RESOLUTION NO. 384 FOR 2020
AN ACT PERTAINING TO THE ALBANY COUNTY PLANNING BOARD AND CONSIDERATION OF CRITICAL VIEWSHEDS OF THE HELDERBERG ESCARPMENT
Introduced: 11/9/20
By: Messrs. Perlee, Reinhardt, Ms. Plotsky, Messrs. Simpson, Smith, Miller, Efekoro, Fein, Ms. Lockart, Messrs. Tunny, A. Joyce and Feeney:
WHEREAS, Albany County, pursuant to Article 11 of its Charter created a County Planning Board, and
WHEREAS, The Board is “advisory to and assist(s) the County Legislature … on matters related to comprehensive metropolitan, regional, county and municipal planning and in performing the duties and responsibilities conferred upon a county planning board by Article 12-B of the General Municipal Law and on such other related matters as shall be required or requested by the County Legislature.” (Albany County Charter Article 11, § 1103), and
WHEREAS, Albany County contains within its borders a variety of unique scenic and geological features of inestimable value to the County and the quality of life of its citizens, including the famous Helderberg Escarpment, and
WHEREAS, Viewsheds of the Helderberg Escarpment from the Hudson Valley are of great economic, historic and cultural importance to residents and properties within the Towns of Guilderland, New Scotland and Bethlehem in particular, and
WHEREAS, Residents of the aforementioned towns consider viewsheds of the Helderberg Escarpment to be a critical natural asset and wish to guide development to avoid unnecessary impacts upon the views of the escarpment, to the extent possible, and
WHEREAS, The Albany County Planning Board is tasked with bringing “pertinent inter-community and county-wide planning, zoning, site plan and subdivision questions to the attention of neighboring municipalities and agencies having jurisdiction, including protection of community character as regards predominate land uses” (General Municipal Law § 239-L (2) (d)), now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Albany County Legislature requests that the Albany County Planning Board, as part of its subdivision, site plan, zoning, and other review, pay particular attention to “viewsheds” and “important views” pertaining to the Helderberg Escarpment, and identify and consider adverse impacts upon views and possible mitigation of those impacts when preparing its comments to each General Municipal Law referring agency, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Albany County Department of Economic Development, Conservation and Planning is requested to prepare and provide to the Legislature a Scenic Resources Assessment and Viewshed Inventory for the primary public roadway corridors and priority viewsheds within the Towns of Guilderland, New Scotland and Bethlehem, 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.