Proposed Sharpe Road Housing Development Grows In Size
Doug La Rocque
When representatives of Sharpe Road Development LLC first appeared before the Brunswick Planning Board last year, to lay out a sketch plan for the housing project they proposed on the south end of the town, they indicated they planned to build 17 homes. In January, when they actually presented their site plan, it was down to 14, indicating 3 of the lots would perhaps not pass a perc test (a procedure to determine the water absorption rate of soil in preparation for the building of a septic drain field). At last Thursday’s meeting, February 7, their spokesman Eric Reddening indicated they wished to put those three lots back on the drawing board, as they felt come spring they could conduct a successful perc test.
The unique aspect to this subdivision proposal, is that it encompasses two towns, both Brunswick and North Greenbush. Three of the 17 proposed lots would actually be in the neighboring community.
This means two planning boards will be involved, each conducting its own review on the portions in the respective towns. It also means there has to be coordination between two fire companies and two water districts. The developers are proposing one road into the complex, which would be in Brunswick, and they plan to ask the Town to take ownership of the road once it is completed. How this would effect the Wynantskill Fire Department, in whose district the three North Greenbush homes fall, would need to be worked out.
The developers are also asking that Brunswick extend its water district into North Greenbush, to cover the three homes there. This ostensibly is because the Brunswick district comes right up to the proposed site, while the North Greenbush district does not. How this will fly with the North Greenbush Water Department, has yet to be determined.
Still Waiting to Decide Who is Lead
A project of this scope and size, means the full scale SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) form must be completed. The Brunswick Planning Board has sent letters to North Greenbush, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and NYS Department of Health and the Rensselaer County Department of Health, asking them to sign off on the request. As of the meeting date, only North Greenbush had done so. That fact, as well as some revisions to the form that need to be completed because of the expansion, and the matters previously stated that need to be worked out, means the Board’s public hearing and review of the SEQRA is at least two months off.
Other items discussed were the width of the proposed road, a two-headed cul de sac, storm water runoff and sloping. As to the road, Board Engineer Wayne Bonesteel said the design might actually be too wide, and suggested they consult Brunswick Highway Superintendent Brandon Hill as to what will actually be needed.
Mr. Reddening was placed on the agenda for the next meeting, February 21, with the hopes a date for a public hearing might be set at that time.