Zoning Issue Hangs Up New Day Care Center
Aldi’s Proposal Returns To Town Board
by Doug La Rocque
When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit last March and many businesses were forced to close down, one of them was the Brunswick Children’s Academy (a childcare and development facility) on Brunswick Road (NYS Route 2) near the Brunswick Community Library. The business turned out to be one of the many causalities of the pandemic, as the proprietor chose not to re-open after nearly seven years in business. The building’s owners, Peter and Bonnie Lupe eventually found another day care operator to occupy the space. However, when their prospective tenants applied to the state for their permits, one of the questions was, is the location zoned for such use. Turns out the answer is no, and it never was. An oversight on the town’s part.
At the Monday, January 25, Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting, a public hearing was held on a request by the Lupe’s for a use variance, to allow such a childcare business to continue. No decision was made at this meeting and as such, will be further discussed at the ZBA’s February gathering.
The ZBA did make a decision on a request by Usman Rashid, to construct an automobile sales and service shop proposed for 793 Pawling Avenue at the corner of Lakeview Avenue. That decision was to deny the area variance request based on property setback issues. At the public hearing on the matter last year, there were several residents of the neighborhood who spoke against the proposal.
Aldi’s Hits Another Roadblock
Developer David Leon has been trying to bring an Aldi’s Grocery Store to his property on Hoosick Road (NYS Route 7) for several years. The original concept was given a green light by the town, but Aldi’s refused to build unless an additional stoplight was placed at its entrance, on what is one of the busiest roads in the county. So busy in fact, the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) said no to the request.
Mr. Leon has since come back with a proposal that would build the Aldi’s next to Planet Fitness, along with a Kentucky Fried Chicken and Wendy’s fast food restaurant. This proposal calls for a rear entrance to the plaza over Ferdinand Avenue, which is currently a paper road. The cross connectivity this would create enticed DOT to allow another traffic signal at the Hoosick Road entrance, by Lord Avenue. Once the rear entrance was completed, it would be turned over to the town. As the legal research into the project continued, it was discovered Brunswick codes do not allow for a town road to terminate onto private property, as this road would.
So now back to the drawing board, or more specifically, the Town Board for further debate. Town Supervisor Phil Herrington tells The Eastwick Press, the matter is now in the hands of town attorneys, who after due diligence, will present their findings to the board.
Another Housing Project Is Proposed
The Thursday, January 21 meeting of the Brunswick Planning Board saw a sketch plan presented that outlines a plan to build single family homes on 38-acres of property off Cole Lane, near the Troy city line. It is a planned 15-lot site, with one site dedicated for stormwater containment. The owners of the site had previously approached the board about allowing the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance to construct a parking area and viewing site along the nearby Poestenkill Creek. That has apparently now fallen through.
More Solar On The Horizon
The planners also got a first look at a new solar park proposal that EDP Renewables would like to construct on land between Brick Church Road (NYS Route 278) and Tamarac Road. It would be adjacent to the current Clyne solar complex, previously owned by Borrego Solar. This is proposed to be a 5-megawatt facility, using solar tracking panels, that move about one degree every eight minutes, and actually track the sun’s trek across the sky each day.
EDP also plans to plant a number of wildflowers on the site, and allow beekeepers in to collect honey from bees attracted to the flower’s pollen. Once the wildflowers’ life cycle is complete, EDP plans to bring in sheep to eat up the flowers. EDP says it hopes to be back for the board’s February 4 meeting.