Staff notes for 10 22 19
Town of Queensbury Planning Board
Community Development Department Staff Notes
October 22, 2019
Site Plan 67-2019 GREAT ESCAPE THEME PARK, LLC
1172 State Route 9 / RC – Recreational Commercial / Ward 2
SEQR Unlisted
Material Review: site plan application, line of site map, ride plan details, biennial traffic count and annual
sound survey
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; several more
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Requested Action
Planning Board review and approval for a new ride “Adirondack Outlaw” located near “Desperado Plunge” –
removing an existing building for the new ride.
Resolutions
1. SEQR-[[345,1266,2344,1323][12][,I,][Times New Roman]]no further seqr review is required per Finding Statement adopted 7/2001 unless the board finds the
[[331,1324,1118,1381][12][,I,][Times New Roman]]project exceeds established thresholds [[1117,1324,1143,1381][12][,I,][Times New Roman]]– [[1143,1324,2158,1381][12][,I,][Times New Roman]]the
board is to evaluate the height guidance areas [[2158,1324,2184,1381][12][,I,][Times New Roman]]
2. PB decision
Project Description
Applicant proposes a new ride “Adirondack Outlaw” located near “Desperado Plunge” – removing an existing
building for the new ride. The new ride is to be 165 ft. in length/height. Project includes ride construction and
construction of enclosed entry area. Project includes landscaping and stormwater management. Pursuant to
Chapter 179- 3-040 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.
The site would be prepared for a single ride and ride entry area. The ride is to be a single arm with rider
units at either end.
Site Design- The Red Garter Saloon /Saddle Rock Café of 5,990 sq ft will be removed. The remaining
portion of the building about 5,900 sq ft the Dan McGrew’s building will remain.
Building – There is a queue line open sided pole structure that will be covered in canvas approximately
1,152 sq ft.
Signage-The plans show a sign specific to the ride just outside the ride entrance area.
Landscape plan – The applicant has indicated the greenspace on the project area of is at 6% and will be at
44% upon installation of permeable areas and greenspace for the ride.
Site lighting plan – The plans indicate lighting to be determined. Staff would request additional information
on ride lighting. Will rider units be external lighted, Will the arm of the ride be lighted? What type of lights
blinking or steady? The finding statements indicates planning board may review color and lighting of any
ride that falls within 20 feet of the height limit in any of the three height zones.
Elevations – The ride height is given at 165 feet as it rotates. The Board may request the winter rest
position ie can the ride be placed horizontal during the winter months?
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 A noted as 237.6 ac and an area for siting
new rides.
Visual Analysis –The FGEIS Section 4.3 explains the visual analysis of the topography and ride heights
visibility. The new ride is located in a threshold area of 135 ft to 145 ft and is adjacent to a threshold
area of 175 ft to 180 ft. The applicant has provided a line of site map showing the proposed ride 165 ft
with two cross sections. Cross Section A compares visibility with the Sasquatch ride at 200 ft. Cross
Section B is the same cross section from the new ride to the same point on the Bike Path Ashe Drive
noting the height difference to the lower threshold is 35 ft. Also noting the new ride would be screened
from the Bike Path location vantage point at Ash Drive. The ride shape of a single arm may also be
considered less likely to be visible. The visual analysis threshold is subject to Planning Board review.
The thresholds items include:
Traffic –the proposed ride is not intended to generate new or additional park attendance;
o
Sound –the proposed ride is interior to the park the noise generated from riders would not exceed
o
the noise threshold;
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, o. commercial alterations/ construction details, p floor plans, q. soil logs, r.
construction/demolition disposal s. snow removal.
The waivers requested–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 of the height threshold areas, ride color and ride lighting.
Additional attachments –Staff has included the Section 4.3 from the FGEIS Visual Field Analysis with Figure
V-1 Visual Threshold Map, noting no balloon test photos or map.
st
Meeting History: 1 meeting
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