Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — Wednesday, February 1, 2023

A note on the link above: the town’s PDF of these minutes is no longer available on the town’s website, so the “Official PDF” link is an unaltered copy we host. It is a scan, so the text in it is not searchable — our summary above is. For a certified copy, ask the Town Clerk.

Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — February 1, 2023, at the Town Hall, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose.

Public hearings

Sheldon subdivision (Tax Map #11.-1-15.11), 7:00 PM. Surveyor Brian Holbritter, for Doug Sheldon and his brother, presented a proposed split of a 7.84-acre parcel at 494 Verbeck Avenue (RA district) into a 3.01-acre lot with a mobile home and a 4.83-acre lot with a two-story dwelling and barns. No public comment; closed 7:02 p.m.
Mason’s Place dog grooming — Special Use Permit & site-plan review (Tax Map #13.-1-5), at 8 Meadowview Drive (corner of NYS Route 40). Applicant Casey Ann Jennings appeared with Destiny Peters to establish a dog-grooming business in the former medical building. A resident spoke in support. Closed 7:05 p.m.
Accessory apartment on NYS Route 40 (Tax Map #31.-1-14). A homeowner proposed a basement accessory apartment at a residence in an RA district for family members. Closed 7:08 p.m.

Regular meeting

Members present: Frank Alessandrini (Chairman), Wayne Akin, Dan Clow, Brian Davidson, Elizabeth Hale, Bob Weir, and Scott Wiley, with Kristin Pratt, Deputy Town Attorney. The Board approved the January 4, 2023 minutes (Wiley moved, Akin seconded; Hale abstained).

Applications

Sheldon subdivision (Tax Map #11.-1-15.11). One brother will keep the mobile home on the 3.01-acre lot; the family intends to sell the 4.83-acre lot with the home and barns. Both residences have pre-existing septic (no RCHD approval needed); the $180 fee was to follow. The Board issued a SEQRA negative declaration (Clow · Wiley · all), then granted preliminary approval (Davidson · Wiley · all) and final approval (Akin · Wiley · all).
Mason’s Place dog grooming (Tax Map #13.-1-5), 8 Meadowview Drive. Since the Zoning Code does not list dog grooming as a use, the Board classified it as a “veterinary clinic” allowed by special use permit; the ZBA had granted front- and side-yard variances in January. Parking (three spaces needed of eight shared) and a 12″×6″ externally lit sign were discussed. The Board issued a SEQRA negative declaration (Clow · Wiley · all) and granted the special use permit (Davidson · Weir · all) and site-plan approval with conditions on parking and signage (Wiley · Akin · all).
Accessory apartment on NYS Route 40 (Tax Map #31.-1-14). The Board discussed the proposed basement accessory apartment; the Building Inspector confirmed the walk-out basement resolves egress, and the Building Department and RCHD would oversee the septic. With the county’s 239-m review still pending, no decision was made.
Valley Paving site-plan amendment (Tax Map #21.-1-4.2). Applicant Albert Lewis proposed a 70′×120′ pole barn at 440 Stillwater Bridge Road (HC district) to store trucks and equipment. The Board issued a SEQRA negative declaration (Davidson · Clow · all) and granted site-plan approval (Akin · Wiley · all).
Northline solar farm (Tax Map #41.-1-27.21). Josh Verlicky, landscaper, sought alternative landscaping for the previously approved project — now purchased from Borrego by the new developer, AES — reporting a nationwide shortage of the approved 15–20-foot Black Hill spruce. Reviewing the approved plan (294 Eastern red cedar, 150 Norway spruce, and 145 Black Hill spruce), the Chairman emphasized that no species substitution may be made without a new application, since the approved screening resulted from substantial public comment to mitigate visual impacts.

The Board adjourned at 7:52 p.m. (Akin · Davidson · all).

Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk.