Community Unrest Grows Over Proposed Brunswick Apartment Complex
by Doug La Rocque
The meeting room at the Brunswick Town Hall was packed this past Thursday night, September 6, when the Planning Board reconvened its public hearing on the proposed 201 unit apartment building complex, to be located behind Planet Fitness on Hoosick Road (State Route 7).
The meeting began with an executive session of the Board to discuss a legal matter. When they returned, Planning Board Attorney Andy Gilchrist announced he had received two phone calls from someone claiming to be associated with the proposed applicant, David Leon, who said there were rumors that Planning Board Chair Russ Oster lived in the area that would potentially be impacted by the apartments, has publicly stated his opposition, coached those not in favor how to oppose it, and perhaps circulated a flyer in opposition to it.
Mr. Oster vehemently denied those allegations, but said since they “cast a cloud over my ability to chair the board and vote on this issue,” he was recusing himself from any further deliberations. He then left the meeting room. Attorney Gilchrist spoke of what he said was Mr. Oster’s exemplary handling of the issues, and called the rumors “repugnant.”
Following a presentation from Jamie Easton of M.J. Engineering, representing owner and developer Mr. Leon, neighbors and other members of the Brunswick community stepped up to the speaker’s podium one by one, for nearly two hours. They all spoke against the proposal, which would see the construction of six 2 to 3 story apartment buildings. The primary concern was what all believed would be increased traffic along Hoosick Road, which by all admissions is already very heavy. They cited traffic backups that already exist, as well as safety concerns, such as attempting to cross the busy highway either in a vehicle or on foot, and the increase in vehicles cutting over side roads, often at high rates of speed, they said. Also mentioned were delays the traffic volume already causes in emergency vehicle response times.
The applicant is requesting that the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) install a traffic light at the intersection of Hoosick Road and Lord Avenue, directly opposite the proposed complex entrance between the existing Planet Fitness and an approved but not yet built Aldi’s food mart.
Mr. Leon commissioned a traffic study by VHB Engineering of Albany, whose Senior Traffic Designer, Alanna Moran, made a presentation to the Board which concludes that a traffic light would be beneficial at that location. But this conclusion was questioned by many members of the public. Mr. Easton also again argued a 2000 (not 2001 as they had previously stated) DOT study called for the installation of a traffic light at that location, and that the proposed apartment complex is an acceptable development under Brunswick’s most recent Comprehensive Plan and its 2017 Zoning updates.
Another major concern pointed out by speakers, was the already overcrowded Troy School 13, which they said had been forced to give up its music and art classrooms to accommodate the increased pupil population. Mr. Easton argued that the typical apartment dweller this type of complex attracts, would only add, at most, another 20 students to the school. It was a contention most disagreed with. Lighting, crime, sewage and the impact on nearby Cooper’s Pond were also brought up.
A Declaration of Positive Environmental Impact
After all who wished to speak had their opportunity, acting Board Chair Michael Czornyj asked the Board’s engineer, Wayne Bonesteel, to review the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) application, item by item. Mr. Bonesteel cited nine items listed in the Type 1 action, that have at least the potential for a significant adverse environmental impact. Following a brief discussion, the Board voted unanimously to issue a positive declaration. This declaration means the applicant must now file an Environmental Impact Statement, that might include a requirement for scoping, or a description of the proposed activity and any feasible and reasonable alternatives. No timetable for this was disclosed.
Other Board Actions
In what was overall a four and a half hour meeting, the Board also approved two Special Use Permits for an accessory apartment, one for William and Deborah Lyons at 149 Moonlawn Road, the other for Frederick Ring at 31 Woodward Avenue.
The Site Plan Modification which allows Simply Better Auto Center at 805 Hoosick Road to sell small mobile home-type units was also given a green light. Two waivers of subdivision regulations, for Todd Duncan at 462 McChesney Avenue Extension and Bonnie Hillje at 86 Creek Road, were also approved. In new business, the Board accepted an application from Dana Fowler to expand her Bella Bounty bakery operations at 1011 Hoosick Road, to include a café area that would seat a small number of patrons, open five days a week. It is expected the Board will act on the application at its next meeting on Thursday, September 20.