Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON MAY 11, 2015 AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Edward Carboni Mr. Joseph Nadeau Chairman Mark DeFruscio Vice Chairman Clarence Badgley Mr. Jack Carroll Ms. Stephanie Couture ALSO PRESENT: Melissa Cherubino, Director of Building and Planning CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MARCH 9th, 2015 MEETING Chairman DeFruscio opened the meeting at 6:30pm and asked the recording secretary to take roll call. Member Carboni moved to approve the minutes. Member Carroll seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll ABSTAIN Stephanie Couture X CONSIDERATION OF SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A POOL AT 16 FIRST STREET Susan Bryant requested approval for installation of a 24x52 above ground pool at 16 First Street. Lot dimensions measure 55’X100’ the first half facing First Street; and an additional 28’X110’ to the river. As a result, the applicant would install the pool with 15-16’ side setbacks and over 100’ rear setbacks. Member Carboni moved to approve the pool per plans submitted. Member Carroll seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll X CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A POOL AT 74 GRANT STREET Jeremy McDonald proposed installing a 20x34 inground pool at 74 Grant Street. The lot measures 100’X128’. According to drawings submitted the pool will be installed 14’ from the rear property line; 28’ from the south side property line; 56’ from the north side property line; and 66’ from the front property line. Backwash will drain to the Vine Street catch basin. As a result, Member Carboni moved to approve the special use permit. Member Nadeau seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll X CONSIDERATION OF PRELIMINARY SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR A MULTI- FAMILY PROPOSAL AT 24 AMITY STREET Thomas Keaney of CK2 Properties reduced the proposed renovation of 24 Amity Street to 14 units with 28 off-street parking spaces, four of which are “banked” as recommended by NYSDEC green infrastructure practices as well as the City’s Zoning Code. Trash will be stored indoors; snow over 6” will be removed from the site; and the developer will install fixed blinds inside the bottom half of windows to preserve neighbor’s privacy. Member Carboni asked about lighting as he would recommend replacing the existing lights with a shoebox or downcast product to preserve neighbors from glare. Chairman DeFruscio remarked that lighting will be installed over the doors – at two locations – on the building. Chairman DeFruscio would also like curb stops added to the south lot to prevent encroachment. Neighbor Mark Kennedy commented that the number of units had not yet been resolved. Chairman DeFruscio explained that the Zoning Board of Appeals would consider the use variance for the multi-family and an area variance for the number of units at its May 27th meeting. Planning Board is authorized to consider the snow storage, lighting, parking; however the traffic commission will also need to approve the plans. Neighbors requested a traffic study which isn’t normally required of a small, 14 unit proposal. Alderwoman Diane Nolin expressed concern about emergency personnel access. Mr. Keaney described the building as fully sprinkled. However, Alderman Nolin was reiterating a concern expressed by a neighbor during an earlier meeting that the narrow width and on-street parking make emergency access on Amity Street difficult. Any additional cars parked on-street would further exacerbate the problem. Tim Ryan questioned the location of the AC condensers. Mr. Keaney pointed to the green space area abutting the building but outside the banked parking spaces. Mr. Ryan also reiterated his concerns regarding snow storage. Mike Romero questioned the sewer system capacity. He also does not believe that 28 cars would stay in the off-street parking lot and he is concerned that 28 additional vehicles will exacerbate the traffic conditions. Traffic Commission will consider the plans. Generally traffic guidelines wouldn’t consider the 28 vehicles as causing traffic all at once, but as a steady stream since people leave and return at different times of day. Member Nedeau moved to approve the preliminary plans as conditioned. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll X CONSIDERATION OF A SITE PLAN FOR A MULTI-FAMILY AT 9 AND 11 SURPRENANT WAY The applicant did not show for the meeting. Therefore, the Board gave neighbors an opportunity to speak. Mr. Murphy described flooding at existing homes in the neighborhood under current conditions. He was also concerned with setbacks and the safety of the proposal. Mr. Ron Darwak expressed concerns about snow storage and questioned whether there would be a two lane road entering the property. Mrs. Krug verified the two lane entrance and explained that snow would be pushed into the ravine. The Board also considered written comments submitted by neighbor Susan Yavaniski who finds the proposal inappropriate for the zoning district due to density, parking lot location and proximity to the ravine. Councilwoman Nolin added that the proposal includes too many units. She would like to postpone SEQR consideration until the engineer or contractor attends a meeting to describe the proposal in greater detail and answer neighbors’ questions. Since the applicant did not show the application was postponed to the June 8th 2015 meeting. Vice Chairman Badgley moved to table the application. Member Carboni seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Chris Briggs X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll X Vice Chairman Badgley moved to adjourn at 7:40pm. Member Carboni seconded the motion which passed unanimously.