Burdeck St. zoning battle ends Board gives up on attempt to make corridor home for tech companies BY MATT VOLKE Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Matt Volke at 395-3110 or mvolke@dailygazette.net
Town officials Wednesday gave up on their attempt to zone the Burdeck Street corridor to promote technology-oriented companies. The town withdrew its appeal of a state Supreme Court decision that negated the zoning. The court ruled in favor of a group of several land owners, who said the rezoning process was illegal. In deciding not to appeal, the town will see the zoning revert to its earlier status, which was a mix of light and heavy industrial, agricultural, residential, and general business. The former Republican Club property was zoned general business, which would have allowed a proposed Wal-Mart supercenter. The retail giant recently pulled its plans for the supercenter. Steven Tommasone, town supervisor, said "critical impact" legislation approved this month by the board will have the desired effect of giving it control over the type of development in the area. The "critical impact" law gives the town board veto power over large projects. The law requires projects larger than 100,000 square feet to apply for a permit from the town board. The board can require studies of criteria such as impact on neighborhoods, issues beyond the authority of the town Planning Commission. Tommasone said the corporate commerce zoning that was created for the Burdeck Street corridor may be used in the future. He said the comprehensive plan now in the works will target areas for this zoning. Tommasone said he’d like to see technology companies near the Thruway exits in town. The town has a grant for a study at Exit 25, which could point development in that direction. "We’ll be able to get our comprehensive plan and our codes and zoning up to date to protect our residents from reckless development," Tommasone said. Tommasone said another reason to withdraw the appeal was the cost involved. "It’s not in our best interest," he said. "Why spend money on the suit when it’s moot, considering we’ve passed the critical impact legislation." BUDGET APPROVED Also at Wednesday night’s meeting, the 2007 budget was passed with a lower-than-anticipated tax increase. The tax rate will increase 5.9 percent, less than the 8.4 percent originally expected. The rate will be $147 per $1,000 of assessed value, up from $139 this year. Rotterdam is assessed on a fractional system. The average house valued around $4,000. The average taxpayer will roughly have a $32 increase in their tax bill. The general fund spending is $12.8 million, up from $12.3 million. The town board can amend the budget more, said Councilman Joseph Guiderelli. Guiderelli has expressed concern in the budget process about any tax increases. He voted in favor of the budget with the rest of the board, but wants them to meet again with the comptroller to find other places to cut back on spending. "We need to look for any money we can save," he said. "We’ve trimmed a little fat here and there, but we can do more."
ROTTERDAM McLane project moves ahead Environmental impact up for review BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net
Town planners accepted the draft environmental impact statement from the developers of the McLane Foodservice Inc. distribution center slated for land off Feuz Road where a gravel pit now operates. With the more-than-400-page document in hand, members of the Planning Commission are expected to schedule a public hearing for the development sometime in early May. If approved, the project would build the 168,500-square-foot structure on a 27-acre parcel of land in Rotterdam that also touches Princetown. The center would replace an existing facility in Guilderland. “It will be state of the art in terms of the building,” said Mike Hale of Synthesis Architecture, who presented the study during the commission’s regular meeting Tuesday. McLane distributes food mainly to fast food companies such as Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s. The company now employs about 132 workers at its Guilderland plant and could add up to 40 more jobs if it builds the Rotterdam center, Hale said. Fewer than a dozen people attended the meeting, in contrast to a public forum in February 2006 at which more than 75 people turned out. At the time, many complained that a large 24-houra-day, six-day-a-week distribution center would disrupt the area with noise, traffic and pollution. But Hale said the proposed center would have a negligible impact on the area. He said roughly 40 trucks a day would leave the center, fewer than 10 during the night. “There are not a lot of trucks coming out of this,” he said. Hale said a small part of Becker Drive would be closed as part of the project, in addition to improvements on the road and on Route 7. He said the light timing near the entrance to Interstate 88 would also be adjusted. As for the noise impact, Hale said the existing gravel pit appears to be producing just as much sound as the plant operating in Guilderland. He said berms planned for the site, as well as the building itself would act to buffer some of the truck noise. “There is going to be virtually no change in the noise conditions at the existing [residences],” he said. Less than a 10th of 2 acres of wetlands would be disturbed by the project, Hale said, meaning their wouldn’t need to be mitigation with the state Department of Environmental Conservation. He said the large building and a proposed 12,800-square-foot truck maintenance building will be built more than 100 feet away from a stream channel on the property. Hale said the Princetown Planning Board is expected to receive the study shortly, but had already reviewed an earlier version of the DEIS. Rotterdam’s planning commission is expected to have the full document posted on the town’s Web site; hard copies will be available for review at the Town Hall and the Rotterdam branch of the Schenectady County Library starting this morning. Nacy Vlahos of Chazen Companies, a private planning fi rm contracted with the town to review the study, said the DEIS addresses all the previous comments on the project. “We feel it meets all the requirements of the final scope and is ready for public review,” she told the planning commission. But Marcus Mastracco, a resident of Country Walk Road nearby the proposed development site, continued to express skepticism, citing noise and traffic. Mastracco also cited the lack of a sewer system in the area. Without sewers in place, he fears the company could end up building the center only to leave it empty. “I don’t know how they can do it,” he said.
