by Lynne Jackson
GUILDERLAND: As I prepare this newsletter for mailing, I note a public hearing will be held on Wednesday, September 11 at 7:00 PM in regards to 2711 Curry Road in Guilderland. The hearing will be held in Guilderland Town Hall 5209 Western Turnpike, Guilderland, NY, The applicant is “only” requesting a two-lot sub-division. But, the land is located in an area recommended for full protection. The question is, what will happen to the undeveloped parcel once the subdivision is approved? Does the applicant want to develop this parcel or sell it to someone who will develop it? This is how our Pine Bush ecosystem is disappearing today; approval of what seems like a minor subdivision change could eventually lead to the destruction of acres of Pine Bush.
From the Town of Guilderland Planning Board
PUBLIC HEARING. Consideration of Issuing a SEQR Negative Declaration for a 2 Lot Minor Subdivision – 2711 Curry Road – Athena Andrikopoulos The applicant is proposing a 2 lot subdivision of 23.83 acres of land located in the R40 District. Lot 1 would consist of 1.52 acres of land and contains an existing single-family dwelling and accessory structures. Lot 2 would consist of 22.31 acres of land and is undeveloped. The property is located in the Pine Bush Preserve Management Area and is a recommended “Full Protection” area. The application was referred to the Albany County Planning Board, Pine Bush Preserve Commission, Conservation Advisory Council and Town of Colonie. The Planning Board issued concept plan approval at the August 15, 2024 Planning Board meeting.
The Pine Bush Commission lists concerns
The Albany Pine Bush Management Preserve Commission sent comments to the Planning Board regarding the importance of this site and how a subdivision could affect the ability to create a viable preserve. Here are the Commission’s comments:
Potentially significant adverse environmental impacts: The proposed site is within an area recommended for Full Protection (Protection Area 73) in the 2017 Management Plan Update for the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Areas designated for Full Protection are recommended for protection in their entirety using the greatest means of protection possible, including acquisition in fee, land exchanges/swaps, purchase of development rights, or conservation easement. As such, the application appears inconsistent with the 2017 Management Plan Update for the Preserve. Full Protection Area 73 is valued for existing and/or restorable pitch pine-scrub oak barrens and its ability to link and buffer existing and potential Preserve lands. Since 2017 significant open space losses within Full Protection Area 73 has resulted in the further isolation and fragmentation of the remaining undeveloped habitat without commensurate offsetting measures. The cumulative impact of recent and proposed subdivision will further reduce and fragment Full Protection Area 73, complicating the APBPC’s long-term ability to create and manage a viable preserve as outlined in the 2017 Management Plan update.
Avoid, minimize and mitigate potentially significant environmental impacts: To protect the conservation value of Full Protection Area 73 we recommend avoiding, minimizing and mitigating the potentially significant negative environmental impacts highlighted above by establishing permanent protection for remaining open space here and/or requiring mitigation to offset the loss and fragmentation of open space within the Albany Pine Bush Study Area. We ask the Town to consider offsetting measures used in other areas recommended for full protection and require applicants provide for the protection of 2 acres for every acre lost when approving projects within areas recommended for full protection, when other offsetting measures will be insufficient to meet the goals of the 2017 Management Plan Update and NYS ECL Article 4.
