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COLONIE — The Planning Board granted concept acceptance to a Niskayuna man who wants to develop one-acre of vacant land along Central Avenue between Kendall Avenue and Canton Street.
Ahmad Ziauddin is proposing to build a 7,550-square-foot building including office space, retail space and an 1,890-square-foot restaurant with parking for 36 vehicles.
There have been a number of incarnations to develop the site over the years and a nearly identical site plan was approved by the Planning Board in 2007 and a variance to the front yard setback requirement was granted in 1999.
The only difference between this project and the one approved in 2007 is the addition of a drive thru window, according to the narrative submitted to the Planning Board.
There are no tenants as of yet, according to the narrative, but it is expected there will be three or four with up to 10 employees engaging in uses allowed in a Commercial Office Residential zone.
There are two entrances proposed, one on Kendall and one on Canton. It is estimated it will generate 39 trips during the peak afternoon driving hours and 26 during the morning rush based on half the building being used for office and half the building used for retail.
If approved as proposed, the building will take up 17 percent of the site, pavement will constitute 35 percent and 47 percent will remain greenspace.
Five waivers are requested: one for the 20’maximum setback from Central Avenue, parking in the front yard, pavement within 15 feet of Central Avenue, parking space requirements, and stacking, or the number of cars that could potentially be waiting in the drive thru lane at any one time.
While the Planning Board did grant concept approval, the project, will still need final site plan approval before construction can start.