Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON JUNE 8, 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 Ms. Stephanie Couture ABSENT: Vice Chairman Clarence Badgley Mr. Jack Carroll ALSO PRESENT: Melissa Cherubino, Director of Building and Planning CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 8th, 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 Couture seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll ABSENT Stephanie Couture X CONSIDERATION OF SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A POOL AT 12 SIMMONS AVENUE Alisha Sala sought permission to install a 12’ round above ground pool in the backyard of 12 Simmons Avenue. Drawings reflect 10’ setbacks to the adjacent side neighbor and rear property lines. The opposite side property line is 18’ from the pool. And the front property line is at least 50’ from the pool. Ms. Sala explained that drainage would spill into the backyard. Adjacent neighbors’ yards contain a fence, shed and jacuzzi. Member Nadeau moved to approve the pool per plans submitted. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Stephanie Couture X Jack Carroll ABSENT CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A POOL AT 352 NORTH MOHAWK STREET The applicant attended the meeting later; however she left before the Board considered the application. As a result, Member Carboni moved to table the special use permit. Member Couture seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll ABSENT Stephanie Couture X CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A POOL AT 417 VLIET BLVD Paul Robison proposed installing a 34X16 inground pool in the backyard of 417 Vliet Blvd. Chairman DeFruscio questioned whether the pool meets the rear setback because the fence is installed at an angle. Mr. Robison explained the fence was installed at an angle, but the property lines are squared and the lot is rectangular. He verified that the pool is 15’ to the fence and the fence is installed within the rear property line. Chairman DeFruscio questioned the flow of water. If the liner tears water would stay within the pool area because of the clay soils. However, backwash will be directed to the street or within the yard. As a result, Member Carboni moved to approve the special use permit as described. Member Nadeau seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll ABSENT Stephanie Couture X CONSIDERATION OF SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR A BOTTLE RECYCLING PROPOSAL AT 94 REMSEN STREET Leon Guilbeault proposes installing a bottle recycling center at 94 Remsen Street. He has operated a similar business in Troy on 101st Street which he closed due to safety concerns. Chairman DeFruscio asked for clarification on the location and whether the barber shop facing Remsen Street would remain open. Mr. Guilbeault explained the barber shop would remain open and the recycling would take place in the former Bike Barn behind the barber shop and next to the Amerivape Smoke Shop which he owns and operates. Mr. Guilbeault would pay customers for drink containers. A Tomra truck would pick-up bottles once a week or every other week. Board members asked for a more specific pick-up schedule and Mr. Guilbeault settled on once a week. Member Couture pointed out that the space is currently vacant and it would be better to have a business occupy the storefront. Board members questioned the amount of bottles hauled away weekly and the size of the truck picking up loads. Mr. Guilbeault estimated 10,000 cans a week would be hauled away which would fill ¼ of a semi’s trailer. Chairman DeFruscio asked the size of the space available for collection and storage, which Mr. Guilbeault described as 1,000 sq ft including the basement. The Chairman asked about odor nuisances from unwashed bottles and cans. Mr. Guilbeault assured the Board he would turn away any unwashed containers. Member Couture asked if the facility would include a sink for washing the containers. However, although Mr. Guilbeault confirmed that the facility would have a sink he does not want to be in the business of washing recyclables. The Chairman questioned how the applicant would enforce container cleanliness and the proposed storage of containers. The board was concerned with attracting pests to the location when the neighboring properties contain residential. In addition, the odors of stale beer and soda would impair the neighbors use and enjoyment of the residential spaces. Mr. Guilbeault would store the containers in plastic bags until pick-up. He would refuse to accept unwashed bottles and cans. He also used pest control sprays at the Troy store. Member Couture asked whether spraying was a preventive measure or based on necessity, which Mr. Guilbeault described as preventive measure. Chairman DeFruscio questioned whether the applicant had conducted a study regarding the viability of the proposal given that residents can recycle