Planning Board

Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — regular meeting, July 1, 2026.

Chairman Frank Alessandrini opened by explaining that the purpose of a public hearing is to let residents raise questions and concerns about a proposed project — here, the Dollar General application — so the Board can further evaluate it.

Recusals. Frank Alessandrini and Vince Ragone recused themselves, each intending to bid on the Dollar General project. Tom Martin served as Alternate Chairman for the hearing.

Public hearing — Dollar General Special Use Permit (Tax Map #32.-3-29)

On the parcel number. The town’s minutes head this application 32.-3-29, but that number is no longer on the assessment roll. The 8.05-acre parcel at 1506 NYS Route 40 — the one being subdivided — is 32.-3-47 on the current roll, which is also the number used in the official ProLine Power hearing notice for the same subdivision. We keep the town’s heading as written and note the current number for anyone looking the property up.

Clerk Elizabeth Hale read the Notice of Hearing. Andrew Masullo, Senior Engineer with Lansing Engineering, presented the proposal: a 10,600-square-foot Dollar General store on a 1.95± acre lot carved from an 8.17± acre parcel, which would be split into a three-lot subdivision — Lot #1 (the corner of East Schaghticoke Road and NYS Route 40), 2.41± acres; Lot #2, 1.95± acres, the development site; and Lot #3, 3.81± acres. Lots #1 and #3 would remain owned by Brian Rohloff.

A rendering showed the building façade with windows and awnings, access off East Schaghticoke Road, and two site entrances. A traffic analysis has been completed and approved by the Town Designated Engineer (TDE), and other approvals granted; an entrance architectural detail (a gable) is still being considered. Private well and septic are planned.

Public comment

• A Meadowview Drive resident asked where the entrance would be and raised concern about screening — there are no trees to buffer his home from horn noise and light from the commercial project — and asked about hours of operation. He said he favors another store in town as competition for Stewart’s, and asked whether Dollar General would receive any tax incentive, exemption, or abatement, and how much water the store would use. Attorney Brennan said he would research the tax question; Mr. Masullo estimated water use at about 50 gallons per day, half that of an average family home.
• Jake Keasbey, a land surveyor who owns property on both sides of East Schaghticoke Road — roughly 75% of the road frontage — said the town-maintained road has needed repaving twice in ten years because it isn’t built for tractor-trailer traffic, and that each repaving raises the road height and pushes more water runoff onto his property. He does not want tractor-trailers using East Schaghticoke Road as a shortcut to NYS Route 67, and suggested closing the road beyond the project driveway and re-routing traffic, with signage, to Meadowview Drive. He also raised a reported (possibly rumored) contaminated well behind the project — which he said supplies the nearby Outback 40 restaurant, requiring added filtration — and urged that hydrological studies be considered.
• A resident of Old Schaghticoke Road called sufficient water a very serious issue given the lack of municipal water, and said she would like to see municipal water available. She also flagged traffic and lighting (car lights are an issue at her location), and noted that 96 Dollar General stores have closed in recent years.

Mr. Masullo noted the TDE requires screening, and that a row of evergreens is planned along the roadway and on the lot. Attorney Brennan noted plans to reconfigure ProLine Power, moving it closer to the southerly property line, and said a discussion of lighting is expected at the August meeting; a residence at the northwest corner of Routes 67 and 40 appears likely to be the most affected.

Mr. Brennan announced that written comment would be accepted for 14 days after the hearing, and that the proposal would return on the August 5 agenda.

Chris Reynolds moved to suspend the hearing at 7:33 p.m.; Dan Clow seconded. (Ayes: Martin, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Reynolds. Nays: None.)

Regular meeting

Members present: Frank Alessandrini, Elizabeth Hale, Dan Clow, Peter Klotz, Tom Martin, Vince Ragone, and Chris Reynolds. Dave Brennan, Town Attorney, was present.

Dollar General — continued discussion

Mr. Masullo said one delivery per week is expected, at 7 a.m. On large-vehicle traffic, Attorney Brennan noted the town has no police control and that enforcement runs through code enforcement and the town court. On screening, Elizabeth Hale suggested planting both evergreen and deciduous trees along the roadway for a more natural look. The plans call for a flat roof over most of the building; Ms. Hale recommended reviewing Zoning Code Section V.E.2.b.4. On lighting — which the Zoning Code regulates — Mr. Masullo said an 18-foot maximum street-light height was proposed to accommodate trailers.

Peter Klotz asked whether Lansing Engineering’s June 22, 2026 correspondence is part of the official record, since it wasn’t in the meeting materials; it states that “additional screening is not required,” which Mr. Klotz said is inaccurate, and he asked that the minutes reflect it to avoid the appearance of violating Town Law §271. He requested — for the fourth consecutive time — that the design include adequate screening for the surrounding residential areas, and noted that the proposed pole-lighting height exceeds the permitted height, that the flat roof conflicts with the Zoning Code, and that the Board had not agreed further screening was unnecessary (as a Lansing letter dated June 29, 2026 indicated). The Board has not voted on any of the project’s conflicts with Section V.

(Lighting like this is exactly what a proposed state law would address — see our explainer on the Dark Skies Protection Act.)

Ms. Hale gave Mr. Martin and Mr. Masullo a photo of a grey clapboard Dollar General with a pitched roof and an attractive entrance — an example from Rhode Island she felt would suit the rural character of Schaghticoke.

Prior minutes

The minutes of the June 3, 2026 meeting were reviewed. Vince Ragone moved to approve them as submitted; Tom Martin seconded. (Ayes: Alessandrini, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Martin, Ragone, Reynolds. Nays: None.)

Dog grooming & daycare — pre-filing conference

Land surveyor Jacob Keasbey appeared on a proposed dog grooming and doggie daycare in the Scriven building — an operating print shop at 100 Eastover Road, at the corner of Eastover Road and NYS Route 40 in the Hamlet District. Applicant Megan Foxvog gave the Board a “heads-up” on her plan to apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a use variance and an interpretation of the term “kennel,” and said she had approached the neighbors and felt it went well.

Chairman Alessandrini said he would like to see the building sold, but noted the bar for a use variance is very high — it requires proof the building cannot be used for any purpose other than the one proposed. The Board agreed that dog grooming/daycare is not a veterinary service. Because the ZBA (meeting July 2) must first classify the use and decide whether a variance is required, the Planning Board cannot move forward until the ZBA acts.

(The ZBA took this up the next night — see the July 2 Zoning Board minutes.)

Code enforcement

Attorney Brennan reported that the marina in Pleasantdale-on-Hudson has one boat remaining, and that the Town Judge ruled, as a settlement, that all boats are to be removed.

Adjournment

Elizabeth Hale moved to adjourn at 8:17 p.m.; Tom Martin seconded. (Ayes: Alessandrini, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Martin, Ragone, Reynolds. Nays: None.)

Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk.