Planning Board Does Lots Of Planning
by Doug La Rocque
The first item on the Agenda for the Brunswick Planning Board at its Thursday, November 5 meeting was a review of the proposal by Verizon wireless to construct a cell tower, disguised to look like a pine tree, at the corner of Creek Road and Menemsha Lane. Since the board’s engineer on the project was unable to attend the meeting, it was decided to postpone the review of parts 2 and 3 of the Environmental Assessment form until its next meeting on November 19. The Planning Board is lead agency on the SEQRA review, and must make a decision on the environmental assessment before any further action on the project can be taken.
Engineer Jamie Easton was back before the board to talk about the Lord Avenue project to build a 50,000 square foot grocery store across Hoosick Road (NYS Route 7) from where Planet Fitness is located. Mr. Easton is still not prepared to disclose who’s store it would be and the name of the applicant until all paperwork in properly filed. He did spend some time going over design changes involving the store’s loading dock area, and a possible emergency only entrance off Lord Avenue. Mr. Easton told the board they are about 45 days away from an official filing.
His other project, the construction of an Aldi’s, Wendy’s Fast Food Restaurant and a Kentucky Fried Chicken on the site that developer David Leon owns and is currently also occupied by the Planet Fitness, will need some more time to answer written submissions following their public hearing. Both the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals chairs agreed to extend that time period until November 12. Mr. Easton also agreed to an extension of the so called shot clock, the 62 day limit the board has to act after the public hearing, or the project is approved by default.
The three lot minor subdivision proposed by Sean Gallivan for his property on Deepkill Road is also not yet ready for action by the board. According to Mr. Gallivan’s representative, Brian Holbritter, there is still a portion of the permitting process with the Department of Environmental Conservation that must be worked out, concerning crossing wetlands on the property.
The board did approve a special use permit for a detached accessory apartment on property located at 394 Pinewoods Avenue, requested by HDIGSL, LLC.