bottles at the Cohoes Price Chopper .8 miles away at 240 Congress Street. Mr. Guilbeault described his recycling center as devoid of the crushing machines. Instead, the center would contain a series of boxes with a table for sorting. Two employees would sort the bottles and pay customers for the deliveries. Chairman DeFruscio asked about parking needs and truck pick-up timeframes. He is concerned that the location is not conducive to high volume customer turnover and 10,000 cans sounds like a significant number of people. Mr. Guilbeault anticipates mostly foot traffic of 10-12 people daily. In addition, pick-up takes 15 minutes at most. He pointed out that the other businesses have deliveries from large trucks – including the Bike Barn when it occupied the given space. When questioned about the hours of operation Mr. Guilbeault stated Wednesday through Sunday 12noon to 8pm. His application described no lighting on the exterior. However, 8pm in the winter is after dark whereas 8pm in the summer is still daylight. In addition the application states that garbage would be driven to a dumpster at a different location. The Board would be concerned about piling-up of garbage without regularly scheduled pick-ups with a reputable firm. The situation could become an enforcement issue. Member Carboni expressed reservations about the proposal and the proposed business in the given location. Member Nadeau agreed that the location does not seem conducive to the proposed use for several reasons: traffic, potential odor nuisances, lack of details and lack of compatibility with the City’s Route 470 Corridor study recommendations. The proposed signage will be placed in the same location the same size and shape as the Bike Barn. However submission did not include a rendering of the proposed sign. Board members pointed out the Historic Board will need to approve signage, lighting or any façade alterations. Mr. Guilbeault’s attorney, Henry Glavin, was in attendance. He assured the Board that the applicant runs several clean businesses throughout the area in Troy, Latham, Clifton Park, Burnt Hills and Cohoes. In addition he points out that since the proposal is in the mixed-use zoning district and qualifies as a service it is a permissible use. Furthermore, he questioned whether any business would be allowed in the location given the parking and delivery concerns. However, the Board requested additional details: renderings of the façade with signage; historic approval; mock-ups of the signs including dimensions and placement on the building; an opinion from the traffic commission regarding the proposed delivery schedule and traffic size and frequency; viability of the business given proximity to another bottle return within a mile; and objective business information on the proposed use in a similarly situated City. As a result, Member Nadeau moved to table the plans pending additional details. Member Couture seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll ABSENT Stephanie Couture X CONSIDERATION OF A SITE PLAN FOR A MULTI-FAMILY AT 9 AND 11 SURPRENANT WAY Joe Bianchine, P.E. represented developer Jerry Krug in development of 9 and 11 Surprenant Way as a sixteen unit multi-family residential facility with 16 parking spaces. The eight row-houses would each contain two units. The footprint of the building sits behind the existing single family home at 9 Surprenant Way. The two unit reduction eliminated several area variances for setbacks. In addition the applicant will merge the two lots so the parking lot is on the side of the building rather than the front. However, doing so creates two principal structures on the property which will require an area variance. Member Couture commented that the noise level and configuration is out of character for the neighborhood. Although the $1200 range is on par with Harmony Mills the multi-family configuration is out of synchronization with the neighborhood. Neighbors commented that the high rent might result in more adults occupying each unit, thereby increasing the number of cars. Chairman DeFruscio explained that the size of the lot requires additional units; however the frontage does not permit subdivision. Row housing is permissible as of right, but the row of two- family homes creates a multi-family structure with firewalls. Neighbors countered that the developer should have considered that problem prior to purchase. Other streets could better handle traffic volumes. Member Nadeau moved to declare an intent to act as lead agency. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Chris Briggs X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll ABSENT Stephanie Couture X Board members asked that a moment of contemplation be added to next month’s agenda to honor the passing of longtime Planning Board member Ed Rigney. Vice Chairman Badgley moved to adjourn at 8:30pm. Member Carboni seconded the motion which passed unanimously.