2004-07-19 SP MTG31
Special Town Board Meeting, 07-19-2004, Mtg #31 42
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING MTG# 31
TH
JULY 19, 2004
7:05 P.M.
TOWN BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
SUPERVISOR DANIEL STEC
COUNCILMAN ROGER BOOR
COUNCILMAN THEODORE TURNER
COUNCILMAN JOHN STROUGH
COUNCILMAN TIM BREWER
TOWN OFFICIALS
EDCD, CR
XECUTIVE IRECTOR OMMUNITY EVELOPMENTHRIS OUND
SP, MR
ENIOR LANNERARILYN YBA
PRESS
POST STAR
SUPERVISOR STEC-Opened meeting.
RECREATION COMMERCIAL (RC) ZONING CLASSIFICATION
MR. GABRIEL ARMANDO PRESENT
First item on agenda we will be receiving a petition from residents concerning their
concerns and requests for us to consider changes to the Recreation Commercial
Zoning Classification. Mr. Armando-Formal copy stamped in on June
th
8 by the Town Clerk. MR. Armando -Asked not to restrict the ski operation.
Trying to prevent the area from becoming another Great Escape. Asked the board
to look at this, feels it was in error that the amusement center was put into this
zone. When he bought his property it was zoned for single family residential. We
were never notified of the change in the zoning. Councilman Stec-When was it
last rezoned? Mr Armando-1982. They are investigating to see how this zoning
was changed, why they weren’t notified, why no public hearing. All the homes in
Northwest Village are now RC-3A. Asked the board to take a look at this and
seriously consider removing this RC-3A zone. Letter received from Kathilyn
Williams corner of West Mountain Road and Pitcher Road requesting to remove
Amusement Center as an approved use of property in West Mountain Center. (on
file Town Clerk’s Office) Received petition from residents requesting revision of
Zoning Ordinance RC-3A. The only area in the Town zoned as such is West
Mountain Ski area and surrounding residential area.
QUEENSBURY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION UPDATE
– LOU BUCK
Special Town Board Meeting, 07-19-2004, Mtg #31 43
Mr. Buck-Presented to board members summary noting a lot of the information
was shared with the board during the spring when he gave a presentation at a Town
Board Meeting. It is drawn from our strategic plan. The QEDC primary mission is
to foster econmic stability, business family environment, and selected growth in
the Town of Queensbury by supporting expansion and retention of existing
business, attracting new business, and actively joining efforts to develop the entire
region’s economy. We identified years ago when the QEDC was restructured three
primary strategic initiatives. The first was site development, job retention and
growth, and regional approach to economic development. Under site development
there are four projects they are pursuing first in the Northway Business Park,
which they partnered with Glens Falls local Development Corporation they help
sponsor and support a generic environmental impact statement site plan,
subdivision approvals, and infrastructure plans. The Luzerne Road Industrial Park
we have spent two date four hundred and five thousand dollars for the acquisition
of property and most recently the demolition and removal of two houses that were
on the property. Queensbury Industrial Park the projected cost to develop this is
four hundred and twenty eight thousand dollars have roughly spent twenty eight
thousand dollars on the engineering study. WCBC has been working with the
National Guard to establish an Armory there. The way the deal has been structured
is that for roughly fourteen acres of land we will receive three hundred thousand
dollars, which we will be used to develop infrastructure. It would reduce the out of
pocket costs which are roughly over a hundred thousand dollars and the South
Queensbury Sewer District, which you participated in at the tune of seventy five
thousand dollars. The second major initiative is job retention and growth. It is
their feeling it is much easier to grow the businesses that were already established
here. The initiatives under job retention growth is the Adirondack Business
Incubator, which QEDC committed forty thousand dollars of …for three years plus
participating in the cost to support a feasibility study, which was conducted about
four years ago. Workforce Education helped sponsor a Precision Machine
Program at ACC. Recently, we supported the Adirondack Business School
Partnership, which is an initiative spearheaded by Bill Flaherty, from Niagara
Mohawk. Regional Economic Development one of the biggest accomplishments is
arguing with other Economic Development Agencies in this area to adopt more of
a regional approach for economic development. We supported the request for
support for ARCC on the road Multi-Media Promotion providing financial support
for the Movie Theatre Park Project. Annually we contribute twenty five thousand
dollars to the Warren County Economic Development Corporation a portion of
which is for staff support. A majority of the money is used to market the
Queensbury Industrial Park and also help to support the Queensbury Land
Conservancy. In regard to the Luzerne Road Industrial Park (presented time line
of project activities to board) there is a possibility we could purchase in time five
adjoining acres. It would give us a fifteen and a half parcel of land, which is prime
real estate particularly with what is going on in Albany and Luther Forest.
Councilman Boor noted there is construction of the connector road scheduled for
March 2005, questioned where the date came from? Supervisor Stec we control
that time line. Mr. Round construction of the connector road came out when will
the design report be prepared and when will you be ready from that standpoint
noting they need to have title to that property before the Town can award a bid.
