Unofficial summary. This is a community summary of the town's official minutes, provided so the record is searchable and readable. It condenses the meeting and may omit detail. Some private individuals’ personal details have been left out. The official signed PDF is the complete record of authority.
Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — April 1, 2026.
Public hearings
Bruno Farms Subdivision Phase III (Tax Map #20-1-111). Jake Keasbey, land surveyor, appeared for the applicant, Martin Morizio, on a proposed 6-lot subdivision in an RA (Residential/Agricultural) district on Knickerbocker Road. There was no public comment; the hearing closed at 7:03 p.m.
Donna Murray Two-Lot Subdivision (Tax Map #41-1-17.22 and #41-1-21-21). Jake Keasbey appeared for the applicant, Donna Murray, on a 2-lot subdivision on NYS Route 40 north of the Bracken Road intersection (a 6.16± acre lot east of Route 40 and a 5.0± acre lot on the westerly side). There are currently no plans to build. There was no public comment; the hearing closed at 7:06 p.m.
Regular meeting — 7:07 PM
Members present: Frank Alessandrini (Chairman), Kasey Casas, Elizabeth Hale, Dan Clow, Chris Reynolds, and Peter Klotz. Vince Ragone was absent. Dave Brennan, Town Attorney, was present.
Approval of prior minutes
The minutes of the October 1, 2025 meeting were accepted as submitted. Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Clow, Hale · Nays: None · Abstention: Klotz, Reynolds.
The minutes of the March 4, 2026 meeting were accepted after Peter Klotz requested an addition regarding the McCoski Subdivision (Tax Map #30.-4-6.2), at the corner of Hansen Road and the Howland Road extension: the applicant had been asked to modify the shape of the lots to avoid future issues and declined to alter the proposed layout. Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Reynolds · Nays: None.
Bruno Farms Subdivision Phase III — approvals (Tax Map #20-1-111)
The 6-lot subdivision is drawn from a 49.02± acre parcel in an RA district on Knickerbocker Road; two of the six lots are flag lots. Soil tests were complete and Rensselaer County Health Department (RCHD) septic approvals were granted. Phase I took place around 2013 and established the reserved conservation space; at the March 2026 meeting a modification was advised to connect the conservation spaces at the southernmost point of the parcel, and the surveyor adjusted the conservation area to about 14.82± acres, meeting the requirement. The EAF was completed during Phase I.
Chris Reynolds moved to grant preliminary approval; Kasey Casas seconded. Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Reynolds · Nays: None. Chris Reynolds then moved to grant final approval contingent on receipt of RCHD approval by e-mail or hard copy; Dan Clow seconded. Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Reynolds · Nays: None.
Donna Murray Two-Lot Subdivision — approvals (Tax Map #41-1-17.22 and #41-1-21-21)
Since the prior meeting the surveyor made minor lot-line adjustments: Lot #1 was amended to 6.16± acres east of NYS Route 40 and Lot #2 to 5.0± acres on the westerly side. There are no plans to build. Owner Authorization and the Agricultural Data Statement were received at the March meeting, and the Board reviewed SEQR and found no issues.
Dan Clow moved to grant preliminary approval; Chris Reynolds seconded. Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Reynolds · Nays: None. Because the lots each exceed 5 acres, RCHD approval is not required; Kasey Casas moved to grant final subdivision approval and Peter Klotz seconded. Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Reynolds · Nays: None.
Fane Two-Lot Subdivision — SEQR (Tax Map #61.-1-33)
Mark Danskin, land surveyor, appeared for the applicant, Gregory Fane, on the subdivision of a 5.81± acre parcel at 5 Warren Lane (off NYS Route 40) into a 3.41± acre lot and a 2.67± acre lot. The topography is relatively flat apart from a “knob” on the new lot. Access is proposed from Warren Lane, a town-maintained road; Mr. Klotz raised the close proximity of the two proposed driveways and asked about access from NYS Route 40, but the surveyor explained the grade and a ridge make Route 40 access impractical and that no further subdivision is planned. Fire protection was discussed. Public water and sewer are available and the ZBA had granted area variances; the Board reviewed the EAF and found no issues.
Chris Reynolds moved to issue a negative declaration under SEQRA; Kasey Casas seconded. Ayes: Alessandrini, Casas, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Reynolds · Nays: None.
Dollar General — Special Use Permit (Tax Map #32.-3-29)
Chairman Alessandrini recused himself from this item; Kasey Casas assumed the position of Alternate Chairman.
Andrew Masullo, Sr. Engineer with Lansing Engineering, updated the Board on the proposed 10,600-square-foot Dollar General store on a 1.95± acre lot, part of an 8.17± acre parcel to be subdivided into three lots: Lot #1 at the corner of East Schaghticoke Road and NYS Route 40 (2.41± acres), Lot #2 (1.95± acres, the development site), and Lot #3 (3.81± acres). There are two wells on the property, one unused, with individual wells and septic planned for each lot. Phil Koziol, P.E., of The Laberge Group — the Town’s consultant on the proposal — was present. Mr. Masullo circulated a concept rendering, site plan, landscaping, lighting, erosion-and-sediment-control, and layout-and-materials plans, plus building prototypes; a sign is planned for NYS Route 40. Board members raised separation of wells, discharge, and stormwater as concerns.
The alternate chairman covered the project narrative and concerns — wetlands, soils, proposed water and sewer, and stormwater management. Under SEQRA the project is an unlisted action; the Board wished to act as lead agency, so lead agency status must be established. Attorney Brennan said he and Mr. Koziol would begin correspondence to interested parties, and the Board chose to declare the action a coordinated review.
Dan Clow moved to move ahead with a coordinated review; Elizabeth Hale seconded. Ayes: Casas, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Reynolds · Nays: None.
A SWPPP is required, along with information on threatened and endangered species, documentation from the State Historic Preservation Office on possible cultural resources, SPDES approval and permits, and Town MS4 acceptance. Further information is needed on traffic impact and site layout (setbacks, lot depths, frontages, and parking). Board members again expressed concern that the prototype building — with a flat roof — lacks character and does not reflect the Town’s rural character or the Greek Revival buildings common in the township.
A Board member asked the Town Attorney for the status of the outstanding zoning-code violations on the subject parcel. A resident distributed a pamphlet entitled “Capital Region Comprehensive Climate Action Plan and Local Guidance for Data Center Development.”
Adjournment
Chris Reynolds moved to adjourn at 8:37 p.m.; Dan Clow seconded. Ayes: Alessandrini, Clow, Hale, Klotz, Reynolds · Nays: None.
Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk, Planning Board. Minutes dated May 16, 2026.
Spot an error or omission? Tell us and we'll fix it.