by Denise Wright
The January 3 meeting of the Schodack Planning Board opened with public comment from one resident voicing concern over the sequence of burials and rate of funerals in the Muslim Community of Troy’s proposed cemetery on Phillips Road. According to Muslim Community members, the estimated rate of calculated graves incorporated the high pandemic death rates of approximately 35 to 50 per year. The resident hoped that a vinyl fence could be installed behind the residences that would be affected. Planning Board members approved the special permit and site plan with the stipulation that if trees die along the cemetery border, they will be replaced, and the special permit will have a review in five years to see if fencing is required at that time.
Solar was front and center at the meeting with a site plan and special permit being approved for a KW4 Ground Mount Solar project on Simons Road. The Green Dale Community Solar Farm on County Route 32 was approved to be reviewed by the Town Board. Green Dale will have to provide documentation from the Kinderhook Boards for Schodack’s review to achieve final approval.
The space initially used for an Urgent Care on Miller Road will now have two licensed acupuncturists. The change in the tenancy for the new medical office will take over approximately 55 percent of the 2,200 square foot space and will consist of four patient rooms and a reception/break room.
The final element brought to the Board’s notice was concern over an auto shop on Columbia Turnpike that had a special permit for a maximum of 15 cars on the premises. The permit expired in October of 2020. The property now has exceeded that limit to 25 and includes other equipment, including trailers, boats and a bus. The Board plans to get code enforcement involved and potentially plans to pull the permit.