Staff Notes 1/21/2020
Town of Queensbury Planning Board
Community Development Department Staff Notes
January 21, 2020
Site Plan 3-2020 GREAT ESCAPE THEME PARK, LLC
1172 State Route 9 / RC – Recreational Commercial / Ward 2
SEQR Unlisted / FGEIS SEQR
Material Review: application, site plans and narrative
Parcel History:SP 6-2014 Super Nova ride, SP PZ 23-2015 Greezed Lightnin ride, SP 5-2017 Bonzai
Pipeline ride; SP 15-2018 Pandemonium ride; SP 67-2019 (Withdrawn), Several more
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Requested Action
Planning Board review and approval to construct a new ride “Adirondack Outlaw” that is to be 164 ft. in height,
with an attendant booth of 24 sq. ft. and operator booth of 42 sq. ft.
Resolutions
1. SEQR-[[345,1209,2344,1266][12][,I,][Times New Roman]]no further seqr review is required per Finding Statement adopted 7/2001 unless the board finds the
[[331,1266,1118,1323][12][,I,][Times New Roman]]project exceeds established thresholds [[1117,1266,1143,1323][12][,I,][Times New Roman]]– [[1143,1266,2158,1323][12][,I,][Times New Roman]]the
board is to evaluate the height guidance areas [[2158,1266,2334,1323][12][,I,][Times New Roman]]. A Full
[[336,1324,648,1381][12][,I,][Times New Roman]]Environmental [[645,1324,1382,1381][12][,I,][Times New Roman]]Assessment Form has been provided [[1378,1324,1404,1381][12][,I,][Times
New Roman]]
2. PB decision
Project Description
Applicant proposes to construct a new ride “Adirondack Outlaw” that is to be 164 ft. in height, with an
attendant booth of 24 sq. ft. and operator booth of 42 sq. ft. The project includes removal of 6,190 sq. ft.
building area known as “The Saloon” café area of a larger building. The restroom area of 1,123 sq. ft. is to
remain with a canopy to be constructed. The area of building removed will be converted to a ride access plaza
for the “Steamin’ Demon” and the new “Adirondack Outlaw”. The project includes building demolition,
grading and cut for new ride area, new lighting, landscaping, stormwater and associated upgrades to site
features for Ghost Town. Pursuant to Chapter 1793-040 of the Zoning Ordinance, new commercial
construction shall be subject to Planning Board review and approval.
Staff Comments
Location- The project site is located at 1172 State Route 9 the Great Escape Theme park.
Arrangement- The project includes removal of a portion of a building in the Ghost Town area of the park for
a new ride entry plaza area. The ride entry area will be designed for two rides. The new ride Adirondack
Outlaw is to be located west of the Ghost Town building and Condor Ride where a portion of the Steamin
Demon ride que that is to be relocated. The new que for the Steamin Demon will be accessed from the new
plaza area in Ghost Town. The Adirondack Outlaw ride is to be a single arm of about 165 in length with
rider units at either end. The new ride is able to accommodate up to 32 riders (16 at each basket end).
There are no changes to the Steamin Demon ride itself.
Site Design- The project includes creating a new plaza entry area for the existing Steamin Demon ride and
the new Adirondack Outlaw ride. The new queue are for the Adirondack outlaw is to be an open sided pole
structure -432 sq ft at about 12 ft in height. The entrance to the Steamin Demon is a relocated footbridge to
access the existing queue area for the ride. The plaza includes an outdoor seating area with a pergola. The
new ride location requires site grading/cut for placement of the mechanical building. Additional detail of
grade cut may be required to determine ride support ie retaining wall.
Building – The Red Garter Saloon /Saddle Rock Café of 6,190 sq ft will be removed. The remaining
portion of the building about 5,900 sq ft the Dan McGrew’s building will remain. The applicant had
explained the restroom area building with a canopy 1,123 sq ft on the opposite side will remain –adjacent to
the Desperado Plunge. The matchwall facing the plaza area will have a ghost town architectural
background –false front. There will be a 4 ft by 6 ft attendant booth and 6 ft by 7 ft operator booth for the
ride operations. There will also be a 7 ft by 20 ft +/- mechanical building for the ride.
Signage-The plans show a sign specific to the rides just outside the entrance area.
Stormwater – The plans indicate 11,416 sq ft of impermeable surface is to be reduced to 10,572 sq ft. The
844 sq ft area is to be landscape areas and permeable pavers – paver detail C501
Landscape plan – The applicant has indicated the greenspace on the project area of is at 40.5% and will be
at 44.9 % upon installation of permeable areas and greenspace for the ride. A landscape plan of the specific
ride area has been provided.
Site lighting plan – The rides has lights on the ride arm and the two ride baskets. The applicant has
indicated the lights can be timed.
Elevations – The ride height is approximately 164 feet as it rotates. The applicant has indicated the ride can
be at a horizontal position when it rests.
Generic Environmental Impact Statement and the Final-The Great Escape Theme Park completed a Generic
Environmental Impact Statement and the Final was adopted on 7-11-01 and subsequent update in 7-04. No
additional SEQR review is required as long as the proposal is consistent with the impact assessment and
thresholds adopted in the Findings Statements.
The applicant has indicated the new ride is within Park Area for rides of 175 ft to 185 ft.
Visual Analysis –The applicant has also supplied the color scheme of the ride to be reddish and cream in
color. (Ride color should be confirmed as the image also shows blue and red colors.)
The thresholds items include:
Traffic –the proposed ride is not intended to generate new or additional park attendance;
o
Sound –the proposed ride would not exceed the noise threshold;
o
Stormwater –the applicant has indicated existing building site converted to the ride area includes
o
permeable pavement area and new landscaped areas to accommodate the stormwater from the
ride area. The applicant has requested a waiver from preparation of a stormwater report;
Wastewater –no wastewater generating facilities are proposed for the project;
o
Soils, Geology, Topography and Ecology –the project does not disturb any existing natural
o
wooded.
Waivers-Planning staff has reviewed the applicants request for waivers that include items g. site lighting, j.
stormwater, q. soil logs, r. construction/demolition disposal s. snow removal.
Staff suggest discussion on lighting and color of the new ride.
Pursuant to Section 179-9-050 the Planning Board may grant waivers on its own initiative or at the
written request of an applicant. The Board is to review the waivers and to determine if they are to be
granted.
Summary
The applicant has completed a site plan application for the installation of a new ride of 165 ft and associated site
work. The board may consider additional discussion on lighting, color, cut/grading of ride area.
st
Meeting History: 1 Meeting;
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