Amsterdam's Common Council has unanimously turned down the Planning Commission's request to pay for a private environmental consultant on the sprawling Widow Susan Road housing proposal, opting instead to lean on the city's own engineering staff to steer the project through state environmental review. The decision keeps the $65 million development moving toward a Nov. 18 Planning Commission meeting, where City Engineer Mike Clark is expected to walk the board through the next steps.
The Common Council voted this week to reject the Planning Commission's request to fund an outside consultant, according to the Daily Gazette, with city officials instead tasking Clark with advising the board directly. Mayor Michael Cinquanti framed the move as a practical substitution rather than a brush-off of the commission's concerns. “We're offering them engineering help,” Cinquanti said.
Clark is expected to attend the Nov. 18 Planning Commission meeting to guide members through the State Environmental Quality Review process tied to the project proposed by developer Jeff Knox and the Brookfield development team, according to The Recorder. Cinquanti noted the city employs three engineers, including Clark, who can field questions and help the commission work through SEQR. Clark himself said he has prior experience advising the Planning Commission and is familiar with the issues surrounding the PUD plans, adding that he has an obligation to give the city his best technical opinion.
What's Actually Being Built
The proposed planned unit development would rezone 45.13 acres of undeveloped land behind Marie Curie Elementary School for 154 apartments, 31 detached single-family homes, 32 attached single-family homes, 28 condos and a 5,300-square-foot clubhouse. The project carries an estimated price tag of $65 million and would be funded entirely through private investment without government funding, per the same Daily Gazette report.
Developers have said the project will not be affordable housing. Apartment rents are expected to run at market rates of roughly $1,400 to $1,800 a month, while the single-family homes and condos would be sold at market prices as well. City officials have argued the development would add to the tax base, support city services, create housing and promote economic development in Amsterdam.
Why the Consultant Fight Happened
The push for outside help traces back to a divided Planning Commission vote in October, when members voted 4-3 to formally request that the Common Council fund an environmental consultant under city code, with Chair Sonnet Gravina casting the tie-breaking vote, as reported by The Recorder. Planning officials have acknowledged that the scale of the project and the PUD process itself are unfamiliar territory for the board, and had indicated the request could potentially be met by an existing city employee rather than an outside hire.
Commission member Christopher Carpenter said he was fine with Clark stepping in to assist the board. Cinquanti added that the need for additional outside expertise could end altogether if the city engineer's assistance proves satisfactory going forward.
Residents Split Over the Project's Footprint
More than a dozen residents spoke at an Oct. 28 public hearing on Widow Susan Road, raising concerns about potential impacts to their homes, traffic, wildlife, the environment and local services. Other speakers described the project as an opportunity for growth and economic development in Amsterdam, reflecting a split that has defined public reaction to the plan from the start, as noted by The Recorder.
Cinquanti said all environmental concerns raised by residents will be thoroughly reviewed, and that no project will proceed without the required approvals from the agencies involved in the SEQR process. Clark has said he expects a positive SEQR declaration, meaning the review would find the project could have significant adverse impacts, which under state rules would require developers to prepare a full environmental impact statement with in-depth analysis, responses to public concerns and proposed mitigation measures, The Recorder reported at The Recorder.
What Happens Next
The Planning Commission is expected to determine this month whether the project may cause significant adverse environmental impacts, and planning officials will ultimately decide whether any such effects can be sufficiently mitigated. Once SEQR is complete, the commission will weigh in on preliminary site plans, with the Common Council making a final decision on the PUD afterward. If approved, the project would return to the Planning Commission for a full site-plan review, per a report from The Recorder.
