Town of Rotterdam
Planning Commission
Agenda for March 2, 2010
Approval of the Summary of Minutes for February 16, 2010
1. John & Joseph Raucci & Michael Adams – Marra Lane. Sketch/Preliminary Site
Plan Review to allow an additional 8 unit apartment building with 11 bedrooms to be
constructed next to an existing 12 unit apartment building with 18 bedrooms on a
1.58 acre parcel. Engineer: ABD Engineers & Surveyors.

2. Sync Realty Group Inc. – 325 Duanesburg Road. Recommendation to the Town
Board for a Change of Zone on an 8.14 acre parcel from Light Industrial (I-1) to
Multi-Family Residential (R-3) to allow for the use of a former Military Housing
facility consisting of 17 two bedroom units, 16 three bedroom units, and 12 four
bedroom units and 2 two-family structures. Engineer: ABD Engineers and Land
Surveyors.

Waiver

1. Verizon Wireless – 2670 Curry Road. The applicant requests a Waiver of Site Plan
review for the replacement of six (6) antennas at existing height on existing boom on
existing tower and adding six (6) coaxial lines and a 3’ X 5’ pad. Engineer: Tectonic
Engineering and Surveying Consultants P.C.

2. Miranda Real Estate Group – 1801 Altamont Avenue. The applicant requests a
Waiver of Site Plan review to operate a real estate office in the former tenant space
previously occupied by the Jordan Lynn School for Appearance Enhancement.

3. Allied Acoustics d/b/a Eden’s Treasure – 93 W. Campbell Road. The applicant
requests a Waiver of Site Plan review for the retail sale of gifts in tenant space B-116
(471 SF) from (February 26, 2010 – April 30, 2010) in the Rotterdam Square Mall

How many times is Miranda gonna move around?  Don't they own the building they're in now?

Quoted Text

2. Sync Realty Group Inc. – 325 Duanesburg Road. Recommendation to the Town
Board for a Change of Zone on an 8.14 acre parcel from Light Industrial (I-1) to
Multi-Family Residential (R-3) to allow for the use of a former Military Housing
facility consisting of 17 two bedroom units, 16 three bedroom units, and 12 four
bedroom units and 2 two-family structures. Engineer: ABD Engineers and Land
Surveyors.

This still isn't resolved? None of this makes sense. So, this 'light industrial' property was able to 'use' it as multi family for 2 years and the town just sat back? Didn't Sync need a COO before they could rent these units out? Didn't anyone see the FOR RENT signs out front?

Mohawk Manor had both military families and private families living there for years b4 the depot closed and the manor was separate from the Army Depot because there was no direct entrance from the manor to the depot. It would appear that the apartments should have been grandfathered because they were there b4 the Galesi Group developed the depot. To me it looks like there are politics involved to acquire the land for some other purpose and force the apartments to close. It all depends on what the current administration wants to do with the problem and their plans for the land. At one time I heard mentioned that the town was looking for land on that side of 5 corners to develop a town complex for the town offices and police department.

I believe that the origanal use for the apartments was for military housing and the goverment is not restricted by zoning, as is the case with schools if they want to build.  Not positive, but if somebody could verify.  As for when this group bought them, the use becomes private and they are then subject to zoning.  Again, I am not positive of this, but might give some guidance if somebody has the time and energy to research......hope this helps somebody get answers on this item

I went to school with many of the residents of Mohawk Manor and there were both military families housed there as well as private families housed there. The non military may have worked in the depot not sure and most of the ranking officers were housed within the Army Depot itself and all were beyond the guard gates for protection and security.

I know a couple who rented 'privately' there about 20 years ago.

Quoted Text

Quoted from Shadow:
To me it looks like there are politics involved to acquire the land for some other purpose and force the apartments to close.

One of the reasons that the prior Town Board gave for denying a change to the zoning is the lack of sewer service.  Apparently, the
apartment sewer empties into the line that cuts through the Industrial Park.  The Galesi Group had reportedly given short term
permission for the apartment building owners to continue to use the line that services the Industrial Park, but had called an end
to that agreement last year, leaving the apartments unserviced by sewers.

So, who do you think may have interest in acquiring the land for some "other" purpose (like development)?  If the reports that I
heard are correct, it is a party who had bid on the property when it was up for auction and lost to the owners of Sync Realty.

Can anyone confirm or deny these reports?

I would think that it wouldn't be too much of a problem to run a sewer line out to rte 7 and tie it in to the main and that's why I suspected an ulterior motive for someone wanting to acquire the land for another purpose.

Hey, perhaps someone remembers or could recheck, but didn't Sync Reality donate to the 'Revitalize Rotterdam' aka fdg? And didn't Galesi donate to the democratic committee?

Perhaps the decision will be made to favor the 'highest bidder', so to say.

Sync Realty - $1,000 to Revitalize Rotterdam on 9/30/2009 !!!

http://www.elections.state.ny......&CATEGORY_IN=ALL

I also remember that JG Roman Villa used to be the old Army dispensary where any of the military could get treated for injuries or illness so where does the sewer line for the restaurant dump into? The ENCON building was the old bldg 50 belonging to the depot and the library is near the old officers club so where do the sewers for those bldgs drain? We need a comp plan to go along with the planning commission to sort all this out.