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. Some private individuals’ personal details have been left out. The official signed PDF is the complete record of authority.
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Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — June 7, 2023, at the Town Hall, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose.
Public hearing — Les Peters subdivision (Tax Map #50.-1-24.1)
Surveyor Brian Holbritter, with applicant Les Peters present, reviewed the proposed four-lot subdivision of a roughly 12.22-acre parcel on Calhoun Drive (RA district) into lots of 0.94, 1.02, 9.14, and 1.08 acres — one lot with an existing home and three new building lots. A resident questioned an isolated strip of land extending to the northwest of Lot #2; the surveyor said the applicant specifically wanted that section left inaccessible, and the Chairman noted the Zoning Code would not permit further subdivision. A neighbor across the street voiced support. The hearing closed at 7:10 p.m.
Regular meeting (7:10 PM)
Members present: Frank Alessandrini (Chairman), Dan Clow, Elizabeth Hale, Chris Reynolds, and Bob Weir. Absent: Brian Davidson. Kristin Pratt, Deputy Town Attorney, was present. The Board approved the May 3, 2023 minutes (Clow moved, Reynolds seconded; Hale abstained).
Applications
- Les Peters subdivision (Tax Map #50.-1-24.1). With Part 2 of the Full EAF completed in May, the SWPPP reviewed by the Town Storm Water Officer (though not yet signed), and the $270 fee received, the Board approved the four-lot subdivision, contingent on approval of the SWPPP (Reynolds · Hale · all).
- Accessory apartment (Tax Map #42.-1-9.112). A homeowner submitted a revised plan for a detached one-bedroom accessory apartment for a family member at a residence in an RA district. The revised plan connects the apartment by a breezeway to the existing garage (itself connected to the dwelling by another breezeway), which the Board found technically meets the Zoning Law’s intent that detached accessory apartments be in existing detached structures. A neighbor submitted a letter of support. The plan still requires a ZBA area variance for two side-yard setbacks, with a hearing set for the July ZBA meeting.
- Warren Fane site-plan amendment (Tax Map #61.-1-20.111). Surveyor Mark Danskin proposed a site-plan amendment at Warren Fane, Inc. on NYS Route 40 (HC district): an 8′×18′ scale house on a gravel surface with a 70.5-foot travel lane, north of the existing scale house on the 72-acre site. As a minor amendment, no SEQR was required, and the Board granted approval (Clow · Weir · all).
- ASD Schaghticoke Solar II (Tax Map #22.-5-9.2 and #22.-5-12.21). Paul Kruger of Active Solar Development and Jason Dell, P.E., of Lansing Engineering PC proposed a 5.85-megawatt facility with 10,732 fixed panels on a 20.9-acre, town-owned parcel — the closed landfill — in an HC district along Old Schaghticoke Road, west of the National Grid transmission lines. Because the town Solar Law permits commercial solar only in RA districts, the project needs a use variance; the developer had appeared before the ZBA on June 1 seeking use and area variances. The Board determined the application is a Type I action under SEQR; Attorney Pratt will send coordination letters to DEC and NYSERDA so the Board can declare lead agency and act on SEQR as early as its August 2 meeting (the ZBA cannot act until the SEQR determination is made).
- ASD Schaghticoke Solar I (Tax Map #22.-5-9.2 and #21.-2-4.2). The same developer proposed a 5.98-megawatt facility with 10,982 tilted panels on a 29.8-acre, town-owned parcel in an RA district along Stillwater Bridge Road, seeking ZBA area variances for zero side-yard setbacks along the National Grid boundaries, with berms and screening to reduce visual impact for the residences to the north. Each site is expected to produce about 6 million kilowatt-hours a year — enough for roughly 1,000 households — as a community-solar facility. The Chairman advised that the town does not participate in PILOT agreements.
The Board adjourned at 7:56 p.m. (Hale · Clow · all).
Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk.
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