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Council committee advances rezoning referral, ARPA update for Hamilton Hill infill and support letter for Hamilton Hill Art Center
Summary
The committee referred a rezoning request on Maxine Road back to M1, updated an ARPA resolution supporting a Hamilton Hill infill project scaled to 11 units under a new funding plan, and authorized a letter of support for the Hamilton Hill Art Center’s state funding request.
A Schenectady City Council committee took several development and zoning actions: it referred a proposed zoning change for parcels on Maxine Road to the planning commission, approved a resolution updating ARPA support for a Hamilton Hill infill project with a reduced-unit scope, and authorized a letter of support for the Hamilton Hill Art Center’s funding request to the governor.
On Maxine Road, staff presented background that the four parcels had been rezoned in 2017 to C3 but are constrained by a 30‑foot sewer easement and have not developed under the C3 uses. Staff advised reverting the parcels to M1 (Light Industrial) to provide development flexibility; presenters said the parcels abut existing M1 zoning and that a referral to the planning commission is appropriate rather than direct adoption. The committee moved and approved the referral.
On Hamilton Hill infill, a presenter described an update to an earlier (2022) proposal: project financing shifted after a state lending/participation program became unavailable. Project sponsors proposed using New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) Home ARP funds as leverage; because of federal prevailing‑wage rules tied to the number of residential units, the scope was revised to an 11‑unit first phase to avoid prevailing‑wage triggers. The presenter said leverage of $4,400,000 from HCR was identified for that phase; other lots and a second phase would be pursued with different funding sources and home‑ownership (rather than rental) models. Presenters said the city has already acquired and holds title to some Germania Avenue lots. Committee members approved updating the ARPA resolution to reflect the revised scope and funding plan and directed staff to provide spending updates through the city’s ARPA oversight channels.
The committee also approved a resolution to send a letter of support from the council for the Hamilton Hill Art Center’s gubernatorial funding request, summarizing the center’s community contributions and length of service.
Finally, the committee discussed adding a definition for battery energy storage facilities to the zoning code and listing those facilities by special use permit in C5, M1 and M2 districts; the committee referred that zoning amendment to the planning commission for review and recommendations.
Each action was advanced by motion and voice vote; staff were directed to continue coordination with state agencies, the land bank and project sponsors.
