For almost 30 years, more than 30 acres have remained undeveloped despite the landowner’s wishes, but a possible rezoning would end the impasse.
The Niskayuna Town Board held a public hearing on the possible rezoning of 31 acres of land owned by Wayne Wagner off Balltown Road that is slated to have around 140 apartment units built on it.
All of the units would be connected to a new cul-de-sac. This is the first time a rezone has been proposed on the property, because in 2006 the land’s zoning changed from a general industrial, residential and professional zoning to a R-3 high-density residential district.
There was also a special restriction placed on the rezoned land that stated apartment complexes couldn’t be built. What can be developed on the land are townhouses, condominiums and single-family homes.
“You could not develop this for apartments,” said Tom Adress, of ABD engineers, representing Wagner. “The climate has changed since 2006.”
Conifer Reality LLC has expressed interest in building apartments on the property, according to Adress. The standard R-3 zoning would match the two properties to the southwest where there are not restrictions on apartments, he added, and he believes in matched zoning in the area.
The reason for the restriction in 2006 was a previous administration’s concern apartments could generate more traffic and children entering the school system, according to Adress. To quell previous concerns, he presented the board with a study from the Institute of Transportation Engineers, which stated apartments result smaller increases in traffic opposed to townhouses and condominiums. He said research on school age children yielded similar results, with single-family homes putting more children in the school district.
“The action to add the additional use of apartment use into the R-3 would not have any greater effect than existing uses that would be allowed in there,” said Adress. “This has been since the ‘80s … this has been the first real offer in 20 something years, so he is very interested in trying to go forward if the board does grant allowance of the apartment use.”
Leslie Gold, a Pawtucket Avenue resident, said she thought the study information for traffic and children was “generic” to the Capital District and didn’t represent the town properly.
“The existing apartments in the area tend to have more children and they also tend to be far more apt to have the traffic concerns realized, because there is very little bus service to most of Niskayuna,” said Gold. “I also think adding apartments to that area of Balltown (Road) is just not consistent with the neighborhood.”
Former Democrat councilman William Chapman said he voted against the 2006 zone change and was concerned the rezoning proposal would limit the town’s growth of its technology-aimed business corridors.
“I would also mention that this area is in the Metroplex Service District, which is eligible for financial assistance from Metroplex,” said Chapman. “Our neighbors in Rotterdam and Glenville in recent years have had good success with development activity in Glenville and the tech park … I think it is long past time that we take some steps to develop our own technology park.”
Nancy Schaffer, daughter of Wayne Wagner, rebutted objections towards the apartment proposal.
“We have been paying taxes on that property forever,” said Schaffer. “It always seems like as soon as we get one step ahead we have to go two more behind … We have been patient for almost 30 years.”
She contested there are very few school age children living in apartment buildings, because once a child is old enough the parents typically would move to a condominium.
“I would hope that now that you are our Town Board that you take in consideration Mr. Wagner and his children and my own family,” said Schaffer.
Regarding surrounding communities’ tech and industrial park growth, she said Niskayuna should focus on its own priorities.
“This is Niskayuna, let’s do what is best for Niskayuna,” she said. “Don’t worry about the others, they will take care of themselves as you take care of yourselves.”
If the Town Board does approve the zoning change, Adress acknowledged there is still “a long way to go” through the Planning Board process before anything is built.
“It would be nice for Mr. Wagner before he dies to be able to do something with the property,” said Schaffer.
