Century House redevelopment OK'd with conditions after board flags traffic safety and DOT review

The Albany County Planning Board approved staff’s modified local recommendation for the Century House mixed‑use redevelopment (Latham Century Partners) at 981–997 Loudon Road, but members pressed the applicant and the town to secure a New York State Department of Transportation review and a traffic study addressing constrained egress and blind‑hill traffic safety.

Staff recommended modified approval conditioned on a NYSDEC‑consistent stormwater pollution prevention plan and NYSDOT review/permits for any changes to state highway access. Multiple members raised safety concerns: they described the project area as a commuter route with two constrained entry/exit points, a blind hill and existing congestion, and emphasized that the project’s additional parking and up to roughly 80 new multifamily units could exacerbate peak‑period backups.

Board members discussed when the county would see the project again, noting the project would return only if there were material changes (new egress, new layout, imported surfaces). Staff and members agreed DOT review is appropriate; the minutes will reflect the board’s traffic concerns even though staff’s written recommendation was not amended. A motion to act on the referral with staff’s recommended modifications passed with the board requiring DOT involvement prior to local final approvals.

Next steps: the town of Colonie and NYSDOT will review access and safety; applicants must supply stormwater documentation and any DOT permit findings needed for town permitting.