Brunswick

by Doug La Rocque
Even before the ink on the application was dry, the Brunswick Planning Board learned that a planned 20-foot extension of the cell tower located on land at the intersection of Creek Road and Menemsha Lane is a go, if Blue Sky Towers meets the minimum federal criteria. Under a federal law adopted during the Obama administration, neither local nor state officials can stop it. The law allows for a one-time increase in tower height, in this case, to add an AT&T antenna array above the current Verizon Wireless array already on the tower.

by Doug La Rocque
Brunswick Water and Sewer Department Superintendent Bill Bradly had some bad news for the Brunswick Town Board at their February meeting on Thursday the 9th. Seems what they are being charged by the City of Troy for metered water usage will be about $32,000 more than what users are estimated to be billed. Supervisor Phil Herrington summed up the feeling of the Board members nicely by saying this is not good. Why the shortfall? Mr. Bradley offered several reasons. Water that runs through hydrants is not measured, as are some other usages. What is troubling, however, is the discovery that an unknown number of people have installed bypass valves on their private meters, meaning some—if not all—of their water usage is not measured and therefore not billed. This has been a problem in the past but now seems to be a bit more prolific.

By Doug La Rocque
With several two-family and multi-family housing applications before the Brunswick Planning Board in 2021, residents and some Planners started expressing concerns about density, especially with some of these proposed housing units in areas they felt were not a good fit. The concern reached the Town Board, who decided they should review their zoning as to where and where not these projects might be allowed. Thus, the moratorium came into being while that zoning study took place.

One plan that was proposed resulted in a full zoning law change, but met with some push back at a public hearing, and Board members decided to

By Doug La Rocque
Following a sidewalk to nowhere issue and delays over sewer design and easements, Paulsen Development’s application to construct a two-story medical building at 112 McChesney Avenue gained conditional approval from the Brunswick Planning Board at their Thursday, December 15 meeting. Those conditions were numerous, however. 

Water and Sewer Department Superintendent Bill Bradley has given his approval to the preliminary sewer design, although

By Doug La Rocque
Two issues, one that has been before the Brunswick Town Board for only a few months, another that has been discussed for more than a year, saw action taken at the Thursday, December 8 meeting.

First was changes to Town Code as they related to construction of two-family and multi-family homes. Density concerns sparked a moratorium on such consideration and construction in late 2021 while the Town looked at where such construction should be allowed and consideration of a density factor. That moratorium was eventually extended twice. The initial changes, which involved several code modifications, met with some opposition at a public hearing, and were pulled back. The newer version was approved as a local law, and takes effect upon filing with the New York State Secretary of State’s Office.

By Doug La Rocque
Solar Energy may not only light up homes and businesses, it continues to light up some controversy in Brunswick. Town officials are concerned about the number of solar farms either constructed, waiting to be built, or in the approval process for several reasons. These include visibility, proximity to residential neighborhoods, eventual decommissioning costs, and loss of tax revenue. It is enough of a concern that the Town has proposed a one-year moratorium on all solar construction