Brunswick

by Doug La Rocque
That was the unanimous sentiment expressed by those in attendance at a Rensselaer County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), public hearing held Tuesday morning, September 6, at the Brunswick Town Hall. The subject of the hearing was a request by CVE North America for funding as well as both sales tax and mortgage tax exemptions, something the Town of Brunswick vehemently opposed. In a letter to the IDA, Brunswick Town Supervisor Phil Herrington pointed out the solar development firm (which has an approved project yet to be constructed

by Doug La Rocque
KFC, which is part of the Aldi complex still under construction, had sent out a press release that they planned to open for business on Tuesday, August 16. However, a condition imposed by the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) stated the newly installed traffic light at the corner of Lord Avenue and Hoosick Road must first be functional. It is not. Speaking with Brunswick officials, they tell The Eastwick Press the DOT has indicated it might put the light on flash by the end of the week.

Code Changes Not Yet Ready for a Vote
The Brunswick Town Board is once again looking to extend the ban on

by Doug La Rocque
The Brunswick Planning Board learned more about plans to construct a two-story medical office and ambulatory surgery center on McChesney Avenue, near the Market 32 Plaza, at their Thursday, June 16 meeting. Representatives from Paulson Development indicated Upstate Gastroenterology and Ortho New York are two of the planned occupants. Items involved in the preliminary discussion include the height of a tower on the building, which would require a zoning variance, and a possible connecting walkway to Market 32.

Encroachment
The firm constructing the new Aldi/Planet Fitness complex on Hoosick Road (NYS Route 7) has

by Doug La Rocque
Representative Elise Stefanik, whose 21st Congressional District will include a vast portion of Rensselaer County starting in 2023, held a meet and greet at the Brunswick Community Center on Tuesday, May 31 that was quite civil inside, but replete with about 30 protesters outside the building. Ms. Stefanik is a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump and has repeatedly criticized the January 6 Insurrection Public Hearings currently taking place in Washington, D.C. as a “witch hunt.” 

These protesters were eventually locked out of the event, because as Brunswick Town Supervisor Phil Herrington told the June 9 Town Council meeting, they became “disruptive” with one individual “attempting to intimidate” those wishing to attend the meet and greet. He described the affair as a “private event” with the standard $150 rental fee paid in advance. Mr. Herrington added if those who did not agree with the Congresswoman just simply wanted to attend without protest, they would have been welcome.

by Doug La Rocque
It was more of what was not on the agenda that made news at the Thursday, June 2 Brunswick Planning Board meeting than what was on it. In particular, Planning Board Attorney Andy Gilchrist outlined some of the proposed changes to Town code in relation to multi-family dwellings and where they could be located.

Currently a number of locally zoned parcels have what is called an overlay attached to them. That means the restrictions or permitted uses for that zoned area can be altered if there is, say, an agricultural overlay as well. Anything allowed in the overlaid district would also permitted. These overlays, while well intended, have on occasion created some controversy, most recently involving the