Below is a copy of the Final Scoping document
for the proposed hotel adjacent to the Karner Blue Butterfly
site.
For more information about the project, please see the
following:
Crossgates Wants
to Build a Hotel in the Pine Bush, Will they never
go away? (Sept/Oct 04)
CITY OF ALBANY
COMMON COUNCIL
FINAL SCOPING CHECKLIST
September 20, 2004
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
APPLICATION OF THARALDSON DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
FOR REZONING APPROVAL
Name of Project:
Application of Tharaldson
Development Company
Residence Inn
Albany, New York
Project Location: 124-128R Washington Avenue
Extension
City of Albany
Albany County, New York
SEQRA Classification: Type I
Lead Agency: City of Albany Common Council
City Hall
Albany: New York 12207
(518) 434-5090
Contact Person: Richard Nicholson, Historic Preservation
Planner
Dept. of Development & Planning
21 Lodge St., Albany, NY 12207
(518) 434-2532 ext.29
Scoping Session: The Common Council will provide a period
of time from August 12, 2004 through September 7, 2004
to provide
written
comments on the draft scope
The Draft Scope for the environmental impact statement
was available for review at the Office of the City Clerk
(Room
202, City Hall);
the Department of Development & Planning (21 Lodge St.); and
at the Albany Public Library (Main Library, 155 Washington Avenue).
Written comments on the draft scope were accepted through September
7, 2004, at the Office of the City Clerk and the Department of
Development & Planning. The Common Council Zoning Committee
met and conducted a public hearing to consider and receive
comments on the draft scope on August 26, 2004, in the second-floor
courtroom
in City Hall. This Final Scope incorporates all substantive
comments on the Draft Scope.
A. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION
Application of Tharaldson Development Company for rezoning from
R-1B to C-2, area variance and site plan approval by the City
of Albany Common Council, the Albany Board of Zoning Appeals
and the City of Albany Planning Board and related permits,
approvals and compliance determinations from other involved
agencies for the construction of a ±124-unit/room Residence
Inn including site improvements on, and traffic improvements
adjacent to (the “Project”), a ±3.7 acre
project site (“Project Site” or “Site”).
B. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On February 19, 2004, the City of Albany Common Council, acting
as Lead Agency, adopted a SEQRA resolution and findings for a
positive declaration for the proposed Project, which is incorporated
herein by reference. Based upon a review of the Applicant’s
submitted full Environmental Assessment Form and all other application
materials that were prepared for this action, and oral and written
comments received, the Lead Agency determined that the proposed
Project may have a significant impact on traffic and potential
impact to the Karner Blue Butterfly habitat.
The Lead Agency’s determination that the Project may have
a significant impact on the environment requires the preparation
of an environmental impact statement (“EIS”) to address:
“(o)nly those potential significant adverse environmental impacts that
can reasonably be anticipated and / or have been identified in the scoping process.
EISs should not contain more detail than is appropriate considering the nature
and magnitude of the proposed action and the significance of its potential impacts.” 6
NYCRR § 617.9(b)(2).
This document is the product of Lead Agency’s “scoping” of
the issues identified in the positive declaration. “Scoping” means
the process by which the Lead Agency identifies the potentially significant
adverse impacts related to the proposed Project that are to be addressed in
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (“DEIS”), including the
content and level of detail of the analysis, the mitigation measures needed
and the identification of non-relevant issues. 6 NYCRR § 617.8, § 617.9(b).
The primary goals of scoping are to focus the EIS on potentially significant
adverse impacts and to eliminate consideration of those impacts that are irrelevant
or nonsignificant. 6 NYCRR § 617.8(a), § 617.9(b).
Copies of the Final Scope will be made available
to the following:
(A) The Applicant
(B) Involved Agencies:
City of Albany Common Council – Zone Change and potential closing or
Alteration of Traffic Pattern on Rapp Road
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation – State Pollution
Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) GP#02-01
Albany Board of Zoning Appeals – Area Variance
City of Albany Planning Board – Site Plan Approval
New York State Department of Transportation – Highway Work Permit (if
required)
(C) Interested Agencies:
Albany County Planning Board
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission
Town of Guilderland
United States Fish and Wildlife Department
(D) Persons who have expressed an interest in writing to the
Lead Agency.
C. SCOPE OF DRAFT EIS
The DEIS will be prepared in accordance with the requirements
set forth in 6 NYCRR §617.9. Sections of the document will be tabbed and separated
for the reader’s convenience. The DEIS will contain the following:
I. COVER SHEET: prepared in accordance with 6 NYCRR §617.9 (b) (3).
Specific items will include:
A. Draft Environmental Impact Statement
B. Title
C. Location
D. Lead Agency Identification / Contact Person
E. Name / Address of Preparers / Consultants
F. Date of Acceptance
G. Close of Public Comment Period
H. Date of Public Hearing
II. TABLE OF CONTENTS; prepared in accordance with 6 NYCRR §617.9 (b)
(4).
III. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY; prepared in accordance with 6 NYCRR §617.9 (b)
(4). Specific items will include:
A. Brief Description of Action
B. History of Previous Actions on the Project Site
C. Summary of Significant Items from Existing Environmental Setting
D. Summary of Potential Impacts
Summary of Measures Proposed by the Applicant to be Incorporated
into the Project
Conclusion
IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION/INTRODUCTION
shall include:
Project Site Location. A description of the Project Site location
and existing physical conditions with respect to local geography,
adjoining
roadways,
site access and the type and location of nearby existing and proposed
development. Existing Physical condition will include a detailed
description of previous
disturbances of the site.
