Planning Board

PLANNING BOARD MINUTES WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2010 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL ROOM PRESENT: Clifford Van Wagner; Chair, Jamin Totino; Vice Chair, Amy Durland, Michael Perkins, Philip Klein, Dan Gaba, ABSENT: Suzanne Bernardi-Cleary STAFF : Kate Maynard, Principal Planner CALL TO ORDER: Clifford Van Wagner called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. REPORT ON ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS BY THE CHAIR: There were no administrative actions reported. ANNOUNCEMENT OF RECORDING OF PROCEEDING: Clifford Van Wagner said the proceedings of this meeting are being taped for the benefit of the secretary. Because the minutes are not a verbatim record of the proceedings, the minutes are not a word-for-word transcript of the recording. ADJOURNED – WAITING FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 10.013 WHITE FARMS ROAD BED AND BREAKFAST, 66 White Farms Road, public hearing for special use permit for six room corridor bed and breakfast in a Rural Residential-1 District. 10.024 LOGISTICS ONE FLEX WAREHOUSE EXPANSION, 29, 31 & 33 Cady Hill Boulevard, site plan review of warehouse expansion in the IND-G General Industrial District. 10.026 SHANGHAI GRILL, 175 South Broadway, public hearing for a permanent special use permit in the Transect-5 District. 10.028 CELLCO-VERIZON CELL TOWER, 81 Nelson Avenue, SEQRA evaluation of potential environmental impact for a new 90’ monopine telecommunications tower and associated equipment in an Urban Residential-2 District. 10.027 307 GRAND AVENUE MULTI-FAMILY, 307 Grand Avenue, public hearing on special use permit for a multi-family housing in the Transect-4 District. 10.031 307 GRAND AVENUE MULTI-FAMILY, 307 Grand Avenue, review of site plan for multi- family housing in the Transect-4 District. UPCOMING PLANNING BOARD MEETING/AGENDA WORKSHOPS: City of Saratoga Springs Planning Board Meeting Minutes – October 27, 2010 - Page 1 of 6 Next Planning Board Caravan, Scheduled for Monday, November 8, 2010 at 4:00 P.M. Next Planning Board Workshop, Scheduled for Monday, November 8, 2010 at 5:00 P.M. Next Planning Board Meeting, Scheduled for Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 7:00 P.M. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: Opportunity for citizens in the audience to address planning issues not on tonight’s agenda. None heard. APPLICATIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION: 1. 09.-040.1 MARKET CENTER AT RAILROAD PLACE, 19 Railroad Place, site plan extension of mixed use building in the Transect-6 District. BACKGROUND: This Planning Board issued a SEQRA negative declaration on November 10, 2009. Also, approved site plan on November 10, 2009 by a vote of 6-0. This approval will expire in November. We are being asked for an extension. No modifications to the existing project. Items being finalized include: project financing, letter of credit, and payment of recreation fees. Applicant: RR Depot, LLC – Sonny Bonacio, Bonacio Construction Agent: LA Group Mr. Bonacio stated the lease was finalized and everything was negotiated and signed with Price Chopper in August. They are finalizing and going through their commitment letter with the bank at this point. They are still hoping to start this fall. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman, stated the applicant is entitled to an 18 month extension. Mr. Bonacio requested the full 18 month extension. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished to comment on the Market Center at Railroad Place application? None heard. Any further questions or comments from the Board? None heard Dan Gaba made a motion to approve an 18 month site plan extension for the Market Center at Railroad Place application. Seconded by Jamin Totino. VOTE: J. Totino, in favor; A. Durland, in favor; M. Perkins, in favor; P. Klein, in favor; D. Gaba, in favor; C. Van Wagner, in favor ABSENT: Suzanne Bernardi-Cleary MOTION PASSES: 6-0 City of Saratoga Springs Planning Board Meeting Minutes – October 27, 2010 - Page 2 of 6  2. 10.039 WASHINGTON COMMONS, Washington Street and Central Avenue, public hearing for a special use permit for a mixed use building in the Transect-4 District. BACKGROUND: This Board first saw this project at the September 29, 2010 meeting in a sketch plan and this Board gave this applicant some guidance as to parking, buffering, etc. Also comments were given regarding number of buildings and parking spaces. We are here tonight only to talk about the special use. We will require another visit back to this Board. Applicant: Steve Ethier Agent: Brett Steenburg We were here last month to discuss this project. At that point we had three multi-use buildings on the site with small courtyards between them. The general feeling from this Board is they wanted to see more courtyard space. What we have done instead of doing three buildings we have done two buildings which has created a 32 foot by 62 foot courtyard. Also, instead of three garages, we scaled down to two garages and strategically placed them to