RESOLUTION NO. 203
AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION REGARDING THE SOLAR INSTALLATION AT 897 WATERVLIET-SHAKER ROAD (THE RADAR TOWER SITE) IN THE TOWN OF COLONIE AND MAKING A SEQR DETERMINATION
Introduced: 6/13/22
By Conservation, Sustainability, and Green Initiatives Committee and Mr. Miller:
WHEREAS, The County Executive has requested authorization to enter into a Letter of Resolution agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to define mitigation measures required to offset construction in the Watervliet Shaker Historic District, and
WHEREAS, The County, in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), developed a historic preservation mitigation plan to offset the potential visual impacts of the Solar Installation at 897 Watervliet-Shaker Road (The Radar Tower Site) Project (Project), and
WHEREAS, The following mitigation measures are included in the proposed Letter of Resolution agreement related to the Project: (1) Document the site in its current location; (2) Fund the replacement of the roof of the Meeting House on the Church Family site at a cost of up to $35,000 to be paid for by Siemens Industry Inc.; (3) Use pollinator plants and native grasses in and around the perimeter fence of the solar array, and
WHEREAS, Pursuant to Resolution No. 81 for 2019, this Honorable Body authorized Albany County to take steps to establish lead agency on behalf of the Legislature, coordinate review with involved agencies, and complete all necessary site studies pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”), and
WHEREAS, By Resolution No. 207 for 2021, this Honorable Body declared lead agency for the Project and designated the Project a Type I action pursuant to SEQRA, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Albany County Legislature finds that Albany County has reviewed the Project, including the application, draft site plans, Part 1 of the Full Environmental Assessment Form, comments from SHPO and all supporting documentation, and conducted such further investigation of the Project and its environmental effects as deemed appropriate, including completing a view shed analysis, Phase 1 Archaeological Investigation, landscape plan, tree inventory, and carbon sequestration analysis, and Albany County has recommended a finding that the Project will not result in a significant adverse environmental impact, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That this Honorable Body now finds that the Project will not result in a significant adverse environmental impact and that an environmental impact statement is not required, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the County Executive is authorized to enter into a Letter of Resolution agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to define mitigation measures for the Project as set forth above, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the County Attorney is authorized to approve said agreement as to form and content, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Chair of the Legislature is hereby authorized and directed to sign and file any documents that may be necessary to comply with SEQRA regarding the Project, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the County Legislature is directed to forward certified copies of this resolution to the appropriate County Officials.
Adopted by unanimous vote - 6/13/22