Developer Makes Concessions In Sharpe Road Project
By Doug La Rocque
The public hearing on the proposal to construct 17 single family homes on a plot of land on Sharpe Road, that actually straddles the Brunswick-North Greenbush line, was re-opened by the Brunswick Planning Board on Thursday, September 5. Jean Hill, who lives adjacent to the project, again rose to speak, this time urging the planners to change the size of the of the proposed lots on the Brunswick side, to be closer to the North Greenbush plots, which are one and a half acres each. Those in Brunswick are .6 acres, as is prescribed by the town’s code for land zoned R-25. Board Chairman Russ Oster explained that is not within the Planning Board’s jurisdiction, and that only the Town Board is allowed to make changes to the Zoning Code.
Ms. Hill has said, and reiterated once more, she has serious concerns about septic runoff negatively impacting her well, as did Donna Holcomb, who lives near the site and said she has only a hand dug well, about 18 feet deep. Ms. Hill said the developer, David Leon, had promised her to run a water connection to her land, but later reneged. She also said the developer had offered to construct “a vegetation barrier” along her land, but she is asking for some sort of demarcation line, such as fencing. She further expressed concerns about the proposed work hours contained in the application, 7 am to 7 pm, seven days a week, including holidays. Ms. Hill and other speakers also reiterated the problems with storm water runoff, traffic and impact on wildlife.
As chairman Oster was about the adjourn the hearing, the developer, Mr. Leon, approached the board to says he wished to change some items, including publically promising to run water lines to Ms. Hill’s and Ms. Holcomb’s properties, to give Ms. Hill her demarcation fencing, and to limit work hours to exclude Sunday’s and holidays. It was a concession well received by the board as well as Ms. Hill, who called Mr. Leon’s offer, “very gracious.”
The matter was placed back on the agenda for the September 19 meeting, when the developers updated mapping for the proposed water district extension will be reviewed. As to a proposed agreement between Brunswick and North Greenbush, over Brunswick providing water, road and fire services, according to the Chairman, there has been “no movement.”
Valley Avenue Apartments Is Back
The Board’s Attorney, Andy Gilchrist, announced that the developer for the highly controversial Valley Avenue apartment complex, to be located on lands behind the Planet Fitness building on Hoosick Road, has returned its response to the scoping document (associated with the Environmental Impact Statement) the Board once rejected as incomplete. The Board’s review committee, consisting of member Linda Stancliffe, Mr. Gilchrist and the Board’s engineer, Wayne Bonesteel, has 30 days to recommend to the full board as to whether to now deem it complete or return it for more work. The decision will be put before the board at its October 3 meeting.
Other Action
The Board set a public hearing for its October 3 meeting on a proposal by Robert Talham to sub-divide 20.77 acres at 18 Miller Road into three distinct lots.
It was announced that a joint public hearing with the Zoning Board of Appeals will precede the September 19 meeting on Borrego Solar’s plan to develop a community solar facility on property located at the end of Dusenberry Lane, in proximity to Bald Mountain Road. While the developer has previously announced plans to scale back the physical size of the facility, such items as the visual impact must still be addressed.
The Carbone Auto Group’s proposal to build a detached car wash and detailing facility adjacent to its building at 800 Hoosick Road came under further review. While it would not be a public facility, there were still concerns about water usage. The fact the car dealer is still parking cars off pavement, and at times blocking a fire department water connection and impeding emergency vehicle traffic was also brought up. Carbone has not paved all the land that it indicated it would at the time of the original site plan review, and the Board wants to see more of that paved for parking, and the emergency access issue addressed before moving on to adding a carwash.
The balloon test for a proposed Verizon Wireless Cell tower at the intersection of Creek Road and Menemsha Lane, schedule for August 24, never went off, primarily because the developer was unable to access the three proposed sites. Seems there is a full-grown cornfield there. The board scheduled September 28 or 29 as the new date, hoping the corn might be harvested then, or at least an agreement can be reached with the grower, to allow access.