Council pulls two encroachment permits for further review; Phase 2 development plan discussed

The Glens Falls City Council removed two encroachment permit applications (permit nos. 44-2025 and 45-2025) from the consent agenda after at least one council member raised concerns about timing and notice. The items were placed on the regular agenda for discussion and subsequently a motion was made to table at least one of the permits pending additional information.

Council discussion described a Phase 2 commercial and housing project that would extend new commercial storefronts along a corridor and include approximately three stories of workforce housing above, with a 77-unit apartment building behind the commercial frontage. The transcript references a project cost of about $26,000,000 and notes the developer's use of tax credits and an approval by a housing-review body. The developer requested a temporary encroachment that would push building elements into four existing parking spaces near the current Sandy's location; staff and the developer said the encroachment was intended to remain only during construction with some spaces potentially available on Saturdays after the first two months.

Council members expressed concern that the permits had been approved by staff for agenda placement too close to construction start and that some council members did not receive timely notice. One council member asked that both permits be pulled and placed at the top of the regular agenda for a roll-call vote; another council member later moved to table a permit. The transcript shows the permits were pulled for fuller council consideration and that at least one motion to table was made; the transcript excerpt does not record a final roll-call approval of the encroachment permits.