Costco – Save the Pine Bush

Update on Costcos and IDA Tax Breaks – June 28 2023

June 28, 2023 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Dear All, Yesterday, members of Save the Pine Bush and the Guilderland Coalition for Responsible Growth spoke with Channel 6 prior to the Guilderland Industrial Development Agency meeting. Afterward, we went into the IDA meeting. To my great surprise, at the beginning of the meeting, the chair announced that no decision would be made that evening regarding giving tax breaks or acquiring the roads through eminent domain. Instead, the IDA board had written a series of 12 questions. The board…

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Guilderland Coalition for Responsible Growth, Save the Pine Bush, and Mothers Out Front object to tax abatement and donation of roads through eminent domain for Pyramid Corporation

June 27, 2023 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

For Immediate Release: June 27, 2023 For Further Information: Contact Robyn Gray at (518) 727-6841 or Lynne Jackson at (518) 366-7324 Press Advisory – Tuesday, June 27, 6:45 PM Guilderland Coalition for Responsible Growth, Save the Pine Bush, and Mothers Out Front object to tax abatement and donation of roads through eminent domain for Pyramid Corporation GUILDERLAND, NY: The Guilderland Industrial Development Agency (IDA) is scheduled to make a decision at their meeting on Tuesday, June 26 regarding tax abatement…

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Costco Press Conference, May 31, 2023

June 6, 2023 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Dear All, The press conference by Save the Pine Bush, Mothers Out Front and the Guilderland Coaltion for Responsible Growth was well attended. Below are links to articles from the Altamont Enterprise, Channel 10 and Channel 6. Today, the Times Union published an article by Chris Churchill, “Guilderland shouldn’t fall for Costco scam”. Here is a link to that article that everyone should be able to open: https://www.timesunion.com/churchill/article/chris-churchill-guilderland-shouldn-t-fall-18135472.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGltZXN1bmlvbi5jb20vY2h1cmNoaWxsL2FydGljbGUvY2hyaXMtY2h1cmNoaWxsLWd1aWxkZXJsYW5kLXNob3VsZG4tdC1mYWxsLTE4MTM1NDcyLnBocA==&time=MTY4NjA1NTgzNTYzOQ==&rid=NGM3YzAxMmMtNTc4OC00YjE0LTk0ZDctM2I2MmI5MmY0NzBk&sharecount=MQ== The next meeting regarding the proposed tax breaks and eminent domain for…

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Press Conference, Public Hearing on Pyramid Crossgates’ request for tax abatement for proposed Costco

May 30, 2023 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Dear All, On Wednesday, May 31, the Guilderland IDA is holding a public hearing on Crossgates Releasco (Pyramid Corporation) request for tax abatement and donation of roads through eminent domain for the proposed Costco. If you wish to comment on the project, here are things you can do: Here is a link to the proposed tax abatement and eminent domain:https://www.townofguilderland.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif7546/f/uploads/costco_-amended_ida_application_with_attachments_5.16.23-c.pdf Hope to see you at the press conference and the hearing! Thanks so much,Lynne JacksonFor Save the Pine Bush

The Costco Public Hearing & Climate Change

April 11, 2023 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

GUILDERLAND: What better way to celebrate Earth Week than attending a public hearing? The Town of Guilderland Zoning Board of Appeals is holding a public hearing on giving a special use permit to Pyramid for the proposed Costco to be built near Crossgates Mall. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, April 19 at 7:00 PM at the Guilderland Town Hall, 5209 Western Tpk, Guilderland, NY. Pyramid is proposing an approximate 163,000 square feet Costco wholesale retail facility, including an…

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Save the Pine Bush Update and the War on Terror

April 6, 2022 Tom Ellis Comments 0 Comment

by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: Lynne Jackson spoke about current developments in the Pine Bush and Steve Downs about The War on Terror – Twenty Years Later, at the February 23 Save the Pine Bush virtual meeting. After thanking SPB members for their financial contributions to assist one of SPB’s dinner chefs, Adam Baldwin, with his sudden medical bills, Lynne thanked Andy Arthur for creating an on-line “event sweeper” that quickly identifies proposed projects in the pine barrens sections of…

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Save the Pine Bush Appeal Heard in the NYS Appellate Division, Third Department

