Troy, Office of the City Comptroller Bureau of Contracts and Procurement

The Planning Board conducted a public meeting to act upon requests referred by the Bureau of Code Enforcement. Key discussions included the adoption of the January Meeting/Hearing minutes and a motion to form a subcommittee to review criteria for proposed changes to Chapter 285 of the City Charter regarding Zoning Regulations. Old business involved the Site Plan Review for PLPB 2025 0038 at 15-25 Fourth Street, which involved the construction of a multi-family residential building with a first-floor parking garage; this project was approved with several conditions related to easements, plats, engineering reports, and sewer requirements. The board also gave final approval for PLPC 2024 0003, concerning the renewal of a Special Use Permit and construction of an addition for geothermal heat pump manufacturing, and granted final approval for the subdivision review PLPB 2026 0001 to construct two duplexes totaling four single-family homes. For PLPB 2026 0002 (a multi-use facility), the board declared the project Unlisted under SEQRA, issued a negative declaration, declared the application complete, and scheduled a hearing for April 21st, 2026.

The meeting focused on agenda item PLZBA 2025-0058 concerning a property at 60 113th Street, which required seeking multiple area variances for a proposed 10,000 square foot addition. The applicant detailed that the project intends to modernize the light industrial facility through automation and increase assembly equipment capacity, requiring variances for maximum gross floor area, front yard setback (136.5 ft requested vs. 20 ft max), side yard setback, accessory parking setback related to an alley, and building transparency requirements. The variances were sought because the existing structure predates current zoning codes meant for streetscape properties, and strict adherence would negatively impact site functionality (e.g., moving loading areas into the right-of-way). The board also addressed a procedural question regarding environmental review, confirming that the disturbance would be under one acre, thus not requiring specific coverage permits.

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call confirming a quorum. A primary agenda item involved the review of proposed changes to Chapter 285 of the city charter regarding zoning regulations, specifically concerning the removal of language for change of use, which raised concerns about increased workload and the board's role. Public comment was received on these proposed changes, with concerns raised about the lack of justification data and implications for cannabis zoning. The board decided to table action on the zoning changes pending further information, especially regarding legal council input and sewer capacity analysis for the related development project. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a site plan review for the former Uncle Sam's parking garage redevelopment into a five-story building with 193 units, which involves lot consolidation, amenity space considerations (including pickleball courts), and variance requests for building setbacks and parking due to the proposed structure. Public comments from neighboring property owners expressed support for the development over vacant space, though concerns were raised regarding the design of the structured parking concerning future conversion potential and compliance with existing zoning guidelines about parking orientation and ceiling heights. The status of EV charging facilities based on State of New York requirements and Troy Fire Department input was also discussed. The board ultimately determined the application was not complete due to outstanding issues, including variances.

The meeting addressed the adoption of previous minutes, which were unanimously approved. A major discussion revolved around proposed changes to Chapter 285 of the city charter concerning zoning regulations, leading to the motion to form a subcommittee to meet with involved parties and report back to the board before making a final recommendation to the city council. The board also reviewed the PLB 20250038-15254 street project, discussing easement details, including maintenance responsibilities for Museum Place and access for city emergency vehicles. The project presentation detailed the four-story structure over a podium parking garage, streetscape reconstruction, utility tie-ins, and merging property deeds. Discussions also covered the revised architectural design to fit historic context, specifying materials like stone veneer at the base and brick on upper floors, and accommodating a revised location for the CDTA break room based on input received the day of the meeting.

The meeting involved reviewing and voting on several variance requests. The initial discussion concerned an application (PLZBA 20260003) for the Bellvita apartment community regarding front sideyard and parking setbacks. These variances were necessary to maintain emergency vehicle access through an existing alley (Museum Place) between the proposed building and an adjacent hotel, as requested by the city. Separately, the board addressed application PLZBA 20260004 for 1016 Madison Avenue, which involved permitting two duplex buildings on a lot. This required three variances related to minimum lot width, side setback between units, and minimum ground floor area. The board also confirmed that environmental review for the second application was handled by the Planning Board, which had issued a Negative Declaration (NAD).