Albany Patch

This is the secondary account for live tweets on meetings and other coverage.

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

Bond: It's possible for your April 12 meeting, we could talk about the Whole Foods / University Village meeting.

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

Mass exodus with end of #Safeway meeting. Though there's still more of a meeting to be had.

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

Eisenmann: As far as Albany's concerned, this is an opportunity for a piece of architecture we could use. Opportunity here.

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Maass: Lot of details we'll be looking at.... We'll look at massing, traffic flow.

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

Maass: The places around the world that do density pretty well, most of their stores pretty small. Dig store is throwback to suburban living

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

Maass: An enormous Safeway, I don't think will make it. It's been called "an enormous 7-Eleven"

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

Maass: But it's extremely popular. Great produce selection, cater to what people want, what I want to shop for.

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

Maass: I don't think this being a slam-dunk for them is inevitable. I often shop at Monterey Market, no parking, terrible access, bad layout

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

Maass: If we didn't require so many parking spaces, we could have a smaller store. That's also what's making this so big.

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

Maass: Changed location of loading docks. Somewhat less retail. But it's higher than in 2008.

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

Maass: My initial reaction to this was dejavu all over again. Very similar to 2008 plan. There were differences (entrance)

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

Commissioner Maass: I think we can go forward. In this design, answer to a lot of questions that have come up (e.g. truck loading)

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

Public hearing is closed at 9:45 p.m.

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D'Agostino: They don't police the parking (so others could park there)

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D'Agostino: We have 155 spots. Now we have 97, 20 behind store.

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

D'Agostino: We were under-parked in previous schemes. Now we are able to meet city standards.

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

D'Agostino: Plan is to be open 24 hours. Trees will block light. You won't be able to see the building from the street once the trees mature

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

D'Agostino: We might be able to move the wall in, as well, as long as we can use the area for bio-swales

[Albany Patch @AlbanyPatchLive]

Now: Clean Air Act letter of support. It was approved.