Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON May 5, 2008 AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Joseph Moloughney Vice-Chairman Clarence Badgley Mr. Edward Carboni Mr. Mark DeFruscio Ms. Sharon Gariepy Jake Dumesnil ALSO PRESENT: Ms. Melissa Ashline-Heil, Planner Ed Tremblay, Director of Community and Economic Development CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 5, 2008 MEETING Chairman Moloughney called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Chairman asked the planner to take attendance call. Chairman Moloughney asked the Board to decide whether to approve the minutes from the June 2, 2008 meeting. Member Carboni made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 2, 2008 meeting. Member DeFruscio seconded the motion, roll of call was taken and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO Edward Carboni X Joseph Moloughney X Clarence Badgley X Mark DeFruscio X Sharon Gariepy X CONSIDERATION OF A MINOR SUBDIVISION AT 161 MASTEN AVENUE Vinnie Santuro proposed dividing his property located at 161 Masten Avenue into four separate parcels. Each parcel would be 10,900 square feet with 100 foot frontage and 100 foot depth. Member Carboni questioned the alley behind the lot furthest north at the end of Masten Ave and how it affects lot size. The owner indicated that would be the purchaser’s problem. Member Carboni also asked what would be done with the garage. Mr. Santuro said he would tear down the garage. Vice Chairman Badgley indicated that the last lot was close to a hill. He also questioned whether that was why the 10’ setback in front of the building. Mr. Santuro answered that the 20 foot slope into the hill could be filled in for use as a single family parcel. The setbacks, however, were set by City Code. The City Planner asked about the negotiations with DPW Commissioner Ken Radliff concerning stormwater and sewage systems. Mr. Santuro replied that he had discussed the water drainage and sewer problems on the street with Mr. Radliff. Mr. Santuro agreed to install a separate sewer going north from his property. He would also install a line for handling drainage that would be in place when he sold the lots; will extend along all four lots; and would use an 8” pipe if the City provided such. Chairman Moloughney discussed the grading of the last proposed lot on Masten Avenue. He proposed dividing the lots differently in order to avoid extensive sloping on the last lot.Mr. Santuro did not want to alter the proposed lot lines. Ward Council Member Dianne Nolin then expressed her concerns as similar to those addressed by the Board. Member Gariepy moved to approve the minor subdivision; Member DeFruscio seconded the motion. Roll of call was taken and the motion passed. YES NO Edward Carboni X Joseph Moloughney X Clarence Badgley X Mark DeFruscio X Sharon Gariepy X CONSIDERATION OF SITE PLAN FOR 23 SARGENT STREET Architect Mike Perry represented the owners, HomeVestor Real Estate group. He sought site plan approval for the renovation of the basement as a business use. The applicants proposed waiving the parking requirement because of the property’s proximity to municipal parking. City Code gives the Planning Board discretion to waive parking requirements if the use is within 200 feet of a municipal lot. Vice Chairman Badgley asked whether work would be done upstairs. Mr. Perry replied that the two rental units would remain the same. The owners already renovated the units on the first and second floors as well as the roof. Code Enforcement issues Certificates of Occupancy on the rental units. The owners wanted to renovate the basement for use as a business. Currently the basement contains hair dryers and sinks left over from its use as a beauty salon. Member DeFruscio asked if work would be done to the front. Mr. Perry indicated that the concrete stairs and railing on the side would be the only exterior improvements. The aluminum siding and vinyl shutters would remain the same to comply with Historic Board requirements. Chairman Moloughney indicated that it was also within the Board’s discretion to require a monetary contribution to improve the municipal parking lot the owners proposed using. He asked whether the owners would be willing to contribute. The owners indicated they would be open to it depending on the amount, but that they would only need two spaces. Most likely they would use street parking. However, the Board replied that clients would need the municipal lot. Chairman Moloughney suggested negotiating with $1,000 as a starting price. The other Board member s and the Chairman agreed it was difficult to ascertain a fair amount, and after much discussion decided to approve the application without requiring the improvement funds. Member Carboni moved to approve the item; Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion. Roll of call was taken and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO Edward Carboni X Joseph Moloughney X Clarence Badgley X Mark DeFruscio X Sharon Gariepy X CONSIDERATION OF GRANTING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO INSTALL A SWIMMING POOL AT 7 ARTHUR DRIVE Mr. Antoniak, the homeowner, presented his proposal for an above ground swimming pool in his back yard at 7 Arthur Drive. Member Carboni asked how far setback the pool would be from the front property line. Mr. Antoniak indicated that his drawing and side property line distance shown only included the back yard. He had more than 50’ to the front yard from the pool. Member DeFruscio moved to approve the subdivision. Member Gariepy seconded the motion. Roll of call was taken and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO Edward Carboni X Joseph Moloughney X Clarence Badgley X Mark DeFruscio X Sharon Gariepy X CONSIDERATION OF A MINOR SUBDIVISION FOR 37 JAMES STREET The Claflins seek to subdivide their 11.8 acre property at 37 James Street. The resulting landlocked parcel – 3.27 acres – would become part of the Eagle Nest condominium project. Vice Chairman Badgley moved to approve the subdivision. Member DeFruscio seconded the motion. Roll of call was taken and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO Edward Carboni X Joseph Moloughney X Clarence Badgley X Mark DeFruscio X Sharon Gariepy X CONSIDERATION OF FINAL SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR JAMES STREET CONDOMINIUM Joe Bianchini of ABD Engineering presented the plans. Chairman Moloughney had spoken with the Planning Board Engineer concerning his most recent comments on the project. All comments were considered minor and easily remedied. Chairman Moloughney placed a deadline of ten days for resubmission of updated plans to the Board based on the comments. The engineer agreed. Chairman Moloughney also asked that the engineer move the geotechnical line so the contractor knows or at least checks its placement. Then Chairman Moloughney questioned whether there would be an easement for the City to maintain the water mains in case of emergency. The Home owner’s Association (HA) will take primary responsibility of the water mains; the City would only enter if the HA failed to handle a situation in an emergency. Therefore, the Board considered a conditioned final approval of the subdivision. Member DeFruscio moved to approve the project plans contingent on receiving final approval from the Planning Board engineer and county comments. Member Carboni seconded the motion. Roll of call was taken and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO Edward Carboni X Joseph Moloughney X Clarence Badgley X Mark DeFruscio X Sharon Gariepy X CONSIDERATION OF GRANTING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO INSTALL A SWIMMING POOL AT 25 ROSE COURT Despite the homeowners’ failure to appear before the Board, the members decided to act on the request for a special use permit to install a pool at 25 Rose Court. Member DeFruscio moved to approve the special use permit. Member Gariepy seconded the motion. Roll of call was taken and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO Edward Carboni X Joseph Moloughney X Clarence Badgley X Mark DeFruscio X Ms. Sharon Gariepy X Vice Chairman Badgley made a motion to adjourn at 7:25 PM; Member Gariepy seconded the motion.