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The Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Schaghticoke met at the Town Hall, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose, on Thursday, June 1, 2023. Chairman Ed McDonough opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with a roll call.
Present: Chairman Ed McDonough, Rich Geddis, Kristin Griswold, Lettie Saheim, and Jason Shover. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt was absent.
The Board accepted the May 4, 2023 minutes (Saheim · Shover · all).
Accessory-apartment area variance
A homeowner appeared regarding an accessory apartment proposed on a rural parcel in an RA district. After the Planning Board took the position that accessory apartments are intended to be within existing structures rather than detached, the revised plan connects the apartment by a breezeway behind the existing garage, requiring side-yard variances of about 10.71 feet. The application, fee, and short-form EAF were submitted, along with a letter of support from the most-affected neighbor. The Board scheduled a public hearing for July 6, 2023 at 7:05 p.m. (McDonough · Griswold · all).
ASD Schaghticoke Solar I — Stillwater Bridge Road
Paul Kruger, Director of Development for Active Solar Development, and engineer Jason Dell, P.E. (Lansing Engineering) presented a proposed 5.98-megawatt solar facility of 10,982 fixed panels on a 29.8-acre town-owned parcel in an RA district along Stillwater Bridge Road, near the Rensselaer County Fairgrounds and the Rod and Gun Club. Active Solar (whose president is Frank McCleneghan) has been in business 15 years and would oversee the project through construction; community subscriptions would be offered through National Grid, with a possible 10% savings for subscribers. A 25-year lease with three 5-year extension options is proposed. The applicant sought a 30-foot side-yard and 40-foot rear-yard variance along the town/National Grid property line, and submitted the narrative, long-form EAF, map, and fee. The Board moved to schedule a public hearing at the July meeting.
ASD Schaghticoke Solar II — former landfill
The same team presented a proposed 5.85-megawatt facility of 10,732 panels on a 20.9-acre town-owned parcel — the former landfill — in a Highway Commercial district along Old Schaghticoke Road, west of the National Grid transmission lines and substation. Because solar facilities are not permitted in the HC district, the applicant is seeking a use variance plus 40-foot rear and 30-foot side setback variances. McDonough noted that he, Chairman Alessandrini, Supervisor Salisbury, and two town attorneys had considered rezoning the parcel but concluded that doing so would amount to “spot zoning” and should be avoided. Construction of both projects could begin in the second quarter of 2024, running simultaneously over about six months. The Board scheduled a public hearing (McDonough · Geddis · all).
The Board adjourned at 7:55 p.m. (McDonough · Saheim · all).
Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk.
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