GUILDERLAND — The planning board here last Wednesday heard a proposal for a 19-lot subdivision on Grant Hill Road, but the proposal met with disapproval from worried neighbors.

Town Planner Jan Weston told the board that the 41-acre property lies in a floodway, that it is generally flat, and that it is partially wooded. The property is near a wastewater treatment plant and a farm, she said. Weston questioned the effect the subdivision would have on drainage in the neighboring area.

Mark Jacobson, an engineer with Charles H. Sells, Inc., presented a standard subdivision plan, and a clustered home plan. He represents local applicants Pat and Frank Marotta. Jacobson said that an upgrade on the treatment plant and natural contours of the land help reduce odors from the plant.

Chairman Stephen Feeney said that the project cannot move forward until the wetlands are properly determined.
"Are wetlands more extensive than what is shown"" he asked. "It seems a little bit ‘not in keeping with the neighborhood’"a real suburban style. You’re a long way from determining the number of lots."

Feeney suggested that Jacobson keep floodplains in a clustered plan, in common ownership for future homeowners to limit encroachment from neighbors and homes.

Jacobson estimated that the water table would be seven to eight feet from the surface. Neighbors in the small crowd said that their nearby water table is about four feet down.
"The wetlands here, obviously, are the driving force," Jacobson said.

Newly-appointed planning board member Lindsay Childs, who is a member of the Guilderland Pathway Committee, detoured the discussion briefly.
"I’ve added, in pencil, a little piece of path," he said. "Put the path in before you put the houses, so it is established." Board members told Childs that the path he sketched bordered wetlands.
Board member Thomas Robert said that he spent time at the park near the plant during the summer. "There were a lot of days it wasn’t bad, and a lot of days it was really bad," he said about the odor. "It scares me to develop that area like that."
When informed that a 1,000-unit apartment complex is also nearby, Feeney said, "Fair enough. Buyer beware. You have to make sure people are aware."

One neighbor received mild applause when he said that he favors a plan similar to the ones proposed by Jacobson, but that he wants open space in the project to be preserved forever.

Scott Frush, of Nott Road, said that a lot of people occupy the area now.
"Is my neighborhood still going to be desirable if this subdivision goes through" I want to trust my government" and that the planning board will represent him, he said. Frush was applauded when he concluded, saying that he does not support a subdivision on Grant Hill Road.

The planning board continued the concept presentation.
"We operate under the laws of the town. We do our best to be sure that developments that come in" match the neighborhood, Feeney said.
"We can’t just say, ‘We don’t like this subdivision. We want it to go away.’ We try to make it as sensitive to the neighborhood as we can," Feeney said.

Just Cats

The board approved veterinarian Susan Sikule’s request to expand her practice Just Cats at 2073 Western Ave. into the next-door building she owns at 2075 Western Ave. According to her deed, she must share a driveway with a neighbor. She and the neighbor share a garage, she said.

Sikule said the expansion will help with traffic flow. Currently, tractor trailers making deliveries must back into the driveway, stopping and cutting across the heavily-trafficked road near its intersection with Route 155. She hopes to use the first floor of the second building for products to sell, and the second floor for offices.

The board agreed that a new traffic plan would resolve the problems of Sikule’s clients parking on the neighbor’s property, and the large trucks turning on the neighbor’s property.

David Reid, of the Guilderland Hamlet Neighborhood Association, said that the group supports small independently-owned businesses. He suggested that she install period lighting and a sidewalk.

Other business

In other business, the planning board:

— Approved a plan by Rose Levy to convert a former framing store to a women’s clothing store. The approval was conditional on the addition of a sidewalk across the front to join to the businesses on either side.

The board suggested that Levy remove a couple of parking spaces, which are in the front of the building, to allow the sidewalk. The board suggested that her landlord accompany her to the zoning board meeting for final approval;

— Approved a request for a special-use permit for Wayne Goodnow to operate a driving school from his home on Ableman Avenue. All work is done off-site, Weston said; and

— Approved a site plan to permit an in-law apartment on Frenchs Hollow Road. Owner Leslie Coughtry said that the septic system has always been adequate.