Valley Avenue Apartments Ready To Respond To Environmental Questions
By Doug La Rocque
David Leon, the developer of the highly controversial apartment complex slated for lands behind Planet Fitness and to the south of Hoosick Road (NYS Route 7), informed the Brunswick Planning Board at its June 20 meeting, they are ready to respond to the questions and instructions contained in a 13 page scoping document, handed them at the board’s December 6, 2018 meeting.The main points Mr. Leon’s engineering team have to respond to include surface water impact, noise, character of the community and, in particular, traffic.
That was the main point hammered on at public hearings held last fall, when resident after resident marched to the podium to call upon the planning board to reject the proposal.
Mr. Leon was placed on the agenda for the July 18 meeting (there is no meeting on July 4), so the board can begin the review process.
Morizio Subdivision Approved
21 years ago, Louis Morizio received permission for a seven-lot major subdivision involving 17 acres of land on Liberty Road. For whatever reason, the required paperwork was not filed in the allotted time frame, and the approval was rescinded.
Fast forward to 2019, and Mr. Morizio was back with a new plan, now a four-lot minor subdivision, which ran afoul of the board because it contained reports originally filed in 1998.
The matter was finally worked out, but approval was delayed after comments made at the public hearing, questioned the quality of the drinking water at the site, near a one-time Troy landfill. At the meeting last Thursday, Mr. Morizio presented the board with tests that showed the water to be safe, and the application was approved.
New Cell Tower Talks
The proposal to construct another cell tower for Verizon Wireless, that will also host an AT&T antenna, was placed back on the agenda for next month. The developer, Blue Sky Towers, and members of the board engaged in discussion of the colors and height of three balloons, that will be launched to check visibility from nearby homes. The applicants are proposing to construct a 150 foot – tower on lands between Creek Road and Menemsha Lane. Besides that tower, sites further away from the homes, or closer up the sloping terrain, are also being considered.
Other Items
The board took no action on a request by Kasselman Solar to build a ground mounted solar system at 99 Moonlawn Avenue, and heard from Borrego Solar about its plans to present the Board with a Site Plan proposal to construct another commercial solar site on Dusenberry Lane. Borrego is currently constructing such a commercial solar site on Brick Church Road (NY Route 278).
Oakwood Property Management was on the agenda for their site plan amendment for construction of a large apartment complex at 215 Oakwood Avenue, but was not in attendance.
Sunmark Federal Credit Union also asked the Board for a site plan amendment for the new office they are constructing in front of Market 32 on Hoosick Road. The request deals with a change of the type of enclosure the company is required to construct for refuse.
Because of the 4th of July holiday, the Board will next meet on Thursday, July 18.