better screen the residences in the rear. This was done out of concern for a neighbor. This project is located in a T-4 Transect zone. We are looking art two principal buildings; they will be multi use buildings. Each building will have 7500 square feet of mixed office retail space and six residential units on the second floor, for a total of 15,000 square feet of office and retail space and 12 residential units on the site. All setbacks will be within the guidelines set forth for the Transect-4 District. Parking requirements state approximately 68 spaces plus employee spaces. We are providing 74 spaces feeling that some of those employees’ spaces maybe mixed use with the residential spaces. Washington Street, we feel it lends itself to an exit rather than an ingress. The dumpster location will be placed along the more commercial side of the property. We are here this evening to discuss special use permit. Mr. Ethier is looking for a special use permit for the mixed use development to utilize the site for retail, professional offices, professional medical offices, and possible financial institutions. It is our understanding that this Board can waive parking within a side yard setback. We would be requesting that waiver and would like to know how the Board feels and see if the Board feels comfortable in issuing that waiver this evening. Also we discussed the Board issuing a waiver for more than one principal building on the site without having the site subdivided into two parcels. We also would like to initiate the SEQRA and have this Board request Lead Agency Status and begin the coordinated review so that we can begin moving through the process. Obviously we are going to have issues that will need to be ironed out through the site planning process. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman, requested a rendering of the neighborhood with a closer view of the placement of the garages to ensure the neighbors are not adversely affected. Questions or comments from the Board? Amy Durland questioned if the applicant knew what the retail uses would be? Mr. Stenberg stated Mr. Ethier was basically looking for approval so that he could attract tenants. He hasn't really marketed it yet. Amy Durland questioned if there was any provision made for some type of store frontages? City of Saratoga Springs Planning Board Meeting Minutes – October 27, 2010 - Page 3 of 6 Bob Flandsburg, Architect, Dreamscapes Unlimited. We were here last month and we also appeared before Design Review following the last meeting. Yes, there are provisions currently for some store front type glass on the first floor facing Washington Street for the purpose of attracting retail clients. We are keeping options open at this point. The second floor is more residential in terms of the glazing that we have chosen as well as the rear of the building is more residential in nature. The building which faces Washington Street as well as the approaches to the two buildings would favor retail clients. If there are retail tenants having a standardized attractive sign panel so we have control over it. So, what we have done on the elevations that were submitted we had transom glass above the store front glass we are going to omit the glass in the transom and use that area for sign panels. Amy Durland questioned if the applicant could review the pedestrian or bicycle friendly provisions within this plan. Mr. Steenburg stated pedestrian access will be proposing sidewalks along Washington Street as well as a connection to the sidewalk which will be along the parking area along the back. Sidewalks will be placed along Central Avenue. There are a lot of walking areas and the ability to move around the site. As far as bicycle access we really haven't provided anything specific. Amy Durland stated we should consider the bicycle access more closely, I am not sure what the implications should be in terms of configuration in terms of considering bicycles, but perhaps before site plan we can look into that more closely. Mike Perkins stated architecturally he feels it is better having two equal size buildings versus having two one smaller than the other and it does accomplish the larger courtyard. I am fine with the waiving of the two structures. I would reserve judgment on waiving the parking I haven't had enough time to think about that. I was focusing more on the special use permit. Jamin Totino, questioned access to the courtyard from the building? Bob Flandsburg, Architect, stated we have two doors from each building leading out into this area planned in the design. We really want to invite using this area both by the apartments or residential tenants as well as the employees, business people who might be using the first floor spaces. Having the building loaded to the street and the sidewalks present also helps to connect the residential areas to the businesses and invites that pedestrian traffic. Jamin Totino questioned the entrance on Washington Street and egress on Outlook. Kate Maynard stated in conversations with the Saratoga County Planning Board, they indicated their approval, and recommended that the City Planning Board consider limiting access of the western most driveway to "exit only" as a means of minimizing left turn movements in a high volume corridor." We can discuss further at the point of site plan review. