Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 9, 2013 AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Edward Carboni Ms. Sharon Gariepy Chairman Joseph Moloughney Vice-Chairman Clarence Badgley ABSENT: Mr. Mark DeFruscio Mr. Jake Dumesnil ALSO PRESENT: Melissa Ashline-Heil, Director of Building and Planning CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 20th, 2013 MEETING Member Carboni moved to approve the minutes. Member Gariepy seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Jake Dumesnil ABSENT Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT CONSIDERATION OF A SITE PLAN AT 24 AMITY STREET Developer Paul Bonacquisti proposes moving his contracting business to the first floor of 24 Amity Street. He submitted plans showing eight one-bedroom apartments on the second and third floors. Engineer Luigi Palleschi redesigned the existing parking lot to create 26 parking spaces which is more than the use would require under the City’s zoning code. The tenants would access the building from the Amity Street entrance. In several years Mr. Bonacquisti intends to move his business to another location and construct four more units on the first floor of 24 Amity Street. The property would still have more than sufficient parking. The lighting and landscaping would remain the same. Member Gariepy asked about the equipment BBL Construction would keep on-site. Mr. Bonacquisti described 7-8 vehicles, none of which are heavy construction equipment. Member Carboni asked about any exterior changes. Mr. Bonacquisti will add a handicap ramp to the entrance. Chairman Moloughney asked if the mixed-use status is a change of use. Ms. Ashline-Heil explained that the property is coded as a mixed use building in the assessor’s records. Chairman Moloughney asked for research on the matter before the next meeting. Chairman Moloughney also questioned whether the change in windows would alter the neighbor’s level of privacy. Mr. Bonacquisti will continue to block 1st floor windows while his business occupies the first floor. In addition, residents in the apartments wouldn’t want the neighbors looking into the apartment anymore than neighbors want tenants watching the backyards. He pointed out that window coverings, frosted glass or glass blocking could resolve the issue easily. Diane Nolin, Fourth Ward Councilwoman, reiterated the privacy concern, as large windows on the first and second floors create privacy concerns. Mr. Palleschi added he can configure the interior layout in order to maximize light, vent and egress from existing windows. Member Gariepy questioned the snow storage location as it abuts Sandra Soave’s fence behind her garage on the south side and a section of lands owned by Aaron Gootz an Andrea Hopeck. She questions whether it would cause a drainage problem. Mr. Palleschi described the land as pitched toward Amity Street. Mr. Bonacquisti offered to install a curb to guide water away from neighbor’s properties. Councilwoman Nolin asked about snow storage, security features, background searches on tenants and a characterization of the typical tenant. She also questioned dumpster placement since residential trash creates more of a nuisance than Service Masters or a business. Finally, she sought information on what recreation opportunity would be provided for the tenants. Mr. Bonacquisti characterized potential tenants as young urbanites. The development will include security measures such as lighting, locked doors and possibly keycard access to the parking lot. He will conduct background searches on potential tenants. As to snow storage he agreed to install a curb to prevent snow from draining on to neighboring properties. Mr. Palleschi added that dumpster placement could be negotiated during the Planning Board’s site plan review. However, the developer would agree to set pick-up of the dumpster. Chairman Moloughney opened up the meeting to public comment. Otto Madsen of 51 Amity Street contended that 1) the snow melts onto neighboring properties; 2) the existing infrastructure will not suffice for additional tenants as the existing residents experience poor water pressure; 3) the street currently lacks onstreet parking due to Service Master vehicles; 4) one entrance precludes emergency rescue; 5) the project cannot provide sufficient recreation area; 6) cars cannot navigate the existing let alone the proposed parking area and 7) neighbors installed fencing to prevent vehicles from parking and plows from pushing snow over the property line. Mr. Palleschi explained that when he designed nearby 161 Masten Avenue testing found adequate water and sewer capacity. Furthermore, the parking lot provides more than the required spaces for the proposed 12 units. Mr. Bonacquisti added that the engineer can design around all other items. For example he could add another exit to the exterior. Ron Barr represented his mother Patricia Barr who owns property adjacent to the proposal. She experiences problems with snow stored against her fence which busted the fencing. Mr. Barr reiterated that egress and windows have been an issue with the building. He also expressed concern regarding stormwater runoff. Mr. Palleschi suggested that the new developer could improve upon the existing conditions. Chairman Moloughney suggested a catch basin under the snow storage areas. Member Carboni moved to declare an intent 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 ABSENT Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT CONSIDERATION OF A CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN FOR SHERWOOD FOREST Developer Dean Devito and engineer James Easton presented plans for an apartment complex on Delaware, Continental and Van Schaick Avenues adjacent