DRAFT COPY
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD
OF THE TOWN OF
SARATOGA, 30 FERRY ST.,
SCHUYLERVILLE,
NY
February 3,
2005
7:00 P.M.
Supervisor Thomas Wood opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance
at 7:00 p.m.
Roll call: Ruth Drumm, Town Clerk,
called the roll. Supervisor Thomas
Wood- present, Councilman Bruce Cornell - present, Councilman Michael
McLoughlin – present, Councilman Fred Drumm- present and Councilman Charles
Hanehan- present.
Also present: Town Attorney William Reynolds, Deputy Town Clerk Linda McCabe and many local residents (sign-in sheet is on file in the minutes appendix notebook).
Supervisor Thomas Wood explained that the
State Environmental Quality Review Negative Declaration Notice of Determination
of Non-Significance only pertains to the proposed amendment to the Zoning
Ordinance and a full State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) will be
completed on the Saratoga Country Inn PUD project should it go forward.
Councilman Fred Drumm
introduced Resolution # 05-30
and Supervisor Thomas Wood seconded it: now therefore be it resolved by the town board of
the town of Saratoga, Saratoga county, New York as follows:
1. Based on an examination of
the EAF and based further upon the Town's knowledge of the area and such
further investigation of the proposed zoning amendments and their environmental
effects as the Town has deemed appropriate, the Town makes the following
findings:
(a) The
zoning amendment is described in the
EAF (creation of new Planned Unit
Development District/Saratoga Country Inn PUD);
(b) The
Action constitutes a "Type 1 Action" (as defined in the Regulations);
(c) No
potentially significant effect on the environment is noted in the EAF for this
Action, and none are known to the Town;
(d) This
Action will not have a significant effect on the environment; and the Town will
not require the preparation of an environmental impact statement with respect
to the Action; and
(e) As a
result of the foregoing, the Town has prepared a negative declaration with
respect to the Action.
2. The Town Clerk is hereby
directed to file a negative declaration with respect to the Action (said
negative declaration attached hereto); and a copy of the negative declaration
shall be maintained in the office of the Town Clerk in a file that will be
readily accessible to the public.
3.
This resolution shall take effect
immediately.
Supervisor Thomas Wood – aye, Councilman Fred Drumm – aye,
Councilman Michael McLoughlin – aye, Councilman Bruce Cornell – aye, and
Councilman Charles Hanehan - aye.
Carried 5 – 0. (The full text of this resolution and Negative
Declaration are on file in the Resolution Book in the Town Clerk’s Office).
Supervisor Thomas Wood explained that the public
hearing is on Local Law # 1 of 2005, an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance
creating a Planned Unit Development District know as the Saratoga Country
Inn.
Supervisor Thomas Wood then read the Rules of the
Board adopted at the January meeting.
He asked that persons addressing the board state their name, address,
and if they are for or against the proposed project.
He explained the
main points of the Planned Unit Development District known as the Saratoga Country
Inn. He stated that Area A is
approximately 47 +/- acres and will be developed into a horse barn, storage
barn with staff apartments on the second level, manager’s office and apartment,
paddocks, fields, and one single family residence. Area B will consist of approximately 47.92 +/- acres and will
contain no buildings or improvements.
Area C will contain approximately 25 +/- acres and be improved by a
country inn having a combination of timeshare and hotel units, and may include
amenities such as an indoor pool, spa, restaurant with bar and conference
room. The final construction plans for
Area C are subject to review and approval by the Saratoga Town Planning
Board.
Proof of Notice
having been furnished Supervisor Thomas Wood opened the public hearing at 7:17
pm.
The following
persons spoke against the project:
1)
Lloyd Van
Arnum, 164 Southard Rd., voiced site distance concerns at Co. Rt. 68 and
Wagmans Ridge Rd. and concerns about disturbance of the watershed to Hemlock
Creek.
2)
Dan Craine, 148
Burke Rd., spoke on three of the top goals of the Comprehensive Plan. One is to preserve the rural character of
the town, second is to preserve the existing agriculture use of the land and
the third is to shape future development to match the existing character of the
town. He stated that the adoption of this proposal in no way can serve any of
the three mentioned goals and added that the passage of this law would destroy
the protections of our zoning laws. He urged the board to reject the
legislation.
3)
Phyllis
Aldrich, 173 Burke Rd., agreed with all points that Dan Craine made.
4)
Penelope
Benson-Wright, 175 Burke Rd., agreed with the comments of Dan Craine and
Phyllis Aldrich. She added that the
concept of a PUD is a misguided concept in our town and urges its defeat. She asked that the board look into the
unanswered concerns with the water and impact on the surrounding lands. She also asked that an Economic Impact
Statement be done.
