TOWN OF
PLANNING BOARD
DRAFT MINUTES
August 22,
2018
Chairman
Ian Murray called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Planning Clerk Linda McCabe called the roll: Chairman
Ian Murray – present, Laurie
Griffen – absent, Patrick Hanehan – present, Robert
McConnell – present, Joseph
Lewandowski – present, Brandon Myers – present,
George Olsen - absent,
Alternate Christopher Koval - present.
Due
to the absence of Board Member George Olsen, Alternate Member Christopher Koval
was elevated to full voting status.
Also attending: Cheryl Norris, Jessica Bentley, Mark
Lawrence, Tonya Pellegrini Lawrence, Louis and Alicia Farone. (Sign-in sheet is on file in the Clerk's
office)
A motion was made by Joseph Lewandowski ,
seconded by Patrick Hanehan, to accept the meeting minutes of July 25, 2018.
Chairman Ian Murray – aye, Laurie Griffen – absent, Patrick
Hanehan – aye, Robert McConnell – aye, Joseph Lewandowski – aye, Brandon Myers
– aye, George Olsen - absent, Christopher Koval - aye.
Approved
Public Hearing for Minor Subdivision
Cheryl Norris
#18-06 Owner: Helen Wells-Hoffman
1019 Rt. 4 S. 1017 Rt. 4 S
Schuylerville, NY
12871 Schuylerville, NY 12871
S/B/L 170.-1-45
Rural
Location: 1017 Rt. 4S
Returning Applicant seeks to subdivide a 2 acre lot with existing home from the 35.12+/- acre parcel with an existing home. There will be no changes to the property aside from the boundary lines as both houses are existing.
Returning Applicant Cheryl Norris appeared before the Board.
Chairman Ian Murray reviewed her application and asked if there were any questions of the Board. There were none. He then questioned the Applicant what was going on with the shale pit on the property.
The Applicant responded it is no longer in use and hasn't been for quite some time.
Chairman Ian Murray then stated they had discussed the shared driveway at her last meeting and said he read the easement drawn up by her attorney, that he's fine with it and it just needs signatures. He then asked if there were any Board questions; there were none.
Proof of Notice
having been furnished by newspaper on July 15, 2018, Chairman Ian Murray opened
the Public Hearing at 7:36 p.m., asking those wishing to speak,
to please stand and state their name and address. Seeing as no one spoke, Chairman Ian Murray closed the Public Hearing at 7:37 p.m.
Patrick Hanehan read the short form EAF, line by line, which was completed by the Board.
documents as presented, to declare SEQR
review complete and to make a Negative Declaration. Chairman Ian Murray – aye, Laurie Griffen – absent, Patrick Hanehan – aye,
Robert McConnell – aye, Joseph Lewandowski – aye, Brandon Myers – aye, George
Olsen - absent, Christopher Koval - aye.
Approved with Condition
Pre-Submission Conference for Special
Use Permit
Jessica Bentley
#18-08
Owner: Frank Owens
357 River Rd. 62 Louden Rd.
Stillwater, NY
12170 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
S/B/L 157.-1-49.2
Rural Residential
Location: 1164 Rt. 29
Applicant seeks a Special Use Permit to open up a hair salon and barber shop at 1164 Rt. 29.
Applicant Jessica Bentley appeared before the Board and reviewed her application.
Chairman Ian Murray asked her what she knew about the property.
Applicant Jessica Bentley stated she knew the owner, Frank Owens, has been working in the building and that Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer Gil Albert has to inspect it when Frank is done. She also stated there is a brand new septic system there as well.
Chairman Ian Murray explained that the property's former use as a hair salon, according to our regulations, is abandoned as it has been vacant of that use for over two years, which means this application begins anew for that use. Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer Gil Albert will check it all out to see if there are any code issues with the building and to be sure it is compliant with our regulations.
Brandon Myers questioned if she was planning on doing any renovations.
