Planning Board Has Busy Night
by Denise Wright
The November 16 Schodack Planning Board meeting focused on residents’ concerns and future building developments in the town. Public comments were discussed about a dog training facility on Boyce Road in Nassau. Two Boyce Road residents voiced concerns over one of the property’s barns and asked the Board to “seriously consider the action of not following through with the proper permissions from the Town of Schodack” and wanted to “be assured everything is being done with appropriate permission from the town.” Nadine Fuda, Director of Planning and Zoning stated the Building inspector has been on a follow-up visit and “is handling the building permit side of it.” They stated that the owner has a demo permit, and he noted that he had removed one barn already, emptying approximately five debris dumpsters commenting that some of the barns’ items “haven’t been used for many years.” He is “just clearing stuff” out. The engineer for the project and the Board discussed potential heating methods and DEC/town regulations for the facility and the need for delineating pathways and identifying any ground disturbance. Planning Board Engineer, Rich Laberge, recommended to the Board that a resolution be created for the planning director to initiate a coordinated review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act after a full Environmental Assessment Form has been submitted and reviewed.
Kevin Cioffi from Reliable Storage at 950 Route 9 in Nassau asked the Board for a site plan modification so he could install two new slab/steel construction storage buildings inside the fenced-in area to provide more storage and “a little more space.” The Board approved it as an untitled action.
There was an initial presentation from associates of A & E Development LLC for the creation of Schodack Commons to the Board to “conceptually review this project” in hopes of getting some feedback about design requirements. This project, located at 1764 Columbia Turnpike, near Routes 9 and 20 and Route 150, was developed to meet increased housing demands and increase the tax base and marketing in the Schodack area. It is planned to cultivate approximately 8 acres of the 14 ½ acre “challenging” site, leaving about 45% for green space. The owner hopes to include a “mixed-use” of commercial and residential buildings that will be phased in, starting with the commercial section that will consist of retail space being closest to Columbia Turnpike. The developer would primarily make the property’s goal along Schodack Valley Road to be set aside for “residential use,” which will include approximately 180 1-2 bedroom apartments.
Members of the Board voiced concern over the town’s sewer capacity, density, creating sound buffers, and layout on the property. Board members, including Stephanie Leonard and Andy Albin, felt they would like to see the project contain fewer apartments, be less commercialized and the green space increased. Laberge commented that he thought this Board should “shape the project” before it goes to the Town Board. He felt that the Board would need revised concept plans to make this phased project more feasible. The A&E Development associates appreciated the feedback and asked to see if a potential meeting with Rich Laberge, Nadine Fuda, and possibly the town lawyer, Craig Crist, could be set up to discuss the concepts to further the phasing of the project.
The final proposal of the evening focused on a property on Old Miller Road. The engineer discussed that the old J.K. Reilly business site would like to add two new mixed-use buildings with two apartments above each commercial section, and the two buildings in the back will be standard garages. Presently the 1.4-acre site has two existing facilities on the site. Laberge had questions clarified about parking on the site. After some discussion, the Planning Board approved the project be sent to engineering.