Planning Commission

Wm. Patrick Madden Steven Strichman Mayor Commissioner of Planning Monica Kurzejeski Phone: (518) 279-7166 Deputy Mayor steven.strichman@troyny.gov Planning Commission 433 River St., Ste. 5001 Troy, New York 12180 MEETING MINUTES (DRAFT) The Planning Commission of the City of Troy, New York, conducted a public meeting at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday, January 19 th, 2022, via Zoom conferencing, to act upon the following requests, referred by the Bureau of Code Enforcement of the City of Troy, for review and approval. 6:02 pm – Meeting called to order Commissioners in Attendance Barbara Higbee (BH), Anthony Mohen (AM), Suzanne Spellen (SS), Roddy Yagan (RY), Sara Wengert (SW) Also in Attendance Andy Brick (Planning and Zoning Attorney), Aaron Vera (Executive Secretary), Dash Chrisner (Planning Technician), Steve Strichman (Commissioner of Planning) Administrative Items Adoption of Meeting Minutes from December 15 th by Resolution • SS motioned to approve Meeting Minutes from December 15 th . RY seconded: Absent Yes No Abstain Recused Roddy Yagan X Sara Wengert X Suzanne Spellen X Barbara Higbee X Anthony Mohen X • Motion to approve Meeting Minutes from December 15 th passed 4-0. Consent PLPC 2020 0031 – 101-119 Country Garden Apartments (112.-4-36.411 & 112.-4-36.412) [B-3: Shopping Center Commercial] Site Plan Approval Extension (12-months) – SEQR (Type II) Country Garden Acres Limited is proposing twenty-one (21) new low-rise structures containing 144 new dwelling units. The applicant is represented by Roger Keating, P.E. of Chazen Engineering. PLPC 2018 0069 – 750 Second Avenue (80.40-2-1) [Zoning District: MULTI] Site Plan Approval Extension (12-months) – SEQR (Type II) The applicant, 750 Second Ave Realty LLC, proposes to occupy a mixed-use building (Standard Manufacturing) with commercial space on the first floor and apartments on the second through sixth floors. The applicant is represented by Roger Keating, P.E. of Chazen Engineering. • Request for public comment. No public comment. • Commissioner Mohen present at 6:06PM. Written by Dash Chrisner, On Behalf of the Executive Secretary Additional information regarding the above listed actions is available by contacting the Planning Commission’s Executive Secretary at aaron.vera@troyny.gov. As required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. Please give one-week advance notic e for services needed. Page 1 of 5 City of Troy Meeting Minutes (DRAFT) Planning Commission 19 January 2022 • BH motioned to approve Consent Agenda. SS seconded. Absent Yes No Abstain Recused Roddy Yagan X Sara Wengert X Suzanne Spellen X Barbara Higbee X Anthony Mohen X • Motion to approve Consent Agenda passed 5-0. Old Business PLPC 2021 0014 – King’s Landing II - Federal Street and Fifth Avenue (101.38-9-7, 101.38-9-9, 101.38-9-10, 101.46-1-1, 101.46-1-2.1, and 101.46-1-3) [B-4: Central Commercial] Concept Review – SEQR (Type I) BDC Holdings Inc. request conceptual review to reduce the Federal Street building height to five (5) levels and an increase in the area of the setback portion on Fifth Avenue. All other characteristics of the proposal remain the same. Cosmo Marfione, PE, Managing Partner at BDC Holdings Inc., will be speaking on behalf of the proposal. • Applicant presentation. • Commissioner comments and questions to applicant. • Request for public comment. Public comments generally in opposition. 1. Claudia Braymer, Attorney, Braymer Law, Representing NPN  Mentions that prior project received a positive declaration.  Insists that King’s Landing I parking cannot be used by King’s Landing II residents. 2. Mark Menard  Requests that Fifth Avenue windows of proposal be enhanced.  Claims current windows are not in character of the neighborhood. 3. Joe Fama, 150 Second Avenue, Member of Neighbors Protecting Neighborhoods  Claims King’s Landing I proposal does not match what was built. 4. Drea Leanza, 2227 Fifth Avenue, Member of Neighbors Protecting Neighborhoods  Asks about bedroom count: • Applicant responded: 90-95 beds, 54 units  Claims cost of existing building rehabilitation was exaggerated/inflated. 5. Barb Nelson, R.A., TAP Inc.  Supports public engagement for historic preservation and neighborhood improvement.  Clarifies that Braymer Law represents NPN, not TAP Inc. • TAP Inc. is only acting administratively. 6. Barbara Higbee, 2167 Fifth Avenue, Recused Member of the Planning Commission  Claims King’s Landing I proposal does not match what was built. Claims that potential increase to parking demand is a concern. • Commissioner deliberation. • Applicant response. • No action taken, as this was a conceptual review of recent changes to proposal. • Applicant plans to be at future meeting with revised materials. New Business PLPC 2022 0001 – 520 Fifth Avenue (80.64-6-19) [B-2: Community Commercial] Change of Use – SEQR (Type II) The applicant, Michella Rizk, proposes to use this former auto service facility for used car sales and auto repair service. “Used car sales” requires a Use Variance and “auto repair service” requires a Special Use Permit. The applicant is represented by Barb Nelson, R.A., of TAP Inc. • Applicant presentation. • Commissioner comments and questions to applicant. Page 2 of 5 City of Troy Meeting Minutes (DRAFT) Planning Commission 19 January 2022 • Request for public comment. Public comment generally in opposition. 