Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON MAY 13, 2013 AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice-Chairman Clarence Badgley Chairman Joseph Moloughney Mr. Mark DeFruscio Mr. Edward Carboni Mr. Jake Dumesnil Ms. Sharon Gariepy ALSO PRESENT: Melissa Ashline-Heil, Director of Building and Planning CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM THE APRIL 8th, 2013 MEETING Member DeFruscio moved to approve the minutes. Member Carboni 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 SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A POOL AT 112 MANN AVE Michael Marcil of 112 Mann Avenue proposes installing a 21’ wide pool on his double lot. The pool would sit 10’ from the side property lines and the rear property line. A-Frame would install the pool. Member DeFruscio asked where the land slopes. Mr. Marcil explained the land slopes to the alley. Since the pool would drain to the alley, Member DeFruscio moved to approve the special use permit. Member Carboni 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 SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A POOL AT 176 VLIET BLVD Jamie Bonkoski of 176 Vliet Blvd proposes installing a 15’X24’ pool on her double lot. The pool would have the following setbacks: 100’ to the front, 25’ to the rear, and well over 10’ from both sides as the pool will sit between the driveway and the house. A white vinyl fence encompasses the property. Vice Chairman Badgley moved to approve the special use permit. Member Gariepy 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 SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A POOL AT 104 WESTERN AVE James Ahearn requested permission to install a 27’ round pool on his property at 104 Western Ave. The pool would be at least 67’ from each side and the rear property line. Member Carboni moved to approve the special use permit. Member Gariepy 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 SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A POOL AT 14 TANGUAY DR William Wurzburg of 14 Tanguay Dr requested permission to install an 18’ pool which would be located 10’ from the left and rear property line, and 40’ from the right side property line. He fenced in the yard. Member DeFruscio noted that the surrounding neighbors all have pools as well. Member DeFruscio moved to approve the special use permit. Member Gariepy 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 AND SUBDIVISION OF 161 MASTEN AVE Joe Bianchine of ABD Engineering represented the subdivision and site plan review for 161 Masten Avenue. Developers Daniel Lill and Jeremy Krug were also in attendance. Mr. Bianchine described the 9 lot subdivision as owner occupied townhouses with a single unit on the end. The developer will connect to City water but will need to extend the sewer line. Each two story unit will have a two car garage and a two car driveway with 25’ between the garage and the sidewalk. Member Dumesnil asked the going rate for each unit. Mr. Bianchine described the asking price as around $200,000 per unit. Member Carboni asked if there would be a Homeowner’s Association. Mr. Bianchine explained that each individual owner would be responsible for maintenance and there won’t be any common areas to maintain. However, the deed restrictions will require that owners maintain connected units with the same colors and materials. Chairman Moloughney asked why the subdivision had changed from five lots to nine. Mr. Bianchine explained that as owner occupied units conveyance of each unit would require subdivision of the land. However, this halves the lot size and requires a variance from lot size as well as side setbacks along the fire walls. Jim Pascarielli of 160 Masten asked whether this would make the lots unbuildable should a structure suffer fire damage. Chairman Moloughney explained it would in some cases. As a result Chairman Moloughney asked for an interpretation of the code from the City’s Corporation Counsel. Member DeFruscio asked why the developer only intends to install concrete sidewalks between the driveways. Mr. Bianchine stated that the driveways are done in asphalt which is also a hard surface suitable for walking for pushing a stroller. Member Dumesnil asked if the new sidewalk connects to an existing which it does. Member DeFruscio questioned whether Amity St and Masten Ave could be connected to reduce neighbors’ concerns about traffic congestion on Masten Ave. However, the ravine interferes with the connection. In addition, a paper alley which conveys stormwater to the ravine flanks the back of the property. It would be difficult to construct a road across the swale due to the slope. Al Spadoni of 180 Masten Avenue argued that the dead end street cannot support an additional nine homes. Originally the lot was subdivided into four parcels. Nine more homes will make the traffic too congested. As a result he prefers single family homes. Holly Ware agreed. Councilwoman Diane Nolin has concerns about the lot sizes and parking since the garages will likely be used for storage. Member Dumesnil agreed because the homes will not have basements. Gail Hack of 8 Amity Street is concerned about the traffic congestion and the turnaround. Mr. Hack expressed concerns about the nature of duplexes. He cited an incident at a duplex in the City where one unit was abandoned. The basement flooded with 6’ of water and caused water damage to the neighboring unit. Mr. Lill pointed out that the structures are on slabs thereby mitigating groundwater issues. Member Gariepy added that townhouses don’t match the character of the neighborhood where she grew up as the rest of the area is single family homes. Mr. Lill pointed out that during neighborhood meetings and posting notices to encourage dialogue he noted a three unit apartment building across the street from the property as well as multi-family homes behind the property and further down Masten Avenue. A site overlay shows similarities in density between the existing homes and the proposed townhouses. Chairman Moloughney added that the same project could be done one lot at a time without the benefit of site plan review. Member DeFruscio moved to approve the Planning Board as lead agency for SEQR purposes. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Vice Chairman Badgley moved to table the item. Member Carboni seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Jake Dumesnil X Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio X CONSIDERATION OF LEAD AGENCY STATUS FOR SEQR PURPOSES AT 30 DELAWARE AVE The applicant failed to appear. However the Board decided to begin the SEQR process by declaring an intent to act as lead agency. Member DeFruscio moved to act as lead agency. 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 X Member DeFruscio moved to adjourn at 7:30pm. Member Carboni seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Please note the next meeting will take place June 10th, 2012.