Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 14, 2011 AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Joseph Moloughney Mr. Edward Carboni Mr. Jake Dumesnil Ms. Sharon Gariepy Vice-Chairman Clarence Badgley ABSENT: Mr. Mark DeFruscio CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 17, 2011 MEETING Member Carboni moved to approve the minutes from the October 17, 2011 meeting. Member Dumesnil seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Jake Dumesnil X Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT CONSIDERATION OF A SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR CARPORTS AT WATER SIDE Jim Finning of Water Side Apartments installed the carports as agreed during the previous month’s Planning Board meeting. However, the carports did not fit in the designated areas. Therefore, Mr. Finning installed two sections of the carports near the berm. The remaining carports are located in the originally proposed sites. Mr. Finning also indicated that he still needs to install trim pieces on the top and edge. Member Gariepy compared the carports to shopping cart corrals. She suggested landscaping to soften the appearance. Member Dumesnil suggested painting the galvanized posts. Mr. Finning offered to install panels and siding on up to ¾ of the carport sides to cover the posts. Chairman Moloughney asked that the applicant install only partial siding to avoid the appearance of a metal shed. He also clarified that only the carports facing Dyke Avenue need dressing. Member Dumesnil asked if residents provided feedback. Mr. Finning pointed out that the carports are mostly rented. In addition, the majority of comments have been positive. Chairman Moloughney asked about the berm. Mr. Finning explained that wild plant life has grown on the berm. Mr. Finning also installed a drainage system last year: crushed stone and 6” piping connected to a catch basin. However, no water has ever discharged from the pipe. Since installation a truck disconnected the pipe on Kelman’s side. Instead, Kelman resolved the site’s stormwater runoff issues internally. Chairman Moloughney explained that the wild growth will turn to trees and might not remain stable. Mr. Finning emphasized that the area between the parking lot and the River has to remain forever wild according to the Army Corps of Engineers. If the berm were visible to anyone other than his residents and Kelman’s he would landscape. He hopes that in the future Kelman would sell to a residential developer. In that case he would remove the berm. Board members agreed to condition preliminary approval of the site plan on visual inspections of the completed carports and submission of a final as-built site plan. Mr. Finning agreed to install siding on the carport facing Dyke Avenue. Chairman Moloughney asked that emergency services review placement of the carport by the berm for access. Finally, Board members asked that the berm be conditionally approved such that any change in the neighborhood composition would trigger reevaluation of the berm. Member Carboni moved for such a conditioned approval. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Jake Dumesnil X Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT Member Carboni moved to adjourn at 7:15pm. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion which passed unanimously.