Staff Notes 10/27/2020
Town of Queensbury Planning Board
Community Development Department Staff Notes
October 27, 2020
Site Plan 42-2020 BILL POGONOWSKI
24 Russell Harris Road / WR – Waterfront Residential / Ward 1
SEQR Type II
Material Review: application, site plan, floor plan and elevations, survey map
Parcel History:AV 27-1999, AV 28-1999
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Requested Action
Application to be tabled to the Second Planning Board meeting in December.
Planning Board review and approval for construction of a 672 sq. ft. detached garage with a floor area of 1,114
sq. ft. and associated site work.
Resolutions
1. Planning Board decision
Project Description
Applicant proposes construction of a 672 sq. ft. detached garage with a floor area of 1,114 sq. ft. and associated
site work. Existing home is 1,954 sq. ft. (footprint) with a floor area of 3,195 sq. ft. The new garage is to be
23’3” in height. Project includes combining two lots. Pursuant to Chapter 179-3-040 & 179-6-065 of the
Zoning Ordinance, new floor area in a CEA shall be subject to Planning Board review and approval.
Staff Comments
Location-The project is located at 24 Russell Harris Road on an area of 0.41ac where two lots are being
combine as part of the project.
Arrangement- The site has an existing home of 1,954 sq ft footprint and a floor area of 3,195 sq ft. where
the new garage is located near Russel Harris Road.
Site Design- The project work is focused in the garage area of 672 sq ft, the eave trench area, and additional
pavement to the existing asphalt drive.
Building – The new garage is a 1 1/2 story of 672 sq ft foot print and a 12 ft X 28 ft storage area in the
upstairs storage area. The building is to have exterior stairs to access the storage area upstairs.
Grading and drainage plan, Sediment and erosion control-The plans do not identify erosion control
measures during construction, appropriate control measures should be installed during construction,
Landscape plan- Shoreline Buffer – The applicant has indicated all work on site is for the garage and no
work to be at the shoreline. Sheet C-1 should be updated to show the present landscaping conditions. The
real property photo from 2016 indicate there are some trees in the shoreline area, shrubs, vegetated lawn
area with rocks also. Below are the guidelines from the shoreline buffer code section, Section 179-8-040
-Minimum width 35 ft (Lake George)
-For every 700 sqft of shoreline buffer area –one large tree minimum 3 inches in diameter
-For every 350 sq ft of ground cover -7 – 24 in native shrubs; 14 herbaceous plants
Project site
-45 ft of shoreline per survey
-Shoreline buffer 45 ft X 35 ft width is 1575 sq ft
-Shoreline buffer area -1575 /700 = 2.25 round up to 3 –three large trees at 3inch diameter
-Ground cover -1575/350 =4.5round up to 5 (X7) =35 native shrubs and 5 (X14) herbaceous plants=70
Utility details-The information submitted indicates there is no water or sewer connections to the garage.
The plans should reflect if there will be electric and if there are exterior lighting.
Elevations-The plans show the elevations of the new garage – with two garage doors, an open layout,
exterior stairs and upstairs storage.
Floor plans-The floor plans show an open layout with an open floor plan on the first floor, and a storage
area on the second floor accessed by the exterior stairs. I believe a man door might be suggested
Waivers-Planning staff has reviewed the applicants request for waivers that include items g. site lighting, h.
signage, j. stormwater, k. topography, l. landscaping, n traffic, o. commercial alterations/ construction
details, p floor plans, q. soil logs, r. construction/demolition disposal s. snow removal.
The waivers requested–Staff finds it reasonable to request a waiver as these items are typically
associated with commercial projects.
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.
Nature of Area Variance
The applicant proposes a 672 sq ft footprint garage with a total site floor area of 4,309 sq ft where the maximum
allowed is 3,956 sq ft. Relief is also requested for height where 16 ft is the maximum height for a garage and
23 ft 3 inches is proposed.
Summary
Application to be tabled to the Second Planning Board meeting in December.
Meeting History: PB: 10/20/2020; ZBA: 10/21/2020;
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