5)
Gay Gamage, 226
Co. Rt. 67, asked that the statement under Section 4 – C - the final construction plans for this
area are subject to review and approval of the Saratoga Town Planning Board
pursuant to Section 5 of this local law, also be included in Section 4 – A.
6)
Robert
McConnell, 128 Wagmans Ridge Rd., spoke for the proposal. He commented that a housing development
would be much worse than the horse farm that is proposed and would use more
water. He noted that the closest
neighbors to this project are not here tonight because they have worked on this
for almost 18 months with the Planning Board and the developers and have come
to the conclusion that with the compromises that have been reached and with the
controls that the Planning Board has on the project, the country inn and horse
farm is the preferable alternative to a housing development. He felt that there are quite a few people
that are in support of this project and that they would rather see horses than
houses.
7)
Marilyn
Zaborek, 387 Burgoyne Rd., voiced concerns that a small town will be at the end
of her road, the project is near a wetlands area, it goes against the
Comprehensive Land Use Plan, sewerage system and traffic concerns, lighting
concerns, and the impacts on endangered species and wildlife. She requested a moratorium on development in
the town.
8)
Doris Hulka,
232 Southard Rd., agreed with what Marilyn Zaborek had said.
9)
William
Corrigan, 207 Walsh Rd., asked to have a question answered after the public
hearing.
10) Debbie Peck Kelleher, 501 Rt. 32, questioned
if the Agriculture Disclosure Statement is required on all future subdivision
of this land and does it apply to the condos and timeshares.
11) Gregory Loan, 144 Co. Rt. 67, concerned that
development is not limited to non-agriculture land.
12) Lloyd Van Arnum, 164 Southard Rd., concerned
that the watershed is drying up.
13) Marilyn Zaborek, 387 Burgoyne Rd., voiced
concerns on how the whole project will look once completed, school district
overcrowding, and truck traffic.
14) Pat Peck, 178 Wagmans Ridge Rd., concerned
that there are only 10 recommendations included in the law from the Planning
Board when they had submitted 16 items.
15) Dan Craine, 148 Burke Rd., questions why Mr.
McKibbin states that it is not feasible to operate just a horse farm when there
are horse farms in the area, an example being the McMahon Farm, that is
successfully operating without a hotel.
16) Pat Peck, 178 Wagmans Ridge Rd., hopes that
the SEQR for the site plan will address Indian Artifacts.
17) Penelope Benson-Wright, 175 Burke Rd., spoke
about the development issues facing the town and urges a moratorium on all
development to enable the board to look at and revamp our zoning laws and
building standards to support the spirit of the master plan.
18) Lloyd Van Arnum, 164 Southard Rd., concerned
about water.
All persons
wishing to speak, having spoken, the public hearing was closed at 7:50 p.m. by
Supervisor Thomas Wood.
Supervisor Thomas
Wood responded to a couple of the questions posed during the public
hearing. He assured Pat Peck a full
SEQR would be completed on the project and that the 16 points recommended by
the Planning Board were combined into 10.
None were eliminated. He also
assured William Corrigan that this law is only for the 124 +/- acre parcel at
Wagmans Ridge Road and County Rt. 68.
He stated in reply to Penelope Benson-Wright’s concerns that the change
in acreage of the parcel from 119 +/- acres to 124 +/- acres was due to a
recent survey of the land. Any changes
to the PUD law will be available for the public to view before passage and
would not be a significant change.
New Business:
Supervisor Thomas
Wood informed the board that the Cornell Cooperative Extension would be holding
workshops on the Purchase of Development Rights. One will be held at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Office at
50 West High Street, Ballston Spa on Wednesday, February 16th from
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Supervisor Thomas
Wood reported that a Building Committee Meeting would be held from 6:00 to 7:00
p.m. on Thursday, February 10th, immediately preceding the agenda
meeting. He added that Dr. Leon Reed
would speak on the proposed land acquisition by the Schuylerville Central
School District.
It was reported
that the next Planning Board Meeting would be held on Wednesday, March 9, 2005
at 7:30 p.m.
Supervisor Thomas
Wood discussed the need for a credit card for the town. It would enable the town to take advantage
of sales when purchasing needed items for the town as not all vendors accept
town vouchers.
A motion to adjourn
at 8:02 p.m. was made by Councilman Charles Hanehan and seconded by
Councilman Fred Drumm. Supervisor Thomas Wood – aye, Councilman Fred Drumm –
aye, Councilman Michael McLoughlin – aye, Councilman Bruce Cornell – aye, and
Councilman Charles Hanehan - aye.
Carried 5 – 0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ruth Drumm
Town Clerk