GUILDERLAND - Developer Brandon Quadrini won't be able to build eight two-story English Tudor-style townhouses on Ashford Drive as he had planned.

The town board last Thursday unanimously denied his request for a re-zone.

Quadrini had asked the board to change a 6.2-acre parcel from R-40, meaning lot sizes would have to be 15,000 square feet or more, to Multiple Residence, meaning a four-family residence can be built on a 18,750-square-foot lot.
Supervisor Kenneth Runion told about a dozen residents, who came to Town Hall to speak out against the zoning change, that he denied the request because "a substantial portion of the lands donated is wet lands and unusable." As discussed by the town board on Oct. 2, when the request was tabled, the land Quadrini intended to use for a required pocket park was wet.

Runion also said that the project did not fit in with the neighborhood and Councilwoman Patricia Slavick said that there were traffic concerns.

Councilman Michael Ricard had asked Quadrini on Oct. 2 for a detailed study of the land he was donating to the town, but said on Thursday night that the town did not receive a study.
Councilman Paul Pastore said that neighbors' concerns and testimonies against Quadrini's zoning change request were "no less than compelling."

Quadrini did not appear for the hearing, and one neighbor of his proposed project pointed out that he was an hour late for the last meeting. The public hearing was scheduled for 8 p.m., but did not begin until well after 9 because of a lengthy debate on the budget. (See related story.)

Now that the re-zone has been denied, the project can no longer move forward.
The town's planning board had recommended Quadrini's plans to the town board under the stipulation that a pathway be built on the donated park land. Quadrini said last month that he "didn't talk in great detail" with the planning board about the donated land.
Runion said that the planning board was not aware of the condition of the land that was being donated, which Quadrini described as "partially wetland."

Councilman David Bosworth said that the planning board's proposed pathway would have to traverse wetlands if the town granted the re-zone and accepted the donated property.

Several residents said that the land was wet for most of the year, if not year-round. Residents also said that construction on the land, of any type, would worsen the condition and result in flooding and damp basements.
"Believe me, if you remove any trees at all, the water will flood," one man said.

June Kline, a former town employee and resident of Ashford Drive, spoke out against the re-zone. She said she held nothing personally against Quadrini, who she said had built her home, but that his proposal was not in -line with the neighborhood.

She added that Quadrini should have appeared at the meeting.
"If he doesn't have the courtesy to hear us, the board shouldn't have the courtesy to hear his request," Kline said at the meeting. "I think you should make him start the process all over again. My time is just as valuable."

The board agreed with the residents and all voted to deny the application.

Other business

In other business, the town board unanimously:

- Granted the request of the owners of 7296 Guilderland Ave. to hook into the Rotterdam municipal water supply. The applicants, who live on the town line, are closer to Rotterdam's water supply than to Guilderland's water supply;
Runion said the application was before Guilderland Town Board so it "would have the ability to levy it on their taxes if they don't pay their water bill."

- Authorized an agreement with Princetown for out-of-district users to the town's west-end water lines;
- Authorized a lease agreement for golf cart rentals at the town-owned Western Turnpike Golf Course. "I walk, I don't ride the golf carts, but I'm in favor," Councilman Pastore joked before voting in favor of the agreement; and

- Authorized the supervisor to sign collector's warrants for the Guilderland Water District.