Planning Board

Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — August 5, 2020. The Board met via Zoom videoconference in accordance with Governor’s Executive Order 202.1.

Public hearings

Greg Fane Two-Lot Subdivision (Tax Map #61-1-20.114)

Opened 7:35 PM. Land surveyor Mark Danskin represented applicant Greg Fane and exhibited a survey map. The proposal subdivides a 6.05± acre parcel with 50 feet of road frontage from an 11.86± acre parcel owned by Deborah and Greg Fane, in an RA district at the end of Warren Lane with 203 feet of frontage along NYS Route 40. The new 6.05± acre flag lot is to be conveyed to private grantees; access is via a shared driveway from Route 40 or a proposed gravel drive from Warren Lane crossing an adjoining property whose owners have agreed to provide an easement. No public comment. Hearing closed 7:39 PM.

Scheeren Two-Lot Subdivision (Tax Map #11-1-6.117)

Sean Flanagan of Holbritter Land Surveying represented applicant Walter K. Scheeren. The proposal subdivides vacant land into two lots (2.01± and 1.89± acres) in an RA district on the westerly side of Verbeck Avenue, and waives a 51.6′ × 388.30′ strip from a 6.16± acre parcel owned by Robin and Walter K. Scheeren to the remaining ~46.47± acres owned by Robin, Walter F., and Walter V. Scheeren. No public comment. Hearing closed 7:42 PM.

Regular meeting

Convened 7:42 PM. Members present: Chairman Frank Alessandrini, Dan Clow, Brian Davidson, Elizabeth Hale, and Scott Wiley. Wayne Akin arrived later. Robert Weir was absent. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt was present, along with interested residents and representatives online, including Sean Flanagan, Mark Danskin (Danskin Land Surveying), ReJean DeVaux (Borrego Solar Systems), Daniel Farnan and Patrick Mulkern (Maser Consulting), James Kondrat (Lansing Engineering), Terressa Bakner (Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna), Brian Norensky (AEG), and applicant James Czub.

• July 2, 2020 minutes approved as submitted (Davidson · Hale — Ayes: Alessandrini, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Wiley; Nays: none).

Choice Physical Therapy — Site Plan Modification (Tax Map #71.9-2-1)

Erin Napoleone, part owner of Choice Physical Therapy in a Hamlet District at 290 Speigletown Road, proposed amending the approved site plan. Because of insufficient parking, employees currently park in an unlit lot on the Scriven premises across the street on Eastover Road. The co-owners proposed three additional paved 9′ × 10′ spaces on the northerly side of the building for staff use only, indicated by signage. A resident asked why the public had not been notified; Attorney Pratt explained that noticing occurred at the original Special Use Permit / Site Plan stage. The resident questioned whether there was room on the northerly side; the applicant said there was 26 feet from the building to the road, enough for a vehicle, and that staff would back into the spaces for safety.

• Site plan amended to add 3 parking spaces on the northerly side (Wiley · Davidson — Ayes: Alessandrini, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Wiley; Nays: none).

Greg Fane Two-Lot Subdivision — decision

Mr. Danskin noted a paved driveway from Route 40 remains an option and that he had not yet received a permit to construct from the Rensselaer County Health Department (RCHD).

• Negative declaration under SEQRA (Davidson · Clow — Ayes: Alessandrini, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Wiley; Nays: none).
• Preliminary subdivision approval (Wiley · Davidson — Ayes: same; Nays: none).
• Final approval of the two-lot subdivision, contingent on receipt of RCHD approval (Clow · Wiley — Ayes: same; Nays: none).

Hemstreet Park Fitness Center — Pre-filing Conference (Tax Map #20.13-1-3.12)

Daniel Glogowski proposed operating a fitness center in an existing pole barn with 50 feet of road frontage at 7 Holland Avenue, east of the bridge, in Hemstreet Park, with plans for 2 handicapped spaces and 8 additional spaces along the front. He was advised to assemble all pertinent information by the 15th of the month for Board review at the September meeting.

Scheeren Two-Lot Subdivision — decision

RCHD approval had been received. The Board discussed the waived strip and its use for access to the residual acreage for open space or future development, agreeing a note addressing open space (as required by the Zoning Code) and possible future development should be added to the map.

