Planning Board

Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — November 4, 2020. The Board met via Zoom videoconference in accordance with Governor’s Executive Order 202.1, as updated. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt explained the Zoom procedure (recorded, later transcribed; minutes taken; verbal comments preferred).

Public hearing

Fane Special Use Permit (Tax Map #61.-1-16)

Opened 7:40 PM. Chairman Alessandrini read the Notice of Hearing. Land surveyor Mark Danskin represented applicant Warren Fane, who proposes a second principal residential dwelling on a 6.09 acre parcel in a Highway Commercial zone at 475 NYS Route 40, on the westerly side, across from Warren Lane. A property map was displayed. No public comment.

Regular meeting

Members present: Chairman Frank Alessandrini, Wayne Akin, Dan Clow, Brian Davidson, Robert Weir, and Scott Wiley. Elizabeth Hale was absent. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt was present with interested residents and representatives via Zoom.

• October 21, 2020 minutes approved as submitted (Wiley · Clow — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Wiley; Nays: none; Abstention: Weir).

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

ReJean DeVaux (civil engineer, Borrego Solar Systems) presented an update on the 4 MW solar project on 18.4± acres of a 37.18± acre parcel owned by Julie Todd, in an RA district off Northline Drive, with a 20-foot access road to Route 40. He showed visual simulations and reported the plan was modified to increase buffers from Matala and Northline Drives to a minimum of 165 feet, using 6′–7′ evergreen spruce and red cedar (growing 3–5 feet/year) rather than a mix of deciduous and evergreen. He considered the concerns in a letter from Board engineer Jason Dell (Lansing Engineering) minor, and said a new panel design increasing distance to residences was not ready for distribution. Visuals from Bracken Road (greatest impact), Matala Drive, and Northline Drive showed the impact fully mitigated in about 5 years; a 3.5-foot DOT sight line runs along Route 40. Asked by Chairman Alessandrini, Mr. DeVaux said the project hugs the wetlands as closely as possible and that the Army Corps of Engineers and DEC had visited. Brian Davidson asked about coverage; Mr. DeVaux said 17 acres in total. Jason Dell noted this was the first viewing of the visuals and that a significant step had been taken toward neighbors’ concerns; mitigation may be needed for stormwater. Rensselaer County Planning approved the submitted plans. The Fire Marshal and Building Inspector will receive copies of the revised plans, and copies will be available at the Town Clerk’s office.

West Wind Farms / Verbeck Community Solar Expansion (Tax Map #41.-1-96)

Patrick Mulkern (senior project engineer, Maser Consulting), Brian Maliszewski (applicant, Forefront Power), and Dan Farnan presented an update on adding a 3.5 MW facility to the existing 2 MW facility in an RA district on a 14.6 acre parcel on Verbeck Avenue, owned by James Czub. The application seeks both a subdivision and a Special Use Permit. SHPPO was completed previously but must be revisited. The access road will shift north to accommodate four National Grid interconnecting poles kept separate from the old interconnection at the road entrance. A chat question asked about panel color; Mr. Mulkern said the panels would match the initial solar farm (black sheen) with galvanized racking. Because both a Special Use Permit and subdivision are requested, a SEQRA negative declaration is required before the public hearing. The Board agreed to hire the Laberge Group as engineering consultant. The application, long-form EAF, Agricultural Data Statement, and fee were received; Attorney Pratt will send the coordination letter requesting the Board act as SEQR lead agency.

Fane Lot Line / Special Use Permit — decision (Tax Map #61.-1-16)

Mark Danskin represented applicant Warren Fane’s proposal for a residence on the newly created 6.09 acre lot with an existing dwelling in a Highway Commercial District at 475 NYS Route 40. The application seeks a Special Use Permit to allow a residence in an HC district and two principal residences on one parcel. The survey shows all setbacks met (house 90 feet off the road, 80 feet from the tree line, 3-acre density met). Mr. Fane wishes to build a larger dwelling without razing the existing residence.

• Negative declaration under SEQRA for the special use permit (Davidson · Akin — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Weir, Wiley; Nays: none).
• Special Use Permit granted to construct a house in an HC district with an existing residence on the same parcel (Akin · Clow). A $125 application fee is due.

Kyea Accessory Apartment (Tax Map #61.1-2-11.12)

Mr. Kyea had emailed the chairman about a 730 sq. ft. one-story slab second home at 19 Rice Mountain Place on a 4.82 acre parcel with an existing home, to serve as an accessory apartment. The Board found it does not meet Zoning Code requirements (not attached to the main residence or within an accessory structure) and, as a second home on under 6 acres, does not meet density. Options discussed: a ZBA area variance for density, or a Planning Board special-use-permit application (Brian Davidson favored keeping flexibility and noted architectural integrity could be required without the town being overrun). The chairman will advise the landowner of these options.

Skyline Drive Lot Line Adjustment (Tax Map #51.-2-8.21 and 51-2-8.3)

Land surveyor Mark Danskin represented Ed Vohnoutka, owner of a 90′ × 400′ lot on the westerly side of Skyline Drive whose residence sits 6.5 feet off the property line. Mr. Wells, the adjoiner to the south and owner of 46 Skyline Drive, is willing to transfer a .52 acre strip to create a 150-foot-wide lot. The application and EAF were received (the $25 fee was not); the chairman received Mr. Wells’s signed affirmation form.

• Lot-line adjustment approved (Clow · Weir — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Weir, Wiley; Nays: none).

Hansen Road Campground (Tax Map #31.-2-39.12)

Potential applicant Roger Clements did not appear. He had contacted the chairman with a preliminary proposal for a campground with small self-contained cabins on a 36 acre parcel off Hansen Road; the chairman’s attempts to reach him got no response.

PILOT program

Dan Clow reported that, per Town Supervisor Tim Salisbury, the Town has opted out of the PILOT program for solar energy projects, though the decision may be overturned by the Town Board.

Adjourned 9:32 PM (Davidson · Akin — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Weir, Wiley; Nays: none). Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Planning Board Clerk (dated December 7, 2020).