Guilderland public meetings in 2022
15 substantive meetings from 2022, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Planning Board
The Planning Board issued a negative declaration for a 4-lot subdivision and approved a concept plan for a 2-lot subdivision. The board also recommended approval for a garage addition at a senior living facility and forwarded an office-to-apartment conversion to the ZBA. A medical office site plan was tabled pending a stormwater review.
- Issued SEQR negative declaration for 4-lot minor subdivision at 843 Altamont-Voorheesville Road (7-0)
- Approved concept plan for 2-lot minor subdivision at Vaughn Drive/Birch Drive (7-0)
- Tabled site plan for 8,000 sq ft medical office at 2500/2502 Western Avenue pending stormwater review
- Recommended approval of site plan for 5-bay garage addition at 2965 West Old State Road to ZBA (7-0)
- Forwarded site plan for office-to-apartment conversion at 1670/1672 Western Avenue to ZBA (7-0)
- Approved meeting minutes from July 13, August 10, September 10, and September 20, 2022 (7-0)
Zoning Board of Appeals
The Zoning Board of Appeals approved three area variances for signage and residential structures. The board also approved four sign applications and two sets of previous meeting minutes.
- Approved area variance for 87 sf of signage at 1210 Western Avenue (5-0)
- Approved area variance for carport at 12 Lee Avenue (5-0)
- Approved area variance for accessory structure expansion at 5705 Hennessey Road (5-0)
- Approved temporary banner for The Pines at 1151 Siver Road (5-0)
- Approved building mounted sign for Primark at 1 Crossgates Mall Road (5-0)
- Approved temporary banners for Stuyvesant Plaza Holiday Strolls at 1475 Western Avenue (5-0)
- Approved building mounted sign for Sweat Spot at 1475 Western Avenue (5-0)
- Approved meeting minutes from 10/20/21 and 9/7/22 (5-0)
Town Board
The Town Board held a special meeting to discuss and vote on a personnel matter. Following an executive session, the board approved a settlement agreement involving a current employee.
- Approved settlement agreement involving a current employee (5-0)
Town Board
The Town Board accepted a rezoning application for 192 acres of Albany Country Club land to allow a mixed-use residential project. The board also adopted local laws to protect native trees and update town fees. Additional approvals included a solar energy letter of intent and various budget amendments.
- Accepted rezoning application for Albany Country Club 254-unit development (5-0)
- Adopted Local Law No. 9 for protection and preservation of native trees (5-0)
- Adopted Local Law No. 10 to amend Town Code Chapter A285 fees (5-0)
- Approved letter of intent with Solomon Energy, LLC for onsite solar systems (5-0)
- Approved 2022 budget amendments for grants, equipment, and training (5-0)
- Approved provisional appointments for Cassandra Berghammer and Jesse Fraine (5-0)
- Authorized $62,866 purchase of a hot box trailer and asphalt roller (5-0)
- Approved DISH Wireless lease for Fort Hunter Water Tower at $1,500/month (5-0)
Town Board
The Town Board convened a special meeting to conduct interviews for the ZBA Board during an executive session. No other substantive decisions were recorded.
- Entered executive session for ZBA Board interviews (5-0)
- Exited executive session (5-0)
- Adjourned meeting (5-0)
Industrial Development Agency
The Board unanimously voted to table the adoption of a proposed remote access policy to allow for further research. The public hearing regarding the policy remains open. The CEO provided updates on Costco, The Summit at Mill Hill, and Albany Promenade.
- Tabled adoption of remote access policy (unanimous)
- Decided to keep the public hearing on the remote access policy open
Town Board
The Town Board approved the 2023 Annual Budget for General, Highway, and Special Districts. Other key actions included approving a conservation easement for 57 acres on Wormer Road and a new EMS patient offload policy.
- Adopted 2023 Town Budget Final (5-0)
- Approved easement for public access to Hiawatha trail system at 47 Campus Club Road (5-0)
- Approved conservation easement for ~57 acres at 434 Wormer Road (5-0)
- Approved EMS patient offload and delay policy (5-0)
- Authorized RFP for food and beverage services at Western Turnpike Golf Course (5-0)
- Approved $20,098.50 in ARPA funds for Fire Prevention Department portable radios (5-0)
- Approved $61.29 property tax refund for lots at 2800 and 2808 Coles Lane (5-0)
- Extended penalty-free period for Cycle 52 water bills to 30 days after mailing (5-0)
Town Board
The Town Board entered and exited an executive session to discuss contracts and pending litigation. No substantive public decisions were recorded.
