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.
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 — May 1, 2024, at the Town Hall, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose.
Public hearing — Crooks/Keasbey subdivision (7:00 PM)
Applicant Jacob Keasbey presented the survey for a 13-acre one-lot subdivision from an approximately 203.6-acre parcel in an RA district at 156 East Schaghticoke Road, at the corner of Meadowview Drive (Tax Map #32.-3-13.111). Co-applicant Timothy Keasbey was not present; land surveyor Brian Holbritter was. The subdivision separates the dwelling and outbuildings from the residual 190.6 acres. There was no public comment.
Regular meeting (7:03 PM)
Members present: Frank Alessandrini (Chairman), Kasey Casas, Dan Clow, Elizabeth Hale, Vince Ragone, Chris Reynolds, and Bob Weir. David Brennan, Town Attorney, was present. The Board approved the April 3, 2024 minutes (Reynolds · Ragone · all).
Applications
- Crooks/Keasbey subdivision (Tax Map #32.-3-13.111). A negative declaration of SEQR had been issued in April and all setbacks are met. The Board granted preliminary approval (Clow · Weir · all) and final approval (Reynolds · Ragone · all).
- ASD Solar II (former landfill, Tax Map #21.-2-5) and ASD Solar III (highway garage, Tax Map #21.-2-4.2). Jason Dell, P.E., of Lansing Engineering LLC, and Paul Kruger, Director of Development for Active Solar Development (ASD), presented proposed amendments to the two solar facilities on Old Schaghticoke Road (NYS Route 67), approved in November 2023. The point of interconnect is being moved to a single common connection near the high-tension lines to fit National Grid’s infrastructure, since the existing lines cannot support the 3.75-megawatt landfill facility or the 1.5-megawatt highway-garage facility; panels are being relocated, requiring tree removal and replacement with an evergreen mix, set 50 feet from the road and screened by a berm. Arborist Sean Garrity recommended a Norway spruce, balsam, and white pine mix in two rows. The Chairman requested a list of the amendments before the June meeting.
- Weir subdivision — pre-filing conference. Surveyor Brian Holbritter presented a proposed 0.58-acre one-lot subdivision from a 10-acre parcel in an RA district on Old Schaghticoke Road; the residual 357.5 acres is under an Agricultural Stewardship Association easement and cannot be developed. The Chairman concluded the proposal meets the Zoning Law’s setback, density, and lot-size requirements without affecting the easement.
- Phillips subdivision — pre-filing conference. Surveyor Brian Holbritter presented a 23.68-acre parcel in an RA district at the end of Brielle Road off Ryan Road (Tax Map #71.-1-5.21), owned by Anita and John Phillips, who seek a 1.33-acre one-lot subdivision so their son can build a house. The Chairman said he would research whether an area variance is required for the proposed frontage.
Administrative items
- Briggs timber harvest. The Chairman received an inquiry from Paul Briggs, owner of about 167 vacant acres on Neeson Lane off Sliter Road, who wants to clear-cut roughly 40 acres to create an agricultural field and selectively cut the remainder.
- ABEI Energy (Tax Map #41.-1-53.11). A representative submitted a letter on behalf of ABEI Energy, which is seeking a location in town for a renewable-energy storage facility. Town Attorney Dave Brennan will research whether the Zoning Code applies.
- Duplex inquiry, Melrose Hamlet District. An individual asked about converting a one-family residence on Melrose Valley Falls Road into a duplex; the Chairman noted that conversion to a two-family dwelling is an allowable use in a Hamlet District.
- Cukrovany subdivision. An incomplete application was submitted for a proposed subdivision of a family parcel that lies within both Rensselaer and Washington Counties.
- The Chairman noted free New York Planning Federation virtual programs available to board members.
The Board adjourned at 7:55 p.m. (Reynolds · Ragone · all).
Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk.
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