Planning Board

Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — August 3, 2022.

Public hearings

Remodel Now — Special Use Permit and Site Plan Review (Tax Map #51.2-1-18.1 and 51.2-1-19)

Brian Holbritter, land surveyor, appeared for the applicant, Carl Godfrey, who has applied to operate a general contracting / woodworking facility in an RA (Residential Agricultural) district at 850 NYS Route 40. Mr. Godfrey plans to install a septic system for restrooms and to provide employee parking, including a handicapped space. Arborvitae plantings are proposed along the side of the building and along NYS Route 40; storage containers previously visible on the site have been relocated to the rear; and no signage is planned.

There were public comments:

• A neighbor who lives across the street raised a number of concerns: peeling paint blowing onto her property; fumes from painting operations; noise from the woodworking equipment; the machinery causing brown-outs at her residence; smoke from trees removed and burned on site reaching her home; four spotlights left on all night; traffic concerns (trailers pulling in without using directional signals, and accidents at the corner of Pinewoods and NYS Route 40); and flooding impacts possibly resulting from the applicant’s coverage of a drainage pipe. Chairman Alessandrini replied that public water is available at the site and the septic will be a self-contained system.
• An adjacent-parcel neighbor — a firefighter who works non-traditional hours and needs to sleep during the day — said the business’s noise, ongoing for about two years, is disruptive to the surrounding residential area, and raised concern about potential depreciation of his home’s value.

The public hearing was closed at 7:15 p.m.

Simmons — two-lot subdivision (Tax Map #21-1-29.12)

Brian Holbritter, land surveyor, appeared. The proposal subdivides a 12.39-acre parcel into two lots — a 1.41± acre lot with an existing house and a 10.98± acre lot — in an RA district at 350 Stillwater Bridge Road. Ms. Simmons intends to sell the 10.98± acre parcel. There was no public comment; the hearing was closed at 7:18 p.m.

Clemente — two-lot subdivision (Tax Map #30-3-14.12)

Brian Holbritter, land surveyor, appeared to propose subdividing a 9.42± acre parcel into two lots of 4.63± and 4.79± acres in an RA district at 598 Hansen Road. The property owners are Mary and Philip Clemente. There was no public comment; the hearing was closed at 7:20 p.m.

Regular meeting

Members present: Frank Alessandrini, Wayne Akin, Dan Clow, Brian Davidson, and Elizabeth Hale. Robert Weir and Scott Wiley were absent. Kristin Pratt, Deputy Town Attorney, was present. A quorum was not present to review the July minutes; the minutes of July 6, 2022 will be reviewed at the September meeting.

Rohloff subdivision (Tax Map #32.-3-29)

Brian Holbritter provided an update on the proposed 4-lot subdivision on 8.15± acres out of a 19± acre parcel in an RA district, owned by Brian Rohloff, with access planned from East Schaghticoke Road. Information on the wells and septic locations has not yet been received from the engineer; once it is, work will begin on completing and submitting the SWPPP (Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan).

Remodel Now — continued (Tax Map #51.2-1-18.1 and 51.2-1-19)

Brian Holbritter stated that Mr. Godfrey intends to lay the concrete pads simultaneously for three pole barns, which would be closed in on four sides and built one at a time. Mr. Godfrey would like the buildings to be fireproof but has not decided on siding material. The Rensselaer County Office of Economic Development and Planning referred the application for “local consideration.” Mr. Holbritter will confer with the applicant on the building plans for the three storage barns and to obtain additional information in response to the public comments. A $100 check was received.

M&T Bank — site plan review (Tax Map #22.-3-16.1)

At the July meeting, James Palumbo, Landscape Architect with the Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt firm, appeared for the applicant, M&T Bank, at 1523 NYS Route 67. The proposal is for site improvements: removing and replacing asphalt; redesigning the handicapped ramp, sidewalk, and parking lot for ADA compliance; raising the grade of the lot; removing the current light pole and planter; and upgrading the landscaping. The Rensselaer County Office of Economic Development and Planning referred the amendment for “local consideration.”

Dan Clow made a motion to grant final approval for the M&T Bank improvements; Wayne Akin seconded. Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale · Nays: None.

