Two New Developments Greenlighted In Brunswick
By Doug La Rocque
High Peaks Community Solar Project, as well as the proposed Taco Bell and Sunmark Federal Credit Union complex all received the go ahead from the Brunswick Planning Board at its meeting on Thursday, July 5. High Peaks will construct its solar project behind the Hope United Methodist Church on Route 2 in Eagle Mills. For those that join the consortium, owner Kevin Bailey believes they will see a reduction in their overall electricity bill by about 25 percent. Most of the available openings, however, have been filled. The project has been nearly two years in the works, having first been proposed in August of 2016.
A complex owned by Prime Properties in Cohoes that is similiar to what is proposed in Brunswick. The Valley Avenue Apartments would only be two stories high, not the five stories as shown in this depiction. Photo courtesy of Prime Properties.
The Nigro Companies site plan application that would allow the construction of a Taco Bell and Sunmark Federal Credit Union on the plot of land that is currently unoccupied in the front of the Brunswick Plaza along Hoosick Road was also approved. The Plaza is currently home to Market 32 (Price Chopper) and several smaller stores.
Nigro had to make several changes to the store plan concerning pedestrian flow and to address concerns raised by the Brunswick Number 1 Fire Company, within whose district the Plaza is located. The plan also calls for a small strip of land to be ceded over to New York State for a possible widening of Hoosick Road (Route 7) if the Department of Transportation (DOT) should decide to do so.
Both projects are looking for construction to begin some time in August.
A New Apartment Complex Proposed
The Board also agreed to consider a Special Use Application by Dave Leon for the construction of a 201 apartment complex on land he owns located off Hillcrest Avenue, behind the Planet Fitness building, also along Hoosick Road. To be known as Valley Avenue Apartments, the complex would be owned and managed by Prime Properties of Cohoes, which plans many different amenities in a common courtyard and underground enclosed parking. Mr. Leon is only asking for the permit at this time, indicating his reluctance to spend $100,000 or more on engineering requirements, if the permit is not approved. The board’s engineer, Wayne Bonesteel, indicated the pre-requisite requirements for the permit’s consideration were in place, and the board scheduled a public hearing for 7 pm on Thursday, August 5.
Discussion about the proposal centered on the height of the buildings in the complex, town code permits only two story tall structures. The backside of the buildings would also be above the 30 foot limit set forth in the codes and would require a zoning variance as well as planning board approval. The other major point brought forward by board member Don Henderson was traffic flow along Route 7, which all agree is already very congested. Mr. Leon’s application calls for a traffic light to be located at the intersection of Hillcrest and Hoosick. That would require DOT approval. Mr. Leon indicated a traffic study at that intersection is currently underway.
Changing a Solar Permit
Borrego Solar was also back in front of the board, asking for an amendment to their Special Use Permit to construct a Commercial Solar facility on land located off Brick Church Road, (Route 278). The current permit calls for two separate facilities, however, Borrego now says recent federal rule changes will allow them to condense their operation into one facility, reducing the number of power poles required from six to three, and increasing setback distances. The board ruled no additional public hearing was required, and agreed to consider the request at their next meeting, after studying the company’s submission.