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Guilderland adopts law formalizing referrals to Albany Pine Bush Technical Committee
Summary
The Town Board unanimously adopted Local Law No. 2 to codify referrals to the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Technical Committee, requiring review and 30-day written comments on certain land-use applications within the Pine Bush Study Area to protect rare inland pine barrens.
Supervisor Peter Barber and the Guilderland Town Board unanimously adopted Local Law No. 2 on June 2, 2026, adding §280-42.2 to Town Code Chapter 280 to formalize referrals to the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Technical Committee for applications within the Albany Pine Bush Study Area. The law directs the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals or Town Board to forward complete applications to the Technical Committee within five business days and allows 30 days for written comments and recommendations.
The local law lists application types subject to referral, including subdivision applications, planned unit developments, residential cluster/conservation developments, use variances, special use permits, site plan reviews and zoning amendments. It also instructs reviewing boards to consider the Technical Committee's comments in SEQRA determinations and to state the public record reasons if the reviewing board acts contrary to a recommendation.
During the public hearing, Angelo Serafini, a town resident, questioned whether the Technical Committee has legal authority over private property, citing a Supreme Court case; Supervisor Barber noted the Committee's role is review and recommendation rather than decision-making. Supporters from Save the Pine Bush and the Albany Pine Bush Management Commission — including Andy Arthur, Lynne Jackson, Russel Ziemba and Madelyn Kennedy — urged the board to codify the referral process so technical professionals can advise on impacts such as habitat fragmentation, dune preservation and impacts to species such as the Karner Blue butterfly.
The Town declared the Local Law an Unlisted Action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and issued a negative declaration. The motion to adopt the law was made by Supervisor Peter Barber and seconded by Councilman Santos; the five board members — Councilman Crawford, Councilwoman Beedle, Councilman Santos, Councilman McDonald and Supervisor Barber — voted Aye.
The law takes effect upon filing with the New York State Secretary of State; it codifies a practice the board said has already been applied to prior applications in the Study Area.
