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 — January 5, 2022. The Board met via Zoom videoconference under the 2021 amendments to the New York Public Officers Law. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt explained the Zoom procedure, noted the meeting notice was published in the Troy Record and posted on the town website, that the meeting was recorded (to be posted to the website) and would be transcribed later, and that minutes were being taken; comments were encouraged to be spoken aloud to be recorded.
Public hearings
There were none.
Regular meeting
Convened at 7:34 PM. Members present: Frank Alessandrini (Chairman), Wayne Akin, Dan Clow, Brian Davidson, Elizabeth Hale, Robert Weir, and Scott Wiley.
- December 1, 2021 minutes approved as submitted (Akin · Davidson — Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale, Weir, Wiley; Nays: none).
Fane Turner Road 6-Lot Subdivision (Tax Map #61.-1-14.12)
Land surveyor Mark Danskin presented an application for a 6-lot subdivision on the northerly side of Turner Road near the intersection of NYS Route 40. In total this is an 8-lot subdivision, as Lots 4 and 8 were previously approved. Lots 1, 2 and 3 lie on the easterly side of the Niagara Mohawk easement, and Lots 5, 6 and 7 on the westerly side. The parcel measures approximately 44 acres and all lots are greater than 5 acres.
Chairman Alessandrini stated that the Board had reviewed and completed SEQRA during the prior subdivision review — which included the potential impacts of the full eight-lot subdivision and resulted in a negative declaration — that the SHPO review was completed, and that the Army Corps of Engineers had been contacted. Because there was more than one acre of disturbance, a SWPPP was required and completed by an engineer, and Brian Davidson confirmed the SWPPP submission was acceptable. Mr. Danskin submitted a copy of the DEC letter showing that the Notice of Intent for SPDES was filed. RCHD approval will be granted once the Planning Board approves the subdivision.
- Final approval granted for the Fane 6-lot subdivision, all required paperwork received and approved (Akin · Wiley — Ayes: all seven; Nays: none).
Forefront Solar — Special Use Permit extension (Tax Map Parcel #22-1-1.121)
Patrick Mulkern, Senior Project Engineer with Maser Consulting, appeared. A Special Use Permit had been granted to Forefront Power on February 3, 2021 for the construction of a 2-megawatt photovoltaic solar farm on property owned by Jim Czub at 141 Verbeck Avenue, Schaghticoke. Chairman Alessandrini stated that Forefront Power requested an extension of the expiration of the Special Use Permit and Site Plan approval to February 3, 2023.
- Extension to February 3, 2023 granted (Clow · Davidson — Ayes: all seven; Nays: none).
Constable Tree Service — Pre-filing Conference
Applicant Michael Constable appeared to propose establishing a tree-service business in a Highway Commercial (HC) district at 939 Route 40, Melrose. He currently operates a tree service and intends to use the site as the base of the business, storing 8 vehicles at night, using the interior of the existing steel building for vehicle repair and storage of two vehicles, with remaining equipment stored outside overnight. Employee parking is planned in front of the building. The septic system is plumbed into the building and has been inspected by RCHD; there is currently no well, though a proposed well location is shown on the survey. Mr. Constable has 6 employees and is considering adding office space in the future. He noted he might process firewood on site, but if not would do so on another lot he owns on Routes 4 and 32; he said he did not intend to store wood chips on the property.
The Board advised Mr. Constable to include all paved areas (including handicapped parking), landscaping, screening and/or buffer plantings, parking and storage areas, and signage on the survey map to be submitted with the application and EAF. He was referred to specific Zoning Code pages for signage (page 30, note 3 in the table) and screening (page 42, Section 15F). The Chairman noted that internally lit signs would not be advisable in the proposed location and that flashing signs are prohibited, and said he would provide a list of the required application forms. With submission of the application, short-form EAF, application fee and survey, a public hearing may be scheduled for the February 2, 2022 meeting.
Adjourned at 8:21 PM (Wiley · Akin — Ayes: all seven; Nays: none). Submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Planning Board Clerk (dated February 4, 2022).
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