Public hearing held on Blessing Corner condos
The Town Board on Wednesday, May 26, approved a planned development district rezone for the Phillipin Kill Manor project in Slingerlands, which clears the way for the developer to bring a site plan to the Planning Board.
The proposed development is a mix of townhomes, single-family homes and a few estate style mansions located off of Fisher Boulevard. The developer has promised to donate a 35-acre parcel of land along the Phillipin Kill to the Five Rivers Environmental Educational Center or other preservation group, and allow an easement from the road for public access to the land.
Councilman Mark Hennessey voted against the rezone.
Councilman Kyle Kotary reiterated his support for the project due to its housing diversity.
`We really need to take a look at … projects that quite frankly have not only a community benefit and a fiscal benefit, but also not a huge financial cost,` he said.
The Planning Board will now take a more detailed look at the project during the subdivision approval process.
Blessing Corner public hearing held
A public hearing was held on a proposed planned development district rezoning to allow for a development of condominiums in North Bethlehem.
Known as Blessings Corner, the project would feature 52 condo units on Russell Road. The developer had originally proposed including a Stewart’s gas station at the corner of Russell and Krumkill Road, but dropped it in favor of more housing after neighbors protested.
Wednesday’s comments were briefer and less emotional than when the gas station was at issue, but several residents spoke for and against it.
Jim Martley, who lives near the site and has long been vocal, said he’d like more assurance commercial elements couldn’t be added on later. The developer would have to go through a town review to amend the PDD zoning.
`Just the fact that it can be changed worries the hell out of me,` Martley said. `I don’t want to have to constantly be checking the Planning Board and Town Board agendas for the rest of my life.`
The developer has argued condominiums generally draw relatively affluent, childless singles or couples and won’t overburden the school district. The condos would largely be aimed at those making over $100,000 per year.
Linda Jazinski said the project would offer some much needed housing choices for young professionals the town hopes to draw to the Vista Technology Park and other nearby locations.
`At 1,200 square feet per unit, I can’t imagine you’re going to get a lot of kids in there,` she said. `People making over $100,000 are going to want a house for their family.`
Other residents worried about the atmosphere of the community changing.
`They did buy it knowing it was zoned single family,` said Joan Shack of Beverly Drive of the developer. `I feel it should stay zoned the way it is. … It would change the very nature and tenor of [the community]`
The Town Board will revisit the rezoning at a later meeting.
Town mulls tennis court light fix
During the `new business` portion of the meeting, Supervisor Sam Messina brought up an issue with the lights at the tennis courts at the Elm Avenue Park. According to the Recreation Department, he said, the lights have been malfunctioning and it will take as much as $13,000 to repair them.
Messina said 800 to 1,000 people use the courts in the evening.
`I can assure you, the supervisor is receiving calls as to why the lights aren’t on,` he said.
Messina asked for a motion to authorize the expenditure of up to $13,000 and to bid for the repairs, but was not met with one. He then motioned himself, but did not get a second.
Later in the meeting, Councilman Mark Jordan said the cost for the repair was `ridiculous` and suggested a cheaper alternative be researched.
`If we should be looking to put solar lighting anywhere in town, it should be the tennis courts,` he said.
Jordan later said the issue was brought to the board’s attention late Wednesday, and he and the other board members would like more time to look into a solar option.“
