by Doug La Rocque
In early spring developer David Leon’s representatives (MJ Engineering) returned to the Brunswick Planning Board with some changes to what has been labeled as the Aldi site, that included parking lot revisions, a change in size to the Wendy’s restaurant and installation of electric vehicle charging stations. They also unveiled a plan to add an Aroma Joe’s drive thru coffee shop between the current Planet Fitness and the now under construction Aldi grocery store. MJ Engineering labeled this proposal as a minor site change. The Planners were in agreement until Aroma Joe’s appeared on the board. Turned out the coffee was just too strong, and the Planning Board labeled it a major site revision, which required the submission of a new Environment Action Form and new public hearing. The first public hearing on the original site application was quite contentious, particularly concerning a rear entrance road that is now long part of the plan, and overall traffic.
The Planners are concerned about a proposed pedestrian walk up window, questioning the safety of having people walking across the drive thru traffic flow. Plans to install an outside dinning area in front of the store have been scrapped at the Planning Board’s insistence and the design of the building has been rotated to address traffic flow concerns.
The public hearing has been set for 7 pm at the Thursday, June 16 meeting.
Brunswick Acres Resurrected
The proposed 26 unit single family housing project located on NYS Route 2 near the Heather Ridge complex has been dormant for more than a year, save for some soil and sewer testing, but was back in front of the Planners at their Thursday, May 19 meeting. Brunswick Road Development has revised the site plan down to 24 parcels plus one site for storm water management.
The Rensselaer County Department of Health has only approved septic for 13 of these sites, stating there is so much soil movement and grading needed for the other 11, it is impossible to gauge appropriate septic use at this time. The developer is looking for approval of a two phased approach, but Planning Board attorney Andy Gilchrist indicated there are legal questions concerning Town law and codes that will need to be addressed before further consideration is discussed.
Solar Developments
The Planners gave their final approval to the CVE North America solar project at the end of Belair Lane, with the condition no pesticides or herbicides be used on the site without first returning to the Planning Board for approval. What is known as the North Troy Solar project on land of Oakwood Avenue was also back before the Planning Board at the meeting. The developer presented an updated visual impact study, and was granted a joint public hearing with the Zoning Board of Appeals at the beginning of the July 7 meeting.