Supervisor Stec that is a property acquisition it is an item that I would like to
discuss in Executive Session. Councilman Boor questioned if the Queensbury
Land Conservancy did they ask for the twenty five hundred? Mr. Round the QLC
was out of the Town Comprehensive Plan they identified the need for that
organization. The Town looked to establish in itself they found out that they could
Special Town Board Meeting, 07-19-2004, Mtg #31 44
not do that so the original Board of Directors said they needed this level of funding
to establish a not-for-profit status so they came to the Town. Councilman Boor
questioned the status of the Incubator Project? Mr. Buck, Tom Garvey is the
Consultant who was brought on board is developing the grant application. The
expectation is we are going to receive a million dollars in funding to support the
Incubator Project. Supervisor Stec noting the location is Glens Falls. Mr. Round
spoke to the board regarding the development of QEDC over the last five years.
Councilman Strough asked the status of the Ciba Geigy property. Mr. Buck, Len
Fosbrook gave an update at QEDC Meeting. They have been working with one
outfit that deals with this type of situation where you have limited use due to the
nature of the property noting there are other businesses that can go in there. Mr.
Round, Ciba Geigy is marketing the site. They have a consultant, noting it is going
to be five years that you have a facility there. You will need facilities in advance
of that and you will need facilities on the tail of that. Supervisor Stec asked what
they see as the future of QEDC noting it was discussed at the last meeting.
Supervisor Stec noted Mr. Buck has indicated he will be stepping down as
President of QEDC effective at the next QEDC meeting in August. Supervisor
Stec thanked Mr. Buck for his dedication and effort and contributions to the Town
and to QEDC. Asked what concerns Mr. Buck has for QEDC in going forward?
Mr. Buck noted the role as President for QEDC is a one-year term and he had
already filled the one-year term noting there weren’t many people stepping forward
when his term expired in May so he continued for another year. Thinks the three
strategic initiatives that were identified five or six years ago are still very solid
noting he doesn’t see any change in course thinks staying in the direction they are
going hopes that they can keep getting strong members on the board who can
provide input noting he is not stepping away from the board completely. Mr.
Round noted when you have the business community support initiatives you need
to make sure that the local government is doing the same. We take for granted
where we are today. It has taken a lot of hard work from those volunteers wanted
to make sure the board is aware of this. Councilman Boor spoke to the board
noting in the Town of Queensbury there are not a lot of sites for industrial growth
noted the need to be ready. Mr. Buck we have to wait for the right opportunities.
Thanked the Town for their support. Also thanked Chris Round for his
involvement on the QEDC Board.
PROFESSIONAL OFFICE (PO) ZONING DISCUSSION
Executive Director, Mr. Round spoke to the board regarding the background for
professional office. You are seeing a growth of multi family housing we are not
seeing a lot of professional offices being built noting it caused a concern for the
community that’s why we’re here tonight. Questioned what is the goal for
professional office, do we want to reduce the residential density? Do we want to
reduce multi family housing? Do we want to refine the Bay Road Corridor as a
Cultural Professional Center? Do we want to refine the professional office zone as
a professional office zone and not a mixed-use zone? All these things are in play
those are kind of rhetorical in nature noting these are things the board needs to
think about spoke to the board regarding these uses. When you have rural areas or
areas that are underdeveloped it is a common tool if you want to encourage growth
is to allow the different densities if you have sewer. The last one that should be
considered is eliminate residential uses from the PO zone altogether if your goal is
to create professional office zones. Councilman Boor recommended taking a
Special Town Board Meeting, 07-19-2004, Mtg #31 45
comprehensive look at professional office. After further discussion it was agreed
that Mr. Round would provide the Town Board with a proposed change to the
regulations that would establish a thousand foot setback and a map showing the
thousand foot setback, applied to Bay Road and applied to arterial roads giving
options to the Town Board as to which direction to proceed.
OTHER DISCUSSIONS
Town Board held discussion regarding the following; reconstruction in non-
conforming locations versus compliance, invoice from VanDusen & Steves
Surveyors for survey work performed on Richardson Street for proposed bike path,
and the proposed Veteran’s Memorial.
SUPERVISOR STEC-Announced that TV 8’s sponsorship by Glens Falls National
Bank will continue, uncertain as to whether they’re carrying us for an additional
year or a grand total of a year but it looks like we’re covered for 2004.
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION
RESOLUTION NO.: 357, 2004
INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Theodore Turner
WHO MOVED FOR IT’S ADOPTION
SECONDED BY: Mr. Roger Boor
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby
adjourns from Regular Session and enters Executive Session to discuss contract
negotiations and land acquisition that may affect possibility of value.
th
Duly adopted this 19 day of July, 2004, by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Boor, Mr. Turner, Mr. Strough, Mr. Stec
NOES: None
ABSENT: Mr. Brewer
RESOLUTION TO RECONVENE
RESOLUTION NO.: 358, 2004
Special Town Board Meeting, 07-19-2004, Mtg #31 46
INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Tim Brewer
WHO MOVED FOR IT’S ADOPTION
SECONDED BY: Mr. Theodore Turner
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby
reconvenes and enters Regular Session of the Town Board of the Town of
Queensbury.
th
Duly adopted this 19 day of July, 2004, by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Turner, Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec, Mr. Boor
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
RESOLUTION TO ADJOURN SPECIAL
TOWN BOARD MEETING
RESOLUTION NO.: 359, 2004
INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Tim Brewer
WHO MOVED FOR IT’S ADOPTION
SECONDED BY: Mr. Roger Boor
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby
adjourns it’s Special Town Board Meeting.
th
Duly adopted this 19 day of July, 2004, by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Strough, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec, Mr. Boor, Mr. Turner
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
No further action taken.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
DARLEEN M. DOUGHER
TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF QUEENSBURY