Planning Board

Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — December 1, 2021. The Board met via Zoom videoconference under amendments to the New York Public Officers Law. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt explained the Zoom procedure, noted the notice was published in the Troy Record and posted on the Town website, that the meeting was recorded (to be posted and later transcribed) and minutes were taken, and encouraged verbal comment.

Public hearings

Fane Turner Road 6 Lot Subdivision (Tax Map #61.-1-14.12)

Chairman Alessandrini read the Notice of Hearing. Land surveyor Mark Danskin presented a 6-lot subdivision on the northerly side of Turner Road near NYS Route 40 — part of an 8-lot subdivision (Lots #4 and #8 approved). Lots #1, 2, 3 lie east of the Niagara Mohawk easement and #5, 6, 7 west of it; the parcel measures about 44 acres, all lots greater than 5 acres, with wetlands delineated on the survey map. The Army Corps of Engineers was contacted, SHPO was completed, and RCHD approval was received. No public comment.

Sequin Subdivision (Tax Map #11-1-17.114)

Chairman Alessandrini read the Notice of Hearing. Land surveyor Brian Holbritter presented a 40,019± sq-ft one-lot subdivision from a 15.45± acre parcel in an RA district at 519 Verbeck Ave. Applicant Cortland Sequin intends to subdivide the parcel to let his daughter build a house on a corner lot, with an improved septic system and a new well in the front left-hand corner to meet setbacks and the septic-to-well distance. No public comment.

Regular meeting

Members present: Frank Alessandrini, Wayne Akin, Dan Clow, Brian Davidson, Elizabeth Hale, Robert Weir, and Scott Wiley. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt was present.

• November 3, 2021 minutes approved with the blanks completed within the paragraph covering the minutes (Wiley · Davidson — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Weir, Wiley; Nays: none).

Fane Turner Road 6 Lot Subdivision (Tax Map #61.-1-14.12)

Mark Danskin presented the 6-lot (total 8-lot) subdivision. Because the project disturbs more than one acre, Brian Davidson advised a SWPPP would be required. Mr. Danskin believed a SWPPP was not required, as each lot produced less than one acre of disturbance and the total was under 4.34 acres, and that his engineer felt the regulations were satisfied since disturbance was under 5 acres. Mr. Davidson explained the SWPPP requirement is triggered at one acre or more, not five. The two-page document Mr. Danskin submitted was a drainage plan, not a full SWPPP; Mr. Davidson suggested they meet at Town Hall (Thursday 9 AM) to discuss further. It was noted the SWPPP filed for the Herkert 4-lot subdivision on Hayes Road could be sent to Mr. Danskin electronically by Attorney Pratt as an example. Once the SWPPP is received and reviewed, the Board will have the documents needed to decide.

Sequin Subdivision (Tax Map #11-1-17.114)

Brian Holbritter presented the application, resulting in a 14± acre lot and a 40,019± sq-ft lot at 519 Verbeck Ave., with adequate road frontage for both lots. Mr. Holbritter noted a 2005 subdivision from the Sequin property was designed by land surveyor Charles Hartnett. The short-form EAF was completed and RCHD approval was granted.

• Negative declaration under SEQRA (Akin · Clow — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Weir, Wiley; Nays: none).
• Preliminary approval granted (Wiley · Weir — Ayes: all seven; Nays: none).
• Final approval granted for the Sequin subdivision, all paperwork and the SEQRA negative declaration having been received (Wiley · Weir — Ayes: all seven; Nays: none).

Northline Solar (Tax Map #41-1-27.21)

Civil engineer ReJean DeVaux (PV Engineers / Borrego Solar Systems) and James Kondrat appeared to request an extension of the Special Use Permit and Site Plan Approval for the Northline Solar project (original approval January 6, 2021) to January 6, 2023.

• One-year extension granted to January 6, 2023 (Clow · Davidson — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Weir, Wiley; Nays: none).

Ragone Concrete Special Use Permit and Site Plan Review (Tax Map 71.-2-4.13)

Chairman Alessandrini recused himself; Brian Davidson chaired. Land surveyor Brian Holbritter provided an update on the concrete-form business off NYS Route 40. He has pivoted the building on the site to meet the Zoning Code for a Highway Commercial parcel contiguous to a Residential District, so the rear and side-yard setbacks reflect the 50′ requirement. Following the Laberge Group’s SWPPP review, the SWPPP will be distributed to Board members; Mr. Davidson noted a $3,000 retainer is required from Mr. Ragone for Laberge’s review, which the Town Board will address at its next meeting before the SWPPP is sent for engineering review. On aesthetics, Elizabeth Hale and Brian Davidson suggested a barn-red building with cupola and weathervane would suit the community’s rural character and help stabilize or increase nearby property values; Mr. Holbritter said Mr. Ragone is considering two shades of brown but is open to a cupola and weathervane. Dan Clow advised planning a 20′ clearance around the building to meet fire-code requirements.

Adjourned at 8:15 PM (Akin · Hale — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Weir, Wiley; Nays: none). Submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Planning Board Clerk.