Riverfront redevelopment proposal draws fire‑department concerns over EV charging and emergency access
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Summary
A proposed 193‑unit, five‑story riverfront development with a 236‑space garage and 30,000‑sq‑ft rooftop amenity prompted sustained discussion about combined‑sewer permitting, EV chargers in enclosed parking and fire‑department safety; the board declared itself lead agency to begin coordinated review.
A proposed redevelopment of the former Uncle Sam's parking garage drew extended review and public comment at the Dec. 16 Troy Planning Board meeting.
Joe Danable of Environmental Design Partnership described a five‑story scheme with a first‑floor garage and 193 residential units above. The design includes a second‑floor outdoor amenity area of roughly 30,000 square feet (designed as a green roof/impervious area qualifier), a mix of 158 standard and 78 compact parking spaces (totaling 236), long‑ and short‑term bike storage and a staged, four‑phase construction approach that would place residential conversion in later phases.
Board discussion centered on infrastructure and safety. Staff and board members said a combined‑sewer‑overflow (CSO) review would likely be triggered once full residential occupancy or additional bathrooms are added during later phases; staff recommended conditioning approvals to require CSO assessments at appropriate permit stages.
Troy Fire Department Captain Jared Behringer (present for public comment) strongly urged that EV chargers not be located inside the enclosed garage. Behringer said EV battery fires can burn for multiple days and are difficult to extinguish in enclosed parking structures, and recommended placing chargers outside the building where possible; he said the department would work with the applicant if a variance is required but emphasized safety concerns. In transcript remarks he said the department is "not big proponents of having EV charging within the structure itself, especially with such large residential units above it." The board asked staff to seek specific fire‑department details and to explore mitigation or variance pathways if the chargers must be inside.
Other discussion topics included the location and design of garage entrances, loading and service access, and the requirement to return for CSO and building‑department sign‑offs at each stage. After public comments and back‑and‑forth with staff, the board voted to declare the Troy Planning Board lead agency for coordinated SEQR review, so the planning board can shepherd environmental review and agency notices.
Next steps: applicant to begin coordinated review materials, update the EAF and complete required checklists, and work with city engineering, the fire department and utility providers on the CSO, EV charger and safety questions.