ROTTERDAM 2 major projects to go before board BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.
Town planning officials are expected to review two major proposals, one that could move along long-standing expectations of a sewer line on Burdeck Street. The Planning Commission is to meet at 7:30 tonight at Town Hall. The commission is expected to review a 240-unit condominium development being proposed by Traditional Builders for 58 acres off Mariaville Road, about a half-mile west of the Burdeck Street intersection. The Rotterdam-based company is expected to present the commission with a conceptual site plan during the meeting. “Because of the number of units, they’ll need sewers,” Planning Commission Chairman Lawrence DiLallo said Monday. DiLallo said a group of private investors is close to a plan to install sewers up Burdeck Street from the town’s treatment plant off Campbell Road. Plans proposed by developers last year would run the line along part of Mariaville Road, continue along Burdeck, then west on Route 7 past Schalmont High School to Princetown. “It’ll happen,” DiLallo said. “It’s hard to say [when], but it’s been the deal all along to get sewers to the Princetown town line.” MCLANE PROJECT Commission members are also expected to review site plans for the proposed 168,000-square-foot McLane Food Service distribution center. DiLallo said the project on a 27-acre parcel split between the towns of Rotterdam and Princetown would most likely hook into the sewer line when it is established. McLane distributes mainly to fast food companies like Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s. The company now employs about 135 workers at its Guilderland plant and could add up to 40 more jobs if it builds the Rotterdam center. The Planning Commission last reviewed the project in early May during a meeting that drew about 40 residents. Some voiced concerns over the traffic impact, while others feared such a project could lower property values. Developers of another condominium project are seeking final site plan approval today. Pigliavento Builders is proposing to build three eight-unit buildings along with a recreation area, gazebo, and 16-bay garage on the 2-acre parcel off Curry Road near the Bigsbee Village complex. The commission also will consider a waiver for the owner of the Philomena Apartments off Carman Road to expand the fire-ravaged structure into an apartment building with 20 units and 32 bedrooms. Previously, the building had 18 units and 36 bedrooms. A fi re in May gutted the complex, displacing all 32 of its residents. DiLallo said the planners will likely grant a waiver today, allowing the property owners to move forward with rebuilding. “It’s the same use,” he said of the waiver.
It will sure be nice to see sewers from the Princetown line all the way to the sewage treatment plant, this would allow developments like Horizon Estates, Eldorado Acres and many businesses along the way to tie into the sewer line too.
The sooner they get the sewers on Rt 7 the sooner they can develop it. It is like Rotterdam's 'last frontier'! Princetown will be the next....eventually.
And I think that McLanes will be a plus for that area. It is a good, sound, responsible company that pays it's empoyees fairly and provides good benefits.
I know, that it is a bone of contention with the folks who live in Eldorado Acres, and I can understand their concern. But something would have gone there sooner or later anyways. NOTHING EVER STAYS THE SAME!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
But how much will it cost residential homeowners with sewers going in there? How much per year? And how much of a one time cost, like Highbridge had
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
I don't think it will cost anything 'initally'! Once the private devlopers have completed the installation, and the town takes them over, there will then be a charge. But there aren't that many residents in that area. Most are existing businesses and the hope of new.
Whether we agree or not, the sewers have GOT to come into that area for future development. So we might as well do it RIGHT....right from the beginning.
Look at Hamburg Street. There are no sewers and they are 'stuck'. The Hamburg Street proposal a few years back, should have been approved. There was the finacial help from Time Warner at the time. Now their only solution is to pray for another large company to come in and help foot the bill, or tie into Schenectady which will be even MORE expensive. If those sewers were approved back then, the old grand union would be occupied and the old rolling greens property would not be vaccant! They(the residents) backed themselves right into a corner, back then.
So for the proposed sewers in the Burdeck St/Rt 7 corridor....this is a solid plan with a future and absolutely needs to go forth.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Whether we agree or not, the sewers have GOT to come into that area for future development. So we might as well do it RIGHT....right from the beginning.
