Canine Training And Solar Energy Highlight Planning Board Meeting
by Denise Wright
A public hearing about timber harvesting to attain a site plan/special permit for a dog training/retreat facility on Boyce Road was a key topic of conversation at the board’s Monday, September 21 meeting. A letter was read from a neighbor of the 12- acre proposed site voicing concern over the hours and duration of the facility but also the loss of the trees.
The neighbor, Tiger West, was hoping trees would be left to assist acting as a sound barrier against the barking. Owner, Anthony Ali, assured the board that there “will be a buffer”. The facility will contain approximately 18 kennels and will encompass a 4 -acre area where dogs of any breed, size, or age will be boarded and trained in two- week sessions, but general client boarding will also be available. The board expressed concern to Ali about making sure that the neighborhood near Nassau Lake will contain at least a 500- foot buffer in order to maintain the quality of the area as well as discussing erosion control issues. The board felt that since so much land was being disturbed that a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan was a necessity. Richard Laberge, P.E. Planning Board Engineer, felt that the two-month timber harvesting project couldn’t be moved on until the board had a fuller understanding of the site plans.
Solar Power
The 7.5 MWp White River Solar project on River Road that will generate enough electricity for approximately 1,000 homes had its site plans approved, and the meeting ended with a preliminary presentation from Greg Samilo, Project Development Manager for CS Energy, LLC (Ray Solar) and Matt Tripoli about creating a 300 acre, 20- megawatt solar farm between Schodack Landing Road and Knickerbocker Road. This company recently had created one of these farms in Hoosick and is now looking to expand into the Schodack area with an approximately 60,000- panel farm. They are hoping to submit a proposal to the board in October. The board asked questions about the battery storage for the project as well as the energy dispersal. They were looking forward to hearing more about the project after they received the application, and the engineer has thoroughly reviewed it.