Quoted Text

the Town Board can be aggressive with plans in the Spring.

Quoted Text

Mr. Comenzo,

I was just reviewing the file which is on-line on the towns website regarding the above study that had been done and realize that you had the public work session just over one month ago.  I was wondering what, if any input was given by the residents during this study, as I was unable to attend.  Also, I was wondering what is the next thing that is going to occur with the development of this land throughout Rotterdam Junction.

Also, if you could please advise what, if any, effect the recent application by the NYSDEC for the land in this area would have.  I assume that the area to be conserved is kept out of any of the planning in this area?  A copy of said application can be found on RotterdamNY.Info at the following link: http://www.rotterdamny.info//m-1182044519/.  

I look forward to hearing what ideas you have for the upcoming development of this land.  

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Kevin T. March
163 Princetown Road
Rotterdam, NY 12306

cc: http://www.rotterdamny.info//m-1182044519/

Quoted Text

Hi Kevin:

I’m having the consultant compile our handwritten notes from the meeting and will forward you a copy of them hopefully by the end of the week.  I have always found meetings in Rotterdam Junction to be extremely well attended and we received some great feedback at the meeting.

The technical advisory group for this study which consists of planners from the Capital District Transportation Committee, Capital District Transportation Authority, Schenectady County Economic Development and Planning, NYS Department of Transportation, NYS Canal Corporation and I are meeting to discuss what information we gathered from the public next week on January 16th.  We had hoped to meet in late December but the holiday’s complicated things.    

The consultant (Wilbur Smith and Associates which also prepared the Exit 25A/Burdeck Street Plan) will be looking to the technical committee for guidance and will present Draft Land Use Plan(s) for feedback.  Additionally, we will be looking to schedule another public meeting in Rotterdam Junction to present these plan(s).  It will most likely be the last week in January.  Please keep in mind that this study is limited to the area from SI Group to the Interchange as our grant monies (25K) are fairly limited.

The plan is to wrap up this study as well as the Hamburg Street linkage study in February/March.  The town will then have 3 complete “sub-area” plans (Exit 25/Hamburg, Exit 25A/Burdeck, and Exit 26/Route-5s) for the areas of town that have the greatest potential for development.  The administration felt that these areas are critical to the update to our Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Regulations and has been very supportive of this effort.  CDTC has provided Rotterdam grant monies for all of these studies.  I would expect this spring you will see lots of activity by the Town Board with several public meetings throughout the town to get these recommendations fine-tuned and then implemented.

I’m not aware of any NYSDEC conservation activities in the area; however, NYSDOT is proposing a mitigation area for wetlands in the vicinity of the exit ramp for Route 5s along the bike trail.  This area has no potential for development and the NYSDOT representative has assured me that once completed, it will be attractive.  I believe they are also planning on installing a few benches for bird watching.  If you go to the next meeting, it probably wouldn’t hurt to ask about the mitigation area as it always helps to reinforce the public’s vision of what “attractive” is as it may differ from the definition of a DOT engineer.

Public involvement in the process is the key to completing this effort and the “studies” are the easy part.  Implementation is the key and this administration has assured me that it is a top priority.

Call me anytime, if you have additional questions.

Peter

Peter Comenzo - Senior Planner
Town of Rotterdam
1100 Sunrise Boulevard
Rotterdam, NY  12306
518-355-7660 (phone)
518-355-2725 (fax)

e-mail:  pcomenzo@rotterdamny.org

town website:  http://www.rotterdamny.org