Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 8, 2014 AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Edward Carboni Ms. Sharon Gariepy Mr. Mark DeFruscio Mr. Chris Briggs Acting Chairman Clarence Badgley ALSO PRESENT: Melissa Cherubino, Director of Building and Planning CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 8th, 2014 MEETING Member Carboni moved to approve the minutes. Member Gariepy seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Chris Briggs X Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio X CONSIDERATION OF SEQR FOR A DISTILLERY AT 65 CONGRESS STREET Jason Von Guinness proposes installing a small scale distillery in the three-bay garage at 65 Congress Street. He submitted the SEQR part I and the City completed part II. During previous meetings neighbors argued that the garage was part of the parking for student housing and event parking taking place at the address. Therefore, the property owner, Dan O’Neill, submitted proof of his unsuccessful attempts to rent parking spaces to neighbors before renting the structure for events and students. He submitted copies of a Craigslist ad from that timeframe. He reports that he also installed a sign on-site. Furthermore, although he received approval for 22 students in 11 rooms the owner finds that students living off-campus want single rooms. For that reason, the property owner only rents to 11 students at any given time. The applicant, Mr. Von Guinness, added that the distillery requires one of two employees to stop in for a half hour at a time periodically. He and his partner would never be on-site at the same time. Member Gariepy asked about odors and noises associated with the distilling process. Mr. Von Guinness described the noise as boiling water only audible from within the garage. Odors would not be present. Chairman Badgley asked about garbage. However, Mr. Von Guinness explained that the process ferments sugar, which dissolves in water and washes into the sewer system. He is distilling whiskey, gin, vodka and cherry moonshine which he would wholesale to local bars and stores. Cardboard boxes - delivery materials – may also be disposed of through the pick-up service for the building. Member Carboni questioned the access to the building interior. Mr. Von Guinness intends to close off two of the three garage doors. However the employees can also ingress/egress from a man door on the rear of the garage. Chairman Badgley asked about deliveries. Since the distillery uses only 200 gallons of water and other products, deliveries would be made two times per week. The applicant prefers to act as his own distributor to reduce costs. As a result of the foregoing information, Member DeFruscio moved to make a negative declaration for SEQR purposes. Member Gariepy seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Chris Briggs X Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio X CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A HOME OCCUPATION AT NORTH MOHAWK STREET The applicant did not attend the Planning Board meeting. Therefore Member Carboni moved to table the item. Member Briggs seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Chris Briggs X Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio X Member Carboni moved to adjourn at 7:00pm. Member Gariepy seconded the motion which passed unanimously.