TOWN OF SARATOGA

PLANNING BOARD

MINUTES - DRAFT

December 19, 2007 - 7:30 PM

 

 

Chairman Ian Murray called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

 

Planning Clerk Linda McCabe called the roll.  Chairman Ian Murray – present, Ralph Pascucci – present, Paul Griffen – present, Robert Park – present, Laurie Griffen – present, Patrick Hanehan – absent, Robert McConnell – present, and Alternate Jennifer Koval – present. 

 

Also attending: Town Engineer Kenneth Martin,  John S. Witt, Thomas & Christine Kershner, and Clarence Fosdick.

 

Chairman Ian Murray made a motion, seconded by Robert Park, to elevate Alternate Jennifer Koval to voting status due to the absence of  Patrick Hanehan. Chairman Ian Murray – aye, Robert Park – aye, Paul Griffen – aye, and Robert McConnell – aye, Laurie Griffen – aye, Ralph Pascucci – aye,

Carried 6 – 0.

 

Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Robert Park, and seconded by Robert McConnell to accept the minutes of November 28, 2007 as written.  Chairman Ian Murray – aye, Robert Park – aye, Paul Griffen – aye, and Robert McConnell – aye, Laurie Griffen – aye, Ralph Pascucci – aye, Jennifer Koval – aye.  

Carried 7 - 0.

 

Board member Patrick Hanehan arrived at 7:35 pm.

 

Order of Business:

 

Subdivisions

 

John S. Witt

ANW Holdings, Inc.

563 North Broadway

Saratoga Springs, NY  12866

S/B/L 206.-1-38 Rural District 2

 

Returning Applicant proposes to subdivide a one-lot parcel into a 2-lot residential subdivision, named Sunset View, located on Brown Rd.  Public Hearing

 

John S. Witt appeared before the Board.  He brought his map showing the soil engineering, and test pits.  Chairman Ian Murray stated the Board reviewed this last month and asked if there were any new questions from the Board. Ralph Pascucci questioned where the driveways will be placed.  Mr. Witt showed on the map where the driveway will weave in a lazy “s” to the house that they are tentatively now designing; the owner doesn’t want the home seen from the road.  He also showed the septic locations, where the houses will be placed on these sites and the shared view shed.  Chairman Ian Murray asked the Board if they had any more questions for the Applicant at this time; there were none.

 

Proof of Notice having been furnished by newspaper on December 11, 2007, Chairman Ian Murray opened the Public Hearing at 7:39 p.m.  No interested parties came forward for or against.  Chairman Ian Murray closed the Public Hearing at 7:40 p.m.

 

Paul Griffen read the short form EAF, line by line, which was completed by the Board.  Chairman Ian Murray made a motion, seconded by Laurie Griffen, to accept the documents as presented, to declare the SEQR review complete and to make a Negative Declaration.  Chairman Ian Murray – aye, Robert Park – aye, Patrick Hanehan – aye, Paul Griffen – aye, Robert McConnell – aye, Ralph Pascucci – aye, Laurie Griffen – aye.

Carried 7-0

 

Ralph Pascucci made a motion, seconded by Robert Park, to grant the subdivision on condition of final review by Town Engineer Ken Martin and engineered septic system submitted to DOH in Glens Falls, NY.  Chairman Ian Murray – aye, Robert Park – aye, Patrick Hanehan – aye, Paul Griffen – aye, Robert McConnell – aye, Ralph Pascucci – aye, Laurie Griffen – aye.  Carried 7 – 0 Granted

                                                           

Sketch-Plans

 

Thomas Kershner

5 Winding Brook Dr.

Saratoga Springs, NY  12866

S/B/L 168-3-40.11 Rural

 

Applicant proposes to subdivide a one-lot parcel into 2 building lots; one approximately 4+/- acres and one approximately 11 acres.  This parcel is located on County Rd. 68 near Wagmans Ridge Rd.

 

The Applicant, Mr. Kershner, appeared before the Board and presented his proposal to subdivide a one-lot parcel into two building lots which he will then put up for sale. He stated his road frontage is more than 550 feet; 200 feet for the smaller lot and 200+ feet for larger lot.  Chairman Ian Murray explained to the Board that this proposed subdivision is east of the McKibbin PUD on Wagmans Ridge Rd.  He also stated they have looked at the drainage pattern on this property when they walked through the PUD for Mr. McKibbin and he has concerns about the drainage there.  Town Engineer Ken Martin did an inspection today and there seems to be puddling at the road edge.  The Applicant noted the puddling occurs due to a clogged drainage ditch along Wagmans Ridge Rd. seeking Fish Creek.  Some years ago someone put in a swale there and it is about 300 feet back. It is a bit clogged and inhibits the water from going down, which is where the source of the problem with puddling comes from.  The Applicant also stated he contacted DEC and they concurred that this is a dry parcel. The Applicant presented the Board with copies of a report from Mr. Eldon Knapp of A. E. Knapp & Associates LLC; Environmental Consultants, concluding there are no wetlands on the property.  He also presented copies of a letter from NYS DEC to the Board on their wetland review of this parcel with their determination that this parcel is clear of state regulated wetlands and no permit is required from NYS DEC for development of this property.  Chairman Ian Murray stated that DEC and Army Corp. won’t flag each other’s wetland, which is identified in the DEC letter.  Mr. Kershner responded when he spoke with DEC he was told to call Army Corp. in Troy, which he did, and they also told him there is no issue with this parcel. Town Engineer Ken Martin asked if there was a letter from them on this, Mr. Kershner said no, he never asked for one.  Town Engineer Ken Martin stated he would like to see a letter from them stating this and noted this may be isolated wetlands. Chairman Ian Murray added if this is isolated wetlands, the Applicant could possibly fill it with a permit, and get the driveways in, but the letter is the release the Board needs. Chairman Ian Murray stated the site distance is fine there.  Aside from needing the letter from Army Corp. on wetlands issue, everything else looks good.  Chairman Ian Murray told the Applicant that the Board needs the Army Corp. determination, a survey map delineating boundaries of each lot, soil engineering and perc tests on both sites, and driveway placement for both lots.  He also suggested that the Applicant have the soil engineering done first.  Town Engineer Ken Martin explained to the Applicant that the Board must be sure these are buildable lots.  Returning

 

Old Business: Chairman Ian Murray and Town Engineer Ken Martin had a meeting with Mr. Taras and his associates after the last Planning Board meeting.  Chairman Ian Murray and Town Engineer Ken Martin laid everything out very clearly for them and they are supposed to provide all the answers to all the specific questions the Board has been waiting on by Jan. 9, 2008.  If they do so, the Board will hold a workshop meeting for SEQR the week before the Jan. 23rd meeting.  Chairman Ian Murray and Town Engineer Ken Martin told Mr. Taras and associates if all the information is not provided by the 9th of January, a Positive Declaration will be made and he will be removed from the agenda.

 

New Business:  Planning Board meeting dates for 2008 were distributed, along with a Stormwater article from member Jennifer Koval.  Also mentioned was the upcoming Jan. 30th conference in Saratoga Springs.

 

A motion to adjourn was made by Laurie Griffen at 8:30 pm, seconded by Robert McConnell.  Chairman Ian Murray – aye, Robert Park – aye, Patrick Hanehan – aye, Paul Griffen – aye, Robert McConnell – aye, Ralph Pascucci – aye, Laurie Griffen – aye. 

Carried 7 - 0

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Linda McCabe

Planning Clerk

 

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