It’s A Slow Go For Three Major Projects In Town
by Doug La Rocque
With consideration of a minor subdivision pulled from the agenda because of engineering delays, the Brunswick Planning Board got right down to the heart of the matter at its Thursday, August 20 meeting. First up was the Blue Sky Towers/Verizon Wireless proposal to construct a cell tower on land at the intersection of Creek Road and Menemsha Lane. While the company was originally pushing for a 150 foot tower, it has agreed with the planners that an 80 foot tower, disguised to look like a pine tree, was the way to proceed. The company will now revise its site plan application and complete a noise analysis for when standby generators are in use.
AT&T, which is planning to piggyback on the tower, will complete its own noise study.
Verizon will also have to upgrade its stormwater management plans and revise the Environmental Assessment forms. Verizon is also seeking a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), but it cannot act until the Planning Board determines there is no significant environmental impact. After that, the Planning Board must wait for the ZBA’s plan approval before it can deliberate the merits of the tower. A public hearing, which centered primarily on the 150 foot tower, generated mostly negative comments. No new public hearing is being scheduled, because the original hearing also included the 80 foot site, and the change in the primary location is considered a response to that hearing.
Aldi’s Proposal Following Same Route
Developer David Leon’s plan to construct an Aldi’s Grocery Store, a Wendy’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken on land he owns on Hoosick Road (NYS Route 7), and where the Planet Fitness is now located, is facing the same approval route as the cell tower application. It, however is not quite as far along, as a public hearing has yet to be held, and the Planning Board has just recently sent out letters to all other agencies involved, requesting lead agency status on the full State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). Engineer Jamie Easton told the board they are working with the board’s engineer Wayne Bonesteel for his comments about the site plan application, which includes an installation of a traffic light on Hoosick Road at the intersection of Lord Avenue.
Hoping to streamline the process a little, the planners are looking to possibly hold a joint public hearing with the ZBA, perhaps as soon as October 15. Planning Board Chair Russ Oster indicated that because of the expected attendance at this hearing, and COVID-19 concerns, they may have to look for a larger venue than the Brunswick Town Hall.
Brunswick Acres Development
This proposal calls for the construction of 26 single family homes on a cul-de-sac to be constructed on land off Brunswick Road (NYS Route 2), just west of the Highlands home development on Heather Ridge.
First proposed last year, the applicant has been approved by the Town Board for a Planned Development District, which in effect eases some of the zoning requirements. The developers need to make some grading plan changes because of sewer and leach field concerns expressed by the Rensselaer County Department of Health. The Planning Board has hired Ron LaBerge as its engineer on this proposal, and he has expressed concerns that some of these grading changes will create lots with no usable backyards. He also had some storm water management issues that need to be worked out.
The planners did agree, that even considering the questions raised at the meeting, the application itself is complete enough to schedule a public hearing at 7 pm at its September 17 meeting.