by Bea Peterson
Duane Greenawalt, owner of Hathaway’s Drive-In movie theater, approached the Town of Hoosick Planning Board at its regular meeting on Monday, October 20, seeking to erect a second screen at the Drive-In so he can show two movies simultaneously. The new screen will be the same size as the existing one, 35 feet tall and 70 feet wide. [private]The bottom of the screen will sit 20 feet off the ground, with a total height of 55 feet. His plan is to put the new screen 40 feet inside his boundary line on the east side of the property, opposite the existing screen on the west side. This way he can utilize the same projection room.
The east side neighbor, Dennis Brownell, expressed concern that the visibility of the new screen will lower the value of his property. He is also concerned that if he wants to put solar panels up, he won’t be able to because the property would be too shaded by the new screen. Greenawalt has received approval from the Zoning Board for the new screen. The Planning Board went through the site plan review process, and a Public Hearing on the project was scheduled for 7 pm on Monday, November 17. At that time more data on the shading will be reviewed.
Wysocki Farm Solar Array
The Board next did a site plan review on the large solar array proposed for the Wysocki Farm to generate electricity for the Hoosick Falls Central School. The array will take up about 9 acres of the 234 acre farm and will generate 1.05 megawatts of electricity. It was sized to generate 100% of the electricity the school uses in a year. The array will be about 290 feet from Route 22, and the panels will be mounted about 9 feet off the ground. After the review the Board requested more information on the visual impact from Rt. 22 and the possibility that trees may be needed for screening. A Public Hearing on the project will be held at 6:30 pm on November 17.
Brimmer Farm
The Town of Hoosick Planning Board had begun with a public hearing on the Brimmer Farm subdivision. Board Chairman Jim Dunigan recused himself from the Board for the Hearing during which no one expressed any concerns. Bill Johnston, on behalf of Dunigan, again described plans for the subdivision. The Board approved the plat and waived a second public hearing. The final plat will be reviewed at next month’s meeting.
Walker Property
Kendal Baker appeared before the Board on behalf of the purchasers of the Walker property at Young Road and Route 67. The Board declared the property a simple subdivision.
Verschoor Property
Bill Johnston, representing George Verschoor, addressed the Board regarding Verschoor’s property on Beechwood Road in East Hoosick. This was declared a two lot simple subdivision with one deed.[/private]