April 6, 2022 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: On March 23, the Supreme Court, Appellate Division Third Judicial Department heard Save the Pine Bush’s appeal of the dismissal of our case against the Town of Guilderland and Pyramid over the proposed apartments, Costco and office buildings. Todd Ommen, of the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic argued for Save the Pine Bush. The main argument was that the issues Save the Pine Bush raised in our case in Supreme Court have never been heard. Residents in…

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Altamont Enterprise: Appeal heard in second suit filed against Guilderland, Pyramid

March 25, 2022 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

From the Altamont Enterprise on Thursday, March 24, 2022 – 19:03 GUILDERLAND — A panel of five appellate court judges this week heard arguments in the second lawsuit to land in their laps over Pyramid’s proposed Rapp Road and Western Avenue projects. Save the Pine Bush filed its suit in November 2020 based on the Guilderland Planning Board’s adoption of a findings statement for Pyramid’s proposed 222-unit residential development and Costco Wholesale store in addition to the site-plan approval given…

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Save the Pine Bush Files Appeal

February 12, 2022 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

by Lynne Jackson ALBANY, NY: Save the Pine Bush has filed an appeal in January to the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department in the matter of Save the Pine Bush vs. Town of Guilderland and others over Pyramid Corporation’s proposal to build apartments, office buildings and a Costco in the Pine Bush. Originally, SPB filed suit in NYS Supreme Court. The NYS Supreme Court judge dismissed the case, saying that a previous decision in favor of the Town…

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Proposed Developments to Watch

September 28, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

by Lynne Jackson GUILDERLAND, NY: Save the Pine Bush is watching several proposals in the Pine Bush in Guilderland. These include the proposed Pyramid projects, one of which is a Costco with 18 gas pumps. With climate change a critical issue, the Town of Guilderland should not permit the construction of any fossil fuel infrastructure. Currently, SPB, represented by the Pace Environmental Law Clinic, has a lawsuit before the New York State Supreme Court over the approval of this development….

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Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic Defends the Pine Bush

September 28, 2021 Grace Nichols Comments 0 Comment

by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: Todd Ommen and Robert O’Connor of the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic (PELC) made a joint zoom presentation at the June 16th Save the Pine Bush dinner. Lynne Jackson hosted the event. Mr. Ommen led off. He is the PELC managing attorney and supervises interns. He began practicing environmental law in 2007, joined PELC in 2016, after prior corporate litigation and a stint with the NY Attorney General. He said there was little environmental law in…

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Pine Bush Proposed Projects

August 24, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

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Proposed Crossgates Development

August 10, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

GUILDERLAND, NY: Rapp Road Development, a corporate entity of Pyramid/Crossgates, is proposing to build on about 46 acres of land. Originally, the proposal was to build 222 apartments on 20 acres of land adjacent to the Pine Bush preserve. After the Town Planning Board appointed themselves the lead agency, the project was exapanded to include a proposed Costco and an undefined commercial/residential development on an additional 26 acres of land. The proposal is huge. To put this proposed development in…

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Guilderland and Pyramid look for second suit, filed by Save the Pine Bush, to be dismissed

August 3, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Guilderland and Pyramid look for second suit, filed by Save the Pine Bush, to be dismissed Monday, August 2, 2021 – 19:13 Enterprise file photo — Michael Koff The not-for-profit group Save The Pine Bush, in November 2020, celebrated when Westmere residents won a lawsuit (which was recently overturned) that stopped construction of two Pyramid projects. GUILDERLAND — With one win in hand, the town and Pyramid are looking to run up the score, asking the judge in a second lawsuit…

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Appeals court in Guilderland-Pyramid lawsuit allows case to cut the line – Altamont Enterprise

June 17, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Monday, February 15, 2021 – 19:52 – Altamont Enterprise GUILDERLAND — The judge overseeing the town of Guilderland and Pyramid Management Group’s appeal to reverse a lower court’s decision that stopped construction of the company’s Rapp Road and Western Avenue projects has agreed to a request for “an expedited briefing schedule on this appeal.” The order from Justice Christine M. Clark of the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department means that both sides are to have all of…

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Rapp Road Costco and Town of Guilderland State Appellate HearingLivestream

May 24, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Dear All, Please note: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 – 1:00pm Rapp Road Costco and Town of Guilderland State Appellate HearingLivestream: http://wowza.nycourts.gov/ad3/ad3.php Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 25, the oral argument for the case of Hart v Town of Guilderland, will be heard. This is the case involving the proposed Costco, apartments and office building in the Pine Bush along Rapp Road. New counsel has been retained by Pyramid Cos. with Guilderland Supervisor Peter Barber representing the Town of Guilderland. The Guilderland Coalition for Responsible Growth has more information…

