Town Board Hears Sharpe Road Development Concerns
By Doug La Rocque
At a public hearing earlier in the month, several residents of Sharpe Road, concerned about the proposed 17-lot single family home development project proposed for land along that road, asked the Brunswick Planning Board to consider changing the .6 acre minimum requirement for housing constructed in an R-25 zone. They were told that the Planning Board has no authority to change the town zoning codes, the ability to do so rests solely with the Town Board.
At that board’s regular meeting, Thursday, August 8, several people spoke on the issue, expressing their concerns about the project’s density, traffic it could create, storm water runoff, septic and its impact on wild life in the area. They also urged the board to consider changing the minimum acreage requirement in an R-25 zone from .6 to 1 full acre or larger.
As he said in a conversation with The Eastwick Press last week, Town Supervisor Phil Herrington told those present, he agrees that it is time to take a step back and look at that particular section of the zoning law, a statement agreed to by Councilman Dan Casale and a concern also expressed by Councilman Jim Sullivan. The other two members of the board were not present. The Supervisor also noted that he had taken a close look at the town’s zoning map and noted most of the rural portions of the town were zoned A-40, which Con’t on Page 5
already has a one acre minimum requirement for housing construction. There are however, what he called “pockets” of the R-25 zoning, and that these needed review, particularly as to how they match up with the town’s comprehensive plan, another issue raised by the residents that evening.
The density issue is not the only challenge the developer, Sharpe Road LLC, has to overcome.
The proposal calls for 13 of the 17 homes to be built in the town of Brunswick, the other four however, would be over the town line in North Greenbush. These four homes would require water lines that would be part of the Brunswick Water District, a road serviced by the Town of Brunswick. The negotiations between the two towns over how Brunswick would be reimbursed for these services has, according to the Supervisor, bogged down over several issues.
The meeting opened with Roger Savoy, a resident of the Mountain View neighborhood, expressing his concern about receiving a notice of violation that his yard was unkempt and overgrown, which he says was generated by an anonymous complaint and never checked out by town codes enforcement. Codes Enforcement Officer Charles Golden denied that, saying it was investigated before the violation was issued. After he met with the resident, it was agreed the yard was “nature landscaped” and the notice of violation was rescinded. Mr. Savoy contended that anonymous tips should not even be investigated.
The Rensselaer Land Trust and Rensselaer Plateau Alliance are looking to raise $42,000 to help with closing costs on plans to purchase lands along the Poestenkill Creek to create a land and water conservation area. Most of the land would be in the City of Troy, though some, near Cole Lane, is located in Brunswick. The groups apparently plan to use a portion of the Brunswick land to create parking spaces. Supervisor Herrington says some of the Cole Avenue residents have expressed their concern about the possible noise and disruption this may cause.
Meeting Notes:
The proposed extension of a sidewalk at the ROUSE Senior Housing complex that has been discussed for sometime, is now starting to become a reality. According to Supervisor Herrington, it is currently being staked out for construction.
The Supervisor also noted some recent comments made to him about the One Room Schoolhouse at the corner of Routes 278 and 2. According to Mr. Herrington, it needs some work. It is currently property of the Brittonkill Schools and, he indicated, he hoped to have some discussions about “sprucing it up” in the near future.