Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON JUNE 11, 2018 AT 6:30 PM IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Ms. Stephanie Couture Mr. Bob Bucher Mr. Joseph Nadeau Vice Chairman Jack Carroll Chairman Mark DeFruscio ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Robyn Reynolds, Deputy Director of Economic Development and Planning CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 11, 2018 MEETING Chairman DeFruscio opened the meeting at 6:30 pm and asked if any of the Planning Board members had any comments on the proposed minutes. Member Nadeau moved to approve the minutes and Member Couture seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Bob Bucher Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll X Stephanie Couture X CONSIDERATION OF A PRIVATE SWIMMING POOL AT 31 MCELWAIN AVENUE Chairman DeFruscio asked the applicants to approach the Board and reviewed the application. Chairman DeFruscio asked who was installing the pool and the applicants noted it was being installed by A-Frame Pools. Chairman DeFruscio explained that the Planning Board is mainly concerned about the event in which a pool might break and where the water might flow in that case. The applicant answered that in this case, the water would run across the street and there are small alleys in which the water can flow and pointed out that the neighbors already have above ground pools. Chairman DeFruscio asked about the dimensions and the applicant noted that this is the smallest pool that they can install. Member Nadeau pointed out that occasionally there are issues with draining the pools and Chairperson DeFruscio noted that it’s a small amount of water and not substantial. The applicant agreed that it is not a substantial amount of water in terms of drainage, especially given that it’s only a 12’ pool. Member Nadeau moved to approve the special use permit for a private swimming pool at 31 McElwain Avenue, which Member Carroll seconded and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO Bob Bucher X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll X Stephanie Couture X CONSIDERATION OF A PRIVATE SWIMMING POOL AT 113 CONTINENTAL AVENUE Chairman DeFruscio asked the applicant who would be installing the pool. The applicant noted that it would be A-Frame pools and that the pool would be 15’ in diameter and 54” high. The applicant noted that the installer would be doing all grounding and electrical work. Chairperson DeFruscio brought up the concern of where the water would flow if the pool would break to which the applicant noted that it would drain forward towards the street and that there is drainage next the road. The applicant noted that there would be no impacts on the neighbors and if anything, it would drain to the basement of the home currently at 113 Continental Avenue. Chairperson DeFruscio confirmed that it would drain towards the street and would not impact neighbors. The applicant explained that it would be coming down the hill. Chairperson DeFruscio asked Common Council Member Randy Koniowka in the audience if he was familiar with the property, to which he confirmed. Chairperson DeFruscio noted that there should be a conditional approval dependent on the Zoning Board of Appeals review in terms of the variances for the front setback. Member Couture made a motion to approve the special use permit for a private swimming pool at 113 Continental Avenue conditional upon the approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals for the front variance, which Member Carroll seconded and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO Bob Bucher X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll X Stephanie Couture X CONSIDERATION OF A SUBDIVISION AT APPROXIMATELY 299-401 SARATOGA STREET (JUNCTA SUBDIVISION) Deputy Director Reynolds introduced the project and noted that the Cohoes Industrial Development Agency is proposing to subdivide a parcel that was previously lands owned by the Canal Corporation into four separate lots. Deputy Director Reynolds noted that all four lots met zoning and code requirements, with the exception of Lot 3 which does not currently have frontage and therefore needs an area variance. Deputy Director Reynolds noted that Lots 3 and 4 have interest from adjoining land owners to purchase and therefore would have frontage in the future. Deputy Director Reynolds pointed out that Lot 2 is a future lot for redevelopment by the Community Builders, while Lot 1 currently has no plans for redevelopment. Chairperson DeFruscio noted that Lot 1 had an issue with gradation, and Lot 3 would be difficult, but that Lot 2 has potential development already being proposed. Chairperson DeFruscio remarked that the issue with Lot 1 is that there is no access point and that access on Saratoga Street would not be allowable given the required distance needed from an intersection and that the western side on Dyke Avenue has a similar issue. Member Carroll pointed out that the grading plan would suggest that there could be a driveway for ingress on Saratoga Street and that the slope is not a major concern. There was discussion of the fact that the Community Builders are proposing a development with a similar gradation in terms of ingress and egress near Lot 1 and there could be a potential shared driveway, if it made sense. Chairperson DeFruscio noted concerns on whether or not Lot 1 is developable based on the issues with potential ingress and egress to the site and wanted more information on the intended future uses of the lot. Common Council Member Randy Koniowka noted that the idea is to spur commercial development on Lot 1 and that there was nearby development proposed that would make this subdivision partially commercial and partially residential. Audience member Melissa Cherubino (of the Community Builders) stated that original ideas for Lot 1 may have been a drive-thru facility or something similar. Chairperson DeFruscio stated that there were different ways of dividing the lot and it may make sense for the Community Builders to also purchase Lot 1 for a shared driveway. Chairperson DeFruscio noted that he would like more information on the