by Bea Peterson
The Town of Hoosick Zoning Board of Appeals held a Public Hearing on Monday evening, August 6, on the establishment of a metal recycling facility in the former Bennington Paperboard buildings and the construction of a pole barn warehouse on property on Hill Road belonging to artist Jenny Holzer. The room was filled with people interested to hear about the two projects. After listening to a description of the work and the public comments regarding the projects, the Board approved them. Chairman of the Board Jim Hoag said all the information they have received regarding the two proposals will be passed on to the Hoosick Planning Board, which will meet on Monday, August 20.
[private]Recycling Facility On Route 67
Paul Miller, on behalf of William Brownell, described the scrap metal recycling facility planned for two of the original Bennington Paperboard buildings and the one mobile unit office located on Route 67 in Walloomsac.
Miller told the Board and those attending the meeting that the facility will be used to receive automobiles to be recycled. The cars will be placed on a salvage rack, which will remove and catch any and all fluids, such as antifreeze, brake fluid, gasoline and oil. He said that under the salvage rack will be a 249 gallon spill tank and below that a 360 gallon tank. He pointed out that Bennington Paperboard was set up to unload hazardous materials. “There is a solid slab floor and a six inch berm around it, so there will be no spills to the outside.” He added that the building is designed to handle the situation. “There will be no conduit to the [Walloomsac] River and no conduit to the outside.” The only part of the recycling process that will be outside is the tire recycling. The State limits the number of tires that can be stored at no more than 100. That is a container full. “When it is filled, it will be removed; otherwise there won’t be anything outside or on the grounds,” Miller said. “There is no desire to keep things on site.” He added that no junk cars will be visible.
Once the cars are stripped, they will be crushed and shipped out. He assured those listening that truck traffic would be “fairly minimal.” He actually expects there will be less traffic than there was when the factory was in operation as approximately 10 employees will only be working from 8 am to 5 pm.
Batteries will be segregated, and mercury switches removed. Reclaimed oil will be used to heat the facility. Waste gasoline will be used for vehicles. Nothing will be stockpiled.
Besides automobiles, the facility will be accepting metal from the public, such as washers and dryers.
Miller said Bennington Paperboard worked with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and they will too. “There are two waste lagoons for discharge, and they haven’t been used for a number of years. The lagoons exist, the permits are in place, but they won’t be used.”
A nearby neighbor questioned the noise level of trucks coming in and out and the train track. Miller said the tracks belong to the Vermont Railway. “The railway is not part of what we’re doing now,” he said. He added that the cars will not be shipped in and out by train. Maybe they will be at some point in the future, but not now. The neighbor said he didn’t want to be blindsided by noisy trains. Miller responded that the spur is owned by a Burlington company. “They have many different deals, and I don’t know what they have planned, though Bennington and Manchester have expressed interest in the line,” he said.
The Board’s attorney, Mark McQuerrey, said that restrictions should be inserted in the approval. They should state that Brownell will have to go through a process should there be any major changes in the operation, such as use of the railroad. He suggested there should be limits in the application regarding the environmental assessment as well.
Another nearby resident expressed a concern about the fact there is no “school bus” sign to the east around the bend. Town Councilman Bruce Patire, who was at the meeting, said the Town has already requested signs noting school bus stops for the area. “We can’t put them up ourselves,” he said. “We have to get permission from the State.” Another resident asked for speed to be reduced in that area. Patire suggested he come to the Town Board meeting and make a request.
Board Member Joe McDonald said they had submitted a fairly comprehensive plan. Chairman Hoag had a letter from the County stating that the business does not have an impact on any County plans. The Board determined that the proposal does not have an adverse environmental impact on the community. The project must comply with all DEC regulations and those of the Department of Motor Vehicles. All that remained was for the Board to have copies of the necessary permits. Board Member Wally Sheffer said the exceptional paperwork submitted made for a smooth process. The Board then granted a zoning permit for the metal recycling facility, subject to conditions.
Warehouse For Holzer Artwork
Bill Cottrell, representing HosCot Builders and Jenny Holzer, addressed those at the meeting regarding the pole barn style warehouse Holzer would like to put up on Hill Road on her almost 30 acre property that was formerly the Charles Brownell farm. Cottrell said the house is used as Holzer’s business office. The old cow barn will be removed and the two pre-fab garages will be relocated. The 56 foot wide by 128 foot long pole barn will be placed 20 feet behind the two garages and will be 29 feet high. It will be divided into two parts – one part with 5,000 square feet, the other with 2,000 square feet. The driveway will be refashioned so trucks can get to the loading docks. The idea of the warehouse is to consolidate Holzer’s artwork to be near her studio. The building will have either light gray or white siding and overhead doors. Drainage from the roof will fall into gutters and drain off into a catch basin. There will be no erosion effect, said Cottrell.
One neighbor asked if such a warehouse would depreciate her house. Brownell noted that the old barn is falling in. The new building will be set back further and, if anything, should enhance her property offering a better view. He added that it will be a warehouse, but it will be an attractive building.
Cottrell commented that the warehouse will have occasional deliveries, with no more truck traffic on the road than there is now. Hoag pointed out that there will be no gallery or sales in the building.
When it came to decision time McDonald recused himself as he has a rental agreement with Holzer. The rest of the Board agreed there was no environmental impact and approved the special permit.
Both proposals must now be submitted to the Planning Board for site plan review.
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