Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF COHOES CITY HALL ON MONDAY, MARCH 13TH, 2017 MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chairman Jack Carroll Ms. Stephanie Couture Mr. Robert Bucher Mr. Joseph Nadeau ABSENT: Chairman Mark DeFruscio ALSO PRESENT: Ms. Kara McKnight, City Planner Mrs. Melissa Cherubino, Director of Building and Planning CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM January 23, 2017. Acting Chairman Carroll opened the meeting at 6:25pm and asked the recording secretary to take roll call. Member Nadeau motioned to approve the minutes. Member Couture seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO ABSTAIN Robert Bucher X Stephanie Couture X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT Jack Carroll X Joseph Nadeau X CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL PERMIT AT 2 JEFFERSON AVENUE Maryann Blue and Jennifer Terrett Blue requested a special permit to install an inground pool that is composed of fiber glass and is 9.5 ft. wide. It will be 5.5 ft. deep with a breakaway low spot and a gate that meets the NYS code. Member Nadeau asked about drainage issues to protect their yard and their neighbor’s yards. He brought up the fact that the elevation of the yard isn’t easy for a pool installation with proper drainage. Ms. Blue said that is why they are doing an excavation and installing a full berm on the side. It’s also why they chose fiberglass. The members agreed that all the regulations were met. As a result, Member Nadeau made a motion to approve the special permit and Member Bucher seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO ABSTAIN Robert Bucher X Stephanie Couture X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT Jack Carroll X Joseph Nadeau X \\cohoes.local\CoC-Data\Users\mashline-heil\Boards, Commissions, & Agencies\ZBA\ZBA\minutes\ZBA Minutes 2016\ZBA Minutes 11.23.2016.doc CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL PERMIT AT 5 DAVID DRIVE The applicant proposed installing an above-ground pool with a locking ladder and alarm system that meets NYS coding regulations. Member Nadeau said that the lot was permissible for installing a pool and the applicant added that there was once an inground pool in the same spot. Member Carroll asked if there would be any flow to the bottom of the property and if there is proper drainage. The applicant is not exactly sure but she does know there was proper drainage when the old pool was installed. The pool meets the measurement requirements standing at least 12 ft. from the house. Member Nadeau asked if it met the electrical requirements as well and it did. The members agreed that all requirements were met and as a result, Member Couture motioned to approve the special permit and Member Nadeau seconded it. Thus, it passed unanimously. YES NO ABSTAIN Robert Bucher X Stephanie Couture X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT Jack Carroll X Joseph Nadeau X CONSIDERATION OF A SUBDIVISION AT 109 WESTERN The applicant is proposing a 3-lot subdivision on an existing 12 acres of land. The applicant’s land surveyor informed the board that the homes built on the land will be serviced by the public sewer, water and gas lines. Member Nadeau is concerned about the low area being an issue later in the future but the land surveyor advises him that with a proper grade it will drain across and be okay. The engineer and code officers will be making regular updates throughout the construction process to ensure everything meets regulations. Member Nadeau motioned for the approval of the subdivision and Member Couture seconded it. All were in favor and it passed unanimously. YES NO ABSTAIN Robert Bucher X Stephanie Couture X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT Jack Carroll X Joseph Nadeau X \\cohoes.local\CoC-Data\Users\mashline-heil\Boards, Commissions, & Agencies\ZBA\ZBA\minutes\ZBA Minutes 2016\ZBA Minutes 11.23.2016.doc CONSIDERATION OF A SUBDIVISION AT 53 RENSSELAER AVENUE The applicant is seeking a subdivision so they can potentially build something on the 14,000- square ft. lot. They are thinking about building 1-2 room condos. Member Nadeau wants to know if that is permissible in this district. Ms. Cherubino states that if there will be three or more units it must come back to meet the board. There needs to be a certain amount of parking space relative to the amount of housing being built. They can apply for an area variance, then build a garage on the first floor with living space upstairs and that will constitute as permissible parking. The applicant proposes that they can pave lot 1 to make it a parking lot for 53 Rensselaer Ave. Member Bucher states that in that case it would meet the parking regulations. Ms. Cherubino adds that the space is a legal non-conforming, grandfathered in lot so the applicant does not need the regular parking lot spaces. The applicant was advised to check with the land surveyor to make sure that the road is a public right of way. Once all regulations were met and confirmed, Member Bucher motioned the approval and Member Nadeau seconded it. All were in favor and the motion was passed. YES NO ABSTAIN Robert Bucher X Stephanie Couture X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT Jack Carroll X Joseph Nadeau X Member Nadeau motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 and Member Couture seconded. The motion was passed unanimously. \\cohoes.local\CoC-Data\Users\mashline-heil\Boards, Commissions, & Agencies\ZBA\ZBA\minutes\ZBA Minutes 2016\ZBA Minutes 11.23.2016.doc