TOWN of GUILDERLAND Planning Department Peter G
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TOWN OF GUILDERLAND Planning Department Peter G. Barber Town Hall, Route 20 Supervisor P.O. Box 339 Guilderland, NY 12084-0339 Kenneth Kovalchik, AICP Phone: (518) 356-1980 x 1061 Town Planner Fax: (518) 356-5514 Email: [email protected] MEMORANDUM TO: Stephen J. Feeney, Chairman & Town Planning Board FROM: Kenneth Kovalchik, AICP, Town Planner Date: October 9, 2020 SUBJ: Rapp Road Development, LLC – Site Plan Application for a 222 Unit Apartment/Townhome Development with 3,900 Square Feet of Commercial Space _______________________________________________________________________________ Introduction A site plan application from Rapp Road Development, LLC was submitted to the Town in November 2018 for a proposed 222-unit apartment/townhome development, along with approximately 3,900 square feet of commercial space within one of the apartment buildings. The Planning Board reviewed the site plan at your December 12, 2018 meeting and July 10, 2019 meeting. At your August 14, 2019 meeting the Board issued a State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) Positive Declaration. The Planning Board determined that the proposed Rapp Road residential development, if considered with certain additional land within the Town’s newly enacted Transit Oriented Development (TOD) District owned by the project sponsor or affiliated entities, may have a potentially significant cumulative adverse environmental impact. Therefore, a Positive Declaration of Environmental Significance was issued and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process commenced. On August 28, 2020 the Planning Board, after a year-long environmental review process, issued their Findings Statement for the EIS. The full record of the EIS and Findings Statement can be reviewed here: https://www.townofguilderland.org/planning- board/pages/environmental-impact-statement-rapp-road-residentialwestern-avenue-mixed-use Site Plan Review The applicant is proposing to construct a total of 222 apartment and townhome units on 19.68 +/- acres located in the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) District. The site is located on the west side of Crossgates Mall and southwest of the intersection of Gipp Road and Rapp Road. The municipal line with the City of Albany borders the north side of the site. Three 2-story townhouse style buildings, consisting of 10 units in each building, are proposed on the west side of the property. On each side of the boulevard entrance road the applicant is proposing to construct two 5-story apartment buildings. The building on the north side of the boulevard will contain 98 Visit the Town of Guilderland Website at http://www.townofguilderland.org apartment units and the building on the south side of the boulevard will contain 94 apartment units. A total of 333 parking spaces are required and the applicant is proposing to install 362 parking spaces; 278 surface parking spaces and 84 indoor parking spaces. Implementing the Transit Oriented Development District For the residents of Guilderland it is important to understand the planning, public participation and legislative processes the Town took to establish the TOD District and uses allowed. The projects now being proposed within the TOD are the result of an almost 20 year planning process which began with the Comprehensive Plan in 2001, with a summary as follows: Guilderland Comprehensive Plan The Town of Guilderland’s Comprehensive Plan, completed in 2001, identifies the following recommendations as found in Chapter IV of the plan as some of the priorities for the Westmere neighborhood, which includes the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) District: Concentrate higher density development within densely populated areas such as the Westmere/McKownville area. The higher density development is most suitable where public transportation is available, where both essential and non-essential services/products are available, and where pedestrian linkages to shopping, recreation, and cultural resources are well developed. Westmere and McKownville provide the most services and the best access to public transportation, but are lacking in recreational facilities and a pedestrian environment. (p. IV-16) Consider the use of incentive zoning (bonuses) and financial incentives to help facilitate reinvestment and redevelopment of vacant/underutilized frontage properties along Route 20. (p. IV-20) Consider using the Crossgates Ring Road as a bypass around congestion on Route 20/Western Avenue, perhaps with a physical linkage over the Northway to Stuyvesant Plaza. Westmere Corridor Study One of the recommended implementation action items from the Town’s Comprehensive Plan was to develop neighborhood specific plans. During 2015/2016 the Town solicited