Applicant proposes 5,300-square-foot retail building at 1671 Western Ave; Planning Board tables plan for revisions

Bill Lia asked the Town of Guilderland Planning Board on Jan. 14 to approve a site plan and special-use permit for a new approximately 5,300-square-foot commercial building on a 1.39-acre parcel at 1671 Western Ave, the same lot that contains The Scene Coffee & Cocktails. The application includes a requested area variance to increase parking on the site from 71 to 87 spaces.

Town Planner Ken Kovalchik told the board this was the project's second appearance. Tim Freitag of Bohler Engineering, representing the applicant, described revisions made in response to prior comments: the removal of dead-end parking, added sidewalks and the introduction of traffic-calming measures intended to improve circulation through the lot. Freitag also described the proposed vehicular flow and how on-site stormwater practices would be implemented to manage runoff.

Chairman Stephen Feeney questioned traffic movement and stormwater handling; board members raised related design points including lighting, the right-of-way connection to the rear road and the placement and design of accessory structures. After discussing the outstanding issues, the board opted to table the application so the applicant could address the Planning Board's comments and submit updated site plans.

During the public-comment period, residents expressed concern that additional impervious surface and increased traffic could worsen flooding and encourage cut-through traffic in adjacent neighborhoods. Feeney responded that the proposed stormwater controls would be an improvement over existing site conditions. No formal vote on the site plan or the parking variance was recorded; the application was continued for revision and further review.