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.
Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — May 7, 2025.
Public hearing — Blossom Beauty Spa Special Use Permit (Tax Map #20.13-1-3.2), 7:01 PM
Laura Brennan proposed a beauty spa in a Hamlet District at 5 Holland Avenue, Hemstreet Park. The property owner — who at the April meeting identified himself only as “Bob” and chose not to share his surname — was present. There was no public comment; the hearing closed at 7:02 p.m.
Regular meeting — 7:03 PM
Members present: Frank Alessandrini, Kasey Casas, Dan Clow, Elizabeth Hale, Peter Klotz, and Chris Reynolds. Absent: Vince Ragone. Dave Brennan, Town Attorney, was present.
Approval of prior minutes
The April 2, 2025 minutes were approved. Motion: Reynolds · Second: Casas · Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Reynolds · Nays: None.
Blossom Beauty Spa — Special Use Permit (Tax Map #20.13-1-3.2)
Laura Brennan proposed operating a beauty spa at 5 Holland Avenue, Hemstreet Park. The Chairman noted the use is essentially the same as the prior business. Ms. Brennan clarified that, although the Notice of Hearing listed 7 Holland Avenue, the property is at 5 Holland, and that one unlighted 4′ × 4′ black-and- white sign would go on the fence at the front. There was discussion of the EAF Mapper Summary Report’s question 20 (Remediation Site), which flagged the site for hazardous-waste remediation; Attorney Brennan explained the property lies within 500 feet of a Superfund site — the Hudson River — and the Board expressed no further concern. Notification from the Rensselaer County Bureau of Economic Development and Planning left the decision to local consideration, and the application, cash fee, short-form EAF, and owner authorization were received.
Kasey Casas moved to issue a negative declaration under SEQR (seconded by Klotz), and Chris Reynolds moved to grant approval of the Special Use Permit, site plan, and signage for Blossom Beauty Spa (seconded by Clow). Both — Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Reynolds · Nays: None.
Outpost 40 restaurant — site-plan review
Nils Cederstrom, business manager, and Joe Cardinale, owner of the property at 1544 NYS Route 40, appeared. Outpost 40 is the former Prospector’s restaurant, in a Highway Commercial district at the corner of NYS Route 40 and East Schaghticoke Road; a Special Use Permit was granted in 2015 and amended in 2017 for Prospector’s. Mr. Cederstrom plans to run Outpost 40 with 20 interior tables, 10 outdoor tables, and two bars (one indoors, one outdoors). Chairman Alessandrini advised that the conditions in the April 13, 2017 Special Use Permit decision still apply, provided copies of the 2015 and 2017 decisions, and noted this is a change in ownership only, not in use.
With less parking available than before (the property at the southerly corner of East Schaghticoke and Route 40 is no longer usable), the Board weighed diners and staff against the 47 existing spaces (including 5 handicapped). It approved reducing handicapped spaces to 3 — gaining 3 common spaces for 48 total — and, figuring 85% of anticipated diners at peak, found the parking sufficient. Any overflow parking will be allowed only on East Schaghticoke Road, observing the November–April alternate-side rule in inclement weather. Signage will be two displays, smaller than the former signs and in the same spots (one on the building, one free-standing facing Route 40).
Dan Clow moved to grant approval of the amended site plan to let the restaurant operate with 48 public parking spaces including 3 handicapped spaces; Kasey Casas seconded. Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Reynolds · Nays: None.
There were no code-enforcement updates from Code Enforcement Officer Scott Frisino.
Other business
- Home driving school. A resident inquired about operating a driving school out of her Pleasantdale home; no Board action was necessary.
- Burniche mother-in-law apartment. Chairman Alessandrini met with Joe Burniche before the meeting about constructing a mother-in-law apartment above a detached garage, and determined that an area variance would be required; Mr. Burniche was directed to seek an appeal from the ZBA. (This became the accessory-apartment Special Use Permit the Board approved on September 3.)
- Cannabis production inquiry. The Chairman received an inquiry about cannabis production in the Town; such production is considered light “manufacturing” and is allowed only in Highway Commercial districts. Attorney Brennan noted that, depending on the process, it may create strong odors.
- Battery storage inquiry. Attorney Brennan received an inquiry from a Syracuse attorney about establishing a battery-storage facility in the Town.
Adjournment
Chris Reynolds moved to adjourn at 7:50 p.m.; Kasey Casas seconded.
Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk, Planning Board.
Spot an error or omission? Tell us and we'll fix it.