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Guilderland planning board forwards Pine Bush Parc sketch plan to Town Board, requests traffic analyses and site visit
Summary
The Planning Board voted unanimously to forward a sketch-plan for Pine Bush Parc (190 units, 10% workforce housing) to the Town Board with three recommended traffic analyses and to schedule a site visit with the Albany Pine Bush Preserve conservation director.
The Guilderland Planning Board on April 22 voted unanimously to forward a revised sketch-plan for Pine Bush Parc (Pine Bush Parc, LLC) to the Town Board, while recommending additional traffic analyses and a site visit. The application seeks to rezone roughly 50.9 acres from Business Non‑Retail Professional to a Planned Unit Development and Open Space, with about 11 acres proposed for development and approximately 39 acres preserved as open space. The developer reduced the proposal from 210 to 190 units and from five‑story to four‑story buildings; the plan reserves 10% (19 units) as workforce housing targeting households at 80%–120% of area median income (AMI).
Town Planner Ken Kovalchik gave a brief summary of the revised submission. Scott Lansing of Lansing Engineering, representing the applicant, described the plan changes and additional materials provided since the March 25 meeting. Board members pressed on the changes to unit ratios and traffic impacts; Alanna Moran (Lansing Engineering) explained the updated traffic study that accompanied the revised plans.
Board members suggested Albany County involvement for potential traffic improvements and discussed grading, angle-of-repose setbacks, and buildable-area limits. Chairman Stephen Feeney recommended a site visit including Neil Gifford, Conservation Director at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, the Town Planner and the chairman to review on-site conditions.
After deliberation, the board voted to forward a sketch-plan report to the Town Board that recommends the applicant conduct: a Level of Service (LOS) analysis on New Karner Road (including considering extending the existing center turn lane to the proposed driveway), right-turn counts from Pine Knob Drive and Gladwish Avenue to assess cut-through traffic, and submittal of accident data for New Karner Road at Pine Knob Drive and Gladwish Drive. The motion to forward was moved by Thomas Robert, seconded by Darrell McKnight, and carried 7–0.
During public comment, town residents offered mixed views — some raised concerns about environmental impacts, traffic and utilities; others supported the project citing demand for housing and nearby development activity. The minutes record the board’s recommendations but do not include details about next steps from the Town Board.
