LATHAM—Afrim’s Sports, Inc., renowned for its indoor and outdoor athletic facilities, has proposed a new project at its site on Jacqueline Avenue in Latham.
The development, which was to be presented at last night’s Colonie Town Planning Board, aims to enhance its offerings by adding an outdoor artificial turf field with lighting for nighttime use.
This edition went to print before Tuesday night’s scheduled presentation.
The project, designed by Verity Engineering, D.P.C., includes the clearing and grading of land to accommodate the new field. To support the expansion, Afrim’s Sports plans a lot line adjustment with an adjoining property, acquiring approximately 0.56 acres.
The project site is within a Commercial Office Residential zone and will adhere to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulations. As the development disturbs over an acre of land, it will require compliance with the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.
NYSDEC-jurisdictional wetlands located south of the site will necessitate an Article 24 permit due to anticipated grading within the wetlands’ 100-foot buffer.
Afrim’s Sports anticipates minimal community disruption. Traffic impacts are projected to be modest, with estimates indicating an additional 60 trips during morning peak hours and 50 trips in the evening, according to Institute of Traffic Engineers data.
The site’s municipal water and sewer connections will remain unchanged, and no significant noise, solid waste, or odor impacts are expected. Fire access will not be compromised, and parking will continue to utilize the existing 170 spaces, supplemented by a shared parking agreement with a neighboring property.
The project incorporates lighting for the new field, designed to minimize visual impact. While lighting poles may exceed 50 feet in height, they are expected to be lower than the existing indoor facility dome.
Construction is planned as a single-phase project, estimated to take less than 12 months. The facility will operate from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, upon completion. Greenspace on the property will be 28.9%, below the 35% standard, necessitating incentive zoning approval from the Town of Colonie.
Afrim’s Sports will also seek a minor subdivision approval for the lot line adjustment and an Open Development Area designation from the Town Board to maintain site access.
