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 6, 2026.
Public hearing — Fane two-lot subdivision (Tax Map #61.-1-33)
Mark Danskin, land surveyor, appeared for the applicant, Gregory Fane, on a proposal to subdivide a 5.81± acre parcel at 5 Warren Lane (off NYS Route 40) into a 3.14± acre lot and a 2.67± acre lot, to support a proposed residence with access from Warren Lane. Public water is available. There was no public comment, and the hearing was closed at 7:02 p.m.
Regular meeting — 7:02 PM
Members present: Frank Alessandrini (Chairman), Kasey Casas, Elizabeth Hale, Dan Clow, Vince Ragone, Chris Reynolds, and Peter Klotz. Dave Brennan, Town Attorney, was present.
Approval of prior minutes
The minutes of the April 1, 2026 meeting were accepted as submitted. Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Reynolds · Nays: None · Abstention: Ragone.
Fane two-lot subdivision — preliminary approval (Tax Map #61.-1-33)
Reviewing the same proposal, the Board noted the 3.14± acre lot has an existing house and the 2.67± acre lot is vacant, with a residence planned there. Access would come from Warren Lane, a town-maintained road, since ingress and egress from NYS Route 40 would be impractical. Public water and sewer are available, the ZBA had granted three area variances, and a negative declaration under SEQR had been issued after the Board reviewed the EAF in April. The $180 application fee was received.
Vince Ragone made a motion to grant preliminary approval; Chris Reynolds seconded. Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Ragone, Reynolds · Nays: None. Mr. Danskin will deliver Rensselaer County Health Department approval to the Chairman, after which the Board can move to final approval.
Dollar General / ProLine — subdivision compliance (Tax Map #32.-3-47)
Chairman Alessandrini reported that existing zoning-code compliance issues on the subject parcel (NYS Route 40) must be resolved before the Board can act on the proposed subdivision of the 8.17± acre parcel into three lots or on the proposed retail store. He reviewed the requirements with applicant Deanna Rohloff, who agreed to file a Special Use Permit and Site Plan Review application for the existing ProLine Power business on the property. There is also a plan to relocate ProLine Power closer to the southerly property line.
Attorney Brennan noted that two SEQR reviews will be needed — one for each business location (ProLine Power and Dollar General) — and said he would research whether proposed Lots #1 and #3, adjacent to Lot #2 at the corner of NYS Route 40 and East Schaghticoke Road, require individual SEQR reviews.
Dollar General — Special Use Permit (Tax Map #32.-3-29)
Frank Alessandrini and Vince Ragone recused themselves from this item, each intending to bid on the project; Kasey Casas assumed the position of Alternate Chairman.
Andrew Masullo, Sr. Engineer with Lansing Engineering, updated the Board on the proposed 10,600-square-foot Dollar General store on a 1.95± acre lot, part of the three-lot subdivision: Lot #1 at the corner of East Schaghticoke Road and NYS Route 40 (2.41± acres), Lot #2 (1.95± acres, the store site), and Lot #3 (3.81± acres). New renderings showed a change to the screening on the easterly side, with evergreens and down-lit lighting positioned among the greenery to light the parking lot; no roadside lighting is planned, to avoid disturbing the neighborhood.
The Board discussed parking along the East Schaghticoke Road side — it had permitted patrons of Outpost 40 (the restaurant at the northerly corner of Route 40 and East Schaghticoke Road) to park along the road when needed, which narrows the road and could create traffic issues.
Dan Clow made a motion to hold a public hearing on the Dollar General proposal at the June meeting; Chris Reynolds seconded. Ayes: Casas, Clow, Reynolds · Nays: Hale, Klotz. Because scheduling a public hearing requires a unanimous vote, the motion did not pass, and no June hearing will be held.
Attorney Brennan noted that another Dollar General is being built on Oakwood Avenue with architectural detail lacking in the renderings presented here, and the Board discussed ways to improve the façade to better reflect the character of the Town. The Board agreed it would be advantageous to post the Dollar General plans on the town website for public viewing and transparency.
Melrose Firehouse — site plan review (784 Route 40)
Frank Alessandrini and Vince Ragone again recused themselves, each intending to bid on the project. Courtney Davis, civil engineer with LaBella Engineering, appeared with Michael Ouimet, Secretary/Treasurer of the Melrose Fire District, to present an updated site plan for a firehouse to replace the existing one in a Hamlet District at 784 NYS Route 40 in Melrose. The footprint is unchanged, with an apron in front and parking to the east and west; revisions include a culvert replacement, relocation of the training pad, re-delineation of wetlands, and a new septic site, and the SWPPP was revised to meet the 2025 SPDES requirements. The Rensselaer County Health Department construction permit had expired and cannot be extended.
A Special Use Permit is not required because the firehouse use is municipal. Attorney Brennan will submit the 239-m review and related information to Rensselaer County Planning, and the Board will consider site-plan approval at the June meeting.
Code enforcement
Attorney Brennan informed the Board of a code-enforcement matter in a Hamlet District involving an inhabited travel trailer on a property, which is headed to court for non-compliance.
Adjournment
Chris Reynolds made a motion to adjourn at 8:15 p.m.; Vince Ragone seconded. Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Reynolds · Nays: None.
Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk, Planning Board.
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