Albany International Airport officials have responded to the town’s request to further explore a tree-height water tower to be located in Loudonville to replace the two existing towers on Utica Avenue in Latham.
In an executive session on Monday, Feb. 5, the Airport Authority determined that the proposed tank would have an impact on the area viewshed. The proposal, which would locate the tower at the Sanderson Farm site in Loudonville, will now undergo an environmental assessment and a public comment period before a decision can be made.
This is a major step forward in complying with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) directive that the water towers be moved from their present location, said authority Spokesman Doug Myers, adding, `We recognize that the public feels there is an impact on their viewshed.`
In the late ’90s, the FAA listed the existing Utica Avenue towers as an obstruction to the approach of the airport’s runway 28, which runs from east to west.
The administration urged the authority to begin negotiations with the town to take them down. The town and authority hired engineers to explore the relocation options. Several public meetings have occurred since then, and from there a list of nine potential sites were named.
In December, town board members agreed that the old Sanderson Farm site in Loudonville would best suit the needs of the Latham Water District’s gravity fed system. They requested that the airport further explore the impact of the replacement tower and required infrastructure of a tree-height tank.
The town also asked the authority to further explore a potential underground tank at the Loudonville site.
Federal money will be made available to fund the more than $8 million proposal for replacement of the towers.
Two years ago, the town drew fire from residents of Loudonville when they learned that the Sanderson site could become the new home of 135-foot hydropillar water tower.
The town’s decision to steer the authority’s environmental review in favor of the tree-height tower was made after pinning resident concerns against engineer recommendations, said Town Attorney Arnis Zilgme.
`(Now) everyone will have the same information in front of them and can review it,` said Zilgme.
With a detailed analysis in hand, talks will now focus on whether the tree-height tower is right for the site, he said.
Over the course of three years, the town and airport have brought the tower relocation before residents to sell them on the best possible location that would both keep the towers out of the paths of approaching aircraft and out of view of residents, as well as serving the needs of the Latham Water District.
Board members agreed that a tree-height tank at the Sanderson site is the best choice so far to address those goals, Zilgme said.
The board’s decision on whether or not to approve the latest tower design and location will ultimately be guided by public response to the environmental analysis.“