- Entered executive session to discuss contracts and pending litigation (5-0)
- Exited executive session (5-0)
Planning Board
The Planning Board approved a site plan for a four-story multi-family building featuring 24 units and 49 parking spaces. The approved plan includes a covered parking area on the first floor and a tenant gazebo in the common area.
- Approved 24-unit multi-family development at 2 Crossgates Mall Road (7-0)
Comprehensive Plan Update Committee
The Comprehensive Plan Update Committee (CPUC) met to establish the framework and timeline for updating the town's 2001 Comprehensive Plan. The committee set a recurring meeting schedule and reviewed the roles of consultants and town staff. No formal votes were taken during this introductory session.
- Selected the 2nd Tuesday of every other month as the regular meeting date
- Scheduled the next meeting for January 10, 2023
- Tabled the designation of a Committee Chairperson to the next meeting
- Tasked MJ Engineering to prepare a draft Public Participation Plan
Zoning Board of Appeals
The board approved a special use permit to convert cold storage warehouse space to office space at 5640 Depot Road. Several area variances for signs and a shed were granted, while a request for a new 10,000sf warehouse at 310 Wayto Road was continued. The board also amended sign permit restrictions for the Town Center plaza at 1704 Western Ave.
- Approved conversion of cold storage warehouse to office space at 5640 Depot Road (4-0)
- Approved area variance for shed installation at 3284 E. Lydius St (4-0)
- Approved area variance for sign installation at 1664 Western Avenue (4-0)
- Continued application for 10,000sf warehouse at 310 Wayto Road (4-0)
- Appointed Delaware Engineering as TDE for 310 Wayto Road (4-0)
- Amended 1704 Western Ave sign permit to remove hours of operation and timing restrictions (4-0)
- Approved permanent sign at 6228 Rittano Lane
- Approved signs for 1 Crossgates Mall Rd and 1827 Western Ave (4-0)
Town Board
The Town Board held a public hearing on the 2023 Preliminary Budget but did not vote on it, deferring adoption to November 15. The Board approved several administrative items, including a host community agreement and a utility easement.
- Approved rescheduling the native trees preservation law public hearing to Dec 6 (5-0)
- Approved utility and drainage easement for 6185 Johnston Road (5-0)
- Approved Host Community Agreement with New York Independent System Operator, Inc. (5-0)
- Approved permanent appointment of Noah Ekstein as full-time EMT (5-0)
- Approved Resolution No. 24 regarding 2020 Town Justices audit reports (5-0)
- Approved NYS Retirement Resolution for job title standard workdays (5-0)
- Approved Resolution No. 25 declaring Nov 26 as Small Business Saturday (5-0)
- Approved re-levy of $199,411.04 in unpaid 2021-22 water bills (5-0)
Planning Board
The Planning Board approved a proposal by Laviano Properties LLC to subdivide 1.2 +/- acres into three lots. The project is located in the Single-family Residential (R15) District. The board also approved meeting minutes from April, May, and June 2022.
- Approved 3-lot minor subdivision at 1854 Western Avenue (7-0)
- Approved minutes from April 27, May 11, May 25, and June 22, 2022 (7-0)
Industrial Development Agency
The Board approved the termination of the lease agreement with Summit at Mill Hill, LLC to allow for facility refinancing. The Board also scheduled a public hearing for November 22, 2022, regarding a Remote Access Policy for meetings.
- Approved termination of agreement with Summit at Mill Hill, LLC (unanimous)
- Approved scheduling a public hearing on November 22, 2022, at 7:00 P.M. for a Remote Access Policy (unanimous)
- Approved August 30, 2022 meeting minutes (Mr. Bombardier abstained)
Traffic Safety Committee
The Guilderland Traffic Safety Committee voted 7-0 to deny a request for all-way stop signs at Empire Avenue and Bostonian Drive/Picadilly Circle, citing traffic counts that did not show exceptional speeding. The committee also closed a request for a stop sign on Ardsley Road at Wendom Road after Living Resources agreed to install a sign at its driveway. Two motions were approved to write letters to Albany County DPW requesting a Driveway Ahead sign and a traffic study for Grant Hill Road. A request for a three-way stop at Coons Road and Coffee Drive was tabled pending a traffic study.
- Denied all-way stop signs at Empire Ave & Bostonian Dr (7-0)
- Closed Ardsley Rd & Wendom Rd stop sign request after Living Resources agreed to install sign
- Approved letter to Albany County DPW requesting Driveway Ahead sign on Grant Hill Rd (7-0)
- Approved letter to Albany County DPW requesting traffic study on Grant Hill Rd (7-0)
- Tabled Coons Rd & Coffee Dr three-way stop request pending traffic study