COLONIE — A project was presented to the Planning Board on Tuesday, Dec. 4, to build 39 single family homes on 20.5 acres on land that was once home to Foegtli Farm on Albany Shaker Road.
A variation of the project has been kicked around for at least three years. In 2015, there were two plans presented to the Town Board for the two lots known as 499-507 Albany Shaker Road. One is close to the sketch plan most recently presented and the other would ask the town to allow a Planned Development District in the Single Family Residential zoning. The latter would allow 80 town homes that would target those 55 and older.
The plot of land is bordered by Danielwood and James drives and is across Albany Shaker from the Shaker El, the road leading to Shaker Road Elementary School in the South Colonie School District, and Miracle and Wertman lanes. There are currently a vacant home, a farm stand and outbuildings on the site, all of which would get demolished to make way for the new roads and homes. Part of the land is cleared while a portion is wooded and there are some wetlands as well.
The plan, presented by Hershberg and Hershberg on behalf of Starlight Development Co. out of Duanesburg, calls for two and one story homes and according to a presentation in 2015 would be in the $600,000 range.
The developer would construct a new entranceway into the development off of Albany Shaker Road creating a new intersection across from Miracle Lane.
Traffic is an issue on Albany Shaker Road and this project would generate 32 new trips during the morning peak hours and 41 during the afternoon peak hours. It is not clear if there will be a traffic light, but according to the narrative submitted to the Planning Board, the state Department of Transportation only requires a substantive evaluation if there are 100 or more trips generated during either peak travel period.
The new entranceway, called Leighton Street on the sketch plan, would break off into a shoe horn with Edenfield Street being one leg and Delia Street the other with Baylor Street connecting the two about three-quarters of the way into the development. Both Delia and Baylor would end in cul-de-sacs.
The developer will build the roads and construct all infrastructure, like running water and sewer lines, in one phase. All infrastructure will be dedicated to the town. Homes will be built as they are sold.
Of the total 20.5 acres, if the project is approved as proposed, 16.6 acres would remain greenspace, 2.4 would be paved and 1.6 would be built upon. Each home will have two car garages and a driveway for parking.
A 25-foot buffer will remain along the rear lot line, along where Danielwood Drive bends to the northwest, where the new development will abut existing homes.
The target market will be couples older than 50 and young, married couples starting a family. It is projected the development will be home to 203 residents, of which 22 would be school age children and it is projected 80 percent of those, or 18, would attend South Colonie schools.
The plan presented was a sketch plan and no formal action was taken by the Planning Board.
The project will need to come back before the board for a concept acceptance and again for a site plan approval before construction can start.
Dunsbach Ferry
There was a board update of a plan to construct 14 new homes on a 9.3-acre parcel of land at 60 Dunsbach Ferry Road.
The site, owned by Greg and Linda Serio, has frontage on Dunsbach Ferry and Pollack roads and was mostly farmland and a portion is still used for growing vegetables, according to the narrative submitted by Advance Engineering and Surveying.
It is zoned Single Family Residential and the proposed lots would be 18,000 square feet, which is in accordance with town regulations.
A new 750-foot long new road will be built with an intersection on Dunsbach Ferry and it would end in a cul-de-sac.
According to the narrative, town infrastructure like sewer and water have the capacity to handle the new homes. It is located in the North Colonie School District and that district can accommodate the projected 28 school age children that would live in the development, according to the narrative.
It is expected to generate 14 new trips during the peak morning and afternoon hours.
In August, the Planning Board approved a development of 46 new homes off Pollock Road on the other side of the Northway from this project.
There was no formal action taken on by the Planning Board and the project will need to traverse the concept acceptance phase and then, after making modifications, it will get final site plan approval before construction can begin.