Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 10, 2012 AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice-Chairman Clarence Badgley Mr. Edward Carboni Chairman Joseph Moloughney Ms. Sharon Gariepy Mr. Jake Dumesnil Mr. Mark DeFruscio ALSO PRESENT: Melissa Ashline-Heil, Director of Building and Planning CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMER 19th, 2012 MEETING Member Gariepy moved to approve the minutes. 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 X CONSIDERATION OF A SITE PLAN FOR 65 CONGRESS STREET Dan O’Neill received approval for 11 dormitory style residential housing rooms from the Zoning Board of Appeals several months ago. He rented out seven of the eleven units and now seeks to use the assembly space for weddings, concerts, recitals, art shows and other events. He also would like to renovate the basement into residential for temporary housing of vacationers, business professionals in town for business, parents visiting their children who are local students, international visitors on a visa and artists or musicians working either at the Music Hall or in the assembly space. The assembly area is handicapped accessible and has a unisex bathroom sufficient for 250 people. Furthermore he can rent it out inexpensively since he has the residence hall occupied. A caterer has expressed interest in using the space for small events. The basement is handicapped accessible as well. There are two bathrooms in the basement as well as a commercial kitchen. Mr. Carboni asked if occupants would cook in the kitchen to serve the assembly areas; however the caterer Mr. O’Neill has been negotiating with would prefer to bring food in already prepared. Instead caterers would only use the dishwasher. Member Carboni also asked the code on the temporary housing proposed in the basement. It appears to be either a hotel or extended stay. Chairman Moloughney explained that the applicant would need a variance for the use since the original variance is specific to exactly 11 units with a maximum of 22 students. All of the student housing conditions would persist. Chairman Moloughney advised clearly defining the proposal and being upfront with future plans. Member Dumesnil pointed out the church had weddings in the past. Vice Chairman Badgley countered that parking was always difficult during events. Furthermore, the use was abandoned for over a year. Chairman Moloughney explained that the code limits the discussion on parking through formulas. Therefore the applicant would need to obtain a variance through the Zoning Board of Appeals. Mr. O’Neill explained that the assembly area only needs 64 parking spaces because only 6400 sq ft of the total 8000 sq ft is usable. The Code requires 1 parking space per 100 sq ft of assembly space. The Code also makes exceptions for uses within either 500’ or 800’ of the proposal. Member DeFruscio asked about the municipal lot on Sargent and White Streets. Mr. O’Neill was not familiar with that parcel. Mr. O’Neill suggested that the area has sufficient parking. The closest City lot is next to the Black Cat on White Street and Main. That site is 761 ft walking distance from the proposal. In addition there is sufficient onstreet parking. However, Member Carboni indicated that the applicant cannot rely on street parking. As a result he recommends capping the maximum occupancy to the existing available off street parking. Mr. O’Neill further explained that peak wedding season is comprised of only 48 days. Chairman Moloughney added that any conditioned approval would limit use to exclude Raves. Member Gariepy recommended engaging a shuttle service to the municipal lot. Chairman Moloughney added that the applicant would want to advertise the municipal lot as parking. Vice Chairman Moloughney asked if the applicant would change the entrance. Mr. O’Neill would keep the handicapped accessible entrance, but perhaps extend the cover. Vice Chairman Badgley asked if the owner would use the existing boiler, which Mr. O’Neill confirmed. Member DeFruscio moved to approve the preliminary site plan for the residential use in the basement. Member Gariepy seconded the motion which passed unanimously. The request for approval of the assembly space is tabled for Zoning Board review. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Jake Dumesnil X Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio X Mark DeFruscio had to leave the meeting at 7:15pm. CONSIDERATION OF A PRELIMINARY SITE PLAN FOR 39 SARATOGA STREET Donald MacEvoy of DCG owns property at 39 Saratoga Street. He proposes constructing a four story L-shaped apartment complex with 96 units facing the river. The Planning Board expressed concerns about traffic and access. However, conceptually the Board found the proposal agreeable. As a result, Mr. MacElroy agreed to consider ways of handling those issues and submit a more detailed site plan. CONSIDERATION OF SEQR FOR 240 NORTH MOHAWK STREET Gerald Abdelnour owns property at 240 North Mohawk Street. Currently the property contains a large brick principal structure and two garages along the southernmost portion of the parking lot. Mr. Abdelnour proposes removing the garage and shed and placing a new metal structure for housing his business offices. The Historic Board researched the significance of the garages. At last month’s Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board (hereinafter HPARB) meeting the Board found that the existing garages are not significant or unique enough to rehabilitate. However, SHPO expressed an interest in photographing the construction, so the owner is accommodating the request in the next week. Member Carboni moved to approve the Negative Declaration for SEQR purposes. 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 Gariepy moved to adjourn at 7:30pm. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Please note the next meeting will take place January 14, 2012.