CITY OF RENSSELAER
CITY HALL, 62 WASHINGTON STREET
RENSSELAER, NEW YORK 12144
(518) 465-1693 (518) 465-5489 (518) 465-2031 Fax
COASTAL ASSESSMENT FORM
Instructions:
1. This form must be completed for Type I or Unlisted Actions under SEQRA (6 NYCRR 617) that are located in or
affecting the City of Rensselaer Coastal Area as delineated in the City’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
(LWRP). Completion of this form is not required for NY State Type II Actions under SEQRA (6 NYCRR 617.5 –
listed in Appendix I) or adopted by the City of Rensselaer under SEQRA (6 NYCRR 617.5).
2. This Coastal Assessment Form (CAF) must be completed to enable the Planning Commission, which is assigned
responsibility by the Common Council under the City Environmental Quality Review Law (City Code Chapter 93),
to make a determination as to whether the proposed action is consistent with the City of Rensselaer LWRP. The
CAF will be reviewed concurrently with an EAF or DEIS submitted in accord with SEQRA.
3. The CAF shall be completed if required (see 1 above) by:
a. All applicants for permits or approvals from the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals or City Board.
b. All applicants for funding by a City Agency.
c. All City agencies undertaking a direct action or enacting legislation regarding land use policies.
4. Before completing this CAF, the preparer of this form should review the policies and explanations of policy
contained in the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk’s
office or the Planning Department and online at http://nyswaterfronts.com/LWRP/City%20of%20Rensselaer/City%20of%20Rensselaer.pdf. A
proposed action should be evaluated as to its significant beneficial and/or adverse effects upon the coastal area.
Applicant Information:
Project Name:
Appl
icant Name(s):
Applicant Contact (address & phone):
Owner Name & Contact (if not applicant):
City of Rensselaer Coastal Assessment Form – Page 1 of 3
City of Rensselaer Coastal Assessment Form – Page 2 of 3
Proposed Activity
Description of Proposed Activity:
Tax Map Number of All Parcels:
Street Address
of All Parcels:
Size (Acres) of Site: Present Use: Zoning District: Gross Floor Area (s.f.):
Permits or App
rovals Required:
Coastal Assessment
Check either “YES” or “No” for each of the following questions. The numbers following each question refer to the
policies and sub-policies described in the LWRP which may be affected by the proposed activity.
A. Will the proposed activity result in any of the following?
1. Large physical change to a site within the coastal area which will require the preparation of an environmental
impact statement? (1, 1a-g, 2, 2a, 8, 9, 11, 18, 19, 19a-h, 20, 21, 22, 25, 33, 37) Yes
No
2. Physical alteration of more than two acres of land along the shoreline, land under water or coastal waters? (2, 20,
33, 35, 44) Yes No
3. Revitalization / redevelopment of a deteriorated or underutilized waterfront site? (1, 1a-g, 2, 2a, 11, 19, 19a-h, 20,
21, 22, 25) Yes No
4. Revitalization / redevelopment of a deteriorated or underutilized downtown business district site with a proposed
use occupying over 4000 square feet gross floor area or requiring a Use Variance? (1d-e, 23, 25) Yes
No
5. Reduction of existing or potential public access to or along coastal waters? (19, 19a-h, 20, 21, 22) Yes No
6. Adverse effect upon the commercial or recreational use of coastal fish resources? (8, 9) Yes
No
7. Siting of a facility essential to the exploration, development and production of resources in coastal waters? (19, 20)
Yes
No
8. Mining, excavation or dredging activities or the placement of dredged or fill material in coastal waters? (35, 36)
Yes No
9. Draining of stormwater runoff or sewer overflows into coastal waters? (8, 33, 35, 36, 37) Yes
No
10. Transport, storage, treatment or disposal of solid wastes or hazardous materials? (36, 39) Yes
No
B. Will the proposed activity affect or be located in, on or adjacent to any of the following:
1. State designated freshwater or tidal wetland? (44) Yes
No
2. Federally designated flood and/or state designated erosion hazard area? (11, 13, 13a, 14, 17) Yes
No
3. State, County or local park? (19, 20, 21, 22, 25) Yes
No
4. Historic resources listed on the National or State Register of Historic Places or local historic district?
5. The Albany-Rensselaer port district (2, 2a, 3, 3a, 19a) Yes No
C. Will the proposed activity require any of the following:
1. Waterfront site? (1, 1a-g, 2, 2a, 18, 19, 19a-h, 20, 21, 22) Yes
No
2. Provision of new public services or infrastructure in underdeveloped or sparsely populated sections of the coastal
area? (3a, 5) Yes
No
3. Construction or reconstruction of a flood or erosion control structure? (13, 14, 16, 17) Yes No
4. State water quality permit or certification or preparation of a SWPPP? (37, 39) Yes
No
City of Rensselaer Coastal Assessment Form – Page 3 of 3
Additional Steps:
If any of the questions in Section C are answered “YES”, then the applicant or agent is advised to consult the Local
Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) document. The proposed activity must be analyzed in more detail with
respect to the applicable local coastal policies and explanations.
