It was democracy in action at last week’s Thursday, Dec. 7, town board meeting, as town officials made good on a promise to answer land-use questions brought up at an earlier public hearing.
Last month, Colonie town residents objected to the format of the hearing on proposed changes to townwide land use and zoning regulations, which left many of their immediate questions unanswered. Residents were only allowed to make comments, which the board promised to address later for the record.
Town officials addressed those concerns at last week’s meeting, handing out an informational packet with more than 25 pages of answers to the dozens of questions brought up at the Nov. 16 meeting.
In addition to providing the general information, town officials put the word out that questions about specific parcels could be addressed to officials in person, via e-mail or over the phone. Many residents took the town up on its offer.
Supervisor Mary Brizzell apologized for the original format of the public hearing and encour-aged more public participation and comments in meetings to come. She said public remarks made in the past month are solely responsible for dozens of modifications to the plan.
They have also led to a meeting between town officials and homeowners adjacent to properties off Omega Terrace and Forts Ferry Road.
I look forward to being part of that discussion, said Albany County Legislator Timothy Nichols, D-Latham. Nichols said he received inquiries from a number of residents in the area who are unhappy about the plan to rezone the area from residential to office residential, a mixed business and residential zone.
A representative for an area landowner who is pleased with the office residential designation said making last-minute changes to the plan would be counterproductive to the years of public comment that formulated the town’s compre-hensive plan and set the groundwork for the proposed changes to town zoning and land-use ordinances.
`For the board to continue making changes to the plan defeats the purpose of why you had the comprehensive plan developed,` said lawyer Donald Zee, representing the current owners of a parcel off Forts Ferry Road and Omega Terrace. `The town spent a lot of money and time, and I think it’s important that the town board support that data when such careful review has been given.`
Over the course of three years, the town held 35 public meetings and reviewed almost 4,000 public surveys, said Zee.
However, Nichols questioned Zee’s logic, saying his remarks merely served the interests of his clients, whom Nichols said have had ample time to develop the property and chose not to.
The Omega Terrace and Forts Ferry Road property is predominately residential, and, Nichols said, to make it anything else would hurt the quality of life of dozens of residents adjacent to the parcel.
Other questions regarding the proposed zoning changes delved into the debate over how, and/or if, Colonie could rid itself of adult entertainment uses. The topic was addressed in the first series of responses from the November meeting. The responses ranged from listing the three zones open to adult use under the new plan to state laws guiding adult entertainment development and operation. The town can’t outright ban adult uses, as they are protected rights under the federal and state constitutions. Although the town could outlaw nudity, Town Attorney Arnis Zilgme said that law would also have an impact on theater, film and art.
The town will continue the public comment period at its Thursday, Dec. 21, meeting.
Brizzell said she would like to begin the New Year with the new land-use and zoning ordinances.“
