At its Tuesday, Nov. 28, meeting, the Malta planning board will review a request for minor modifications to the Luther Forest Technology Campus planned development district.
In a letter to town officials, Jack Kelly, senior vice president of Saratoga Economic Development Corp., asked the town to grant approval of 12 amendments to the original PDD, which was adopted May 18, 2004.
The board will hold three public hearings, two of which relate to other technology campus issues before the review. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
The first proposed amendment is to increase the acreage of the PDD to 1,099.57 acres from the approved 1,035 acres. The increase reflects the property purchased after the PDD was adopted to make room for the entrances to the campus at Stonebreak Road and on Route 67, as well as lands swapped with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Kelly is also seeking to change the boundary with Stillwater to coincide with the existing stream valley.
A second proposal relates to the water source for the site. The amendment seeks to clearly dic-tate the use of Saratoga Water Services for the residential portion of the development area, and have it available for start-up and as a backup in another area of the development.
Citing reports from an independent water consultant, Kelly said data indicate that the groundwater source in the Colonie Channel can support these uses. The Hudson River will continue to be the site’s primary source of water.
Another amendment related to the residential area seeks to require building heights to be in line with town code for residential properties.
Other amendment requests apply to the site’s Fisher Act Classification, which provides tax-exempt status until the site plan is put before the board for review. Kelly is asking that tax-exempt status be in place until final plan approval.
Kelly is also seeking to change the PDD requirements as they relate to a town-approved recreation master plan for two areas defined as areas for community use.
The proposal is also asking to have the language changed so that the Round Lake Bypass is `substantially completed` as opposed to `completed` and leaving the `gateway` to Round Lake construction until after the bypass. Kelly said in his letter that this would minimize the impact to Round Lake residents and provide `flexibility` in the timing of the final completion of the Round Lake Bypass.
Another amendment proposal specifies the Route 9 corridor as the critical view shed in the town of Malta. Currently a section of the PDD related to electric power calls for incorporating the necessary landscaping and screening at all critical view sheds, but does not specify those view sheds.
Kelly is also asking for open space and recreational fees to be assessed only on the occupied building space. The PDD lists those fees at 69 cents per square foot for non-residential structures and $1,000 for residential units.
Still related to recreation, another amendment changes language in the PDD related to the technology campus’ obligation to connect the campus to the Zim Smith Trail. Acknowledging that this goal is one worthy of pursuing, in his letter Kelly calls in `not within the capability of the LFTCEDC (Luther Forest Technology Campus Economic Development Corp.) to make or guarantee this connectivity as other parties and landowners are involved.` Other language related to the completion of trails calls for the `anticipation` of completion of half the trails prior to obtaining a certificate of occupancy. The PDD currently requires those trails to be completed at the time the certificate is issued.“
