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Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — April 7, 2021. The Board met via Zoom videoconference. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt explained the Zoom procedure, noted the meeting was recorded (to be posted and later transcribed) and minutes were taken, and encouraged verbal public comment.
Public hearing
Timber Harvest Permit (Tax Map #10-4-2.2)
Opened at 7:31 PM. Chairman Alessandrini read the Notice of Hearing. Applicant and owner Nicholas Curto proposed a timber harvest on 39 acres of a 41-acre parcel in an RA district on Knickerbocker Road (the residual 2 acres holding the Curto residence and out-buildings). The plan, prepared by licensed forester Gregory Monick of Mt. Anthony Consulting Forestry, LLC (Bennington, VT), calls for an uneven selective harvest following best management practices, expected December 2021–March 31, 2022 over frozen ground, yielding about 134,000 board feet, 278 cords plus pulp wood, and leaving 65–75% tree-top canopy. Mr. Curto harvests roughly every decade for management purposes. No public comments. Closed at 7:37 PM.
Regular meeting
Members present: Chairman Frank Alessandrini, Wayne Akin, Dan Clow, Brian Davidson, Elizabeth Hale, Scott Wiley, and Robert Weir. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt was present, with two members of the public via Zoom.
- March 3, 2021 minutes approved as submitted (Wiley · Davidson — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Weir, Wiley; Nays: none).
Timber Harvest Permit (Tax Map #10-4-2.2)
The Board praised the Curto application as one of the most thorough submitted and noted it had been reviewed in March with no further questions.
- Negative declaration under SEQRA (Akin · Clow — Ayes: all seven; Nays: none).
- Curto timber harvest Special Use Permit approved (Akin · Clow — Ayes: all seven; Nays: none).
Stillwater Renewables / Viall Solar Farm Site Plan Amendment (Tax Map #22-1-7.1)
Dallas Manson, Business Development Representative for Nexamp, Inc., provided an update on the 3-megawatt Stillwater Renewables Solar Farm on the Clifford and Gary Viall property on Stillwater Bridge Road (RA district). The 16-acre, 12-ft panel project was approved June 17, 2020, but was delayed by COVID-19; the planned racking system proved unsuitable for the 15% sloped topography and would cause more environmental disturbance. A new racking system raises the maximum panel height to 16′4″ (tilting east/west), exceeding the Solar Law’s 12-ft limit. The ZBA granted a 5-ft area (height) variance on April 1, 2021, allowing a maximum tilted height of 17′. The Board concurred the project would be visible only at one point along NYS Route 40 for about 3 seconds in a moving car, not objectionable, and not in conflict with the earlier SEQRA negative declaration. Attorney Pratt would prepare a resolution amending the 12′ height to 17′, referencing the ZBA variance, approving the site-plan amendment, and ratifying the SEQRA determination.
- Resolution approving the amendment and ratifying the SEQRA determination (Clow · Davidson — Ayes: all seven; Nays: none).
Herrington Solar Farms Modification of Conditions (Tax Map #41.-1-96)
Chairman Alessandrini reported that applicant Eden Renewables, for a community solar farm on 34 acres of a 126-acre parcel in an RA district at 33 Bracken Road, requested removal of condition #17 (protection of the long-eared bat). DEC information distributed to the Board showed the long-eared bat has no known habitat in the Town of Schaghticoke, claiming winter habitat only in 6 towns in southeast Rensselaer County. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt recused herself, as Eden Renewables is a client of Young Sommer, LLC; Attorney Peter Barber acted as attorney for the application. The applicant requested a resolution reflecting that there is no evidence the long-eared bat has habitat in the Town.
- Condition #17 deleted from the Herrington Solar Farm approval (Davidson · Wiley — Ayes: all seven; Nays: none).
Bayly Lot Line Adjustment (Tax Map #51.2-3-12 and 51.2-3-14)
Land surveyor Brian Holbritter represented applicants Janet and Richard Bayly for a lot-line adjustment in a Hamlet District on Doty Avenue and NYS Route 40. The Baylys purchased a 2.69± acre lot with a residence at 57 Melrose Valley Falls Rd. (Tax Map #51.2-3-14) and wish to convey 2 acres to their property at 16 Doty Avenue, creating a revised 2.54± acre lot including their residence and a residual 0.69-acre lot with an existing 2-story residence at 57 Melrose Valley Falls Rd.
- Lot-line adjustment approved (Akin · Weir — Ayes: all seven; Nays: none).
Munger Accessory Apartment Pre-filing Conference (Tax Map #20.18-2-9)
Michael Munger proposed an accessory apartment in a Hamlet District with public water and sewer at 113 South Linden St., Hemstreet Park. The property has a residence (occupied by his parents) and a metal-building garage he proposes to convert to living space for himself, adding a garage stall. The Chairman noted possible building-code issues to discuss with the Building Inspector; with application, fee, and short-form EAF by the 15th, a public hearing may be scheduled next month.
Other
Chairman Alessandrini noted the CDRPC is conducting webinars, mentioned a recent training on Special Use Permits and Zoning Variances, and encouraged Board members to sign up.
Adjourned at 8:11 PM (Akin · Davidson — Ayes: all seven; Nays: none). Submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Planning Board Clerk (dated May 14, 2021).
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