by Gary Danforth
The Town of Hoosick Planning Board meeting took place Monday evening, September 15, in the Hoosick Falls Armory with interim chairman Jim Dunigan calling the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. Following the Pledge of Allegiance the minutes of the previous month’s meeting were approved, with two corrections noted. Dunigan introduced the newest member of the planning board, Everett Quackenbush, a local surveyor, who was approved by the Town of Hoosick Board at its meeting last week.
First, Peter Schaaphok appeared before the Board and explained that he wanted to relocate his business from South Troy to Hoosick. His completed application had been sent to Rensselaer County which determined the site plan was within the parameters of the Town’s comprehensive plan. The Board passed a motion declaring this project to have a negative impact upon the surrounding environment. The Board had set a public hearing for this project for 7 pm on this night with no one voicing concern about the project. The Board passed a motion by a 6-0 vote allowing this project to go forward.
Then, Robert Breese, representing the Hoosick Fire District, appeared before the Board to discuss the Fire District acquiring the former Haynes Ford auto dealership lands, which would result in the land being used for a different purpose. Two disclosures had been made in the previous meetings concerning this proposed project. First, Stan King, the Town Planning Board attorney, disclosed that he had agreed to represent the Hoosick Fire District in this matter prior to the Planning Board meeting and this could be a potential conflict of interest, but he believed this would be up to the Board to decide. Second, Jim Dunigan, the interim Planning Board Chairman, disclosed that he was a Hoosick Fire District commissioner, another potential conflict of interest, with the latter not being able to vote on any Planning Board matter concerning same. Dunigan had recused himself from this discussion, taking a seat in the sparse audience A site plan had been gone over with existing lighting, utility and septic systems, along with any impact on local schools discussed. The Board would waive having a site plan on linen along with lighting, floor elevations, a topographic map, grade contours, landscaping planning, parking plans, a survey, an engineer’s stamp on the project, interior design, a seating plan, service and storage areas and a scale of building heights. Handicapped parking and access to the existing building and traffic flow patterns were shown on the site plan. The Board and applicant went over a short form environmental assessment. Breese said two additional overhead doors would need to be installed on site and two existing overhead doors would need to be enlarged. The project is on 6.5 acres in both an agricultural and residential district within the Township. The Board resolved that they had a complete application and that this application would be sent to Rensselaer County for review with the land being used for a new purpose with modifications to the existing building. The Board, by a 3-2 vote, set a public hearing for this matter for 7 pm on Monday, October 20, before the regular Planning Board meeting that starts at 7:30 pm. Breese and other fire department officials will be back before the Board next month.
Finally, a party appeared before the Board with clearance from the Village of Hoosick Falls for water and septic for a parcel of land which he had originally presented in May of 2008. The party had a letter from a local engineer stating same with the land being divided into two parcels. Board members John Cooney and Jim Dunigan had to recuse themselves from this matter for their involvement in same. By a 4-0 board vote the matter was declared a simple subdivision.
The meeting adjourned at 8:03 pm.