by Chris Tergliafera
It took developer David Leon two tries and several years to see construction begin on the site for an Aldi grocery store, a KFC and Wendy’s fast food restaurant. Work on the Hoosick Road site has begun, but Mr. Leon’s representatives were back before the Brunswick Planning Board on Thursday evening, October 21, to ask for some modifications. The most important of these is eliminating the road out of the back of the site connecting with Ferdinand Avenue, a requirement the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) put in place to agree to a traffic light at Hoosick Road and Lord Avenue. Now that the Hannaford Supermarket is approved across the street, DOT has indicated the rear connecter road is no longer required. That change, if approved by the Planners, would save the developer upwards of a million dollars, but most importantly eliminate what was the major objection to the project voiced by neighbors at the public hearing. Mr. Leon is also looking to make some storm water collection changes.
No Public Hearing
Such amendments to the site plan sometimes rise to the level that an additional public hearing is required. That is not the case here, as the Board decided they could simply deal with the changes as they are presented, and that a second public hearing would not be necessary. A potential vote on these amendments was placed on the agenda for the Board’s November 4 meeting.
Missed the Bus
The proposal by Matapato LLC to construct a bus parking lot on their property on Oakwood Avenue met with serious neighborhood opposition at a recent public hearing. They were scheduled to fully answer the questions placed before them at that hearing, but sent a note prior to the meeting asking to be removed from the agenda at this time.
Barry Minor Subdivision
The Board held a public hearing on James Barry’s request for a minor subdivision on Garfield Road. These usually have little or no comment expressed at the hearing, but this one did draw some response. Mr. Barry wants to break a 22-acre lot into three new plots, but local residents expressed concerns about traffic and driveway placement once the property is sold. The Board also requested more information from the surveyor as the area in question is agriculturally zoned.