TOWN OF SARATOGA
PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES -
DRAFT
May 26, 2004
7:30 PM
Chairman
Ian Murray called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Clerk
Ruth Drumm called the roll. Chairman
Ian Murray – present, Susan Cummings –
present, Ralph Pascucci – present, Albert Baker – present, Paul Griffen –
present, Laurie Griffen – present, Robert Park – present, and Alternate Barney
Drumm – present
Approval
of Minutes: All board members present had read the minutes of the April 28,
2004 meeting. A motion was made by Robert Park and seconded by Susan Cummings
to accept the minutes of April 28, 2004 as written. Chairman Ian Murray – aye, Ralph Pascucci –
absent, Albert Baker – absent, Paul Griffen – absent, Robert Park - aye, Laurie
Griffen – aye, Susan Cummings - aye.
Carried
7 - 0
Applicants:
#03-23 Walter Taras
173 County Rd. 69
Schuylerville, NY
12871
S/B/L 182-2-15.1 Rural
District
Applicant
is seeking a five-lot subdivision, creating four 80,000 + sq. ft. lots along
Casey Road with a remaining parcel of 179 +/- acres. Walt Taras addressed the board.
He referred to a letter received from James Meacham, P.E. of the NYS
Department of Health which stated that the fifth lot “gifted” to his sister
would not count as the fifth lot subject to the realty subdivision regulations
since it does not meet the definition of the “sale, rental or offer for sale or
lease”. It was noted in the determination
that the “sale, rental or offer for sale or lease” of one more lot, less than 5
acres in size, within the next 3 years would require the entire parcel,
including the previously sold lots, to be subject to the realty subdivision
regulations. Chairman Ian Murray
acknowledged that it is a minor subdivision and Walter Taras completed a short
Environmental Assessment Form (EAF). Neighbor notification and the public
hearing were done last month. Walter Taras stated that one lot has an existing
well and two wells are being drilled now, one at 35 feet resulted in 12 gallons
per minute. Town Engineer Kenneth
Martin requested that he add the perc and deep hole test results on the
subdivision map along with the building envelope. Kenneth Martin noted that the perc tests were all less than 2
minutes. It was also suggested that he reduce the building envelope by 50% and
move the homes back. Ralph Pascucci
suggested that he place two of the driveways side-by-side. This will reduce
mailbox sprawl.
A
motion was made by Paul Griffen to approve the subdivision with conditions and
seconded by Ralph Pascucci. The
conditions are that the perc, deep hole test results, and the reduced building
envelope are on the map and that two of the driveways be side-by-side, subject
to Town Engineer Kenneth Martin’s review. Chairman Ian Murray – aye, Ralph
Pascucci – absent, Albert Baker – absent, Paul Griffen – absent, Robert Park -
aye, Laurie Griffen – aye, Susan Cummings - aye.
Carried
7 – 0 GRANTED WITH CONDITIONS
Chairman Ian Murray
announced that the R.J. Valente sand mining Special Use Permit application has
been removed from the agenda because the board cannot take any action on it
until the SEQR process is complete. The
DEC has the permit in hand but it has not been formally accepted. The comment period is open and comments
should be mailed to the DEC. He stated
that he will allow public comment later in the meeting under Old Business and
that Public Hearings will be held by the DEC and Planning Board once we are
further into the process.
Barlok & Roohan,
Applicants E.M.
Mease, Owner
519 Broadway 130
Southard Rd.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Saratoga
Springs, NY 12866
Rural District, S/B/L
181-1-12.1
Applicants
propose an 11 lot subdivision (minimum lot size is 4.10 acres) on 69.11 +/-
acres on Southard Rd, with 5.71 acres being retained by the current owner, Toni
Mease. Dave Carr of the LA Group
addressed the board representing Barlok & Roohan, the applicants. He stated that after walking the site with
the Planning Board and doing test holes the sketch plan was reworked and the
number of lots was reduced from the initial 21 lots proposed on February 25,
2004 to 10 lots ranging from 4.1 acres to 10.5 acres. Dave Carr noted that all the lots but one, meet the 200 ft. frontage
requirements and with some line adjustments and a longer cul-de-sac they could
all meet the requirements. After
considering the neighbor’s concerns regarding obstruction of their view of the
countryside, an air photo was taken and presented by Dave Carr. He superimposed the air photo over the
sketch plan and positioned the home sites to protect the existing neighbors
view sheds as much as possible. The
buyers would be restricted as to where they can place the homes. Chairman Ian Murray stated that he would
like to place deed restrictions against any further subdivision of Lot 6 and
Lot 10.
Chairman
Ian Murray then allowed public comments and the following voiced their
concerns: Dr. Baran, Penelope Benson Wright and Sam Aldridge all had concerns regarding
adequate water supplies. Vernon
VanArnum – sewage concerns and disappearing farmland and Lloyd VanArnum had
concerns about overcrowded roads.
Chairman
Ian Murray asked if hydrology tests have been done? Dave Carr stated not yet and that only soil tests and shallow and
deep hole tests have been done so far. They thought that they would first come
up with a land plan and then go further with the hydrology. Albert Baker asked
the reason for reworking the plan and Dave Carr responded that the redesign was
partly due to the soils and septic requirements. He thought that conventional septic systems could be used, some
areas had better soil than others did though.