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Write to the Town of Guilderland Planning Board

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Name of the project: Rapp Road Residential/Western Avenue Mixed Use Redevelopment Projects Email comments to: Kenneth Kovalchik, Town Planner, Kovalchikk@togny.org The Town of Guilderland Planning Board should reject the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed development by Pyramid (Crossgates) to build massive apartment complexes, office space and expansive retail on Rapp Road, the Mall Road and Western Avenue. This proposed development includes a Costco with 700 car parking lot and a gas station. The Town of Guilderland Planning…

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Pyramid Submits the Draft Environmental Impact Statement

April 6, 2021 Grace Nichols Comments 0 Comment

GUILDERLAND, NY: On Christmas Eve, Pyramid Crossgates submitted the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for their project, “Rapp Road Residential /Western Avenue Mixed Use Redevelopment Projects.” When first brought before the Town of Guilderland Planning Board in late 2018, the project consisted of building 222-unit apartment complex on Rapp Road. The project has morphed into 312-unit apartment complex on Rapp Road, a CostCo complete with a gas station plus other commercial development. According to the NY State Environmental Quality Review…

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Crossgates Expansion

April 6, 2021 Grace Nichols Comments 0 Comment

Name of the project: Rapp Road Residential/Western Avenue Mixed Use Redevelopment Projects Here is the Draft Environmental Impact Statement website at the Town of Guilderland: https://www.townofguilderland.org/planning-board/pages/environmental-impact-statement-rapp-road-residentialwestern-avenue-mixed-use Save the Pine Bush’s comments on the DEIS Here are Save the Pine Bush’s comments written by Christopher M. Walker, , Legal Intern appearing pursuant to the Practice Order of Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic, Inc. Download all the documents in a zipped file. Save the Pine Bush Comment Appendix A Dr. Stager Appendix B Zamurs…

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Save the Pine Bush Files an Amicus Brief in the Pyramid Lawsuit

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

By Lynne Jackson ALBANY, NY: Todd Ommen from the Pace Environmental Ligation Clinic representing Save the Pine Bush, filed an amicus brief in March in the case known as Thomas Hart, Lisa hart, Kevin Mcdonald, Sarah Mcdonald, 1667 Western Avenue, LLC and Red-Kap Sales, Inc., v. Town of Guilderland, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals of Guilderland, Pyramid Management Group, LLC, Rapp Road Development, LLC and Crossgates Releaseco, LLC (Hart v. Guilderland), Hart v. Guilderland was filed by attorney…

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Tree Clear Cut

April 5, 2021 Grace Nichols Comments 0 Comment

GUILDERLAND, NY: If you haven’t already heard or seen it, March 26 was an horrible day for the trees on the site for the proposed Costco; Respect and adherence to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) by the Town of Guilderland; and any expectation for a fair process from the Guilderland Planning Board’s review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed developments by the Pyramid (Crossgates) Companies. On Thursday morning, March 26, 2020 at 10:17AM,…

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Second lawsuit filed over Guilderland Planning Board’s approval of Pyramid project

April 4, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Published on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 – 17:34 in the Altamont Enterprise Lynne Jackson of Save the Pine Bush speaks at a press conference announcing a Nov. 20 court decision to halt Pyramid’s plans to build a Costco and 222 residential units near Crossgates Mall in Guilderland. GUILDERLAND — A week after a judge in Albany County Supreme Court ruled in favor of a group of Westmere residents and a Guilderland gas-station owner who were seeking to stop construction of a 222-unit development…

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The Residents and the Pine Bush Win Against Pyramid Justice Prevails

April 4, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: In an astonishing, detailed, and carefully written decision, Judge Peter Lynch handed a victory to Westmere Terrace residents and a gas-station owner, the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against the Town of Guilderland Planing Board and Pyramid Management Group. The decision makes null and void all of the approvals the Planning Board gave to Pyramid for its proposed development project known as the “Rapp Road Residential/Western Avenue Mixed Use Redevelopment Projects. This is a significant victory…

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Bats in the Unprotected Pine Bush of Guilderland

