Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON MARCH 14, 2016 AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Bob Bucher Mr. Joseph Nadeau Ms. Stephanie Couture Mr. Jack Carroll Chairman Mark DeFruscio ALSO PRESENT: Melissa Cherubino, Director of Building and Planning CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 8th, 2016 MEETING Chairman opened the meeting at 6:30pm and asked the recording secretary to take roll call. Member Nadeau moved to approve the minutes. Member Couture seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Bob Bucher X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll X Stephanie Couture X CONSIDERATION OF A SITE PLAN FOR AN EIGHT UNIT TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT AT 9 AND 11 SURPRENANT WAY Ted DeLucia and Luigi Palleschi, P.E. proposed constructing seven townhomes at 9 and 11 Surprenant Way. The applicant would abut the townhomes to an existing single family home at 9 and merge the two lots. An ancillary parking area with sixteen spaces facing the townhomes would provide sufficient parking. The developer did address neighbors concerns by reducing the number of units by one and parking spaces by two. The proposal includes landscaping detail and no longer requires an area variance from greenspace requirements. The reduction also addresses the board’s concern about access around the buildings as well as proximity to the ravine. The developer moved the retaining wall away from the building. In addition, the developer tested the soil, finding that the clay would not support the use of dry wells. Therefore, the design engineer proposes two 2,000 gallon storage tanks which would restrict volume through weep drains in the retaining wall and disperse the water evenly. Member Carroll asked whether capacity of the two storage tanks would suffice in a 1” rain event. Mr. Palleschi explained that the design is based on a 10 year storm which would result in 4” per hour. The water will weep even during the rain event. Chairman DeFruscio asked about a privacy fence along the north property line. Mr. Palleschi described the use of evergreen arbor vitae which would grow to connect. Mr. Murphy asked how far the tanks and pavement would be from the property line. Mr. Palleschi would install the tanks and pavement 10’ from the Murphy’s property line. He also agreed to consider 6’ privacy fencing with shrubs, especially since it would enable the developer to install a swale so as to avoid water entering the neighbor’s property. A six inch wing gutter at the edge of pavement would also guide storm water to the ravine. At the last meeting the Planning Board declared lead agency. The Planning Board can make a declaration of environmental significance for SEQR purposes. Any action on the site plan consideration would have to be taken after closing out SEQR. Member Carroll made a negative declaration for SEQR purposes. Member Bucher seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Bob Bucher X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll X Stephanie Couture X Member Carroll asked about snow removal. Mr. Palleschi explained that the snow would be pushed over the ravine and through the wall. In addition, the owner would store snow on the green space located at the front of the property. Member Nadeau asked whether the unit sizes remained the same as on the prior submission, which Mr. Palleschi confirmed. Patios would sit at grade. Member Bucher moved to approve the site plan contingent on installation of a privacy fence, shrubs and a swale along the north property line. Member Nadeau seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Bob Bucher X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll X Stephanie Couture X Member Carroll moved to adjourn at 7:09pm. Member Couture seconded the motion which passed unanimously.