Simmons — two-lot subdivision (Tax Map #21-1-29.12)

A $180 check was received; the Board had no further discussion.

• Negative declaration under SEQRA — motion by Wayne Akin, seconded by Brian Davidson. Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale · Nays: None.
• Preliminary approval — motion by Dan Clow, seconded by Brian Davidson. Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale · Nays: None.
• Final approval of the two-lot subdivision — motion by Wayne Akin, seconded by Elizabeth Hale. Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale · Nays: None.

Clemente — two-lot subdivision (Tax Map #30-3-14.12)

The Board determined that the application meets all requirements, including the adequately sized 4.8± acre parcel (which has not yet received Rensselaer County Health Department approval) and the 4.63± acre lot with an existing septic system.

• Negative declaration under SEQRA — motion by Wayne Akin, seconded by Brian Davidson. Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale · Nays: None.
• Preliminary subdivision approval — motion by Dan Clow, seconded by Brian Davidson. Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale · Nays: None.
• Final subdivision approval — motion by Dan Clow, seconded by Wayne Akin. Ayes: Alessandrini, Akin, Clow, Davidson, Hale · Nays: None.

St. Croix Farm Solar Farm — pre-filing conference (Tax Map #13-1-5)

Tory Hanna (Vice President of Business Development and Organization, Davis Hill Department), Nick Schupp (Assistant Project Manager, RENUA Energy), and John Spinella (civil engineer, Spinella Engineering) appeared; the property owner, John Moore, was present. Mr. Hanna presented mapping, a letter of intent, the full EAF, and a presentation of the proposal for a 34.6-acre solar farm on a 257.4-acre parcel in an RA district at the corner of Master Street and Ridge Road. The farm at 14 Ridge Road is part of the Agricultural Stewardship Association (a farmland-protection program), and the project is planned as a dual-use solar-and-agriculture operation to meet the ASA’s requirement — sheep will graze within the 7′-high, wildlife-friendly fenced area.

The proposal is for a 5-megawatt AC solar system using single-tracker panels mounted on a taller racking system so the landowner can drive underneath for farming; the panels sit 50′ apart and have weather trackers that lay them flat in ice or snow. As the panels track the sun, they reach 18′ in height for part of the day; because the Zoning Code allows a 12′ height, the applicant will need a 6′ area variance. A sub-transmission line would connect substation to substation and then to National Grid once National Grid upgrades its system (possibly up to two years out). Access would be a gravel drive with an emergency lock box. Mr. Hanna described favorable topography and said the array would be out of sight except from one house across the street, asserting no visual impact. The stormwater plan is being addressed.

Mr. Hanna noted tax benefits — credits that could apply to the school system and county, with a possible 10% community discount for those buying credits through a National Grid agreement — and it was noted that the Town does not participate in PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) agreements. Chairman Alessandrini reminded the applicant to focus on mitigating the project’s visual impacts. Because the ZBA cannot decide an area-variance application until the Planning Board is granted lead-agency status and issues a SEQRA determination, Mr. Hanna said he intends to meet with the ZBA at its next meeting beforehand; Chairman Alessandrini will confer with ZBA Chairman Ed McDonough to coordinate the review.

Town Board referral — sign law amendment

A request from Town Attorney David Brennan sought a Planning Board report on the Town Board’s proposed amendment to the Zoning Law to allow electronic messaging signs in the Hamlet, Highway Commercial, Marine, and Planned Development districts (currently prohibited town-wide). The Board discussed the topic in detail and did not reach consensus — three members opposed and two in favor. Those opposed cited potential driver distraction and adverse visual impacts; those in favor wanted to give business owners flexibility in crafting signage. Chairman Alessandrini researched sign-law provisions from 121 surrounding municipalities in NY, MA, and VT and circulated his findings in a spreadsheet, noting that only a very small percentage of municipalities allow electronic messaging signs. The Board agreed that the Chairman would draft a letter report for the Board to review at the September meeting, and would inform Town Supervisor Tim Salisbury that an opinion is forthcoming.

Other business

A $25 application fee was received from Les Peters.

Adjournment

Brian Davidson made a motion to adjourn at 8:50 p.m.; Elizabeth Hale seconded. Ayes: All present · Nays: None.

Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk, Planning Board.