Applicant Jessica Bentley responded Frank Owens is taking down the sheetrock and insulating the building as there's no insulation there and she believes he has done some electrical work there as well. He also patched the roof and replaced some ceiling tiles.
Joseph Lewandowski stated he recalls there were no issues with the other salon there.
Chairman Ian Murray asked if there were any further questions or comments of the Board; there were none. He then stated we will publish for a public hearing for next month. He sees no issues, and the Board will speak with Building Inspector/Zoning Officer Gil Albert in the mean time.
Applicant Jessica Bentley thanked the Board.
Returning
Information:
Tonya Pellegrini Lawrence addressed the Board, stated she has a company called Pellegrini Events and that she is also the director of marketing and promotions for downtown Saratoga Springs. She has walked through the Maranville property on Rt. 29 several times and is very interested in purchasing the property, to live there and run an event venue business there. She's been in the business since early 2000; not only small events, but corporate events, national events and military events locally and across the country. She is aware of the history with the current owner. As a seasoned events business woman and actually living on the property, managing it and running a business there, she believes it can be done well and correctly. She believes with vetting certain vendors and working with the Board and being neighborly, she can make this a successful, viable business.
Chairman Ian Murray stated he's already fielded a couple of questions prior to this meeting and he would like the Board to ask preliminary questions.
Christopher Koval questioned what size she's looking for. Tonya responded ideally she would like 150, which is the standard average. This includes luxury weddings, corporate events, maybe some upscale dinners.
Patrick Hanehan questioned what seasons this would be operating. Tonya responded most likely April through October, maybe a bit in winter as it is heated.
Joseph Lewandowski questioned how often would she hold events/weddings. Tonya responded as much as possible. 25 weekend events a year is her starting goal.
Robert McConnell stated he has concerns about the size. She wants 150 and mostly weddings. He'd rather it be conventions and meetings, this is in the middle of nowhere- he's reluctant at 150 for that many weekends. Tonya explained that she has done many weddings in remote locations such as Warrensburg, Buskirk, private properties in the Lake Placid area, and a lot of times they go in early, get the lay of the land, do the build; they are on-site the entire time. They pre-approve certain vendors, bring them in and she transports in all the guests. These are luxury events and she's done many remote locations.
Joseph Lewandowski stated they bring the guests in so there are no cars going in. Tonya responded that it would be a little of both. She feels with the luxury, high-end events, people like to offer their guests transportation. She added that she did a wedding at this site and felt that striping the parking lot would be helpful.
Patrick Hanehan questioned the hours of operation. He was told a hard stop at 10 p.m. He then asked about noise mitigation and was told they would follow the Town's noise ordinance and again they would have a hard stop at 10 p.m.
Chairman Ian Murray stated the Town Board is working on an Events Venue local law; he is unsure when it will be complete. He then stated that the Board will need to see a parking plan, size of the venue, business summary, hours of operation, 'barn' rules, summary of activities. He also stated there are a couple of code compliances that are still outstanding, such as a sprinkler system and she should speak with Building Inspector/Zoning Officer Gil Albert.
Christopher Koval stated 150 is too many, yes, the building holds that many, but parking is not adequate for that number.
Tonya then handed out her business cards to the Board and asked that someone contact her when anything comes up or with any questions and when the new law is complete.
Robert McConnell questioned if she could do a hard stop at 9 p.m. explaining that a hard stop at 10 p.m. isn't really 10 p.m. as you have clean-up and such.
She replied that on a time-line of a wedding ceremony, normally between 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., you then have photos and then the cocktail hour - you really only have 3 hours maximum of music for the reception/celebration, so 10 p.m. is pretty standard and ideal.
She then thanked the Board for their time.
Old Business: Chairman Ian Murray told the Board that he received a letter from Stephanie Ferradino, attorney for Mary Maranville, stating they have tabled their application.
New Business: Chairman Ian Murray stated the county has decided on the date for the January 2019 training conference and he will get the information to the Clerk to share with the Board.
Meeting Adjourned
The next regular meeting will be held Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. McCabe
Planning Clerk