1. Justin Cockx, 519 Sixth Avenue  Claims that current drainage is atrocious. Concerns mentioned include: • Leeching, contaminates, eyesore, fire suppression, fuel storage.  Claims to have witness interior work already being done, such as plumbing. 2. Sylva Menard  Asks about the perspectives from the neighbors and nearby businesses. • Commissioner deliberation. • Applicant response. • RY motioned to provide a positive recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals with the understanding that the applicant will return to the Planning Commission for final site plan review in the future. SS seconded. Absent Yes No Abstain Recused Roddy Yagan X Sara Wengert X Suzanne Spellen X Barbara Higbee X Anthony Mohen X • Motion to provide a positive recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals with the understanding that the applicant will return to the Planning Commission for final site plan review in the future passed 5-0. PLPC 2022 0003 – 406 Fulton Street (101.45-4-12) [B-4: Central Commercial] Change of Use (addition of units, commercial to residential) – SEQR (Unlisted) The applicant, Greyhill Group, proposes to convert the upper four (4) floors of the Illium Building from office space to residential apartments. No apartments currently exist in the building. Forty-five (45) to fifty (50) units are proposed. All street-level uses will remain commercial. The applicant is represented by Barb Nelson, R.A., of TAP Inc. • Applicant presentation. • Commissioner comments and questions to applicant. • Request for public comment. Public comment generally in opposition. 1. Yung Lee, Owner of Nite Owl News  Concerned about the potential negative impact of this proposal on Nite Owl News. 2. Marion Reynolds, artist in building, 4 th floor  Invited applicant to visit her studio  Wishes to be included and involved in future communication about the proposal. 3. Yvonne Drew, 22 Madison Avenue  Frequent customer of Nite Owl News.  Concerned about the potential negative impact of this proposal on Nite Owl News. 4. Jen Jenny, 1835 Fifth Avenue, artist in building  Tenant since 2003, opened a business here in 2014  Claims existing commercial tenants are very special. • Commissioner deliberation. • Applicant response. Page 3 of 5 City of Troy Meeting Minutes (DRAFT) Planning Commission 19 January 2022 • SW motioned for a Negative Declaration (SEQR) and to establish Lead Agency. BH seconded. Absent Yes No Abstain Recused Roddy Yagan X Sara Wengert X Suzanne Spellen X Barbara Higbee X Anthony Mohen X • Motion for a Negative Declaration (SEQR) passed 3-2. • RY motioned to approve this Change of Use with the following conditions below. SS seconded. 1. Proposal must include less than fifty (50) units to remain an Unlisted action with an SEAF. 2. Proposal must also be compliant with DPU requirements. Absent Yes No Abstain Recused Roddy Yagan X Sara Wengert X Suzanne Spellen X Barbara Higbee X Anthony Mohen X • Motion for conditional Change of Use approval passed 5-0. PLPC 2022 0005 – 5 Broadway (101.53-7-2) [B-4: Central Commercial] Change of Use (addition of units, commercial to residential) – SEQR (Unlisted) The applicant, Greyhill Group, proposes to convert offices on the second floor of the Cannon Building to eight (8) residential apartments. Four (4) apartments exist on the second floor. All other upper floors are existing residential, totaling thirty-one (31) units. Eight (8) new units bring the total unit amount from thirty-five (35) to forty-three (43). All street-level uses will remain commercial. The applicant is represented by Barb Nelson, R.A., of TAP Inc. • Applicant presentation. • Commissioner comments and questions to applicant. • Request for public comment. Public comment generally in opposition. 1. Jen Jenny, 1835 Fifth Avenue, artist in building  Asks about the plans for the gallery space in this building.  Will it remain or become apartments? 2. Marion Reynolds, Pinewoods Avenue  Encourages that the gallery would be an asset to residences, not a detriment. 3. Warren Shaw, Architect, Lansingburgh residence  Claims the artist community is an asset to the applicant and strengthens the project. • Commissioner deliberation. • Applicant response. • SW motioned for a Negative Declaration (SEQR) and to establish Lead Agency. BH seconded. Absent Yes No Abstain Recused Roddy Yagan X Sara Wengert X Suzanne Spellen X Barbara Higbee X Anthony Mohen X • Motion for a Negative Declaration (SEQR) passed 5-0. Page 4 of 5 City of Troy Meeting Minutes (DRAFT) Planning Commission 19 January 2022 • SW motioned to approve this Change of Use with the following conditions below. SS seconded. Absent Yes No Abstain Recused Roddy Yagan X Sara Wengert X Suzanne Spellen X Barbara Higbee X Anthony Mohen X • Motion for conditional Change of Use approval passed 5-0. AM motioned to adjourn at 8:56 PM. SS seconded. Absent Yes No Abstain Recused Roddy Yagan X Sara Wengert X Suzanne Spellen X Barbara Higbee X Anthony Mohen X Motion to adjourn meeting at 8:56 PM passed 5-0. Page 5 of 5