There are 7 projects being considered at this meeting of the Guilderland Planning Board and the first 2 have public hearings. Virtually every project on the agenda has some issue of concern in varying degree from protecting an undisturbed dune in the Pine Bush, wetlands on several properties, and large development sprawl in Western Guilderland off Fuller Station Road and Old State Road.
Please see this page on the GCRG website for short comments for each project on details page for this meeting.
The town has changed how they are compiling the documents for projects and creating the agenda again. The agenda document for this meeting consists of cryptic links to other PDF documents for each project.
The good news is that the town is longer putting all the documents for all of the projects into a single file, but you still can't find documentation for a given project directly on the town's website and each document for a project is in a separate file again when you do find it. The only place apparently that you can get the links to the project files ais from the meeting agenda pdf. Hopefully we can get the town to eventually have a dedicated page on the Town's website for each project with all relevant information for that project.
Pursuant to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.8, which bans large meetings due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), and Executive Order 202.1, which suspends the Open Meetings Law, the meeting will be held electronically via conference call instead of a public meeting open for the public to attend in person. Members of the public may listen and view the meeting live on Verizon channel 34 and Spectrum channel 1303, on the Town website, and may dial (518) 579-3721 to participate in a conference call.
Below are each of the projects as listed on the agenda with comments about what we see as important about each project.
- PUBLIC HEARING - 2792 West Lydius Street - 3 Lot Minor Subdivision
The Applicant is proposing a three lot minor subdivision of 3.3 +/- acres of land located in the Single-family Residential (R20) District. Lot 1 would consist of 1.17 +/- acres of land and contains an existing single-family residence. Lot 1A would consist of 0.55 +/- acres of land and is currently undeveloped. Lot 1B would consist of 1.53 +/- acres and is currently undeveloped.
There is apparently a concern about sewer system for this sub-division. This property is outside the Albany Pine Bush Study Area.
- PUBLIC HEARING - 4931 Western Turnpike - 2 Lot Minor Subdivision
The applicant is proposing a two lot minor subdivision on 1.7 acres +/- of land located in the Single-family Residential (R20) District. The parcel currently consists of an existing single-family dwelling and outbuildings. The proposed subdivision would create one additional lot. Lot 1 would consist of 0.85 acres +/- and contains the existing single-family dwelling and outbuildings. Lot 2 would consist of 0.85 acres+/- and is undeveloped land.
This subdivision was looked at last fall and there was concern by nearby neighbors that allowing this subdivision may allow creation of a "zombie" property.
- Consideration of Final Plat Approval - 300 Prout Lane, Guilderland - Staats & Messere 2 Lot Minor Subdivision
The applicant is proposing a two lot minor subdivision of 43.24 acres +/- of land located in the Single-family Residential (R40) District. The proposed subdivision would create one additional lot. Lot 1 would consist of 25 acres +/- of land. Lot 2 would consist of 18.24 acres+/- and contains a horse barn and other outbuildings.
Save The Pine Bush deems this as a project and property to watch because it contains an undisturbed dune that is at least 348 feet above sea level and is fire-suppressed Pine Bush. More then half of the parcel is Colonie Fine Sand, and the rest of it is grandby loam sandy soils, which is nutrient rich due to spreading manure on the a horse farm.
There are no mapped wetlands exist on this land. The property next door is a former sand mind. Across the street to the north in Colonie is several parcels that are preserve, some of it is DEC Nature and Historic Preserve (Unique Area) and some is Nature Conservancy.
- Consideration of Final Plat Approval - 6030 Nott Road, Guilderland - 3 Lot Minor Subdivision
The applicant is proposing a 3 lot subdivision on 9 acres +/- of land located in the Residential Overlay (RO40) District. Lot 1 would consist of 0.92 acres and is undeveloped land. Lot 2 would consist of 2.69 acres and contains an existing single-family dwelling. Lot 3 would consist of 5.21 acres and is currently undeveloped land. Lot 1 would be directly accessed from Nott Road. Lot 2 and Lot 3 would share driveway access to each lot. Lot 2 contains an existing historic dwelling that was placed on the Historic Register in 2009.
This subdivision was of concern last year as well, but apparently the concerns of neighbors have been addressed based on comments made during the Public Hearing on May 27, 2020.
There is a dedicated page on the Town's website for this project, Norman Vale Minor Subdivision, but we have not reviewed it to see if it has been updated to have same documents in this meeting's agenda.
- Consideration of Final Plat Approval - 7168 Route 158, Guilderland - 5 Lot Major Subdivision
The applicant is proposing a 5 lot subdivision on lands that front NYS Route 158 and Old State Road. Two lots are proposed to be accessed off NYS Route 158 and three lots will be accessed from Old State Road. Lot sizes will range from 3 acres to 6.3 acres.
There are wetland concerns for this property.
- Continuation of a Concept Plan Review/Consideration of Issuing a SEQR Negative Declaration - 745 Route 146, Altamont - Lands of Donald and Barbara Cropsey - 2 Lot Minor Subdivision
The applicant is proposing a 2 lot minor subdivision of 6.42 acres +/- of land located in the Single-family Residential (R20) District. The proposed subdivision would create one additional lot. Lot 1 would consist of 2.08 acres and contains and existing single-family dwelling. Lot 2 would consist of 4.74 acres and is undeveloped land.
There are both wetland and historic concerns for this property.
- Continuation of a Concept Plan Review/Consideration of Issuing a SEQR Negative Declaration - 745 Route 146, Altamont -Lands of Donald and Barbara Cropsey - 2 Lot Minor Subdivision
The applicant is proposing a 2 lot minor subdivision of 6.42 acres +/- of land located in the Single-family Residential (R20) District. The proposed subdivision would create one additional lot. Lot 1 would consist of 2.08 acres and contains and existing single-family dwelling. Lot 2 would consist of 4.74 acres and is undeveloped land.
This is a very large subdivision that has been undergoing review since 2016 (see links to planning board minutes in this meeting's agenda) and will turn a large piece of farmland and woodlots into a sprawling single-family home development. Unfortunately, it would appear that it does not meet the criteria for a Type 1 action and require a Positive Declaration for State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR).
There is a dedicated page on the Town's website for this project, Fuller Station Road 55 Lot Sub, but we have not reviewed it to see if it has been updated to have same documents in this meeting's agenda.