Planning, Economic Development and Land Use Committee

ALBANY COMMON COUNCIL PLANNING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE COMMITTEE MINUTES Alfredo Balarin, Chair Meeting called by: Alfredo Balarin, Chair | Date: January 9, 2024 | Time: 5:34PM Committee Members Present: Balarin, Chair ☒ Adams ☒ Zamer ☒ Hoey ☒ Clarke ☒ Council Members Present: Frederick City Personnel Present: Brad Glass, Jake Eisland, Bryan Jimenez, Juliette Geraghty Speakers/Invitees: Bill Mafrici (Engineer with Hershberg & Hershberg), Bryan Davis (BBL Construction Services), Steve Quillinan Minutes Agenda Item(s):  ORDINANCE 76.122.23 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 375 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ALBANY (UNIFIED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE) BY CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF PARCEL KNOWN AS 280 MOUNT HOPE DRIVE FROM MIXED USE CAMPUS/INSTITUTIONAL (MU-CI) TO MIXED USE-COMMUNITY HIGHWAY (MU-CH) AND AMENDING THE ZONING MAP ACCORDINGLY Public Comment:  Pat Perry, 176 Mount Hope Dr., Albany, NY 12202 – Concerns surrounding Ordinance 76.122.23 Questions and Discussion:  The Chair called the meeting to order. Public Comment was heard.  Bill Mafrici presented on the project plans and reason for the requested zone change.  Council Member Hoey asked about the communication with the neighborhood association regarding the project, to which Bill Mafrici responded.  Bryan Davis further expanded on BBL’s communication with the neighborhood association.  Council Member Frederick spoke on the background of the project and requested that the Chair hold the legislation until after the neighborhood association meets with the developers on January 16th. o Council Member Balarin responded in agreement to hold the ordinance.  Council Member Clarke asked for clarification on the existing zoning map, to which Bill Mafrici responded.  Council Member Clarke spoke on his concerns with the proposed zoning change resulting in isolating a Mixed Use Campus/Institutional parcel.  Bill Mafrici and Steve Quillinan spoke on the current structures in the surrounding parcels.  Steve Quillinan spoke on the zoning for the 280 Mount Hope parcel currently being split between Mixed Use Campus/Institutional and Mixed Use Community Highway, and further spoke on their goal to create a uniform zoning classification to Mixed Use Community Highway.  Council Member Clarke asked if the parcel requested for rezoning has frontage on the highway, to which Steve Quillinan responded that it does not.  Council Member Clarke requested additional comments from the Planning Department supporting the rezone prior to the next committee meeting.  Council Member Clarke elaborated on the points made by the Planning Board that he would like further information regarding.  Council Member Balarin requested that these questions be emailed to Planning Director Brad Glass.  Council Member Zamer asked what future development this zoning change could allow, to which Steve Quillinan responded.  Council Member Frederick clarified that she requested the additional committee meeting based on community members’ input and asked for more information regarding the split-zoned parcel.  Planning Director Brad Glass informed the committee that the Planning Department would provide further information and answers to their questions prior to the next committee meeting.  Council Member Hoey praised BBL Construction Services for their previous work and transparency.  Council Member Hoey asked whether the plans include landscaping and sidewalks, to which Bryan Davis responded that there is existing greenery that would remain and that they could consider extending the existing sidewalks.  Council Member Clarke asked about the further steps for review and approval this project would need to take if the zoning change were to be approved by the Council, to which Planning Director Brad Glass responded and spoke of the development plan review that would take place.  Council Member Adams asked about the height of the development, to which Bryan Davis responded that it would be a single story.  Council Member Frederick thanked the neighborhood association for their advocacy towards the Mount Hope neighborhood and further thanked the project developers for their efforts.  Council Member Balarin asked how many units would be built, to which Bryan Davis responded there would be around 600 units in the existing building and an undetermined amount in the new construction buildings.  Council Member Balarin requested an estimate of the number of units that would be created in the constructed building.  Council Member Balarin asked about the impact of increased traffic to the community, to which Bryan Davis responded that there have not been any traffic studies conducted.  Steve Quillinan elaborated that they estimate around three to seven cars daily.  Council Member Balarin requested more information regarding how the development would increase traffic to the area.  Council Member Frederick spoke on the speed humps on Mount Hope Drive deterring construction traffic.  Steve Quillinan expanded that they believe there would not be a significant increase to the traffic along Mount Hope Drive.  Steve Quillinan further spoke on the distinction between the rentable square footage of the buildings versus the number of units that will be built.  Council Member Adams asked where the traffic would come from to get to the storage facility, to which Steve Quillinan responded that they anticipate the majority of traffic coming from Route 9W.  Council Member Frederick asked about the location of a nearby hotel, to which Steve Quillinan identified the hotel on the map.  Council Member Adams asked about the number of parking spots the project plans to have, to which Steve Quillinan responded that they plan to have what is required by the USDO and do not foresee needing additional parking.  Council Member Hoey asked about storm water management, to which Bill Mafrici responded.   Council Member Hoey asked about security and job creation, to which Steve Quillinan responded that the facility will be gated and there will be security cameras and low-impact lighting. Steve Quillinan further informed the committee that there would be between one and three jobs created to manage the facility and additional jobs for landscaping, maintenance, and construction.  Council Member Hoey asked about storage auctions, to which Steve Quillinan responded.  Council Member Clarke asked for clarification prior to the next committee meeting on why this zoning district make sense for this parcel, taking in to account future development beyond the self-storage facility.  Bryan Davis thanked the committee members for their time. Adjourn: Council Member Hoey moved to adjourn at 6:24PM, seconded by Council Member Zamer, and the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully Submitted, Juliette Geraghty Junior Legislative Aide