The Town of Clifton Park Environmental Conservation Commission (ECC) held a meeting on April 17, 2023 and made the following recommendations (quoted from the minutes of the meeting), in particular items 4 in regards to pollutants and 5 in regards to construction materials buried on the site. A number of residents have indicated that the parcel of land was used as a dumping site (i.e.: refrigerator, car, tires, wheels, and concrete blocks). Some residents reported it to the Town although there was no follow-up:
1. Per 208-35 D. Setbacks (4) Buffer - The ECC notes “There shall be established a 10- foot buffer area within the minimum side and rear yard setback along the property line. The buffer shall be planted for the purposes of the adjoining properties. The Planning Board shall take in consideration and natural vegetation which existing and serves the intent of this article.” Each of these properties do not show such buffer.
2. The ECC Notes that 50% of the lot coverage shall be calculated as the greenspace requirement. The Site Plans do not reflect this standard.
3. Lots 1and 2 are noted to have extremely steep gradients and with clearing of surface vegetation the potential for erosion toward the wetlands. It is strongly recommended to do geotechnical evaluation or avoid any disturbance of the slopes entirely.
4. The ECC notes that sensitive environments exist on properties adjacent to the project site (within watershed of Long Kill, Cooley Kill & Dwaas Kill all 303(d) segments impaired by pollutants related to construction activity), thus there is a potential for environmental impacts to these areas in the event that the capacity of the stormwater management system is inadequate. As such the Applicant's Drainage, Stormwater and Erosion Control Plans should be protective of these environments, during construction and occupation of the project. The ECC recommends careful review of these plans by the Town Engineer.
5. The ECC notes that this area may have been used as a depository of construction materials during the building of Van Patten developments. The applicant should be required to validate whether construction materials have been buried on the site within all the planned disturbed areas.