Who's tearing down the woods?

UPDATED INFO BELOW

PHOTOS BY BILL DOWD

 

That's the question on the minds of numerous Terrace residents after seeing the large swath of once-heavily-wooded land being cleared opposite the Highpointe Road entrance onto Oakwood Avenue (Route 40).

That parcel is located in the Town of Brunswick. I researched minutes of the town's Planning Board for the past 12 months (and the past 16 months of the City of Troy Planning Board) and no mention was made of any project there.

When I called the town Building Department today (April 28) to get information, neither department head John Kreiger nor his assistant, Ron Neissen, had any idea of what was going on.

I noted that it now has been home to all sorts of wildlife, including deer, Canada geese and a variety of small birds. That habitat now has been destroyed.

Neissen promised to check into (a) the ownership of the land, (b) what work might be going on, and (c) get back to me before our May 3 membership meeting.

He did note that the land, which long ago was the site of the City of Troy incinerator, is zoned industrial.

UPDATE FROM BILL DOWD:

The land in question is, according to the Town of Brunswick Building department today (April 29), NOT approved for any project.

It is owned by Mainello and Murley, but there is no record of anything having come before the town Planning Board for developing it. The town has put in calls to both men to investigate what they are doing.

According to my further research, Tom Murley did get most, if not all, of the needed approvals in 2005 for the Brunswick Meadows condominium development nearby, fronting on Route 142 (Grange Road), but my contact at the Building Department says the two plots of land are separate parcels.

The map below shows the current land-clearing activity (wavy line along Oakwood Avenue). The arrows show the proposed Brunswick Meadows development).

More to come at Monday night's meeting.

There is hope for humanity

Anytime you feel the world has gotten too sad or out-of-order, something comes along that restores your faith in the human soul.

Take a look at this event -- 200 dancers in Antwerp, Belgium, who had rehearsed together only twice, hoofing it in grand style in the main railroad station to a recording of Julie Andrews singing "Do Re Mi" from "The Sound of Music."

It was an unannounced event, so the reactions from onlookers are real.

A thank-you note for the Easter Bunny

We want to thank the kind but unknown Easter Bunny for all its work and activity.

We were so excited to find the eggs at Grandma and Grandpa's house at 17 Hyland Drive and to confirm to us that the people of the Terrace are the very nicest people we know.

-- Jesalyn, Lauren and Rosie Claeys

Meeting reminder -- and additions

Please circle the date on your calendar for the regularly scheduled May Terrace Homeowners Association meeting:

7 p.m. Monday, May 3
Faith Lutheran Church

With so many new residents of the Terrace, we are hoping to get a strong turnout.

In addition, we will hold a special election to fill a Board of Directors position. If you are interested, please contact Nominating Committee Chairman Bob Hayward at 233-0370. If we have more than one candidate, election will be by secret ballot.

We also will be adding one thing to our normal agenda: An open discussion period. It will be held immediately after the close of the regular meeting, and be a time for residents to ask questions or voice concerns in an informal period which will not be subject to being recorded in the meeting minutes.

Resident updates

• Terry Page now is an in-patient at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Center in Schenectady, working on overcoming the effects of a recent stroke suffered at her home. Feel free to send cards to her residence at No. 14, and they will be forwarded to her.

• Julia Austin has moved from this Terrace to the Terrace at The Eddy in Troy. Her phone number remains the same. Feel free to contact Julia if you know of anyone wishing to purchase her house at No. 8. She is handling the sale herself. (Details on the bulletin board.)

• The former DeLuca residence at No. 31 is on the market through Heer Realty.