I agree Bumble. Development and growth are inevitable. It is important that the infrastructure is in place and that a comprehensive plan is developed so that the growth can be "sculpted" (but, not controlled).
It is my understanding that there is a large cluster subdivision being proposed in the Town of Duanesburg that will result in hundreds of homes being situated on ~1/2 acre lots. To the plans credit, there will be some open space. However, because the heavy clay soil in the area doesn't perk, it requires the construction of above ground (raised bed, mound) septic systems. Without municipal sewers or a private community sewage treatment plant to be maintained and financially supported by the residents of the community, it would be irresponsible of the Planning Board to approve the subdivision. It will very likely result in environmental issues as runoff from these septic systems could contaminate the wells that are located in close proximity.
Once the sewers go in and what ever businesses are hooked up to it and the town takes over the maintenance they may offer the residents the ability to form a sewer district. It will be a lot cheaper to hook into an existing line than to have to pay to install one from exit 25a to the sewer treatment plant. If a number of businesses are already hooked into the system and developments like Horizon Estates, Eldorado Acres, and any other residents that wish to hook in it should hold the costs per year down.
Once the sewers go in and what ever businesses are hooked up to it and the town takes over the maintenance they may offer the residents the ability to form a sewer district. It will be a lot cheaper to hook into an existing line than to have to pay to install one from exit 25a to the sewer treatment plant. If a number of businesses are already hooked into the system and developments like Horizon Estates, Eldorado Acres, and any other residents that wish to hook in it should hold the costs per year down.
EXACTLY!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
ROTTERDAM Officials review plans for 240 condos 2 projects anticipate sewer service that is in concept stage BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
One major condominium plan and another food distribution facility are under review in the town, but both anticipate sewer service along Burdeck Street that is only in the concept stage. Rotterdam planning officials Tuesday reviewed a conceptual plan for a 240-unit condominium complex on former farmland north of Mariaville Road. The Traditional Builders project would include clusters of buildings of two and four units on 58 acres between the bridges over the Thruway and the Delaware & Hudson railroad tracks. The development would be bisected by the Poentic Kill and would include two entrances off Mariaville Road and Cimino Lane Preliminary plans also include a clubhouse at the entrance to the development and a recreational area on the eastern edge. The development will likely be built in phases, with the market for condominiums determining the construction pace and building size. “We’d like to be able to adjust these [units] as market levels indicate,” explained project engineer Joe Biancine during Tuesday’s meeting. Each of the units would include a garage in addition to several spaces of parking. The design of the buildings would be similar to a 32-unit complex of condominiums now being built off Edgewood Avenue, a former plastics manufacturing site near the Schenectady city line. “Most of [the residents] will be seniors or the older population — empty nesters,” he said. The planners asked the developer to include more space devoted to recreation and suggested increasing the size of the clubhouse. Others wondered whether two entrances located at the front of the development could pose problems for emergency vehicles trying to access the rear of the property. Brad Strang, a farmer owning land abutting the proposed development, said the builders should be aware of his active business. He said the developer might consider putting up a fence to separate the residential development from the dust and fertilizer from his land. “Because I hope to keep it agricultural for a while,” he told the Planning Commission. Although the development will ultimately require a sewer line before receiving approval from the Planning Commission, the issue was not discussed at length. Plans discussed by a group of investors last year proposed running a line past the area where the development is planned and then west on Route 7 to Princetown. The issue of sewers also came up during a review of site plans for the proposed 168,000-square-foot McLane Food Service distribution center south of Route 7 near the I-88 interchange. Biancine, who is also the project engineer for Mclane, said the company would hold off on plans to build a truckwash facility on the site until a sewer line can be extended to the proposed 27-acre site. “McLane wants to see the sewer line out there too,” he said. A final environmental review and action by the town of Princetown are needed before the McLane project can go ahead, according to discussion Tuesday.
“Most of [the residents] will be seniors or the older population —
...and I guess this is to reasure the surrounding residents of a quiet environment, right?
Quoted Text
Preliminary plans also include a clubhouse at the entrance to the development and a recreational area
So is this to keep those 'old folks' off of the roads in confined to one place?
My point is that when these developers stress SENIORS OR OLDER POPULATION...what are they thinking. The up and coming seniors will probably be the most active from the past. They have 2 cars, RV's, they play tennis, travel, have botox injections and join gyms. And guess what? They even still party!!!! So please, when selling your 'senior' development to a community...please stress that it will be an 'active senior community'.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Elderly folks that have to drive into Rotterdam to shop.....where are their 'services' going to come from as they age??? Home Health Aides will be there....who are the folks that do that kind of work for a living (in Schenectady).....it is a low paying job......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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