to the Country Club. Mr. Devito will meet with neighbors to discuss concerns at a separate meeting. At that time he will provide elevation renderings. However he wanted to propose the concept in order to begin the approval process. Mr. Devito proposes five buildings. Four will contain 34 units in each while the fifth will contain common spaces. Each residential building ground floor provides indoor parking with a combined total of 150 spaces inside the buildings. Another 178 outdoor parking spaces make the project 12 parking spaces short of the City’s zoning code requirement, as the project requires a total of 340 spaces. On the Continental side of the project, neighbors will see the second story up to the fourth. The higher grade will subsume the ground level parking garage. Tiered building heights will link the five story apartment houses on the waterfront to the existing residential buildings lining Continental Avenue. Heights will vary by 7’-10’. As to recreation space, the project features a courtyard which creates a sense of community. The site will contain a pool, a bocce court, gazebo, fire pit, indoor gym, horseshoe pit and ample green space. In addition the proposal lies adjacent to the bike path on Delaware Avenue. Traffic will exit and enter over the bike path onto Delaware Avenue. Finally Mr. Devito will arrange membership opportunities with the golf course. Mr. Devito described the rental product as either a one bedroom up to 790 sq ft or a two bedroom up to 960 sq ft. Both would be available for under $1000 a month. The developer would furnish all apartments with stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors and solid wood cabinets. Engineers propose a bio-retention pond for stormwater management. The property pitches from Continental Avenue to Delaware Avenue. Swales will also direct water onsite. A full stormwater management plan and SWPPP will be provided during the planning process. Chairman Moloughney asked if the pond will discharge to a fourth order stream, which Mr. Easton confirmed. A bypass mechanism will deter high volumes from entering the stream. Member Carboni asked about archeological requirements. Mr. Devito hired Harkin to conduct the archeological survey. Mr. Easton explained that the 1A consideration nearly always leads to a 1B testing during which Harkin found nothing after digging test holes 18” deep every 30 or 50 feet. As a result, Harkin issued a letter that the developer will send to SHPO. SHPO can agree or disagree with the results, dictating any next steps. Member Gariepy asked about the dumpster locations. Mr. Easton placed four dumpsters on the plans. For building five he will add an enclosure with 6’ high vinyl privacy fencing to enclose. Mr. Devito agreed to dumpster pick-up twice a week. Sixth Ward Councilman Ralph Signoracci thanked Mr. Devito for his work on Watersview and Riverwalk. However, he wanted to express concern regarding several issues: 1) perpendicular parking on Continental Avenue; 2) covering the eastern shore of the pond during construction; 3) landscaping to buffer the project; and 4) if crossing the bike path post signage to protect pedestrians and bicyclists. He would also like to straighten out Van Schaick Avenue. Mr. Devito will work on beautify the parking areas. He can soften the Continental Avenue parking area too. However, straightening out Van Schaick Avenue would prove impossible due to utility lines. The bend in the road can act as a traffic calming measure to slow vehicles. Mayor George Primeau reiterated the importance of landscaping to buffer the visual impact. He also expressed concern about the parking along Continental Avenue. Randy Koniowka lives three blocks from the proposal. He has concerns about increased traffic, one entrance to the project site and the drain on the infrastructure. He avers that having one entrance means that all traffic will travel Delaware Avenue to Ontario Street rather than along Bridge Avenue. He doesn’t think those roads can handle the increased volume. Mr. Koniowka contends that the ten year old study is outdated. Therefore he recommends an updated traffic study and improvements to those pathways: repave crumbling roads, install signage, replace traffic lights and stripe roadways. He also suggests allowing traffic to use Bridge Avenue to reach 787. Mr. Koniowka is also concerned that the City preserve the Island’s historically sensitive land. The Van Schaick Mansion is on Van Schaick Island, run as a museum by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Developers found artifacts on other waterfront properties. As a result, Mr. Konoiwka suggests that the City create an historic overlay district on Van Schaick Island. Councilman Signoracci pointed out that the Captain’s Lookout developer will install a new traffic light during the second phase of construction. Mr. Easton will also look at the plans for the initial proposal as he recalls a traffic study and plan proposed during the early development of the waterfront properties. Mayor Primeau added that despite concerns relatively few accidents occur on that intersection of Delaware Avenue and Ontario Street. The last accident involved a DWI, which could cause problems in any location. Furthermore the Route 470 Corridor study included a traffic plan. Mayor Primeau added that the population increase has attracted expansion of businesses on the Island. Development improves the City so long as the growth is balanced. Member Carboni moved to declare an intent 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 ABSENT Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT Member Carboni moved to adjourn at 8:25pm. Member Gariepy seconded the motion which passed unanimously.