the services of a consulting firm to develop the Westmere Corridor Study. A ‘Westmere Corridor Study Advisory Committee’ was formed to assist in the preparation of the study. The Committee consisted of representatives from the NYS Department of Transportation, Capital District Transportation Committee, Albany County Department of Public Works, Capital District Transportation Authority, Guilderland Planning Board, Capital District Regional Planning Commission, Westmere Corridor business owner and Guilderland Industrial Development Authority. The study was intended to develop a neighborhood plan for the area along Western Avenue between Church Road on the east and State Farm Road and New Karner Road on the west. The study was a year-long planning process that included multiple public meetings and significant Page 2 of 19 involvement/comments from the public. The primary recommendations of the study related to the TOD are as follows: Chapter 5 – Recommendations section of the corridor study (Eastern Segment) 1. Create a Transit Oriented Development Neighborhood (Section 5.1.1.1) TOD focuses on creating neighborhoods or areas that are pedestrian friendly, supportive of transit and emphasize alternative modes of transportation. TOD model provides a mix of housing, shopping, entertainment and employment within walking distance (1/2 mile) of transit – BRT transit center at Crossgates. A TOD neighborhood is expected to be fairly dense to keep walking distances shorter. 2. Support Higher Density Development (Section 5.2.1.2) TOD assumes compact development at a density that will better support walkability and transit. Increase lot coverage to at least 80% Increase building heights to at least 45 feet Increase the number of dwelling units permitted per acre Local Law No. 4 of 2018 – Adoption of the Transit Oriented Development District The Town Board adopted the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) District legislation as a primary recommendation from the Westmere Corridor Study, completed in December 2016, after a year-long planning process that included extensive public participation. The Town Board’s determination to establish the TOD and the permitted uses was completed as part of a 6 month long public participation process. As part of that process the Town Board established zoning restrictions, such as additional setbacks from existing residential uses and limiting land uses west of Rapp Road to protect existing residential land uses. The Town Board authorized General Business (GB) District and Multiple Residence (MR) District land uses as either a permitted site plan use or special use in the TOD District. Town Code The “Purpose” section of §280-18.1.A of the Town of Guilderland Town Code (Transit Oriented Development District) states the following: “The Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) District is designed to implement the recommendations of the Westmere Corridor Study (study) by using an overlay district to support and incentivize development that adequately protects nearby residential neighborhoods and utilizes resources within and near the TOD's boundary, including regional shopping, entertainment, and employment centers, a robust transit service with high ridership and proposed enhancements, direct vehicle access to the interstate highway system, and a nearby local business community. The TOD District encourages more compact development, traffic-calming measures, better access management, improving the environment for non- automobile-oriented modes of transportation, reducing the number of required parking spaces, supporting mixed-use buildings and pedestrian linkages, and focusing intense development away from existing residential neighborhoods.” Page 3 of 19 The following facts show the project is in compliance with the stated goals/purpose of §280- 18.1.A of the Town of Guilderland Town Code, as follows: Pedestrian Linkages The applicant is proposing to construct a 10’ wide multi-use trail that will extend from the intersection of Rapp Road/Gipp Road to Western Avenue. The trail will be located on the west side of Rapp Road to the intersection of Crossgates Mall Road/Rapp Road. The trail will then cross to the east side of Rapp Road at the intersection and continue to Western Avenue on the east side of the road. The applicant is proposing to remove the existing Rapp Road/Crossgates Mall Road 5’ wide sidewalk and replace it with the 10’ wide multi-use trail. This trail will also link to the existing multi-use trail at the hotel site further to the east. The applicant is proposing a 5’ sidewalk on the west side of Rapp Road that will extend from the Capital City Diner on Western Avenue and link to the 10’ wide multi-use path at the intersection of Crossgates Mall Road/Rapp Road. The applicant is also proposing a 5’ wide concrete sidewalk extending from the proposed