The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Brunswick

The Ambulance Response Time Problem

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by Doug La Rocque
Injured or sick, call for an ambulance and keep your fingers crossed one will show up in a reasonable amount of time. That is perhaps a bit of an overstatement, but it bears out the frustration that Brunswick residents, emergency service personnel, and Town officials are feeling. To that end, the Brunswick Town Board held a workshop meeting on Tuesday, August 30, with a representative of the Cambridge Rescue Squad, the County’s 911 center coordinator, and members of area fire departments.

Call for an ambulance in Brunswick and the arrival time might be as little as five minutes or perhaps 30 minutes or longer. [Read more…] about The Ambulance Response Time Problem

Brunswick’s KFC Opening Delayed

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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

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Brunswick Housing Development Creeps Forward

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by Doug La Rocque
There was a resolution put forward to allow the 24 single home project to begin grading nearly half the site prior to Rensselaer County Health Department (RCDOH) septic approval, but it was tabled by the Brunswick Planning Board at their Thursday, August 4 meeting for further review. The resolution is a unique solution to a complex problem. The RCDOH approved the septic for 13 of the 24 sites, but could not act on the remaining 11 because of the extensive grading that must be completed first. The Board also brought forth some engineering questions they wanted address in relation to that grading. It is expected the Planners will vote on the resolution at their August 18 meeting.

The project is located on the north side of Brunswick Road (NYS Route 2) just west of Heather Ridge Road.

Medical Office/Surgery Center
There was a brief review of the proposal by Paulsen Development to construct a

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Upcoming Elections

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Early Voting Starts Saturday

Submitted by the LWV of Rensselaer County
Early voting begins Saturday, August 13 through Sunday, August 21. Voters can cast their ballot at whichever of the three following locations is most convenient:

Town of Brunswick office building
336 Town Office Road, Troy

Schodack Town Hall
265 Schuurman Road, Castleton

500 Federal St. office building
500 Federal St., Troy  [Read more…] about Upcoming Elections

Wounded Vet Run

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by Amy Modesti
On Saturday morning, July 30, over 300 motorcyclists, including members of the Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Warren County Sheriff’s Departments, as well as the New York State Police, rode in the Fifth Annual Upstate New York Wounded Vet Run for U.S. Marine Corps. Sgt. Jeffrey Combs of East Harrison, NY. Starting at the Brunswick Harley Davidson and ending at Wicked Pub and Eatery in Clifton Park, with Troy Police assisting with traffic control, motorcyclists and veterans came out to aid their comrade in droves.

Every year, Chairman Mike Drinkwine Jr., along with Eric Remington, who helped found the Upstate NY Wounded Vet Run with guidance from Andy Biggio of the Boston Wounded Vet Run, honor a veteran that was either injured in training or active duty, with proceeds raised going towards that individual.

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New Medical Building on the Horizon in Brunswick

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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

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Pushback After Stefanik Meet and Greet

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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.

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More Clarity on Proposed Town Code Changes in Brunswick

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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

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Elks Care, Elks Share

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by Amy Modesti
On Monday, May 30, the Brunswick Elks Club #2556 continued their tradition of caring about the community and sharing their love of remembering our fallen veterans with their annual Memorial Day chicken dinner to-go event. 

“It’s an annual Memorial Day event and most of the proceeds go towards New York State Major Projects; the Cerebral Palsy Home Service Program,” said Exalted Ruler of Elks Mike Pendergast. Over 200 dinners were sold. 

Event goers also took part in a raffle for a chance to win $200 worth of lottery tickets and $100 cash to benefit the CP Home Service Program, put on by the Ladies Auxiliary. 

Brunswick Elks Club #2556 will present a corned beef dinner on Friday, June 3 and a clam steam luncheon Sunday, June 12. Reservations are required for both, and can be made by contacting Mike Pendergast at 518-286-1645. 

[Read more…] about Elks Care, Elks Share

Brunswick Revisions to Town Codes Ready for Review

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by Doug La Rocque
In March of last year, the Brunswick Town Council issued a moratorium on all two-family and multi-family construction in the Town, the result of several complaints from residents that these structures were creating a density problem, a sentiment echoed by the Town’s Planning Board. The conundrum lay in the fact these proposed developments were in areas allowed by Town code, but perhaps in practicality not the best locations. 

That moratorium has been twice extended while a committee worked on reviewing these housing guidelines. That work is now complete and a new local law that would repeal the 2017 codes and replace them with the newest version was introduced. A public hearing on the new codes was scheduled for Monday, July 11 at 6:30 pm at the Town Hall. A copy of these codes is available for review on the Town’s website.

The changes to the codes

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