Trifocal Brewery Closer To Tapping The Keg
By Doug La Rocque
Alex Brown’s application before the Brunswick Planning Board is a step closer to a decision.
Mr. Brown appeared at the Thursday, January 2 meeting with answers to the comments that came forth at a previous public hearing, one in particular involving neighboring property values. It was stated during that hearing, the craft brewery could cut values by as much as 20 percent, something board member Don Henderson was concerned about. A realtor’s assessment said between 10 and 15 percent. Board Chair Russ Oster questioned the validity of the assessment, noting it uses a comparison in Nassau that seemed to be in a greater residential area. Trifocal is proposed for land Mr. Brown owns on Brick Church Road (NYS Route 278).
Mr. Oster said he thought increased heavy truck traffic on that road would impact home values more than the craft brewery.
The Board in general was concerned about possible expansion, informing Mr. Brown any such efforts would have to come back in front of the planners first.
An issue brought up by Planning Board Engineer Wayne Bonesteel was the rate of storm water runoff. He noted from plans he was handed that night, it might be below the cutoff and allowed to flow into a drainage ditch, or it might be high enough to require further action.
Two conditions that would be on any pending approval would be road cuts that fall under the NYS Department of Transportation’s review, and well and septic placement, which are governed by the Rensselaer County Department of Health.
Trifocal is also before the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals with two area variance requests.
The Board placed Trifocal on the agenda for its February 6 gathering.
Re-appointments
The Town Board has reappointed long time Planning Board member Dave Tarbox to another seven-year term and renamed Russ Oster as Chairman for 2020.