Wednesday, April 13, 2011

News from the Planning Commission Meeting

The project proposed by Galvan Partners LLC for the corner of Union and First streets cleared another hurdle on Wednesday night at the meeting of the Planning Commission. The project, which was granted a certificate of appropriateness by the Historic Preservation Commission on Friday, April 8, is currently before the Zoning Board of Appeals seeking area variances for its setbacks and the percentage of lot area taken up by buildings.  

The ZBA has scheduled a public hearing on the project for Wednesday, April 20, at 6 p.m. Prior to the public hearing, the Planning Commission is required to offer an advisory opinion, and so, at Wednesday night's meeting, the Planning Commission considered whether or not the proposed project constituted an undesirable change in the character of the neighborhood or would have an adverse effect on any of the neighboring properties. They decided that the proposed project was not inconsistent with neighboring properties and would improve the streetscape. All members present--Donald Tillson (chair), Claudia DeStefano, Glenn Martin, Carmine Pierro, and Gerald Wood--concurred, except for Cleveland Samuels, who abstained from the vote because, as he explained later, he worked for Eric Galloway.

At the end of the meeting, Cheryl Roberts, legal counsel to the Planning Commission, warned the Commission that "in June or maybe May" the Common Council would be sending them the LWRP (Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan). The Hudson Planning Commission and the Columbia County Planning Department both must review the document and offer advisory opinions about the zoning changes it contains before it can be adopted by the Common Council.      

3 comments:

  1. Carole,

    Isnt' Tom Swope a member of the committee?

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  2. Out of the blue: At the end of the meeting, Cheryl Roberts, legal counsel to the Planning Commission, warned the Commission that "in June or maybe May" the Common Council would be sending them the LWRP (Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan)." Uh? The Common Council has the LWRP?

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  3. Peter--Tom Swope is the chair of the Historic Preservation Commission. He is not a member of the Planning Commission. The member of the Planning Commission who was missing at tonight's meeting is Laura Margolis.

    The Common Council doesn't have the LWRP yet, but Cheryl Roberts' comment to the Planning Commission tonight was the first intimation I've heard that the LWRP is expected to be returned by the Department of State and back in the hands of the Common Council in May or June. One of the first things the Common Council would do in preparation for adopting it--assuming they're ready to do so--would be to refer it to the Planning Commission and the county Planning Department for recommendations.

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