Apex at Crossgates Site Plan (Approved August 10, 2022)

At their August 10, 2022 meeting the Planning Board adopted a SEQR reaffirmation resolution for the previously adopted (July 28, 2020) Rapp Road Residential/Western Avenue Mixed Use Redevelopment Projects Environmental Impact Statement. In addition, the Planning Board also approved the Apex at Crossgates Site Plan Amendment Application. The approval documents and site plans can be viewed in the following links:

• SEQR Reaffirmation Resolution - Apex at Crossgates (PDF)
• Site Plan Amendment Approval - Apex at Crossgates (PDF)
• Apex at Crossgates Site Plans - Approved by the Planning Board August 10, 2022 (PDF)
• Westmere Terrace Cul-De-Sac Relocation Plans - Approved by the Planning Board August 10, 2022 (PDF)

The Town of Guilderland has received a site plan amendment application from UG Family, LLC (United Group of Companies) for a previously approved 222-unit multiple-family residential project located on +/- 19.68 acres at the SW corner of Rapp Road/Gipp Road. The site is located within the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) District. This project, which was formerly known as Rapp Road Apartments, received site plan approval by the Planning Board on October 28, 2020, and was included in the Rapp Road Residential/Western Avenue Mixed Use Redevelopment Projects Environmental Impact Statement adopted by the Planning Board on July 31, 2020.

The Environmental Impact Statement and site plan approval were challenged twice via Article 78 proceedings. In both instances the challenges were sustained by the court, stating the Town had acted properly in the adoption of the Environmental Impact Statement and approval of the site plan. The applicant could file a building permit application with the town today and build what was approved in the October 28, 2020 site plan approval.

The applicant is proposing to amend the October 28, 2020, approved site plan by shifting the two 5-story multiple residence buildings approximately 300 feet to the north and further away from the Westmere Terrace neighborhood. Two of the five 2-story multiple residence buildings will be located on the south side of the project site, a minimum of 150 feet from the property line and Westmere Terrace neighborhood. The applicant has no interest in developing the 90-unit future development site that was analyzed as part of the Environmental Impact Statement and shown on the October 28, 2020, approved site plans, which is why they are shifting the development envelop further to the north. Shifting the 5-story buildings further to the north will minimize visual impacts from the Westmere Terrace neighborhood. This will also minimize future traffic impacts due to the 90 units not being developed at some point in the future. The existing 200ft wide deed-restricted open space area on the north end of the site, the existing Karner Blue Hill Preserve, and 8.5 acres of full protection area land adjacent to Rapp Road that will be conveyed to the Pine Bush Preserve will continue to buffer the site from the Rapp Road Historic neighborhood.

All other previously approved on-site and off-site improvements from the October 28, 2020 site plan approval remain the same, such as, but not limited to:

1. The realignment of Rapp Road, connecting to Crossgates Mall Road, to mitigate traffic traveling through the Rapp Road Historic District.
2. Multi-use trails and sidewalks connecting Crossgates Mall and Western Avenue from the project site.
3. 20ft tall berm adjacent to Westmere Terrace, with 8ft fence and 8ft to 15ft tall trees on the berm to buffer the development from the Westmere Terrace neighborhood.
4. Additional plantings of 12ft to 15ft tall trees on the existing berm on the western portion of the property, adjacent to the Paden Circle neighborhood.
5. Conveyance of 8.5 acres of Full Protection Area lands in the Pine Bush Preserve to the Pine Bush Preserve Commission.

Two public hearings will be scheduled to allow public comment on the proposed site plan amendment. The first public hearing will be held on July 13, 2022, and the second public hearing will be held on August 10, 2022. From the date the application materials were posted to the Town website, this will allow 43 days for public review of the application materials for the two public hearings.

The original site plan proposal met the threshold of being considered a Type I Action due to the number of units proposed. Similar to the original site plan review, the Town will conduct a SEQR coordinated review with the same agencies, as follows:

1. Albany County Department of Public Works
2. City of Albany
3. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
4. Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission
5. NYS Historic Preservation Office
6. US Fish and Wildlife Service

Due to the project site being located within 500ft of a municipal boundary (City of Albany), and in accordance with General Municipal Law 239-nn, the application will be referred to the Albany County Planning Board for their July 21, 2022 meeting.

The site plan amendment application was deemed complete on June 29, 2022. Pursuant to 280-50.E of Town Code, the applicant is required to post placards on the subject parcel within 7 days of filing a complete application or within 10 days of a scheduled public hearing. The applicant has indicated the placards should be posted on or about July 1, 2022.

View the Applicant Letter Attesting to Posting of Placards (PDF).