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. The official signed PDF is the complete record of authority.
Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — February 3, 2021. The Board met via Zoom videoconference under the Governor’s Executive Orders. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt explained the Zoom procedure, noted the meeting was recorded (to be posted and later transcribed) and that minutes were being taken, and emphasized that public comments were better expressed verbally than through chat so they could be preserved.
Public hearing
Charde Special Use Permit (Tax Map #60.-1-13.112)
Opened at 7:33 PM. Chairman Alessandrini read the Notice of Hearing. Applicant Matthew Charde proposed constructing a residence on 3.2± acres of his vacant land in an HC district at 2014 River Road and submitted an application for a Special Use Permit to allow a residence in an HC district. No public comment. Closed at 7:40 PM.
Regular meeting
Convened at 7:40 PM. Members present: Chairman Frank Alessandrini, Wayne Akin, Dan Clow, Brian Davidson, Elizabeth Hale, and Scott Wiley. Robert Weir was absent. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt was present, along with representatives for several applicants and members of the public via Zoom.
- January 26, 2021 minutes approved as submitted (Akin · Wiley — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Wiley; Nays: none).
Charde Special Use Permit (Tax Map #60.-1-13.112)
Applicant Matthew Charde presented the proposal to build a residence on the 3.2± acre existing lot in an HC district at 2014 River Road. The parcel is accessible from Calhoun Drive, about ½ mile east of the dam. The Chairman noted the parcel’s proximity to the Fane-owned commercial property may explain its HC designation. A response from the Rensselaer County Office of Economic Development and Planning left the decision to local consideration. The application fee was received February 4, 2021.
- Negative declaration under SEQRA (Clow · Davidson — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Wiley; Nays: none).
- Special Use Permit granted to allow construction of a residence in an HC district (Akin · Wiley — Ayes: all six present; Nays: none).
Legacy Lot Line Adjustment (Tax Map #41.-1-91 and -92)
Land surveyor Brian Holbritter represented applicant Dan Legacy for a lot-line adjustment of a 0.29± acre triangular parcel to be conveyed from Lot #4 to the adjacent 2.17± acre Lot #1, creating a 2.46± acre lot on the easterly side of Northline Drive (Lot #4 then measuring 15.57± acres). The purpose is to enlarge Lot #1 so the driveway can be placed for greater safety and sight distance.
- Lot-line adjustment approved (Davidson · Clow — Ayes: all six present; Nays: none).
West Wind Farms Solar Farm Expansion (Tax Map #22.-1-1.121)
Patrick Mulkern, Sr., Project Engineer (Maser Consulting), represented applicant and owner James Czub for an expansion of the West Wind Solar Farm in an RA district on Verbeck Avenue; Dan Farnan of Maser Consulting was also present. The Chairman had distributed the applicant’s and consulting engineer’s correspondence and Forefront Power’s preliminary maps. Correspondence from Laberge Engineering (the Town’s consultant) noted three items needing Board response: Fire Official approval of the 12-ft access-road width and proposed turnaround, approval of required warning signage, and the 12-ft maximum equipment height.
Board member Elizabeth Hale asked about archeologically sensitive areas on Map C-004. Mr. Farnan explained the archeological survey shows sensitive areas from Phase I (Locus 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and Feature 1); Feature 1 contains broken glass and farm-implement fragments from the period when Amos Briggs owned the property, while Locus 4 and 5 may be pre-historic. All fencing, excavation, and activity will be prohibited in these locations. SHPO reviewed the area and determined no detrimental impact would occur provided Locus 7 and 8 of the Czub Precontract site are avoided (a Phase II evaluation to follow if avoidance is not feasible).
The Board reviewed and completed Parts 2 and 3 of the EAF, determining no topsoil removal, year-round screening to mitigate visual impacts, and no clearing of wooded areas (the land is a former cornfield) significant to endangered bats. Screening was discussed, with 6–7 ft evergreens (Red Cedar, Norway and White Spruce, Eastern White Pine) planned to screen the solar field, the rear of the property, and the eastern side of Verbeck Avenue. The Board concluded the project would not result in significant adverse environmental impacts and that screening would adequately mitigate visibility. A public hearing will be scheduled for the March meeting.
- Negative declaration under SEQRA (Akin · Wiley — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Wiley; Nays: none).
Other
Brian Davidson noted a one-hour stormwater-management webinar available through the Capital District Regional Planning Commission, adding that Board members are required to take 4 hours of training per year.
Adjourned at 8:46 PM (Davidson · Wiley — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Wiley; Nays: none). Submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Planning Board Clerk (dated March 6, 2021).
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