by Lynne Jackson
GUILDERLAND: Pine Bush Parc, LLC, is proposing to build 210 apartments on eleven acres of Pine Bush that is recommended for Full Protection in Guilderland.
Though the Pine Bush preserve now protects about 3500 acres of Pine Bush ecosystem, there are still about 1,795 acres of privately-owned Pine Bush ecosystem in danger of destruction in the Town of Guilderland (there are about 1400 acres in the Town of Colonie).
The site of the proposed apartment complex totals about 50 acres. The developer proposes to donate 39 acres to the Preserve and build on 11 acres. Sounds like a good deal, right?
Only, it’s not.
The remaining Pine Bush ecosystem that is privately owned and not protected, is in danger of destruction. These days, the remaining privately-owned Pine Bush is being eaten away a few acres at a time. Years ago, developers proposed huge projects of 80 or more acres. These days, the proposals are small; a few acres here and a few acres there. Currently, there are several proposed projects in the Town of Colonie to build warehouses which consist of just a few acres for each proposal. Plus the 75-acre proposed solar farm on land recommended for full protection. In Guilderland, there are a couple of proposals to build houses on land recommend for protection. These housing proposals are on a few acres of land. But, add up all of these proposed projects, and they have a significant, cumulative affect on the Pine Bush, which, unfortunately, destroys the ecosystem.
For this Pine Bush Parc proposal, the entire 50 acre parcel is recommended for Full Protection by the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, with one of the highest scores that can be given – 60. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission gives this area of the Pine Bush high scores for pitch pine/scrub oak ecosystem, linkage, water resources, and historic resources.
The developer is asked for this parcel to be re-zoned a “PUD” or “Planned Unit Development.”
The Town code definition of a PUD is:
“The PUD District provides for flexible land use and design so that small- to large-scale neighborhoods can be developed that incorporate a variety of residential types and nonresidential uses, and which may contain both individual building sites and common property which are planned and developed as a unit. The PUD District shall include preservation of trees, natural topography and geologic features; efficient use of land resulting in smaller networks of utilities; interconnected streets; and a plan supportive of transit service and consistent with smart growth principles.
The proposal does not include a variety of residential types. The proposal only includes two apartment buildings; one is fours stories, the other five stories. The proposal does not include any non-residential uses. Other than gifting the un-buildable 39 acres to the Preserve, there is no preservation of the Pine Bush ecosystem on the 11-acre building site itself. Despite offering 39 acres for preservation, the developer is still building on every square inch of the parcel that can be built on.
People can view a map of the proposed site by visiting savethepinebush.org/m to view the Mapper. The proposed project is made up of four parcels of land. These parcels are 20, 22, and 24 New Karner Rd (there is an additional tiny .15 acre parcel with no street number). To view a parcel, enter the address of 20 New Karner Rd and the Mapper will display an outline of the parcel. Roll your mouse over adjacent parcels to view the other parcels in the project.
This proposed project, if built, will further fragment the Pine Bush ecosystem.
At some point, the Town of Guilderland needs to decide whether or not it will follow the goals for the Pine Bush preservation in the new Guilderland Comprehensive Plan.
The Planning Board is holding another meeting on this proposal on Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day!). Come celebrate Earth Day by attending the meeting.