A public hearing for the Hudson Glen project was held during the Tuesday, July 15, planning board meeting to a sizable number of residents in attendance that wanted to know more about what’s being done to the largely undeveloped lots off of Hudson Avenue.
Edward Kleinke, of Kleinke Associates in Delmar, fielded questions from residents and board members on a plan to build three single-family lots on a 35.8-acre parcel of land around Hudson Avenue and Albright Drive.
The 35-acre plot is to be divided into the three lots, with a fourth lot that is 29 acres to remain undeveloped, according to Town Planner Jeffrey Lipnicky.
The homes will have frontage on Hudson Avenue, he said. The third lot on the property is slated to have a T-turn access to the property, according to Lipnicky.
There was some residential concern over what would happened to the undeveloped fourth lot, which many of the neighbors described as `open green space.`
`It’s a relatively large parcel,` Lipnicky said. `Very little flat area is on the fourth lot, and it has ravines, deep slopes, and is landslide prone.`
Dana Corwin, who lives nearby on Albright Place, asked about the size of the proposed homes.
`So the geological survey has OK’d a footprint of around 1,500 square feet per each of the lots for a two-story house?` Corwin asked.
`Yes, that’s what we used as a model,` Kleinke answered. `Each home to be built on a lot would have to submit building plans to the building department for approval, and there’s really no limitations, I mean they could be larger certainly, but I think our sense is that they wouldn’t.`
To a round of laughter, Corwin answered back, `That doesn’t really match my home at all in size, the space in my house is much, much less than that.`
Kleinke told residents that there are absolutely no plans to develop the 29-acre lot once the single-family homes are built.
`We don’t have good street access or public highway access,` he said. `So at this point in time [the lot] will remain undeveloped.`
Board member Nicholas Behuniak asked if there were any plans to have a deed restriction or an open space donation on the fourth lot.
`Beyond some conversation about it there has been nothing done,` Kleinke responded, stating that it most likely would not happen. However, Klienke said it was possible that a pedestrian could potentially connect Hudson Avenue to North Street through the property, as well as to the railroad corridor.
`The reality is that anything is developable if you put enough money in it,` Lipnicky said. `But, realistically speaking, it’s unlikely,`
As for the three proposed homes on the 35-acre parcel, Lipnicky said that if the housing plans meet the state building codes that essentially the project would be approved.“