Redevelopment of old Clifton Park Kmart site takes step forward

PHOTOGRAPHER: File Photo

The former Kmart in Clifton Park is pictured in this file photo.

CLIFTON PARK — Windsor Development Group’s embattled proposal to redevelop the old Kmart location with apartments has moved one small step forward as the town has scheduled a public hearing on the project.

The Town Board on Monday night scheduled the hearing for Aug. 19 at 7:10 p.m.

Windsor unofficially pitched the company’s latest development proposal for the site to the Clifton Park Planning Board in February. Plans call for the construction of 100 apartment units.

The 90,000-square-foot Kmart building, which has stood vacant for six years, would be demolished.

The apartments would be split over two separate buildings. Windsor already owns the land.

The future of the Kmart property has been unsettled for years as Windsor has been back and forth before the town with various plans for redevelopment.

Previous plans submitted in 2015 and 2016 called for 240 apartments on the site, with a five-story parking garage.

Those plans also called for 25,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor of the apartment structure. Another 75,000 square feet of space was previously included for offices, and 6,000 square feet was slated for a freestanding
restaurant.

According to Windsor’s updated plan for the project, the apartments would generate 34 “vehicle trips” during peak morning travel hours, 44 “vehicle trips” during peak evening travel hours and 49 “vehicle trips” during peak Saturday travel hours.

This submission is Windor’s third attempt to win approval for an apartment project on the parcel. The apartments are a component of a larger $50 million redevelopment plan by Windsor for the broader area.

The new plans do not incorporate any retail or other commercial space.

Earlier plans were rejected by the town because of density concerns voiced both by residents and Planning Board members.

Windsor is seeking an increase in the number of units allowed on the space. Town code allows 50 units, but Windsor is looking to expand that to 100, which will be the subject of the public hearing.

In February, the Planning Board passed a positive recommendation on the latest proposal to the Town Board. After the public hearing is complete, the board can either approve the density increase and officially send the project back to the Planning Board to begin the approval process, or reject it.

Representatives from Windsor gave the Town Board a refresher on the project at Monday night’s meeting.

In the past while looking at the project, Town Supervisor Phil Barrett has emphasized a changing retail industry that has led to the closure of large box stores, like Kmart and more recently in town, Toys R Us.

“What have you been seeing there?” Barrett asked representatives of Windsor at Monday’s meeting.

“Trying to refill these boxes has been difficult,” company representatives answered.

On Tuesday, Town Planning Director John Scavo said the most recent version of the project is the result of years of work developing a solid plan for the site.

“The dialogue is there between the town and the applicant to consider advancing this now,” he said.