COLONIE — The Planning Board on Tuesday, Nov. 26 granted concept acceptance to DeNooyer Realty Group, to demolish four houses at the intersection of Sicker and Albany Shaker roads for an automobile storage lot.
The board had questions about the number of trees planted as a buffer and the appearance of the proposed chain link fence to protect the some 550 new vehicles on about 3.2 acres of the 7.2-acre site.
Right now, the site is four separate lots, but DeNooyer purchased all four and will combine them into one lot.
There are two commercial buildings on site and they will remain with one becoming an office and one for light maintenance/prep work associated with new cars. All the paving and infrastructure like water and sewer, associated with the four residential homes will be removed.
Two years ago a Queensbury company, The Fun Spot, wanted to build a 25,000-square-foot entertainment facility hosting such activities like laser tag, a Ninja obstacle course, mini bowling and other hands on entertainment/amusement activities. That plan, to which the Planning Board granted concept approval in last November, fell through.
The new plan would use about 3.3 acres of the site to store about 530 vehicles. The lot will be paved with screened asphalt millings over crusher run gravel.
The traffic generated, according to the narrative submitted to the Planning Board, would be minimal. There would be three employees on site so there would be three consistent trips during the morning and evening rush hours and about 12 trips to the DeNooyer Chevrolet dealership on Wolf Road during normal business hours.
An average of one car carrier tractor trailer is expected per day and will have room onsite to off load cargo.
If approved, the buildings will take up about 0.6 percent of the total lot, about 44.8 percent will be paved or covered with crusher run and about 54.6 will be greenspace.
Board members questioned the number of trees proposed as a buffer and a representative from ABD Engineers, said more trees would not be a problem. There will be a berm constructed along Albany Shaker Road. Board members also questioned the appeal of a chain link fence and other options will be explored before the project can come before the Planning Board for final site plan approval.