The Troy Planning Board approved "stage 1" of Diamond Ridge's expansion project Wednesday night.What that approval covers is seven two-family units to be constructed on the east side of Harris Road. What it leaves up in the air is "stage 2," a proposal for a three-story, 60-unit residential building and the possibility of a connector road between Harris and Hyland Drive.
Duncan Barrett, president of Omni Housing Development which is handling the expansion work, has told the Terrace Homeowners Association that Diamond Ridge concurs with the Terrace that such a connector is not needed. However, under pressure from the city Fire Dept., his firm prepared four different scenarios for undertaking such work, ranging in potential cost to Diamond Ridge of $30,000 to $165,900.
The arrows on the map above show the two most likely emergency access pathways that have been drawn up. The top one is a Hyland-Harris connector, the bottom a paved version of the current Hollywood Drive dirt road. The other two access possibilities are a new driveway to Gurley Avenue and a driveway through the current commercial parcel (Dunkin' Donuts, etc.) onto Oakwood.
Because of continued Terrace opposition to a Hyland-Harris connector, City Engineer Russ Reeves agreed to call a meeting among the Terrace, Diamond Ridge, the Planning Board and the Fire Dept. to discuss the merits and demerits of such a project.
One other neighborhood-related item that came before the Planning Board this week was Thomas Murley's latest project -- construction of a gas station and a bank on a now-vacant plot on Oakwood opposite Biscayne Boulevard.
Several members of the Terrace Homeowners Association, as well as a representative of the Greens Party, spoke at the Planning Board meeting in opposition to the idea of a Hyland-Harris connector. Association President Bill Dowd delivered the following statement on behalf of the Terrace community:
"Ladies and Gentleman of the Planning Board:
"My name is William Dowd. I am here in my capacity as president of the Terrace at Highpointe Homeowners Association. Our community abuts Diamond Ridge.
"In February of 2006 I addressed this panel to explain our community’s opposition to any ill-advised attempts to create a connector between Harris Road, Diamond Ridge’s street, and Hyland Drive in the Terrace.
"Now we’re here again because of a change in Diamond Ridge’s planned expansion. Parenthetically, we are not opposed to that expansion. Diamond Ridge has been a good and cooperative neighbor. Plus, we recognize the growing need for senior housing. However, while the parameters of the project have been changed somewhat, what has not changed is the harm that will be done to the Terrace community if the two aforementioned roads are connected in a manner being pushed by the city -- and, I should note, with no effort to involve the Terrace Board in the matter as should be the case.
"Such an eventuality would turn the Terrace at Highpointe from a quiet extended cul-de-sac development into one with a through-street accessible by hundreds of vehicles daily attempting to circumvent traffic lights at Oakwood and Northern and redirecting vehicle traffic from Highpointe, Moneta Overlook and the Terrace that now flows directly onto Oakwood.
"As a result, Terrace residents on Hyland Drive -- and on Hyland Circle and Hyland Court whose homes adjoin Hyland Drive -- would suffer a decline in property values, an increase in unhealthy vehicle emissions, and greater potential for mishaps due to increased and faster traffic.
"If the city seeks to add an emergency egress or entrance for the benefit of the Terrace, there is no empirical evidence one is needed. We have been adequately served in a timely fashion with police, fire and EMT vehicles on call.
"It is with these very real concerns in mind that this association of taxpayers, voters and owners of 34 homes in Troy respectfully asks that the Planning Board take into serious consideration their point of view.
"As I noted here 15 months ago, the residents of the Terrace made an important decision to invest in Troy. Many moved here from other parts of the Capital Region to become active and productive members of the community. Endangering their financial investment and quality of life would set a poor example for others considering making similar investments in the future of Troy.
"Simply put, there is no concrete reason for connecting Hyland and Harris.
"One version of such an idea is to put a locked gate or barrier there which could be unlocked by fire emergency personnel. We submit that is patently useless. Any such equipment coming up Northern Drive from the lower Lansingburgh area would not need such a connector. Any such equipment coming out on Oakwood would merely have to access Diamond Ridge via Northern and Gurley, without stopping.
"Even should a Harris-Hyland connector be considered without a locking barrier, emergency equipment would have to considerably slow down and make several turns onto narrow residential streets.
"These streets, not so incidentally, usually are barely wide enough for a single passenger vehicle to navigate in winter because of the minimal city plowing we have experienced in the more than a dozen years the Terrace has been in existence.
"In conclusion, we submit that nothing has materially changed from the original Diamond Ridge plan that would necessitate proceeding with a connector road.
"Thank you for your attention."
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