Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 14, 2015 AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Edward Carboni Mr. Joseph Nadeau Ms. Stephanie Couture Vice Chairman Clarence Badgley Mr. Jack Carroll ABSENT: Chairman Mark DeFruscio ALSO PRESENT: Melissa Cherubino, Director of Building and Planning CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 14th, 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 X Stephanie Couture X CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A POOL AT 24 CASCADE STREET Adam Hotaling proposes installing an inground pool in the backyard of his single family property located at 24 Cascade Street. The submitted survey illustrated that the proposal exceeds setbacks. In addition the natural drainage flows to a drywell on the property. A vacant parcel abuts the property. Member Carroll 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 Stephanie Couture X CONSIDERATION OF SEQR FOR A MULTI_FAMILY AT 217 DELAWARE AVENUE Sean Farrell, P.E. represented the developer in proposing a 24 unit multi-family condominium project at 217 Delaware Avenue. The proposal includes a pool, poolhouse, fitness center and boat launch for the condominium residents. Although the site will include public access along a walking path parallel to the River, and the boat launch will be available for emergency services, only condominium residents will be able to use the pool and fitness facilities. In response to questions last month the developer and design team reduced parking to 66 spaces, banking seven spaces. The reduction increases green space to 47%. The Board would like the applicant to further reduce paved areas since the code only requires 48 parking spaces for the proposal. With regard to SEQR, the other involved agencies signed off on lead agency status either by direct mail or through tolling of the 30 days. However, SHPO did require that the Planning Board list a “moderate to severe” determination in Part II of the EAF for the archaeological issues on the site. Part III of the EAF describes the proposed mitigation: encapsulate the historic artifacts with parking on the north side of the lot and construct the multi-family building on the south side of the lot since no artifacts were found on that portion of the parcel. Mr. Farrell described the next step in the process would be to submit the proposal to both SHPO and the Native American Federation. Chairman DeFruscio summarized that the proposal will need area variances from building height, number of units and green space. Mr. Farrell will attend the October 28th 2015 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting to pursue those area variances. He added that in terms of height the building will have a pitched roof. From the public, neighbor Brian Tulma expressed concern that the City would lose any public access to the river. Ms. Cherubino offered that the City is also concerned with losing public access, but would need to purchase one of the riverfront parcels. The City is considering application to the Rural Community Development Program via NYSDOS to provide the City with funds to purchase a parcel. As a result, Member Carroll moved to declare lead agency status for SEQR purposes. 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 Stephanie Couture X Member Carroll moved to make a negative declaration for SEQR purposes based on the foregoing. Member Nadeau concurred, seconding the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll X Stephanie Couture X CONSIDERATION OF A MINOR SUBDIVISION AT 98 JOHNSTON AVENUE Ted DeLucia and Gerry Krug proposed subdividing 98 Johnston Avenue into two parcels. However doing so will create two under-sized parcels. As a result the applicant will need to obtain several area variances. The site plan submitted illustrated a potential use for two two-family homes with six off-street parking spaces as well as two on-street parking spaces. Chairman DeFruscio suggested that the applicant will need to either provide additional off-street parking or seek an area variance from parking requirements as well. Neighbors commented that the proposal would clean up the corner, which has been an eyesore. At this time the parcel has been a dumping ground for abandoned vehicles, a camper and other items over the years. Sixty years ago the site had been a gas station. Mr. Krug has conducted a Phase I via research of government records. If Phase I triggers a finding then the developer will need to conduct a Phase II soil boring test. However, the applicant intends to construct the buildings on slab. Member Carroll moved to approve the minor subdivision subject to obtaining the necessary area variances from lot size requirements. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion as conditioned and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll X Stephanie Couture X Vice Chairman Badgley moved to adjourn at 7:15pm. Member Carroll seconded the motion which passed unanimously.