Planning board backs recommendation to ZBA for Adler Place 30-unit condominium; declares lead agency and sets hearing

Barb Nelson, director of TAP Incorporated, told the Troy Planning Board the developer is seeking New York State financing through an affordable home‑ownership program to build 30 new homes in a condominium configuration at Adler Place and is aiming for passive‑house certification. "We are applying for financing from New York State through the affordable home ownership program, to build 30 new homes in condominium configuration, at Adler Place," Nelson said during the presentation.

Nathaniel Gooden, PE, the civil engineer for the project, reviewed the site plan and told the board the entire site must be elevated because it lies in a flood overlay. "This whole site is gonna be elevated due to the flood overlay. It's gonna be at a finished floor elevation 27.75 feet," Gooden said, noting the elevation change will be addressed with steps, a lift for ADA access and slope walks into the courtyard.

The project will place two principal buildings around a central courtyard, preserve Leslie's Garden and include one row of 13 under‑building parking spaces plus additional on‑street parking. Gooden said roof runoff will be routed to an underground infiltration system sized for a 24‑hour design storm and that permeable pavers, landscaping and tree plantings will reduce effective impervious coverage; he reported an interim impervious calculation of about 62 percent that will be refined in the next submission.

Board members and staff focused on the subdivision and variance path required to create the new lots. TAP representatives said they will subdivide and reconfigure multiple lots and then request area variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). After discussion, a Planning Board member moved to recommend that the ZBA approve variances related to the subdivision and the board voted unanimously to make the recommendation.

The Planning Board then moved to declare itself lead agency for the Adler Place environmental review and to find the application complete for scheduling. The board set a public hearing for Jan. 21 and asked the applicant to provide a list of involved agencies and funding sources to support required notices. Nelson said TAP will pursue state financing and complete necessary filings with the attorney general and condominium authorities before construction could start; she said the team hopes to start construction this summer but still must complete financing approvals.

The board’s actions were procedural: recommendation to the ZBA, lead‑agency declaration, completeness determination and hearing date. Additional technical items — final impervious coverage, detailed stormwater calculations, exact parking layout, and coordination on addresses with county 911 — were left for the next submission or building‑department review. The hearing will allow public comment and any ZBA variances to be considered in advance of final approvals.