Housing Density A Growing Concern In Brunswick
By Doug La Rocque
The Brunswick Planning Board listened to one speaker after another express their concerns about the proximity of the proposed homes on the Brunswick side of the Sharpe Road Development, at a public hearing on Thursday, July 18. 17 future single-family homes are laid out on the site plan, four of which are in the Town of North Greenbush. Those four sit on 1.5 -acre lots, as dictated by North Greenbush zoning regulations. The 13 homes that are located in Brunswick, are on lots as small as .6 acres. That prompted neighbors, and some from other sections of the town, to tell the planners, it’s just too much. They expressed other concerns, such as storm water runoff, sewer, traffic and line of site upon entering or exiting the complex.
The disturbance to animal habitats was also part of the discussion.
After an hour of testimony, the board decided to continue the hearing at its next meeting, on Thursday, August 1. That gives the developers time to answer the residents comments in writing and for both towns to work on the as yet unresolved issue concerning the expansion of the Brunswick water system to serve the homes in North Greenbush, the construction of the town road, and fire protection.
The Planning Board is not the only governing body to have heard concerns of density. On Thursday, July 11, the Town Board was addressed by many residents about the closeness of the proposed homes at Brunswick Acres, a 26-lot development proposed for lands off Brunswick Road (NY Route 2). The developer of this project is asking for the creation of a Planned Development District (PDD), as a route around the town’s zoning that allows no more than 12 homes on a cul-de-sac. There was also a significant amount of people at Thursday’s public hearing, because they knew the highly controversial Valley Avenue Apartment proposal was on the agenda. That would see 200 plus apartments constructed on lands owned by David Leon, behind the Planet Fitness building on Hoosick Road (NY Route 7).
The Eastwick Press reached out to Brunswick Town Supervisor Phil Herrington about the density issue. He told us, he hears the concerns of the town residents, and perhaps, “it’s time to take a step back to look at our zoning regulations, especially the .6 acres per building lot, as it impacts the rural sections of the town.”
Not So Fast
On December 13, 2018, the Planning Board gave the Valley Avenue Apartments developers a final scoping report, outlining the concerns they had with the Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) that had been presented to the board. Just weeks earlier, the board had declared there were positive impacts on the environment that needed to be addressed before any further consideration on the project’s approval could be discussed. At that time, it was indicated that these documents could take up to a year to complete.
Just days prior to the July meeting, the developers presented Acting Chair Linda Stancliffe, Attorney Andy Gilchrist and Planning Board Engineer Wayne Bonesteel, with their response to the scoping document. At the actual meeting, Ms. Stancliffe in turn, presented the developers with a letter that said they found the documents to be incomplete, along with a list of items that needed further attention. Mr. Leon’s representative accepted the letter, with no comments as to when the additional work might be completed.
Balloons In the Air
Representatives of Verizon Wireless were also in attendance, to say they plan to hold the balloon test for a proposed new cell tower on Saturday, August 24. The tower is proposed for land at the corner of Creek Road and Menemsha Lane. There are three sites under consideration, all at various distances from existing homes, and each requiring a tower of a different height. Three different colored balloon will fly that morning, representing the height of the three different towers. The visibility of the balloons from the homes and comments from the area residents will then become part of the EAF to be presented to the planners.
Other Action
The Board approved the installation of a ground mounted home solar system on land owned by Kim and John Hoggan at 99 Moonlawn Avenue. A proposal by Borrego solar for a community solar facility is being reduced in scope because of sloping at the Dusenberry Lane site. Because of the change, the company will have to return with a modified EAF. The Board also scheduled a public hearing at its August 1 meeting for a proposal by Edward Malone to construct an accessory apartment on property located at 137 Bald Mountain Road. That August 1 meeting will begin at 7 pm.