Steady stream of neighbors protest ‘hamlet-style’ development
A public hearing on a proposed hamlet-style apartment building project in the Glenmont area saw a strong turnout of residents who would neighbor the development, with the vast majority expressing their disapproval of the plans.
Kendall Square would be built at the corner of Feura Bush Road and Elsmere Avenue. The proposal calls for a total of 110 housing units, mostly apartments, to be divided into three- and eight-unit buildings. Developer Lee Rosen recently added several townhomes to the mix.
In addition, 20,000- to 40,000-square-feet of commercial space in four buildings would be built at the intersection of the roads. Sixty to 65 percent of the 17-acre lot would be preserved as green space, but that’s generally federal wetland areas that would be unlawful to develop.
The project is in a hamlet zone, a result of the town’s Comprehensive Plan designed to encourage neighborhood-scale mixed-use developments. The district was created as a reflection of the town’s need to diversify development, said Planning Board member John Smolinsky, who was also involved in the creation of the town’s Comprehensive Plan.
Out tax base consists primarily of residential, single-family development, and in a nutshell, that doesn’t always pay for itself, he said.
The Planning Board scheduled the public hearing ` which is not required under law ` after many nearby residents protested the project. More than 20 residents spoke against it, and almost every one hailed from one of the surrounding developments like Colonial Acres, Walden Fields or Chadwick Square, all of which Rosen’s father spearheaded.
By far the most often-cited concern was traffic congestion, with many residents saying they already have trouble getting out of their driveways or developments at times.
`Adding vehicles to a road that has failing or near failing grades constitutes a problem,` said David Kissinger, who has co-chaired a group of Walden Fields residents opposed to the project.
`It’s hard enough to get out of Colonial Acres now … and with increased building it will be even more difficult,` said resident Joan Travis.
The intersection of Feura Bush Road and Elsmere Avenue has a DOT rating of `F,` but town Director of Economic Development and Planning Michael Morelli said this rating applies only to the peak evening rush of traffic, and the intersection works fine at other times.
`There is some buildup of traffic there; there’s no question about it,` he said. `The DOT is satisfied with this proposal.`
The Kendall Square plans call for creating three exit/entrance points on Feura Bush and Elsmere to keep travelers away from the intersection.
`The majority of the trips generated by this project will not pass through that intersection,` said project engineer Francis Bossolini.
Morelli outlined the town’s plans for road development in the Glenmont area at the meeting. The plan all along has been to use development to connect roads in the area, he said, creating more local traffic options and also making north/south, east/west connections in an Elsmere Avenue extension and the completion of Kimmey Drive.
`The idea is interconnected neighborhoods,` Morelli said.
Planning Boar Chairman George Leveille pointed out road development is an expensive burden to put on taxpayers.
`We have to look towards the development process to pay for some of these improvements,` he said.
The town’s traffic plan also makes allowances for the development of sidewalks, with the goal of letting nearby residents walk or bike to services at places like Kendall Square.
But many neighbors said on Tuesday it was pointless to put commercial space in the middle of a residential area, and said they would continue to travel to Route 9W and not patronize any business at Kendall Square.
`Why on earth would you go to some little place here rather than where you need to go for your gasoline, your groceries, whatever?` said resident Mary Richards.
Others suggested small businesses should stick to established commercial zones, and fill empty storefronts there.
The developer does not have any businesses lined up yet, but has suggested the spot would be ideal for small offices, dry cleaners or cafes.
Others were more general in their comments, including Albany County Legislator Charles Dawson, who lives in Chadwick Square.
`I oppose this project. I do not think it adds anything to our town, or community. In fact, I think it detracts from it,` he said.
Among other topics, residents also questioned the tax benefit of the project, its visual impact and the stability of the apartment market.
There were a few attendees who spoke either in support of the development or in favor of landowner’s rights in general. Resident Bob Jazinski, who is a frequent attendee of town meetings, said if the project fits the zoning guidelines it should be allowed to go ahead.
He also said the majority of protestors were neighbors of the development, and called their concerns a `local` issue.
`I wonder if all of these people are going to appear at the other Planning Board [meetings],` he said. `I could’ve got up when Walden Fields was proposed and said I don’t like it ` I live on Bender Lane.“
