The village has given the go-ahead for a new coin operated laundromat business at 677 Hudson Ave.

The Board of Trustee awarded a special use permit Tuesday night to owner John Bove following a public hearing in the village board room.

The laundromat will be located at the former Stewart’s store near the Mobil gas station and car wash. The building is now being used for office space.

Bove plans to renovate the interior of the building so he would have space to install 11 automatic washing machines of various sizes (small, medium and large), and 12 clothes driers. The business would be open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the doors automatically unlocking and locking at those times.

No exterior renovations are planned at this time. There are currently eight parking spaces outside the building, “and with a little clean up,” room for more out back, said Bove, who owns another laundromat in the Cambridge area.

Trustee Judith Wood-Zeno, who visited the Cambridge location, said she supports the business as long at it “fits” thecharacter of the neighborhood, and keeps a good appearance for neighbors.

Bove said he plans to place two “park-style” benches in front of the building and could bring in some flower planters to dress it up.

One person at the public hearing questioned whether the new location would be successful given two new laundromats have opened recently in neighboring Mechanicville. She also asked if any studies have been done to gauge local interest.

Former Trustee John Basile said when other retail space have been proposed for the village over the years, residents have specifically asked for a laundromat.

Bove agreed, saying having a Stillwater laundromat would be more convenient than traveling to Mechanicville.

“There have been no studies done but I feel confident we will get enough business to support it here,” Bove said.

Village Trustees went through a 12-point criteria checklist for issuing and special use permit and the business met each one, in addition to passing an environmental review. The special use permit passed 5-0.

Public hearing on proposed condos

In other business, the Board held a public hearing on a new condominium project proposed for 950 N. Hudson Ave., site of the former American Linens plant. The developers, Capital District Ventures, are seeking a special use permit to construct 24, two-story, one- and two-bedroom condos on the now vacant lot.

The new developer first introduced the condo project to the Board back in February. Capital District Ventures purchased the vacant property from long-time owner Camelot Associates after an earlier proposal from Camelot to build 40 luxury apartments there was rejected by Trustees last year. The condos would model Brunswick Meadows in Rensselaer County.

Following a brief presentation, one neighbor, the LaFountains, asked how close the condos would border their property, and how would it affect their water line connection, which runs beneath their driveway.

“64 feet to your property line, and if the water line has to be disturbed to be connect we will make all repairs to get it right,” said project engineer Joe Bianchine.

The village took not action of this latest proposal.

“We’re going to take the comments under advisement, we’ll review everything and be back in touch,” said Mayor Rick Nelson.

Also at the May 16 meeting,

• The Village Board adjusted the monthly Board of Trustees meeting time for the summer from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. for July, August and September.
• Trustee Judith Wood-Shaw reported she has met with state and local officials about the possibility of creating round-trip bus services between Stillwater and Mechanicville. More details to follow.
• Mary Beth Bianconi, Senior Project Engineer at Delaware Engineering, made a 30-minute report to the board about possible grants and low interest loans the village could apply for down to line to help repair water and sewer infrastructure, and possibly create a park close to the Hudson River. The newly passed New York State budget contains $2.5 billion in infrastructure funding over the next five years, she said. The village’s waste water treatment plant is in need of upgrades. The village’s engineering firm, Adirondack Mountain Engineering of Ballston Spa, will continue to investigate the matter.