The Town of Brunswick Planning Board was joined by the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals last Thursday night, October 5, for a public hearing on a proposal by Borrego Solar Systems to construct a 21 acre commercial facility at 138 Brick Church Road (NYS Rt. 278). Five speakers appeared before the joint Boards, and while some asked specific questions, none spoke against the project. PV Engineers also represented Borrego at the Planning Board meeting, which immediately followed the public hearing. They explained they were able to convince National Grid, to whom the converted energy will be provided, to reduce the number of poles needed for the transmission from seven on each site to three. The first of these would be set back 100 feet from the entrance to the property. There was a question about how many trees might have to be cut down to prevent the solar panels from being shaded, the answer was some on one side of a lot, but most of the land is open space. A question about crossing wetlands was also raised. PV’s spokesman indicated they would have to cross at one point, but that they have chosen a location, consisting of less than one-tenth of an acre, with minimal impact. That plan still needs approval from the Army Corps of Engineers.
Before the proposal can move forward beyond the hearing stages, Brunswick is still waiting for comment from NYS Department of Transportation, and it needs to take lead agency status on the long form State Environmental Quality Review Act, which is required. The Planning Board is considering Borrego’s request for a Special Use Permit, a site plan review and a subdivision. The property, which is owned by Kurt Gendron and being leased to Borrego, must be split three ways. One plot each for the two solar sites, and the third being land not used by the facility, but which creates a buffer around it. The ZBA is considering a zoning variance request, and agreed to keep its part of the public hearing open until they meet again on October 16. The Planning Board officially closed its hearing that evening, with Chairman Russ Oster praising the applicants for their thorough and concise answers to both the Board and the public’s questions. They plan to resume deliberations on the application when they next meet on October 19.
The proposed relocation of the Stewart’s store, currently at the corner of Routes 7 and 142, was also on the agenda, put was pulled. The company needs Department of Transportation approval to reconstruct Route 7 to include a two way left hand turning lane. That has not yet been received. Stewart’s is proposing to build a much larger facility, including four gasoline islands, at the corner of Route 7 and Sweet Milk Creek Road.
The Board also took up the application of Christine Hadsell to construct a manufactured horse barn for boarding on her 10 plus acre lot at 377 Tamarac Road. The original application was for a residential driveway, but it has since been changed to commercial. That means the driveway and its entrance onto Tamarac Road (a Rensselaer County owned road), must first be approved by the County Engineer. Wayne Bonesteel, who also serves as the Planning Board’s engineer, indicated he could have the review done before the Board’s next meeting, so they may possibly act on the application.
Before adjourning, the planners also approved Paul Bouchard’s request to separate a .37 acre lot from 2 Denise Drive and add it to his property at 4 Denise Drive.