intended future uses for Lot 1 and asked if other members would like more information before proceeding. Member Nadeau noted that he would like more information. Member Carroll stated that he does not feel that he needs more information given that engineers for the Community Builders have similar grading issues and do not have concerns. Chairperson DeFruscio noted that he was concerned about approving a lot that would not be usable in the future unless there was a shared driveway with the Community Builders. A representative from the Community Builders noted that they would be amenable to discussing a shared driveway. Member Bucher noted that short of shared ingress/egress that he did not see an issue with Lot 1. Chairperson DeFruscio noted that more information was needed in order to move forward with approving the subdivision. Member Carroll stated that the review of the subdivision should not take into account future development as each project would need to be proposed and reviewed individually. Chairperson DeFruscio noted concerns over future allowable uses of Lot 1 and the need for more information on gradation and other features of the site. Member Couture noted that she would like more information on the lots as proposed in terms of frontage, access and intended uses in terms of commercial and residential use. Member Carroll noted that he did not think that access was an issue as he believed that an appropriate ingress and egress could be constructed on the site. Member Nadeau mentioned that without proper ingress and egress, there was concern that the lot would not be buildable. Member Carroll made a motion to approve the plan as submitted, which was seconded by Member Bucher. Members Carroll and Bucher voted aye and Chairperson DeFruscio, Member Nadeau, and Member Couture voted nay and the motion did not pass. Chairperson DeFruscio discussed that changes to the plan or additional information should be gathered before the preliminary plat could be approved. Chairperson DeFruscio suggested that there be a meeting between the Planning Board and the Economic and Community Development Office before the next meeting to sort out questions brought up during the meeting. Melissa Cherubino from the Community Builders pointed out that once SEQR is open on the Community Builders site, the Planning Board can’t make a final decision on the preliminary plat and would need to wait until SEQR is closed. YES NO Bob Bucher X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll X Stephanie Couture X CONSIDERATION OF A SITE PLAN AT 401 SARATOGA STREET AND SEQR ON THE COMMUNITY BUILDERS SITE PLAN/JUNCTA SUBDIVISION Representatives from the Community Builders were in attendance to present on the proposed project which is a multi-family residential project on Lot 2 of the proposed subdivision with 39 units. The applicants noted that there would be 15,000 SF of residential space with the units being mixed 1,2, and 3 bedroom units. There would be on-site parking with roughly 85 parking spaces, a playground and some basic landscaping. The lot is 1.7 acres total and there would be two specific points of entry. The applicants noted that this is a good site from a grading standpoint and that they are moving through preliminary work on water and sanitary considerations for the project. Chairperson DeFruscio noted that the snow storage and green space plans look good and that while there are no current neighbors as there may be future neighbors, the lighting is an important consideration. Member Bucher pointed out that on-grade parking for the common entrance and pointed out the garage level entrance at the floor. Member Carroll noted that the Community Builders took advantage of the elevation change with the front floor design and pointed out the invisible parking lot near the back of the building (on 787) as opposed to front parking on Saratoga Street. Member Bucher asked about sidewalk plans and they noted they planned on installing a sidewalk. There was discussion on the new boulevard system being constructed on 787in relation to traffic impacts of the project. Chairperson DeFruscio noted the change to a boulevard system that would potentially cause more traffic on Saratoga Street. Member Carroll stated that the new speed limits would be somewhere between 40 and 45 mph. Chairperson DeFruscio noted that it may be best to combine Lots 1 and 2 per the Community Builders’ Plans. Member Carroll noted that the shared ingress and egress wouldn’t be an issue then. Member Nadeau asked how many stories the building would be, and the Community Builders noted as planned there would be 3 stories. Chairperson DeFruscio asked if there were any viewshed impacts, to which the Community Builders noted that they did not anticipate any. Chairperson DeFruscio noted that the Planning Board needed to vote on intent to Declare Lead Agency for the Community Builders site plan and that this would be a coordinated review. The rest of the parcels included in the Community Builders project had already been reviewed and a negative declaration had been issued. Chairperson DeFruscio explained that SEQR would need to be re-opened for all of the sites. Melissa Cherubino from the Community Builders explained that the project and the subdivision would need to be reviewed all at once under SEQR to avoid segmentation. The Community Builders asked if there were any specific comments they could address at upcoming meetings. Member Bucher noted that things looked good, but that a breakdown and spec sheet on lighting would be appreciated as well as some notes on vegetative screening as well as drainage plans for stormwater. Member Couture made a motion to pass a Resolution stating that the Planning Board intended to declare lead agency for a coordinated SEQR review for the Community Builders project and related subdivision, which Member Nadeau seconded. The motion passed unanimously. YES NO Bob Bucher X Joseph Nadeau X Mark DeFruscio X Jack Carroll X Stephanie Couture X DISCUSSION Being no further business Chairperson DeFruscio made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:37 pm. Member Carroll seconded the motion which passed unanimously.