A Proposal To Construct Senior Housing At The Former Grafton Elementary School

By Doug La Rocque
Berlin School Superintendent Dr. Stephen Young and surveyor Fred Haley appeared before the Town of Grafton Planning Board Monday night to present a proposed two lot subdivision of the former school, located at the intersection of Route 2 and Babcock Lake Road.  [private]According to Haley, the school district would like to sell the school building, the parking lots and some land surrounding it to the as yet not publicly disclosed buyer.  This would amount to 1.86 acres.  The School District plans to retain the remaining portion of the 14.87 acre property.  The Planning Board was receptive to the idea of senior housing, but had serious concern about the location of the septic system.  Under the application for the subdivision, the School District would retain the land on which the septic system is located, to the west of the structure near the playground.  The District proposes an easement to the buyer for access to the system.  Planning Board Chairman Tom Withcuskey questioned the wisdom of this, and said he had serious doubts about the Rensselaer County Health Department giving its approval to such a scheme.
The Board did vote unanimously to accept the application, but Chairman Withcusky said he would not schedule a public hearing on it just yet.  He said he would first like to meet with the Town Engineer and the Health Department to discuss the matter further.  He also requested a complete Environmental Impact Study, rather than the short form usually considered in such subdivisions.  As a whole, the Planning Board suggested that Young and Haley convey their concerns to the Berlin School Board.  Dr. Young said he would, but indicated any changes would be subject to negotiations between the School Board and the proposed buyer.  The Planning Board has indicated it would be more amenable to a subdivision that included the lands containing the septic system being sold along with the school building and adjoining parking lots.  All parties agreed to discuss the matter further at the Board’s December meeting
As far as the land the school district is looking to retain, primarily the ball fields and the wooded lot north of the structure, Dr. Young indicated they might use this land for a nature preserve, with trails and the opportunity for some biodiversity studies,
Chairman Withcuskey said he hopes the concerns can be addressed in an acceptable manner.  He noted the building is entering its third winter without heat and that the last time he was in the structure it was starting to show some deterioration.
As to the number of senior housing units the facility would contain, Haley said that number has not yet been determined.[/private]