As space allows below and/or on a separate page(s), the applicant or agent shall:
A. Identify, by their policy numbers, which coastal policies are affected by the activity;
B. Briefly assess the effects of the activity upon the policy; and
C. State how the activity is consistent with each policy.
Certification:
As required in NYCRR §6, the Planning Commission must certify that the proposed activity is consistent with the
approved Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. If this certification cannot be made, the proposed activity shall not
be undertaken. If this certification can be made, complete this Section.
The proposed activity has been determined to be consistent with the City of Rensselaer's approved Local
Waterfront Revitalization Program because it has been conducted in a manner consistent with the policies
and purposes of the LWRP
City of Rensselaer Planning Commission
City Hall, 62 Washington Street
Rensselaer, NY 12144
Signature and Title of Authorizing Official: Date:
City of Rensselaer Coastal Assessment Form – Appendix I
SEQRA (6NYCRR 617.5) TYPE II ACTIONS
(1) maintenance or repair involving no substantial changes in an existing structure or facility;
(2) replacement, rehabilitation or reconstruction of a structure or facility, in kind, on the same site, including upgrading buildings
to meet building or fire codes, unless such action meets or exceeds any of the thresholds in section 617.4 of this Part;
(3) agricultural farm management practices, including construction, maintenance and repair of farm buildings and structures, and
land use changes consistent with generally accepted principles of farming;
(4) repaving of existing highways not involving the addition of new travel lanes;
(5) street openings and right-of-way openings for the purpose of repair or maintenance of existing utility facilities;
(6) maintenance of existing landscaping or natural growth;
(7) construction or expansion of a primary or accessory / appurtenant, non-residential structure or facility involving less than
4,000 square feet of gross floor area and not involving a change in zoning or a use variance and consistent with local land use
controls, but not radio communication or microwave transmission facilities;
(8) routine activities of educational institutions, including expansion of existing facilities by less than 10,000 square feet of gross
floor area and school closings, but not changes in use related to such closings;
(9) construction or expansion of a single-family, a two-family or a three-family residence on an approved lot including provision
of necessary utility connections as provided in paragraph (11) and the installation, maintenance and/or upgrade of a drinking
water well and a septic system;
(10) construction, expansion or placement of minor accessory/appurtenant residential structures, including garages, carports,
patios, decks, swimming pools, tennis courts, satellite dishes, fences, barns, storage sheds or other buildings not changing land
use or density;
(11) extension of utility distribution facilities, including gas, electric, telephone, cable, water and sewer connections to render
service in approved subdivisions or in connection with any action on this list;
(12) granting of individual setback and lot line variances;
(13) granting of an area variance(s) for a single-family, two-family or three-family residence;
(14) public or private best forest management (silvicultural) practices on less than 10 acres of land, but not including waste
disposal, land clearing not directly related to forest management, clear-cutting or the application of herbicides or pesticides;
(15) minor temporary uses of land having negligible or no permanent impact on the environment;
(16) installation of traffic control devices on existing streets, roads and highways;
(17) mapping of existing roads, streets, highways, natural resources, land uses and ownership patterns;
(18) information collection including basic data collection and research, water quality and pollution studies, traffic counts,
engineering studies, surveys, subsurface investigations and soils studies that do not commit the agency to undertake, fund or
approve any Type I or Unlisted action;
(19) official acts of a ministerial nature involving no exercise of discretion, including building permits and historic preservation
permits where issuance is predicated solely on the applicant's compliance or noncompliance with the relevant local building or
preservation code(s);
(20) routine or continuing agency administration and management, not including new programs or major reordering of priorities
that may affect the environment;
(21) conducting concurrent environmental, engineering, economic, feasibility and other studies and preliminary planning and
budgetary processes necessary to the formulation of a proposal for action, provided those activities do not commit the agency to
commence, engage in or approve such action;
(22) collective bargaining activities;
(23) investments
by or on behalf of agencies or pension or retirement systems, or refinancing existing debt;
(24) inspections and licensing activities relating to the qualifications of individuals or businesses to engage in their business or
profession;
(25) purchase or sale of furnishings, equipment or supplies, including surplus government property, other than the following:
land, radioactive material, pesticides, herbicides, or other hazardous materials;
(26) license, lease and permit renewals, or transfers of ownership thereof, where there will be no material change in permit
conditions or the scope of permitted activities;
(27) adoption of regulations, policies, procedures and local legislative decisions in connection with any action on this list;
(28) engaging in review of any part of an application to determine compliance with technical requirements, provided that no such
determination entitles or permits the project sponsor to commence the action unless and until all requirements of this Part have
been fulfilled;
(29) civil or criminal enforcement proceedings, whether administrative or judicial, including a particular course of action
specifically required to be undertaken pursuant to a judgment or order, or the exercise of prosecutorial discretion;
(30) adoption of a moratorium on land development or construction;
(31) interpreting an existing code, rule or regulation;
(32) designation of local landmarks or their inclusion within historic districts;
(33) emergency actions that are immediately necessary on a limited and temporary basis for the protection or preservation of life,
health, property or natural resources, provided that such actions are directly related to the emergency and are performed to cause
the least change or disturbance, practicable under the circumstances, to the environment. Any decision to fund, approve or
directly undertake other activities after the emergency has expired is fully subject to the review procedures of this Part;