• Negative declaration under SEQRA (Clow · Davidson — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Wiley; Nays: none).
• Preliminary subdivision approval, contingent on inclusion of a chairman-approved note regarding required open space and possible future development (Wiley · Davidson — Ayes: same; Nays: none).
• Final approval of the two-lot subdivision, contingent on the map note as described (Davidson · Clow — Ayes: same; Nays: none).

Westwind Farms Mining Expansion (Tax Map #22-1-1.121)

Brian Norensky (Principal Geologist, Advanced Environmental Geology, LLC) represented applicant James Czub, who operates an 8.62± acre sand-and-gravel mine on Verbeck Avenue in the RA district. The depleted Phase 1 mine operated 14 years; the proposal would open 8 more mines in 8 phases over roughly 62 acres, only one operating at a time (opening an adjacent mine while closing and reclaiming the prior one). Traffic studies show minimal increase (6% AM, 10% PM; 8–20 added truck trips/day, ~5/hour) and minimal road wear. Board member Scott Wiley raised concerns about Phases 6, 7, and 8 given proximity to the road and noise/dust; Mr. Norensky said the mines would be 20 feet below the surface with 6-foot berms and 26-foot evergreen buffers. A public hearing will be scheduled for September.

Northline Drive Solar Farm (Tax Map #41.-1-27.21)

ReJean DeVaux (Borrego Solar Systems) proposed a 4 MW solar project on 18.4± of a 37.18± acre parcel owned by Julie Todd, in an RA district off Northline Drive, with a 20-foot access road toward Route 40. Jason Kondrat provided a conceptual update, noting Part II of the full EAF was complete and that a visual assessment and SWPPP would be needed given more than one acre of disturbance. Chairman Alessandrini stressed the visual impact statement is essential. Mr. DeVaux said disturbance would be minimal, roadside vegetation left as a buffer, and berms added. The property is protected by the Melrose Fire Department. Rensselaer County recommended plowing/ripping lanes between panels and mulching drip-edge areas to reduce compaction and erosion (left to local consideration). Notices were sent to residences within 500 feet. A public hearing was set for September, likely to be held open.

Karen Rumpler Subdivision Waiver (Tax Map #71-1-10.111)

Applicant Karen Rumpler proposed a lot-line adjustment adding 0.46± and 0.71± acre parcels owned by June Stevens to Ms. Rumpler’s 2.15± acre lot with an existing dwelling at 27 Hansen Road, Speigletown, south of Fogarty Road. The ~66-acre residual, owned by June Stevens, surrounds the resulting 3.32± acre parcel. Because the owner of the land to be waived was not present, a form for the owner’s notarized signature will be provided as proof of ownership.

• Final approval of the lot-line adjustment, contingent on receipt of the notarized owner’s-signature form (Akin · Davidson — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Weir, Wiley; Nays: none).

Westwind Farms Community Solar Farm Expansion — Pre-filing Conference (Tax Map #22-1-1.121)

Patrick Mulkern and Daniel Farnan (Maser Consulting) and Brian Maliszewski (Forefront Power) appeared. The proposal expands the existing 11.7± acre solar farm (established 2018) at 141 Verbeck Avenue, owned by James Czub — a 3 MW project northwest of the existing farm requiring subdivision of a 181± acre parcel into two lots, with landscaping, fencing, and access roads similar to the existing farm. A formal application will follow once National Grid approval is granted.

St. Croix Farm Timber Harvest

John Moore, owner of St. Croix Farm off Master Street in an RA district, proposed clearing overgrowth while leaving shade trees to create shady pasture for his cattle, and asked whether a timber-harvest permit was required given it is an agricultural practice in a NYS-certified agricultural district under Article 25-AA of the Agriculture and Markets Law. After walking the property with Mr. Moore, Chairman Alessandrini concluded a permit was not necessary, as the clearing is for shade and grazing rather than timber harvesting.

Adjourned 9:46 PM (Davidson · Akin — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Wiley; Nays: none). Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Planning Board Clerk (dated September 12, 2020).