Planning Board

The Planning Board of the Town of Schaghticoke met on September 2, 2026 at the Town Hall, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose. Public hearings began at 7:01 p.m. and the regular meeting at 7:16 p.m.

Present: Frank Alessandrini (Chairman), Dan Clow, Elizabeth Hale, Peter Klotz, Thomas Martin, Vince Ragone and Chris Reynolds. Town Attorney David Brennan was present.

Public hearings

Pink Room Grooms, 100 Eastover Road (Tax Map #71.1-1-1). Applicant Megan Foxvog, with the proposed owner and another associate, and land surveyor Jake Keasbey presented the dog grooming and doggie daycare proposed for the Scriven Press building at the corner of Route 40, in the Hamlet district. The Zoning Board of Appeals had held a hearing and a continued hearing on July 20 and concluded the use is a personal service shop, permitted in a Hamlet district. A number of people signed in to speak, but there was no public comment. The hearing closed at 7:11 p.m.

Monast subdivision, 2892 River Road (Tax Map #30.-3-11.11). Gerald Monast proposed splitting about 2 acres on the Hudson River side of River Road from the family’s roughly 9-acre holding, to build a smaller house and downsize. No public comment. Closed at 7:13 p.m.

Madigan subdivision (Tax Map #42.-1-12). Thomas Madigan proposed a 4.29-acre building lot from a 70-acre parcel, where he plans to build a house. No public comment. Closed at 7:15 p.m.

Minutes of August

Peter Klotz said the August minutes misstated the parapet and roof slopes under the Dollar General heading and agreed to check the measurements for a correction if warranted. The minutes were approved. Motion: Reynolds · Second: Klotz · Ayes: Clow, Hale, Klotz, Martin, Ragone, Reynolds · Nays: None · Abstention: Alessandrini.

Monast subdivision: held for an easement

Mr. Monast asked that the surveyor send a digital map to engineer Steve Dean, P.E., for the septic design. A right-of-way runs through the property for the benefit of a neighboring landowner; Mr. Monast reported the neighbor told him it was originally used to pump water and is no longer needed. The board reviewed the survey and will act once the easement is settled, which is being referred to an attorney. Mr. Monast was advised the house may need to move away from the easement.

Madigan subdivision: negative SEQR declaration

Mr. Madigan plans to use the existing driveway for the new lot and is working with Mr. Dean on the septic design. He was told Rensselaer County Health Department approval is required before the board can grant subdivision approval, and an Agricultural Data Statement was requested. The board reviewed the short form EAF and found no issues. Negative declaration under SEQR. Motion: Ragone · Second: Clow · Ayes: Alessandrini, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Martin, Ragone, Reynolds · Nays: None. The $180 application fee was paid.

Pink Room Grooms: special use permit and site plan approved

The ZBA’s written Notice of Determination, drafted by Attorney Brennan, had been distributed to the Planning Board. Because operational matters belong to the Planning Board, the members took up noise, parking, hours, waste, fencing and traffic.

Ms. Foxvog said doggie daycare would begin with a trial period (no detailed plan was offered). Outside time will be limited to supervised potty breaks, with no outdoor playtime, inside a 6-foot solid vinyl fence. Waste goes to a dumpster. Staffing is one supervisor per 10 to 15 dogs, with crates for breaks. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with no daycare on Saturdays and no hours on federal holidays. She plans to renovate inside and out: a white building with black trim and doors, lighting at each door and additional exterior lighting. Thirteen parking spaces are planned, three in front, one accessible. The board discussed “No Parking” signs along the road to keep cars off the shoulder, which could be arranged through the Town Highway Department, the county and the state DOT. The conditions from the ZBA’s determination are to be adopted with the approval.

Negative declaration under SEQR. Motion: Reynolds · Second: Ragone · Ayes: Alessandrini, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Martin, Ragone, Reynolds · Nays: None.

Special use permit and site plan review granted with the conditions noted above. Motion: Ragone · Second: Clow · Ayes: Alessandrini, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Martin, Ragone, Reynolds · Nays: None.

Genesis Vault site plan amendment, 932 Route 40 (Tax Map #41.-1-61)

Mr. Baker, owner of the Genesis Vault business in the Highway Commercial district, proposed amending his approved site plan to add a building to house his trucks, at 40 by 80, 50 by 100 or 50 by 80 feet. The flowering pear trees planted along Route 40 under the original plan died by spring, which he attributed to road salt; he plans grass instead. He was told to settle on a building size, show setbacks on the plan and determine the classification of the stream on the property before applying for a public hearing. The application, site plan, short form EAF and $100 fee are due by the 15th of the month to make the next agenda.

Cukrovany lot line adjustment, 153 Northline Drive (Tax Map #41.-1-34.2 and -49)

Jake Keasbey represented Bernard Cukrovany, who is adding a triangular lot of about 0.98 acre to a 14.7-acre parcel in the Residential Agricultural district, leaving a residual 1.10-acre lot with the dwelling from the original 16.78-acre parcel. Lot line adjustment granted. Motion: Reynolds · Second: Ragone · Ayes: Alessandrini, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Martin, Ragone, Reynolds.

Kustom Addiction pre-filing conference (Tax Map #51.01-1-6)

No one appeared for the applicant. Chairman Alessandrini explained the proposal for a metal finishing business near Route 40 and Melrose Valley Falls Road in Melrose, in the former Melite-owned building. It was noted that powder spraying and baking could be a source of odors. (The public hearing was held, and the permit granted, on October 7.)

Inquiries reported by the chairman

• A realtor asked whether the marina property in Pleasantdale could be subdivided; a potential buyer wants to improve the view from a home.
• ProLine Power’s owner emailed about using an unfinished building on Route 40, next to the lot where the company stores trucks and equipment, as an office.
• A resident who inherited two adjacent lots in Hemstreet Park, each with a house, asked about combining the lots and joining the houses into one residence. The chairman will consult ZBA Chairman Ed McDonough and the town attorney.

Adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Motion: Reynolds · Second: Ragone · Ayes: All · Nays: None.

The minutes list the prior meeting as “August 4, 2026”; the board met August 5. This summary is unofficial; the town’s PDF is the record.

Approved minutes: the Planning Board accepted these minutes at its October 7, 2026 meeting, and the town replaced its draft with a signed, scanned copy dated October 12, 2026. The link above points to that copy; its text matches the draft.