Shad Point Housing Project Resubmitted to County After Addressing Key Concerns

Above photo: Cobleskill Planning Board meeting during the Shad Point discussion

COBLESKILL — The Town of Cobleskill Planning Board has once again advanced the proposed Shad Point Housing Development to the Schoharie County Planning Commission (SCPC), following a series of revisions aimed at addressing environmental, traffic, and infrastructure concerns raised earlier this year.

The project, proposed by Chacho & Sons Holdings, LLC, calls for a 76‑unit residential complex with associated storage units on Shad Point Road. The application was returned by the SCPC in March after the county determined the initial submission required additional clarification in several areas, including stormwater management, water supply impacts, traffic access, and screening plans.

One of the SCPC’s primary concerns involved the project’s stormwater plan and the potential for increased runoff or flooding. Acting Planning Board Chairman, Arthur Boreali, stated that a full Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) will be completed by a licensed engineer in accordance with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) regulations. The final report will be submitted to the DEC for approval.

The board noted that the DEC process includes a monitoring plan requiring weekly or monthly inspections during construction to ensure compliance and prevent environmental impacts.

Water Supply and Infrastructure Capacity was also addressed. County planners also questioned whether the development could negatively affect the Shad Point wells or the Village of Cobleskill’s municipal water system. The Planning Board responded that the project will not involve drilling wells, installing septic systems, or using explosives, eliminating several potential risks to groundwater. Town code requires developments of this size to connect to municipal water and sewer, and project engineers confirmed that the system has ample capacity.

The development is expected to generate approximately 20,000 gallons of wastewater per day, representing less than 1% of the village treatment facility’s flow. The existing pump station currently operates at only 10–15% of capacity, and the project is projected to add just 1–2%.

The stormwater pond has been moved toward the center of the property, with an auxiliary spillway leading to infiltration ponds and overflow directed onto Club East land.

Traffic safety on Shad Point Road and its intersection with State Route 7 has been a longstanding concern for both county officials and nearby residents. To address this, developer Paul Chacho reached an agreement with Club East to create an access road using an existing driveway near the Dodge dealership. This will serve as the primary entrance to the development. Shad Point Road may be gated to prevent additional traffic from affecting current residents. Revised traffic and access plans have been submitted to the New York State Department of Transportation, which has approved the updated design.

Screening, Vegetation, and Site Layout have changed. The SCPC requested more detailed information about screening and vegetation to buffer the development from neighboring properties.

In response, the developer relocated four units farther south on the parcel to increase the buffer area. Additional screening will include 3–5 foot evergreen plantings, with a more detailed landscaping plan to be provided.

Several residents and stakeholders attended the board meeting during the review process. Joseph Stahl, speaking on behalf of Shad Point Road residents, raised concerns about discrepancies between deeded acreage and tax map acreage, as well as the need to maintain a 100‑foot setback from property lines. He emphasized the importance of long‑term stormwater mitigation and suggested planting larger evergreens — 12 to 14 feet — to provide immediate screening.

Local developer Mark Nadeau voiced strong support for the project, stating he believed the application was complete during its first submission to the county. He thanked Chacho for investing in the community and urged the county to approve the project.

After reviewing all updated materials and responses, the Cobleskill Planning Board voted to forward the revised application back to the Schoharie County Planning Commission. The board stated that the application has now been fully evaluated under town code and is complete at the local level.

The SCPC will review the updated submission at an upcoming meeting.