Brunswick Acres Proposal Meets Opposition
By Doug La Rocque
Several residents who live near the proposed 26-unit single-family home development off Brunswick Road (NY Route 2) in the western portion of the town attended a public hearing held just prior to the regular meeting of the Brunswick Town Board on Thursday, July 11.
Most were concerned about the number of homes that would be constructed, feeling there were simply too many and too close to each other. All 26 would be located on a single cul-de-sac just west of the current Heather Ridge Development. Other issues raised at the hearing included increased traffic, in particular line of sight concerns when exiting or entering onto Route 2, conservation areas between the development and neighboring Heather Ridge and Brunswick Hills, a possible connector via Riccardi Lane to NY Route 7, its impact on Troy Elementary School 18 and business development.
What the town board is actually considering is the developer’s request for a Planned Development District (PDD). That is generated by the fact the proposed development is on land that is zoned R-40 (a form of residential zoning). That limits the amount of homes on a cul-de-sac to 12 and requires more spacing between structures than the proposal calls for. A PDD is a route around these restrictions. It is up to the Town Board to approve the full environmental assessment (EAF) and the PDD, before it goes back to the Planning Board, for site plan review and final approval. The Town Board closed the public hearing Thursday night and opened a 20-day period in which it will accept written comments. Information on how this process works is on the Town’s web site. The developer must then provide a written response, before any further action can be taken.
Veterans Exemptions
The Board also held a public hearing on local law #4, which allows for a 15% tax exemption on qualifying residential real property for those that have served in the United States Armed Forces. The exemption cannot exceed the product of $45,000 as multiplied by the town’s equalization rate of 24.5%. The law also grants another 10% for combat veterans. During the regular meeting, it was approved unanimously.
Transferring Land
The Town Board passed a resolution that extends by another 4 months the time for a land transfer between the Brunswick Plaza PDD and New York State. The transfer would grant title to a small stretch of land in front of the plaza in case the NYS Department of Transportation decided it needed to make improvements to Hoosick Road (NY Route 7) at that site. The transfer was part of the PDD changes approved by the Town’s Planning Board, when they accepted the construction of the now opened Sunmark Federal Credit Union and the Taco Bell under construction.