General Project Description: A description of the proposed development
including analysis of developed acreage, green space provisions,
description of present
zoning, parking, access, lighting, landscaping, screening, stormwater,
water and sewer utilities, building design, visual and aesthetic
consideration. Site plans will be included directly into the DEIS
in reduced form.
Project Purpose, Need and Benefits. A discussion will be included
pertaining to background and listing public need, objectives of the
project sponsor
and benefits of the Proposed Action.
Permits and Approvals. The known approvals required for the Project
will be addressed and discussed and factored into the overall approval
process.
1. Rezoning – City of Albany Common Council
2. Area Variance for Height – City of Albany Board of Zoning Appeals
3. Site Plan Approval – City Planning Board
4. SPDES Construction Permit for Stormwater GP #02-01 New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation
5. Building Permit – City of Albany
6. Water System Connection Permit- City of Albany Department of
Water & Water
Supply
7. Sanitary Sewer System Connection Permit – City of Albany Department
of General Services
8. Stormwater Management System Permit – City of Albany Department of
General Services
9. Highway Work Permit (if required) – New York State Department of Transportation
10. Sidewalk & Barricade Permit – Department of General Services
11. Closing or Limits on Hours on Rapp Road – Department of General Services
and/or City of Albany Common Council
Design and Layout of Project.
1. Building
2. Roads and Parking
a. Alteration of Traffic Patterns on Rapp Road
3. Water Service
4. Sanitary Sewer Service
5. Stormwater Pollution Prevention Design
5. Stormwater Management
6. Miscellaneous Utilities
7. Landscaping
8. Lighting
9. Signage
10. Pedestrian Access
11. Construction and Operation
a. Construction Stage Activities
b. Construction Schedule
c. Operational Activities
V. THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING of the
Project shall include the following:
Geology, Topography and Slope
This section will incorporate, at a minimum, a discussion on
the suitability of the site soils, the site topography including
areas
of slope and
proximity to seasonal high groundwater table.
Water Resources
This section will include a discussion of the groundwater resources
and surface water resources, including the aquifer.
Transportation and Traffic
This section will incorporate in the Appendix the Traffic Study
prepared by Transportation Concepts, and provide a discussion
of the existing
transportation network, parking and potential alteration
of traffic patterns on Rapp Road.
A discussion of air quality will be included.
Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology
This section will include a description of the existing vegetation,
wildlife, water resources and rare, threatened and endangered
species present at
the Site. This section will also include a site analysis
by a qualified biologist
particularly with regard to the presence of suitable habitat
for the Karner Blue Butterfly, impact on the Albany Pine
Bush Preserve
and
in particular
to the corridor area, and more particularly the Karner
Blue Butterfly.
Pine Bush
This section will evaluate the Site and the results of an ecological
study will be summarized. This section will analyze cumulative
impacts on minimum
habitat requirement for Karner Blue Butterfly and Pine Bush ecosystem,
including, but not limited to, recent and prior reports/studies
concerning the Preserve
and Corridor area. A review letter addressed to the Chairman of
the Zoning Committee dated November 10, 2003 will be addressed.
Included
will be
the potential for inappropriate uses by Inn residents and a discussion
of appropriate
measures
designed to assist the preserve. Discussion of “taking.” Discussion
of other threatened, endangered or of concern species on-site, if any.
F. Community Facilities and Services
This section will provide a brief discussion of police, fire
protection, emergency medical services, schools and available
public and private
utilities. The discussion
will include economic impacts of the project.G. Land Use and
Zoning
This section will provide a brief discussion of the existing zoning
and land uses in the immediate vicinity of the Site and proposed
zoning and
land use.
H. Cultural Resources
This section will provide a brief discussion of visual resources
and historic and archaeological resources. The archeological study
will
be sent to Dr.
Michael Werner, City Archeologist as may be required by the City
Code of Albany.
VI. SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS
The identification and summary of the Project’s potential adverse impacts.
VII. MEASURES TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE PROJECT
BY THE APPLICANT
Measures to be incorporated into the Project will include both
Site specific and off-site measures that will be necessary to reduce
or
avoid the Project’s
potential adverse impacts.
Measures to be incorporated into the Project to be discussed might
include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Means to minimize traffic impacts and to improve existing
traffic flow.
2. Means to maintain an acceptable traffic flow.
3. Means to reduce the impact of invasive species of nearby Pine
Bush resources through utilization of native Pine Bush species.
4. Means to increase the protection of nearby Pine Bush resources.
Means to mitigate any other impacts identified in Item VIVIII.
REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES (As Appropriate for the Applicant)
A. A discussion of development constraints of the site will
be provided.
B. As prescribed in 6 NYCRR § 617.9 (b) (5) (v), the description and evaluation
of each alternative should be at a level of detail sufficient to permit a conceptual
comparative assessment of its feasibility.
The types of alternatives which might be discussed here include:
No action
Permitted uses on the Site
Alternative scale of project (less building area, fewer parking
spaces, more building area, more spaces) considering the objectives
and capabilities
of
the Applicant.
Alternative locations
All alternatives will be evaluated based on the physical resource
capability of the site to accommodate the proposed building, utilities
and parking
arrangement, including ownership and regulatory issues associated
with an alternative.
IX. ADVERSE IMPACTS WHICH CANNOT BE AVOIDED
An identification and discussion of any adverse environmental
impacts which can not be avoided or adequately mitigated
if the proposed
action is implemented.
X. SOURCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
XI. APPENDICES
XII. STUDIES
A. Traffic Impact Study
B. Phase I Archeological and Historical Resource Evaluation
C. Stormwater Management Study
D. Biological Review concerning the presence of suitable habitat
for the Karner Blue Butterfly
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