Breathing New Life Into Proposed Aldi’s Grocery Store
Wendy’s and KFC Part Of New Plan As Well
By Doug La Rocque
It has been a little more than two years since the Brunswick Planning Board approved a proposal to build an Aldi’s Grocery store on Hoosick Road (NYS Route 7) adjacent to the current Planet Fitness. That plan has been bogged down by Aldi’s insistence that a traffic light be installed at the corner of Hoosick Road and Hillcrest Avenue. Even though the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) indicated such a light placement was acceptable in its 2001 traffic study, since then it has given the idea a hard “no.”
Since there has been no movement for two years, the project is essentially now dead. That was at least until the Thursday, February 6 meeting of the Planning Board, where Jamie Easton of M.J. Engineering presented a sketch plan for not only Aldi’s but a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Wendy’s restaurant along with it. The new plan still calls for the installation of a new traffic light, but moves that light slightly east, to the intersection with Lord Avenue. Mr. Easton said DOT is open to this suggestion, because the new plan calls for an interconnectivity between Hillcrest and the new exit from the complex, to be built directly across from Lord Avenue.
The KFC would also have a curb cut onto Hillcrest, so conceivably traffic looking to turn left onto Hoosick Road could even come out the Cumberland Farms, cross Hillcrest, travel in front of the new stores, and then turn left at the Lord Avenue light. As Mr. Easton pointed out, turning left out of Cumberland Farms, can often be a challenge. He said that DOT likes this interconnectivity theory, and apparently that is why they are considering allowing a new light at Lord Avenue.
Some of the Planners were not enthralled with the idea, and feared it would create even more of a backup on the already heavily traveled Hoosick Road. Lord Avenue, via Duncan and Norfolk, also connects to North Lake Avenue at Frear Park, and as such, is a route some people use to avoid the Hoosick Road backups. The Planners feared with a light at this intersection, it might tempt even more people and perhaps larger vehicles, to use this alternate route. Parking was also an expressed concern.
This new proposal might well impact developer David Leon’s plans for the 202-unit Valley Avenue apartment complex, to be located behind the Planet Fitness building, but that issue is still in a scoping process created by a positive Environmental Impact Assessment, and has not yet returned to the Planning Board for further consideration. This new proposal, also being developed by Mr. Leon, will be back in front of the Planners shortly, in the form of a new site plan application.
Trifocal Brewing
Gets Conditional Go Ahead
The Planning Board meeting was delayed 30 minutes while the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) dealt with two area variance requests from Trifocal Brewing. These were eventually approved, with the condition that Trifocal could not enlarge its operation from what it has currently presented. Those approvals in hand, Trifocal was first up for the Planning Board, who after some discussion, also granted its approval with nearly identical conditions as those placed on the applicant by the ZBA. Trifocal must also still receive well and septic approvals from the County Department of Health, as well as driveway and drainage plan acceptance from DOT. The new beer making operation will be located at 138 Brick Church Road (NYS Route 278).
Brunswick Acres
Closer To Breaking Ground
This is the proposed 26 single home cul-de-sac proposed for land to the north of Brunswick Road (NYS Route 2), very near the homes located on Heather Ridge Road and Brunswick Hills.
Because Brunswick limits the number of homes on a cul-de-sac to 12, the developers filed the site plan with the Planning Board, but went in front of the Town Board for a Planned Development District designation, which allows it to exceed the 12 home limit. The Town Board also declared itself lead agency on a full Environmental Impact Study and found there was no significant environmental impact.
Back before the Planning Board for the Site Plan approval, the developers had some concerns about the height of retaining walls behind the complex and lighting at the entrance. They also indicated they had the proper easements to loop a waterline that includes the homes on Riccardi Avenue, near Route 7, which should be very helpful for water pressure all around. There will not be any connecting roadway however, to Riccardi Lane.
Other Business
The Planning Board gave its approval to a pair of minor subdivisions, on Bald Mountain Road and Dater Hill Road. The plans by Verizon Wireless to construct a new cell tower at the corner of Creek Road and Menemsha Lane were scrubbed from the night’s agenda because Verizon is not yet ready with its written responses to questions and issues raised during a recent public hearing.