Zoning Board approves use variance for multifamily project at Posting Hill Place

The Troy Planning Board meeting on April 16, 2025, focused on several key projects and zoning issues affecting the city. The board discussed the classification of a project as a Type 2 action, which allows it to move forward without extensive review. A motion was passed to classify the project accordingly and to request a variance from the zoning board, contingent upon the submission of a pedestrian crosswalk plan.

One significant project under consideration is the redevelopment of a two-acre parcel for a four-story, 81-unit affordable housing building. The project, presented by civil engineer Kelsey Carr and his team, seeks new approvals after previous ones lapsed. The site is now in a business development zone where multifamily housing is not permitted, prompting the need for a use variance. The project design includes parking on the ground floor to accommodate floodplain regulations, with residential units above.

The board noted that the adjacent former Irish Mist building has been added to the State and National Register of Historic Places, which changes the project's classification to a Type 1 action, requiring a more thorough environmental review. The team provided updates on the environmental assessment, indicating that the impacts remain largely unchanged except for the new zoning restrictions.

The meeting concluded with the board's approval of motions to advance both the variance request and the pedestrian crosswalk plan, marking a step forward for the proposed housing development in Troy.