Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON JULY 12, 2010 AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Edward Carboni Vice-Chairman Clarence Badgley Chairman Joseph Moloughney Ms. Sharon Gariepy Mr. Jake Dumesnil ABSENT: Mr. Mark DeFruscio ALSO PRESENT: Ms. Melissa Ashline-Heil, City Planner CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 14, 2010 MEETING Chairman Moloughney called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Chairman asked the planner to take attendance call. Chairman asked the Board to decide whether to approve the minutes from the June 14th, 2010 meeting. Member Carboni made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 14th meeting. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion. Roll of call was taken and the motion passed. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Jake Dumesnil X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT CONSIDERATION OF A MINOR SUBDIVISION AT 98 AND 96 ADAMS AVENUE Eileen Ouimet proposed moving the property line between 96 and 98 Adams Avenue. Chairman Moloughney asked about placement of the fence. Mrs. Ouimet indicated that it would be moved to reflect the new property line. Chairman Moloughney asked how far the homes are to the property line. After measuring with a scale, it was determined that the homes still meet 10’ side setback requirements for the R-2 zoning district. Vice Chairman Badgley moved to approve the minor subdivision. Member Dumesnil seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Sharon Gariepy X Jake Dumesnil X  CONSIDERATION OF A POOL AT 389 COLUMBIA STREET Ray Daigneault proposed installing an above ground pool in the backyard of 389 Columbia Street. Chairman Moloughney commented that the proposal exceeds setback requirements. Mr. Daigneault added that the pool will be enclosed by fencing for safety reasons. Member Dumesnil moved to approve the special use permit for an above ground pool. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Sharon Gariepy X Jake Dumesnil X CONSIDERATION OF A SITE PLAN FOR 10 VLIET STREET Current owner of the property, Edward Haddad, reemphasized that potential buyer, Akhtan Muhammed, would improve the neighborhood by rehabilitating the structure and occupying what is currently a vacant building. Chairman Moloughney countered that parking is the biggest issue. Based on last month’s meeting the question remains whether the municipal lot would be appropriate. Melissa Ashline-Heil asked who owns the two parking spaces behind 10 Vliet Street. The Assessor’s database indicates that 10 Vliet Street is 100’ wide by 17’ deep, which is the building’s depth. Mr. Haddad indicated that he would check, and that if the SEC trustee owns it, he would make it part of the purchase of 10 Vliet Street. He believes it may be part of 10 Willow Street. Member Dumesnil asked how many bedrooms are in the second story apartment. Mr. Muhammed indicated 2-3 bedrooms. The two parking spaces under discussion would serve the apartment. Member Gariepy explained that the Planning Board needs a site plan showing the lot under consideration and the neighboring properties in order to make any decisions. Chairman Moloughney reiterated from last month that the project needs Historic Board approval. Member Carboni questioned how a dumpster would fit in with the existing parking spaces. Chairman Moloughney emphasized the need for a site plan to answer all of these questions. April Kennedy described concerns residents have about the increase in traffic, parking, litter and sight distance from people parking too close to the intersections. Mr. Haddad averred that other businesses could not use the building. He also claimed that the building’s placement on the corner impedes sight distance more than a few parked cars would. He suggested the City install “15 minute parking” signs. He works in a neighborhood with several restaurants, bars and grocers that create the type of litter Council Member Kennedy described. He urges police to issue tickets for littering. Otherwise, he believes people will continue to litter despite placing garbage cans in front of businesses as Mr. Muhammed has agreed to do. Vice Chairman Badgley asked if the proposed back entrance would be enclosed and lit. Mr. Muhammed indicated the existing door will be enclosed, but that he will provide lighting. Member Carboni pointed out that the neighboring municipal parking lot would have to be striped 9x20 with car stops. Chairman Moloughney explained that the Board is not in a position to approve because the applicant must submit a site plan. He recommended the applicant discuss with the City how to lay out the parking spaces and what improvements would be needed. Cohoes resident Randy Konieswa disagrees with the Board asking the applicant to invest in the municipal lot. Instead, he believes the City should provide that amenity, especially since the applicant will be rehabilitating an historic building. He painted Cohoes’ history and geography as a series of neighborhoods, and he reminisced about visiting the corner neighborhood store during his own childhood in Cohoes. Ms. Ashline-Heil commented that it is not unusual for municipalities to require developers to invest in the municipality’s resources that the developer will be using or rely on. In addition it is within the Planning Board’s discretion to require contribution to maintenance of the parking lot when an applicant requires the municipal lot to meet parking requirements. Member Gariepy further described the holistic approach as mitigating the applicants’ reliance on municipal parking. Mr. Haddad agreed with the resident that requiring car stops would be too much to ask. He reiterated how much money the applicant proposes to invest in 10 Vliet Street, which now stands vacant and in poor condition. He continued with how beneficial the building’s improvements would be for the City. Ms. Ashline-Heil countered that it is the current owner’s responsibility to maintain the building. Any potential buyer would be in a position to reduce the purchase price if the building requires that much work. Chairman Moloughney agreed that the car stops might be expensive. Member Dumesnil asked which way the cars face now since car stops may not be necessary. Chairman Moloughney offered that the City would have to determine the parking configuration and what improvements are needed. Otherwise, the board is amenable to the proposal. The applicant must submit plans and gain historic approval before action can be taken. Later during the evening, Mr. Haddad returned to the Planning Board meeting with photographs of the property and available on street parking as well as a few empty spaces in the municipal lot. Vice Chairman Badgley recommended tabling the request until the Board receives the appropriate materials. Member Gariepy seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Sharon Gariepy X Jake Dumesnil X  CONSIDERATION OF A SITE PLAN FOR AN ICE CREAM WINDOW AT 211 COLUMBIA STREET John Onyon resubmitted plans for an ice cream window at 211 Columbia Street. In the new plan, only six parking spaces would be provided on the Mann Avenue side. On the Columbia Street side, existing parking spaces would be turned into an area for tables. The applicant proposes placing flower boxes between the 5’ sidewalk and the tables. Member Carboni pointed out that some of the parking blocks the existing garage. Mr. Onyon responded that one space blocks the garage. However, the current owner rarely uses the garage. Once or twice a week the owner would need to drive in or out of the garage. Even so, the landlord is aware of the proposal. Member Carboni asked where the antique store would be located in the building. Mr. Onyon replied that the antique store would move out of the space. Only the ice cream window would operate out of 211 Columbia Street. Chairman Moloughney stated that the spaces closest to the intersection are too dangerous to permit. The cars would back out into a busy intersection. Instead, he suggested making those spaces into one handicapped accessible space. He also commented on the possibility of parallel parking on Columbia Street. However, the applicant needs a zoning variance for the number of off street parking spaces provided. Member Carboni asked what feedback neighbors have provided. Council Representative Diane Nolin expressed concern about pedestrian and traffic safety. When she visited the site, there was only one on street parking space available. However, the variance procedure will address neighbor’s concerns. Chairman Moloughney explained that the cars should not park past the edge of the building. On street parking is prohibited for 20’ from the point of the intersection. New driveways must be 50’ from the intersection. Member Dumesnil sought reassurance there would not be a second business in the building. Chairman Moloughney pointed out that the Board could condition any approval. The applicant added that he has a long term lease with the option to buy. As a result, Member Gariepy moved to table the proposal to seek a variance. Member Carboni seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Sharon Gariepy X Jake Dumesnil X Member Carboni made a motion to adjourn at 7:40pm. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion. Roll of call was taken and the motion passed unanimously.