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Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — December 6, 2023, at the Town Hall, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose.
Public hearings
None.
Regular meeting (7:00 PM)
Members present: Frank Alessandrini (Chairman), Dan Clow, Elizabeth Hale, Vince Ragone, Chris Reynolds, and Bob Weir. Absent: Brian Davidson. Kristin Pratt, Deputy Town Attorney, was present. The Board approved the November 1, 2023 minutes (Clow · Weir · all).
Applications
- Boyko / Northline Drive solar farm (Tax Map #41.-1-34). Tyler Garrity of Creighton Manning Engineering presented the 5-megawatt facility on the 71-acre parcel at 154 Northline Drive, with Mark Nelson of SolSource Power and applicant Michael Boyko present. As requested, ten visual simulations from Northline Drive and Madigan Road were provided; the town’s reviewing engineer, Jason Dell of Lansing Engineering, was satisfied the concerns had been addressed. The Board agreed the existing topography and vegetation provide appropriate screening (fence setbacks range from 590 feet on Northline Drive to 2,080 feet on Madigan Road), and that the Melrose Fire Chief would be consulted on gate access. With the SWPPP accepted, the SEQR negative declaration issued in November, and the application fees received, the Board granted the special use permit and site-plan review, contingent on the standard conditions (Reynolds · Ragone · all).
- St. Croix solar facility (Tax Map #13.-1-5). No one appeared, but the Chairman relayed a request from Tory Hanna of Davis Hill Development to extend the time to begin the 34.6-acre St. Croix solar facility (approved January 4, 2023) at the corner of Master Street and Ridge Road, since National Grid had not completed the planned substation on schedule. The Board granted the extension within the limits of the Zoning Law (Clow · Ragone · all).
- Root lot-line adjustment (Tax Map #20.18-1-14 and #20.18-1-15). Surveyor Brian Holbritter, for applicant William Root, presented the adjustment of two back-to-back lots on South Pearl and South Linden Streets in the Hamlet District in Hemstreet Park, so that a home (a 30′×40′ dwelling with a 22′×25′ garage) can be built on the South Pearl Street lot. The ZBA granted the two required area variances on November 2; both resulting lots exceed 11,000 square feet and are consistent with the neighborhood. The Board approved the lot-line adjustment (Ragone · Weir · all).
Administrative items — zoning enforcement
Chairman Alessandrini opened a discussion of non-compliance by businesses that received Planning Board approvals with conditions — citing Constable Tree, Re-Model Now, and Clemente Small Engines as businesses disregarding their site-plan and special-use-permit conditions — as well as businesses operating without the required permits, including a landscaping business on Hansen Road, a property with lighting and a structure at the corner of East Schaghticoke Road and NYS Route 40, and a casket-artist business on Route 40. With Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt, the Board discussed noting deficiencies in correspondence and the Zoning Law’s process for revoking a special use permit (a 60-day cure period and a public hearing). Chairman Alessandrini plans to raise these concerns at the next Town Board meeting, and ZBA Chairman Ed McDonough plans to attend as well.
The Board adjourned at 7:50 p.m. (Clow · Reynolds · all).
Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk.
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