The board thought it was a good plan and they will return. Returning
197 Hanehan Rd.
S/B/L#196.-1-15.1 Rural
District
Applicant is seeking a Special Use Permit for a Home Industry consisting of a Sheet Metal Fabrication Shop in an existing barn. A 40’ x 20’ pole barn and a 20’ x 12’ pole barn off the existing barn will be built for storage. Marc DeCastro addressed the board. He stated that he would be fabricating ductwork at the site as Saratoga Sheet Metal. He does not have any employees and if he needed to expand the business he would locate it elsewhere. He stated that no deliveries are made here as he picks up the sheets of metal in his own pickup. He plans to store the ductwork in the new barn along with farm equipment. The neighbors were notified. Chairman Ian Murray stated that this is a Home Industry.
The
following spoke in favor of granting the Special Use Permit:
Steve
Bodnar, 165 Hanehan Rd.
Sue Cummings, 200 Hanehan Rd.
No
one spoke against granting the permit.
Ralph
Pascucci made a motion to grant the Special Use Permit for the Home Industry
consisting of a Sheet Metal Fabrication Shop and Albert Baker seconded it.
Chairman Ian Murray – aye, Ralph Pascucci – absent, Albert Baker – absent, Paul
Griffen – absent, Robert Park - aye, Laurie Griffen – aye, Susan Cummings -
aye.
Carried
7 – 0 GRANTED
Case #04-11 Michael
Giovanone, applicant, Garry Robinson, consulting engineer
1427 Route 9P
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Lake Commercial District,
S/B/L 193.06-1-2.
Applicant
is seeking a special permit for multi-family housing located on Route 9P,
Saratoga Lake. Applicant is proposing 3 buildings with a total of 32 units.
Garry Robinson, Consulting Engineer, addressed the board. Chairman Ian Murray requested that he return
when the requested documentation noted at the February 25, 2004 meeting are
completed and submitted. The requested
information was a letter from Jim DiPasquale of the Saratoga County Sewer
District stating that they have the capacity to service the project, submittal
of proof of a storm water pollution prevention plan, and to recalculate the
density on the buildable lot. TABLED
Barney Drumm
193 Casey Rd.
Schuylerville,
NY 12871
S/B/L#
182.-1-28 Rural District
Applicant is seeking a Special Use Permit for a
sawmill on his 10-acre parcel at 193 Casey Rd. Barney Drumm addressed the
board. Robert Park asked how the mill
would be powered and Barney Drumm explained that a diesel engine would be
used. Barney Drumm added that he would
have a planer. He also stated that
there is a 120-ft. hedge buffer between the nearest neighbor’s property line
and that the property is wooded. He
noted the hours of operation will be six days a week from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00
p.m. and that log trucks will be coming in and the logs will be stored
outside. He will be doing custom sawing
and retail sales. He has spoken to the
neighbors and no opposition was found.
He will return next month with a final application and a Public Hearing. RETURNING
NEXT MONTH
Old Business: Chairman Ian Murray opened
the floor for public comment on the
R. J. Valente sand mining application.
Kristi Carrara – voiced concerns regarding
the following: traffic, school buses, animal habitats, area of historical
preservation, trash on the property, DEC in control in the future and not the
Town. She requested a full
Environmental Impact Study done by the DEC.
She supplied a copy of a petition with over 160 signatures so far,
asking the Planning Board to deny the Special Use Permit before DEC’s ruling. She also stated that she is petitioning the
Town Board to change the zoning to eliminate mining as a Special Permitted Use.
Chairman Ian Murray stated that the board is
responding to the DEC with their concerns.
He added that a full Environmental Impact Study is being done by the
DEC, which notifies other involved agencies such as the Department of
Transportation. He added that the
Planning Board couldn’t approve or deny the Special Use Permit while the
application is in process, which includes the full SEQR. Paul Griffen noted that the property owner
has rights and is due the process.
Mark Overholt – questioned why the zoning
was changed from Moderate Density to Rural Residential and he was told that in
accordance with our Comprehensive Master Plan it was made less dense by being
rezoned Rural Residential because in that district more land is required per
lot (was 40,000 sq. ft. as Moderate Density and is now 60,000 sq. ft. per lot as Rural Residential).
Kenneth
Herrington
– water concerns
Unidentified person- surrounding property values go
down
Anthony
Holland,
112 Chelsea Drive- noise, dust, fumes, and traffic concerns
Becky DeWitt – thanked the board for
allowing them to speak
New Business: Chairman Ian Murray asked
the board to look over the Draft of the proposed Planned Unit Development (PUD)
and to give any additional comments or corrections to Chairman Ian Murray or
Supervisor Thomas Wood by Tuesday, June 1st.
The
board finalized their comments for the letter to the DEC regarding the R.J.
Valente mining permit. It will be
reviewed by Town Attorney William Reynolds and then sent out.
The
next meeting will be Wednesday, June 23, 2004 at 7:30 p.m.
A motion to adjourn was made at 9:45 p.m. by Susan Cummings and seconded by
Ralph Pascucci. Chairman Ian Murray – aye, Susan Cummings – aye, Ralph Pascucci – aye, Albert Baker –
aye, Paul Griffen – aye, Laurie Griffen – aye, Robert Park – aye. 7 – 0
Carried
Respectfully
submitted,
Ruth
L. Drumm
Clerk