The clearing and grading of most of the proposed internal roadways within the Luther Forest Technology Campus (LFTC) may begin as early as mid-October.
The package has gone out to bid, said Mike Ingersol, an engineer with the LA Group representing the applicant, LFTC. He said those bids are due Oct. 5, and work could begin soon afterwards.
At the Sept. 19 Malta planning board meeting, approval was granted for the clearing and grading of the western connector road, the main access road between the connector roads and the main access road from the eastern connector road to the Malta town line. At an earlier meeting in August, the planning board approved the clearing and grading of the Stonebreak Road Extension from a 400-foot mark off Route 9N to Hermes Road, as well as the eastern connector road.
The approvals granted last week were conditional pending the transfer of property on the LFTC site to the town of Malta. Negotiations continue regarding the area of property commonly referred to as 28 Acre Woods, which was targeted for donation to the town during the legislative process approving the LFTC.
The property, which is actually 34 acres adjacent to the eastern connector road, also sits next to an area of proposed permanent open space. The technology campus developers want to use existing logging roads on the property following the deed transfer. The town has proposed a more limited timeframe that allows usage for a specified number of years.
The two parties are expected to reach an agreement prior to the Monday, Oct. 2, town board meeting.
Jane Catalano, a representative from National Grid, was present at this week’s town board workshop meeting held Monday, Sept. 25, and she presented the board with a resolution approved in 1924 by the Malta town board that authorized the granting of a franchise to Adirondack Power and Light Corporation (a predecessor to National Grid) in town. If the resolution is valid, it would eliminate the need for a public hearing regarding a franchise agreement and allow the town to move to the public service commission phase for a review of the plan to bring power to the technology campus.
Catalano asked that the town, National Grid, the state Public Service Commission and others `take a week and determine what the interests are for the various parties and move expeditiously.`
Many residents have expressed concern about the height and type of power lines proposed for the LFTC site. Ingersol said the power lines would come before the planning board for their own review. At this time, no application related to the power lines has been put forth. Residents can obtain agendas for both the town board and planning board meetings by logging on to the town’s Web site www.malta-town.org. “