Commission consents to Planning Board acting as lead agency for environmental review of 126 State Street

The commission voted to consent to the City of Albany Planning Board acting as lead agency for environmental review of a development project at 126 State Street in the Downtown Albany Historic District.

Erin Glennon, deputy planning director, said the proposal will proceed through the Planning Board for development‑plan review and that the Planning Board will circulate all environmental documentation under the State Environmental Quality Review process. The item had been discussed previously as a workshop item; commissioners were asked to make a motion to accept or consent to the Planning Board as lead agency.

A motion to accept was made and seconded; the commission voted in favor and the motion carried. Commissioner Tobin arrived earlier in the meeting, giving the commission a supermajority at the time of the vote. No conditions or dissenting votes were recorded in the meeting minutes supplied to the commission; staff said the project will return to the commission for any facade‑oriented reviews once the Planning Board finishes its lead‑agency and development‑plan processes.

Staff advised the commission that, as lead agency, the Planning Board will handle circulation of environmental documentation under SEQR and will forward materials to the Historic Resources Commission as appropriate for review of historical/visual impacts.