Neighbors press Glens Falls Planning Board over density, traffic and stormwater for 196 Ridge Street proposal

At a public hearing before the Glens Falls City Planning Board, a stream of neighbors urged the board to reject or substantially revise a redevelopment plan for 196 Ridge Street, arguing the proposal would dramatically increase density and strain traffic, stormwater systems and neighborhood character.

David Cook, a resident of 202 Ridge Street, summarized the neighborhood group’s priorities—"character, history, and green space"—and disputed the project’s short environmental assessment answer that the proposal would not substantially increase traffic. "With 29 parking spaces for that many units, it would definitely be a substantial increase," Cook said, and asked the board to require a traffic impact study.

Britney Mason, a registered nurse at Glens Falls Hospital who lives next door at 50 William Street, said the developer, identified in the record as Snyder’s Drywall, proposed converting the historic house into six 2‑bedroom apartments and adding six 3‑bedroom townhomes in a second building for a total of 12 units plus parking. Mason called the proposed new entry an "access road," not a driveway, and said it would increase cut‑through traffic…