April 2, 2021 Grace Nichols Comments 0 Comment

By Grace Nichols Albany County is home to many bats, from the rare Myotis genus species, so vulnerable to White-nose syndrome for which we were a ground zero, to the more common Large Brown Bat, Hoary Bats, Red bats, Silver-haired Bats and Tri-colored bats. They come in a variety of sizes and colors and they are agile flyers, plucking insects from the air, hunting with both eyesight and special echolocation, using calls far above the frequency of sounds audible to…

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Proposed Crossgates Development

April 2, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

by Lynne Jackson GUILDERLAND, NY: Rapp Road Development, a corporate entity of Pyramid/Crossgates, is proposing to build on about 46 acres of land. Originally, the proposal was to build 222 apartments on 20 acres of land adjacent to the Pine Bush preserve. After the Town Planning Board appointed themselves the lead agency, the project was exapanded to include a proposed Costco and an undefined commercial/residential development on an additional 26 acres of land. The proposal is huge. To put this…

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Proposals in the Pine Bush

April 2, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

by Lynne Jackson GUILDERLAND, NY: Last August, Save the Pine Bush wrote comments on the Draft Scope for the Pyramid Crossgates proposal to build 222 apartments on land in the Pine Bush ecosystem that was designated as partial protection. At the time, the Draft Scope included two other parcels along Western Avenue, but, no announcements had been made about what would be built there. Now we know — Pyramid is proposing to build a CostCo with gas pumps and more…

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SPB Newsletters Listed by Date – 2020s

April 2, 2021 Lewis B. Oliver, Jr., Esq. Comments 0 Comment

2020s 🦋 2010s 🦋 2000s 🦋 1990s Search Newsletter Archives: 2023 🦋 2022 🦋 2021 🦋 2020 2023 Newsletters 🦋 News Articles from April / May 2023 Newsletter The Costco Public Hearing & Climate Change by Lynne Jackson – April / May 2023 Newsletter Ward Stone — NYS Wildlife Pathologist Worked for the People by Lew Oliver – April / May 2023 Newsletter Ward Stone was employed by the state but he worked for the people, animals, and environment by…

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Save the Pine Bush Court Cases

April 2, 2021 Lewis B. Oliver, Jr., Esq. Comments 0 Comment

Save the Pine Bush has been in almost litigation to preserve the Pine Bush since February 6, 1978. The seven cases we have litigated in courts since 1997 can be found on NY Supreme Court’s Web Civ by searching “Save the Pine Bush”. Court YearFiled Index Number CaseStatus Plaintiff FirstPlaintiff Firm Defendant FirstDefendant Firm Justice Albany Supreme Court 1997 7685-97 (0007685/1997) Disposed Save The Pine Bush Lewis B. Oliver Guilderland Dennis C. Vacco GEORGE L. COBB Albany Supreme Court…

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Fighting the Crossgates Expansion

April 2, 2021 Grace Nichols Comments 0 Comment

Dear All, The proposed apartment complex on Rapp Road in Guilderland is back. Pyramid sold the 19 acre parcel to a local developer. This new developer has proposed some modifications to the project. The new name for the project is Apex at Crossgates. The area where the proposed apartment complex is to be built is recommended for partial protection by the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission. The public hearing: Wednesday, July 13 at 7:00 PMGuilderland Town Hall5209 Western TpkGuilderland, NY…

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April / May 2023 Newsletter

April 2, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

News Articles from April / May 2023 Newsletter The Costco Public Hearing & Climate Change – Lynne Jackson Ward Stone — NYS Wildlife Pathologist Worked for the People – Lew Oliver Ward Stone was employed by the state but he worked for the people, animals, and environment – Tom Ellis Recent Save the Pine Bush Newsletters April / May 2023 Newsletter – Download printable PDF version February / March 2023 Newsletter – Download printable PDF version November/December 2022 Newsletter –…

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Newsletters Articles Ordered by Subject

April 2, 2021 John Wolcott Comments 0 Comment

Search Newsletter Archives: What is Full Protection, Partial Protection and who is the Pine Bush? – By Lynne Jackson – June / July 2022 Newsletter A Tribute To Lew Oliver, our wonderful lawyer The Pine Bush’s Most Famous Resident – The Karner Blue Butterfly Save the Pine Bush Victories and Fights The Thruway Authority Comes Across Royally, Dec 99/Jan 00Save the Pine Bush is 25!, Mar/Apr 03 Legislation regarding standing in court We Need the Environmental Access to Justice Act,…

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