Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON AUGUST 10, 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 Vice Chairman Clarence Badgley Mr. Jack Carroll ALSO PRESENT: Melissa Cherubino, Director of Building and Planning CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM THE JULY 13th, 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 105 WASHINGTON AVENUE The applicant, Matthew Becker, submitted a drawing showing 12-15’ setbacks from three property lines and to the house. The side of the house runs along Third Street; however the home faces Washington Avenue. The front setback should be 50’, not 15’. The applicant explained he wanted to show the minimum. In practice the pool is more than 15’ from the front. Therefore, Board members asked the applicant to provide accurate measurements. Chairman DeFruscio also asked how the land slopes. Mr. Becker explained that the topography slopes toward Third Street. Therefore the pool would damage the applicant’s property on its way to Third Street. Member Carroll moved to approve the pool per plans submitted as conditioned: 1. provide accurate measurements; and 2. obtain an area variance from the front setback if necessary. Member Nadeau seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Stephanie Couture Non-voting Jack Carroll X CONSIDERATION OF A SITE PLAN FOR A PAINT AND BODY SHOP AT 144 CONGRESS STREET Michael Munro proposed conducting paint and auto body shop for antique cars at 144 Congress Street. The property was originally constructed as an automotive repair shop and still contains a functioning paint booth. The Board determined that the proposal constitutes a Type II Action for SEQR determination purposes. However, the Board did express concerns that the proposal could create several potential nuisances, particularly if the property sells to another auto body repair shop operator. In this instance, Mr. Munro owns a separate automotive repair shop in Troy where he conducts most of the maintenance on antique or classic cars. He also stores the vehicles in his large parking lot in Troy. Instead, he intends to use 144 Congress Street for the functioning paint booth. As a result, Mr. Munro does not intend to queue cars up on Congress Street or use surrounding on-street parking. Instead, the 4800 sq ft could comfortably accommodate 10 cars, while he would only place half a dozen cars inside the building and have at most 3 employees on location to conduct work on the vehicles. Hours of operation would take place between 9am and 7pm up to seven days a week. Mr. Munro stated that the building is in excellent shape. The previous owner made many of the maintenance repairs. Mr. Munro repaired the Troy garage walls and trusses which was difficult and expensive work. The existing building at 144 Congress Street is solid. Member Carboni commented that the building sold at County Auction in 2008. Since that time the building was empty for a considerable amount of time. Most recently CR Productions used the space for creating sets. However, CR Productions no longer leases the space. Mr. Munro would add a dumpster in the alley way in case of need; however given the Troy facility he doesn’t foresee a need to create any nuisance to the neighborhood. Instead, he would not need to modify the building exterior with lighting or signage. Mr. Munro would update the ventilation system which removes particulates. Other than the possible ambient noise akin to an air compressor from the paint and ventilation equipment neighbors would not experience any nuisances. As a result, Member Nadeau moved to approve the site plan as conditioned: 1. No parking of vehicles outside, on street or in the alley; 2. No more than three employees onsite at any given time; 3. Restrict hours of operation to 7am-7pm; 4. No more than 10 cars in the building at any given time; 5. Conduct only auto body painting and body repair, not maintenance; and 6. Obtain a use variance for the proposed use. 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 Stephanie Couture Non-voting CONSIDERATION OF PLANNING BOARD CONSULTANT ENGINEER CONTRACT RENEWAL AS A SOLE PROPRIETOR Board members have no objection to renewing the contract to keep Thomas McGrath, P.E. as the planning board consultant engineer. His performance has been satisfactory. Vice Chairman Badgley moved to adjourn at 7:35pm. Member Carboni seconded the motion which passed unanimously.