Village of Colonie EDWARD SIM DEPUTY MAYOR VILLAGE HALL 2 THUNDER ROAD PATTY SCHWARZ COLONIE, NY 12205 LOCKART (518) 869-7562 FAX (518) 464-0389 TRUSTEE ART WHITE THOMAS J. TOBIN TRUSTEE MAYOR JAMES M. RUBINO TRUSTEE villagehall@colonievillage.org JAMIE BLOT www.colonievillage.org CLERK MINUTES TUESDAY, November 16, 2021 6:30 P.M. The regularly scheduled meeting of the Village of Colonie Planning Commission was held at Village Hall, 2 Thunder Road Albany, NY 12205 on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. ROLL CALL: Chairman Chris Dennis Commissioners: John Martin Peter Chudzinski Kenny Hart Dan Judge (Absent) Jim Splonskowski Mark Keegan Village Attorney: Victor Caponera (Absent) Village Engineer: R.J. Laberge Liaison: Patty Schwarz Lockart (Absent) Code Enforcement: Steve Meservey (Absent) Chairman Dennis opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Commissioner Hart led the Pledge of Allegiance and requested all electronic devices to be turned off or muted. The Commission postponed the review of meeting minutes from November 2, 2021, to the date of December 7, 2021. 1 146A Railroad Avenue Young/Sommer LLC-Verizon Wireless d/b/a Cellco. SITE PLAN APPLICATION Dave Brennan representing Young/Sommer LLC presented an application for Verizon Wireless DBA as Cello at 146A Railroad Avenue for the changing of antennas on existing cellular towers. Village Engineer Laberge stated that based on his review the proposed antenna is a straight swap out of the existing antenna with just a change to capacity/capabilities. There are no height issues present. The structure report completed indicates that the tower is more than capable of supporting the changes and that there are no issues with the site plan application. Commissioner Martin asked if there are any changes in the surrounding areas of tower. Village Engineer Laberge stated that it is only the pole and existing equipment that will be affected. Commissioner Martin made a motion to approve Verizon Wireless d/b/a Cellco for a site plan amendment at 146A Railroad Avenue for the changing of antennas on the existing Verizon Towers. Commissioner Hart seconded the motion. VOTE: UNANIMOUS TO APPROVE. Declaration Request for lead agency discussion – 29 Vly Road development of 1 & 2 family homes. Village Engineer Laberge explained the process for the resolution. The resolution is the result of a process in which the Village of Colonie Planning Commission is seeking to be the lead agency for the Environmental Review for the project under SEQR. The Planning Commission is starting a coordinated review which is when the Planning Commission notifies other involved agencies that the Village of Colonie Planning Commission would like to be the lead agency. A letter will be sent out and the agencies will have 30 days from date of receipt to respond negatively or positively. If a negative response is submitted, this issue will than go to the DEC to pick a lead agency. 2 Chairman Dennis asked Village Engineer Laberge what agencies this notice will be sent to. Village Engineer Laberge stated the Albany County Planning, Town of Colonie Department of Planning and Economic Development, ,. Village Engineer Laberge explained to the Commission that The Town of Colonie does have the plans. This has been confirmed by Coordinator Sim. Chairman Dennis asked Village Engineer Laberge if we will be notifying the South Colonie School District. Village Engineer Laberge states that the school district does not have an approval authority in this situation. The Declaration Request only pertains to agencies that must issue permits. Commissioner Martin made a motion to approve the Declaration Request for Lead Agency discussion. Commissioner Hart seconded the motion. VOTE: UNANIMOUS TO APPROVE. DISCUSSION TOPICS: Judy Canniff asks the Planning Commission to clarify who is responsible for the Environmental Study. Village Engineer Laberge responded stating that the Planning Commission will be responsible to make a determination of environmental significance and impact. Ms. Caniff then asked if this is an environmental concern, why is a letter not sent to DEC? Village Engineer Laberge stated that the Planning Commission must make a determination as to what factors may be environmental concerns. DEC does supply a vast amount of information to the Planning Commission as well as to the applicant about endangered species, wetlands, etc. Resident Julie Farrar at 7 Hanifin Avenue asked where the long environmental study form is. Coordinator Sim explained where she could find it on the Village webpage. Village Engineer Laberge responded to environmental concerns stating that the applicant is required to fill out the EAF just to begin this process. The Planning Commission will at this point begin to request additional information that the Commission sees fit toward making a determination. 3 Ms. Canniff stated that the South Colonie school district knew that this development was happening but only believed it to be 10-12 housing units. Ms. Farrar extended an invite to the Planning Commission to go for a walk with the residents in the neighborhood. The residents would like the Planning Commission to see the conditions of the roads as well as pedestrian traffic. Chairman Dennis stated that he personally, along with Mayor Tom Tobin had walked the entire property. Chairman Dennis explained that the Commission will be reviewing the EAF along with all comments, concerns, and questions submitted. At this time the Planning Commission is still gathering information. Commissioner Martin stated that after the 30 day mark when we take lead agency of project, the Planning Commission will than move forward and ask applicant additional questions for further insight. Commissioner Hart directed a question at Chairman Dennis asking for clarification if the Public Hearing is still open. Chairman Dennis confirmed that yes, the Public Hearing is still open. All documents were requested to be submitted in two weeks but the Public Hearing remains open. 4 Commissioner Hart asked for an update on the Goldstein property known as CubeSmart and the status of the ongoing tree issue. Village Engineer Laberge informed the Planning Commission that an email has been sent to the attorney at Goldstein and he has not heard back yet. Commissioner Hart asked for a status update on Lemon and Prime Storage regarding tree and landscape issues. Coordinator Sim stated that letters have been hand delivered to each business by Code Enforcement Office Steve Meservey. Nothing has been heard back from Lemon regarding the trees cut down. A phone call will be returned to Prime Storage. Commissioner Martin motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:51PM. Commissioner Hart seconded motion. VOTE: UNANIMOUS TO APPROVE Respectfully Submitted, Courtney Sim Planning Coordinator 5