by Doug La Rocque
It was more of what was not on the agenda that made news at the Thursday, June 2 Brunswick Planning Board meeting than what was on it. In particular, Planning Board Attorney Andy Gilchrist outlined some of the proposed changes to Town code in relation to multi-family dwellings and where they could be located.
Currently a number of locally zoned parcels have what is called an overlay attached to them. That means the restrictions or permitted uses for that zoned area can be altered if there is, say, an agricultural overlay as well. Anything allowed in the overlaid district would also permitted. These overlays, while well intended, have on occasion created some controversy, most recently involving the Belair Lane Solar project. Under the proposed changes to the code, these overlays would be eliminated. Anything that is currently constructed would generally be “grandfathered” in, however, each use would need to be reviewed.
One of the biggest complaints that spawned the moratorium on two-family and multi-family homes and the code’s review was density, particularly in areas the Town’s master plan has identified as in keeping with its rural character. Many such comments were directed to the Planning Board, who in turn passed them along to the Town Board. As a result, one of the more important new clauses in the code requires a density calculation, not only for multi-family but large single family home projects as well.
The Planners received their proposed code changes at this meeting, and plan to further review them at the June 16 gathering, with a letter of recommendation due to the Town Board before a Monday, July 11 public hearing.
The general public can also view these code changes on the Town of Brunswick website.
Solar Overload
There seems to be a plethora of large scale solar projects lately, and Brunswick is not an exception to this. The Planning Board has already approved 5 such solar farms, as they are sometimes called, with one more in front of it for consideration. There are two more pending before the Zoning Board of Appeals, and three in the application stage. They would be sited on McChesney Avenue Extension, Town Office Road and Hakes Road.
That totals 11 in all, not including the proposed site at the corner of NYS Routes 7 and 278. That has been withdrawn.
One of the concerns spoken about that evening was that National Grid has indicated at the present, their transmission lines are at capacity, so even if constructed, there is no guarantee National Grid could even accept the energy generated by a new solar facility.
Speaking of withdrawn, a request by Verizon Wireless to extend the height of the cell tower under construction at Creek Road and Menemsha Lane is no longer being pursued.
No Waivers for You
Two Waivers of Subdivision were also in front of the Board that evening, one involving land on Indian Creek Road, where the Board informed the applicant they could not act on the request by law, because a stop work order is in place. Another waiver request for parcels on Tarbell Avenue and Hoosick Road was denied because of recent subdivisions. The applicant will now have to submit a Minor Subdivision application.