Three Proposed Housing Projects Before Planning Board
By Doug La Rocque
In all, 46 new housing starts, contained in three major subdivisions, are now before the Brunswick Planning Board in various stages of consideration. Two of these, the Sharpe Road Development LLC and the most recent, Brunswick Acres, will require action by the Brunswick Town Board, before the Planning Board can consider the proposals.
Brunswick Acres came before the Planning Board at its Thursday, May 2 meeting, to present plans for 26 single-family building lots, and one storm management lot, on the north side of Brunswick Road (NY Route 2), just west of the current Heather Ridge complex. This would be a Planned Development District (PDD), and they need a recommendation from the Planning Board before the Town Board can consider it. Only the Town Board can approve a PDD.
The developers had originally approached the Town about creating condominiums or apartments on the site, but Brunswick Town Supervisor Phil Herrington tells The Eastwick Press, he expressed his opposition to any commercial development along Route 2. He indicated he felt the town would be more open to the single-family housing proposal, as it is a better fit for the Route 2 corridor. The Planning Board will take up the matter again at its May 16 meeting.
The proposal to build 17 homes on Sharpe Road, at the North Greenbush line, is still before the Town Board as well. The hang up here is that three of the housing lots are actually in North Greenbush, but would require water, road maintenance and fire protection from the Town of Brunswick. The matter has not been resolved between the two towns as yet, which is holding up any further Planning Board action.
The other project is a 6-lot subdivision on Menemsha Lane, which is progressing through the Planning Board process.
Mohawk Ambulance
Moves a Step Closer
The Mohawk Ambulance Service made what is called a sketch plan presentation, with plans to actually file its site plan application and State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) paperwork at the next meeting of the board as well. They are proposing to build a new 6,000 square foot Rensselaer County station on 8 acres of land on McChesney Avenue, which could house as many as six ambulances, and would replace the station on River Street in Troy, as well as the current one ambulance housed in a building off Brick Church Road (NY Route 278) in the town. The new station would also have overnight accommodation for up to 12 employees. If approved, Mohawk hopes to break ground in late spring or early summer.