Developers in Halfmoon will have to redesign a plan to build 150-townhome units and senior condominiums on a parcel of land on Plant Road, taking into account traffic concerns and proximity to other property owners, before the Town Board refers the project to the planning board.
Following a presentation by the Environmental Design Partnership Tuesday, May 20, which outlined the revisions to an initial site plan, Town Board members said they were concerned about the safety of roads leading to the proposed site.
Gordon P. Nicholson, a landscape architect for Environmental Design Partners, said the architects met with the Town Board more than a year ago and have since looked at some of the board’s recommendations in updating their site plan.
Nicholson said he is not discouraged that the Town Board asked him to evaluate the site plan further.
It’s all a part of the process, he said.
Nicholson said the developer’s initial plans were to build 190 units on the 53-acre parcel of land located on Plant Road north of DeVoe’s Rainbow Orchard on Route 9 in Halfmoon.
He said they scaled the number of units back to address the board’s concerns and plan to make 40 of the 150 parcels available to adults 55 and older. The remaining 110 units will be townhomes.
He said the site would also include a pool, clubhouse and pond with fountain, as well as a homeowner’s association.
Town Board Member Regina Parker said she was wary of the safety of seniors crossing Plant Road.
`At the rate of speed you can travel on that road and the curve, it’s not safe,` said Parker referring to the area on Plant Road where the Environmental Design Partnership proposed placing a crosswalk.
She said making a crosswalk for residents on Plant Road is not safe especially for seniors, who may have mobility issues.
Parker also questioned who would be completing the traffic study for the project.
Nicholson said he was not positive, but that Greeman-Pederson Inc. of Albany would likely complete the traffic study for the developer.
`If they don’t refer us to the planning board, there will be no reason to have a traffic study,` Nicholson said.
Another concern over a proposed change in zoning for the site came from the owner of DeVoe’s Rainbow Orchards.
`I am certainly going to have to oppose it with all my ability,` said Larry DeVoe, who owns a farm near the proposed project.
`I cannot accept anything of residential nature near our farm,` he said.
He said his concerns are with his ability to run his business properly. DeVoe said they often run wind machines throughout the night, which are very loud, and they work on the farm early in the morning, when many people are sleeping.
`I cannot see how we can survive with any residential property next to us,` DeVoe said.
After the Town Board refers the project to the Planning Department, the project will have to undergo a public information session and a public hearing before building can begin.“