing may be set for June.
Fane Subdivision — Pre-filing Conference (Tax Map #61-1-14.12)
Surveyor Mark Danskin continued the 8-lot proposal (60± acre parcel, Turner Road / NYS Route 40). Flag Lot #4 (12.27 acres) has a 60’ easement to Route 40; Niagara Mohawk and Lansingburgh Water Line easements run between Lots #3 and #5. Lots #5-#8 measure 240’ × 1100’. Because the Zoning Code limits lot length to 4.5× width, Mr. Danskin cited Section IV, D, 1, b allowing reduction where additional green space is conserved. He noted endangered-species sensitivity (bald eagle), archeological sensitivity, and wetlands.
Carignan Subdivision — Pre-filing Conference (Tax Map #60-1-1, 60-1-2, 60-1-29.1)
Surveyor Brian Holbritter, for Todd Carignan, proposed creating two flag lots and a 3.65± acre lot with an existing dwelling while keeping 200’ of River Road frontage; access to the 3.65± acre lot continues from Turner Road. The family has owned the three parcels (one land-locked) for four generations; the Board found the proposal an improvement, creating frontage for each lot.
Gifford — Pre-filing Conference
Howard Gifford, owner of a 95± acre parcel between Bell and Geary Roads, proposed subdividing a 20± acre lot with an existing dwelling for his son, plus another 20± acre lot and a 55± acre residual. The Chairman explained an application, fee, and survey would be required and would confirm the survey requirement with the County Clerk.
Other
Chairman Alessandrini distributed a letter from a neighboring landowner whose property adjoins the Adventure Bound campground, restating concerns about the Wayne Klekamp / Adventure Bound expansion. The archeological studies remained incomplete and escrow agreements for legal fees and stormwater inspection had not yet been sent; Attorney Pratt will draft the correspondence. Dan Clow and Brian Davidson toured the campsite, noting a privately owned, rough entry road with a gated 90° turn; opinions differed on whether the rough road usefully slowed traffic. The Board agreed 11” × 17” survey maps would be convenient if the type remained legible.
Adjourned at 8:44 PM (Weir · Clow — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Weir; Nays: none). Submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Planning Board Clerk (dated June 7, 2018).
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