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 — August 7, 2019.
Public hearing
Couser Timber Harvest (Tax Map #51.-2-7.1)
Opened at 7:31 PM. Robert Rice, C.F., Vice President of Lumac Company (Malta, NY), presented a proposal to harvest timber from a 20-acre parcel in an RA district at 306 Melrose Valley Falls Road, owned by applicants Pam and Garth Couser. The harvest would thin oak, ash, and sugar and soft maple from a 16-acre section, making use of pulp markets and transforming the stand from pioneer stage to climax forest; this is a second harvest (the first was in 1998). An abutting neighbor expressed concern about maintaining a buffer between his property line and the harvest site, noting an earlier harvest had removed buffer trees and left “a mess,” and voiced concern about encroachment. An adjacent property owner asked about the exact location of the harvest and expressed concern about its proximity to her property. Closed at 7:35 PM.
Regular meeting
Members present: Chairman Frank Alessandrini, Wayne Akin, Dan Clow, Brian Davidson, Elizabeth Hale, and Scott Wiley. Robert Weir was absent.
- July 3, 2019 minutes approved as submitted (Wiley · Clow — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Wiley; Nays: none; Abstained: Hale).
White Subdivision (Tax Map #61.-1-5.1)
Land surveyor Brian Holbritter presented the RCHD permit to construct for the 21.87-acre parcel on the northerly side of Calhoun Drive in the RA district, to be subdivided into lots of about 1.6 and 20.27 acres. A $180 check was received.
- Final subdivision approval (Alessandrini · Clow — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Wiley; Nays: none).
Clement Small Engine Repair Special Use Permit (Tax Map #71.9-3-19)
Following the July 3 public hearing, applicants Amanda Phelps and Art Clement appeared; Dan Clow recused himself. Chairman Alessandrini reviewed the Special Use regulations (Zoning Code Section VI, A, 1-8), noting there is no definition that includes small engine repair as a permitted use, and that the Board classified the use as falling between appliance repair and automotive repair. He emphasized that the Board’s decision must be based on the Zoning Code regulations, not the volume of public “likes” or “don’t likes.” A number of written comments were submitted, and Mr. Clement submitted a petition from neighboring residents supporting the application. The Board expressed concerns about a repair business in a closely populated district with limited setbacks, a narrow road with limited parking and traffic issues, noise and child-safety impacts, general inconsistency with neighborhood character, and outdoor storage of items and tools in front of the home. Mr. Clement responded that most items are picked up from customers by trailer (no parking issue), that noise is limited (no air tools; no louder than a lawn mower), and that he added back-up alarms for child safety, hoping to eventually move the business elsewhere.
Brian Davidson noted the International Building Code requires a three-hour firewall between a single-family residence (R1) and an adjoining space (repair garage classified as S1), and advised the applicant to ensure compliance with all Uniform Building Code requirements. (Footnote in the record: the residence classification is R3, not R1.) The Board discussed the possibility of granting the permit with reasonable conditions (limiting hours, restricting parking and storage, and Uniform Building Code compliance) and a possibly limited permit term. Because members have limited experience with the three-hour firewall requirement, Mr. Davidson suggested the applicant research the Code requirements and have a professional evaluate the building before the Board considers approval, with the applicant responsible for proving compliance.
- Application tabled until further information is available. The Chairman closed the period for submission of comments.
- Negative declaration under SEQRA (Akin · Davidson — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Wiley; Nays: none).
Herrington Solar Farms — pre-filing conference
Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt recused herself (Eden Renewables is a client of Young Sommer, LLC). Giovanni Maruce of Eden Renewables and Owen Speulstra, P.E. of Environmental Design Partnership presented a proposal for a solar farm on a 120-acre parcel in an RA district on the westerly side of Bracken Road, northwest of the intersection of Bracken Road and NYS Route 40. The farm would occupy 32-35 acres, located 1,000 feet off the road, as a 5-megawatt AC operation with single-axis tracker panels set 9 feet into the ground and 8.5 feet high, surrounded by a livestock fence, with a concrete pad and a permeable access track to minimize stormwater run-off, and a distribution point at the Bracken Road/Route 40 intersection with two poles (one for solar, one for National Grid). Visibility along the main artery was noted as a major factor. Mr. Maruce noted post-construction re-seeding with wildflowers and a pollinator-friendly environment, plus landscaping and screening, and possible educational field trips. He plans to submit a Special Use Permit and Site Plan Review application by next month; the Board would consider hiring a professional engineer to review the application, and escrow would be required.
Couser Timber Harvest (Tax Map #51.-2-7.1)
Robert Rice, C.F. presented the proposed harvest at 306 Melrose Valley Falls Road. Cutting would occur in winter over two months on the existing haul road; there is a classified C stream (not DEC-regulated) with a separate agreement with the landowners in case crossing is needed, though not anticipated. Mr. Rice noted he respects adjacent neighbors’ property, staying 20 feet from property lines. A $50 check was received.
- Negative declaration under SEQRA (Akin · Wiley — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Wiley; Nays: none).
- Timber harvest approval granted (Clow · Davidson — same Ayes; Nays: none).
AT&T Telecommunications Facility — Airosmith Development (Tax Map #13.-1-7.11)
AJ DiBella, Airosmith Development representative, proposed Airosmith’s application on behalf of AT&T to co-locate a telecommunications facility on an existing tower established by Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, on property owned by Edward Reynolds in an RA district at 184 Akin Road (Site Plan Review). A structural analysis found the tower adequate for the additional antenna weight; the tower’s dimensions will not change, and the antenna will be mounted at a 136-foot centerline. An outdoor platform with a shelter and ground equipment will be added; access to the monopine tower is existing and no additional fencing is required, with adequate space remaining for additional carriers. An application, short-form EAF, and a $100 check were received.
- Negative declaration under SEQRA (Akin · Clow — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Wiley; Nays: none).
- Site Plan Review approval granted (Wiley · Hale — same Ayes; Nays: none).
Other
Chairman Alessandrini noted: (1) he received a receipt for the filing of Larry Marten’s subdivision map; (2) a landscaper inquired about storing equipment (trucks and large equipment) on Hansen Road (Tax Map #30.-3-14.113); and (3) an application may be filed to conduct a physical therapy business on NYS Route 40 at the former schoolhouse — more recently a dental office — in Speigletown.
Adjourned at 9:43 PM (Wiley · Clow — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Wiley; Nays: none). Submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Planning Board Clerk (dated September 5, 2019).
Spot an error or omission? Tell us and we'll fix it.