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman stated at the workshop Paul Male, City Engineer stated that this site was indeed encumbered by NYS-DOT. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman stated is anyone in the audience wishing to comment on the application of Washington Commons? City of Saratoga Springs Planning Board Meeting Minutes – October 27, 2010 - Page 4 of 6 Randy Swift, 40 Central Avenue, my concern is that the sidewalk that comes down Outlook and makes the turn heads toward Central ends at his property. I would like to see that sidewalk continue all along Outlook to connect up to Central Avenue, so that you have sidewalks on both sides of the street. That would be a way to connect. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman, stated the only action to be taken tonight would be to initiate coordinated review with DRC the other involved agency and request that this Planning Board take Lead Agency Status. Is there a motion? Mike Perkins made a motion. Seconded by Jamin Totino. VOTE: J. Totino, in favor; A. Durland, in favor; M. Perkins, in favor; P. Klein, in favor; D. Gaba, in favor; C. Van Wagner, in favor ABSENT: Suzanne Bernardi-Cleary MOTION PASSES: 6-0 3. 10.044 SKIDMORE COLLEGE-SCRIBNER VILLAGE REPLACEMENT, 815 North Broadway, site plan review of residential dormitories in the Institutional Educational District. DISCLOSURES: Jamin Totino, stated he currently serves in a consulting capacity for the Coordinator for Services for Students with Disabilities at Skidmore College. That has in no way any relation to this project and does not see any personal conflict. He believes unless the applicant's position has changed he does not see any reason to recuse. Applicant: Skidmore College Agent: Mike Ingersoll, LA Group; Don McPherson, LA Group; Dave Carr Mike West, Vice President of Administration and Finance from Skidmore Tonight we are looking to initiate coordinated review with DASNY (potentially NYS-DOH) as other involved agency. Mike Ingersoll, LA Group gave a visual presentation and project overview to the Planning Board. The project calls for three phases. The replacement of a nearby parking lot with three buildings identical to those at the Northwood's Apartments, Two new buildings will be built into the slope along Skidmore's perimeter road with 114 beds each, and the replacement of the Scribner buildings, with seven new buildings and a total of 238 beds. The project will add a net total of 178 beds to the campus while reducing the number of buildings from 15 to 13. Comparison photographs from around the site comparing the current view to what the new buildings would likely look like. Using the current building sites is the most sustainable thing of all. New insulation and a geothermal heating system will be installed, in response to a question by Amy Durland asking for the applicant to describe the "green" aspects of the project. The new buildings will face in toward a central green area which planners say will mitigate noise heard by Clinton Street residents. There will be drainage improvements; we will keep as many of the trees and vegetation as possible. All the work is to be completed in August of 2013. City of Saratoga Springs Planning Board Meeting Minutes – October 27, 2010 - Page 5 of 6 Saratoga County Planning Board has responded with no significant countywide or inter community impact. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman asked if there was a motion to initiate coordinated review with DASNY-DOH, and the Planning Board request Lead Agency Status. Motion made by Philip Klein, seconded by Jamin Totino. VOTE: J. Totino, in favor; A. Durland, in favor; M. Perkins, in favor; P. Klein, in favor; D. Gaba, in favor; C. Van Wagner, in favor ABSENT: Suzanne Bernardi-Cleary MOTION PASSES: 6-0 APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman requested approval of minutes of the September 29, 2010 meeting with corrections as submitted. Motion by Dan Gaba, seconded by Michael Perkins VOTE: J. Totino, in favor; A. Durland, in favor; M. Perkins, in favor; P. Klein, in favor; D. Gaba, in favor; C. Van Wagner, in favor ABSENT: Suzanne Bernardi-Cleary MOTION PASSES: 6-0 Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman requested approval of minutes of the October 13, 2010 meeting with corrections as submitted. Motion by Dan Gaba, seconded by Jamin Totino. VOTE: J. Totino, in favor; A. Durland, in favor; M. Perkins, in favor; P. Klein, in favor; D. Gaba, in favor; C. Van Wagner, in favor ABSENT: Suzanne Bernardi-Cleary MOTION TO ADJOURN: There being no further business, Clifford Van Wagner adjourned the meeting at 8:28 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Diane M. Buzanowski Recording Secretary Approved: 11/10/10 City of Saratoga Springs Planning Board Meeting Minutes – October 27, 2010 - Page 6 of 6