TOWN OF SARATOGA
PLANNING BOARD
DRAFT MINUTES*
July 24, 2019
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, George Olsen - present,
Christopher Koval - absent.
Also attending: Gil Albert, James Vianna and Terri Korb. (Sign-in sheet is on file in the Clerk's
office)
A motion was made by Joseph Lewandowski,
seconded by George Olsen, to accept the meeting minutes of June 26, 2019 as
written. Chairman Ian Murray – aye,
Laurie Griffen – absent, Patrick Hanehan – aye, Robert McConnell – aye, Joseph
Lewandowski – aye, George Olsen - aye, Christopher Koval - absent.
Carried 5 - 0
Approved
Public Hearing for Minor Subdivision
Marty
Hellwig/Jillmar, LLC #19-02 Representative: James Vianna, PLS
274 Rt. 32 170 Lohnes Rd.
Schuylerville, NY
12871 Stillwater, NY 12170
S/B/L 182.-1-86.11
& 88
Returning Applicant seeks to subdivide a portion of land from two existing lots to create a new 2+/- acre parcel.
Chairman Ian Murray stated he looked at his notes from last month's meeting and the Board wanted them to move the driveway.
Jim Vianna, PLS, appeared before the Board on behalf of the Applicant and stated he did move the driveway as the Board suggested at the last meeting and he also put the Agriculture Note on the other parcel that if there's a change of use they need to appear before the Planning Board.
Chairman Ian Murray asked if there were any Board questions; there were none.
Proof of Notice
having been furnished by newspaper on July 14, 2019, Chairman Ian Murray opened
the Public Hearing at 7:33 p.m., asking those wishing to speak to
this application, to please stand and state their name and address. Seeing as no one spoke, Chairman Ian Murray closed the Public Hearing at 7:34 p.m.
Chairman Ian Murray went through SEQR with the Board. Chairman Ian Murray asked if there were any further questions, comments or conditions from the Board; there were none.
A motion was made by Patrick Hanehan,
seconded by Chairman Ian Murray, to accept the
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, George Olsen - aye,
Christopher Koval - absent.
Approved
5 - 0
A motion was made by Chairman Ian Murray,
seconded by Patrick Hanehan, to approve the subdivision as proposed. Chairman Ian Murray – aye, Laurie Griffen – absent, Patrick Hanehan – aye,
Robert McConnell – aye, Joseph Lewandowski – aye, George Olsen - aye,
Christopher Koval - absent.
Approved
5 - 0
Old Business: Chairman Ian Murray stated he wanted to go over something with the Board, for the record, and I quote: "I don't know if anyone on the Board has seen the Saratoga Today, page 7, 'New Boat Storage Sails Through Murky Waters' article in that Saratoga paper." He then read the following for the record and I quote: "The Saratoga Zoning Board of Appeals and Saratoga Planning Board both unanimously voted in favor of a special use permit and area variance to allow a new paddleboard and kayak storage facility to be established on Fish Creek. The new storage facility would be considered a Public/Private Recreation use under the zoning code. It will allow for 120 vessels on racks in proximity to the shoreline, parking for up to 40 cars and picnic tables and port-a-johns for guests. However, some residents of Saratoga have objections to the vote due to recreation not being the land's primary use, saying boat storage will take place 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Recreation, on the other hand, is limited to daylight hours over three or four months of the year. Other grievances included the noise and safety of the facility, among related issues. The facility's opposition states that the objections were submitted in writing in a timely manner to be distributed to both boards, but that the minutes of both meetings fail to address any of the objections and that the application was approved without any acknowledgement that objections were ever filed. For more information, contact the Saratoga Zoning Board of Appeals or the Planning Board at 518-587-3550."
Chairman Ian Murray then stated he wanted to say a couple things about this, and I quote: "Linda was contacted by this gentleman from the paper. He is a reporter, his name is Kevin Matyi. He requested an interview with me, Linda had sent me an email, I hadn't had a chance to talk with him or get back to him that day, so the next morning he showed up at Linda's office and Linda proceeded to give him the real facts about the case after it was approved. I did speak to the reporter, Kevin Matyi, later that day. He did apologize, he let me know he obviously didn't have the true facts of the case. He informed me that this was in his in-box at the paper and was submitted by a Mr. John Cashin at 122 Cedar Bluff Rd., Town of Saratoga, Saratoga Open Space club. I went over a couple of other things with Kevin, in regards to the application:
1. The Special Use Permit was granted for a paddle board, members only club and was presented and approved as such.
2. The article states it was approved for 120 vessels, which isn't true. It is totally not true; the application is approved for 60 vessels along with 12 conditions for approval and operation of the facility.
3. The article stated primary use was boat storage, which again is not true. It's a members only paddle board club; that's the way it was presented and approved.
4. The other grievances were noted, we did conduct a public hearing where the general public spoke and information submitted.
5. Material that was submitted in objection to this application - The writer states that the minutes of both meetings failed to address any of the objections and that the application was approved without any acknowledgement that the objections were ever filed. Stop with the fake news. The record speaks for itself. Review the minutes, go through the case file, it stands on its merits. We conducted a Public Hearing by Town of Saratoga regulations and NYS law."
Patrick Hanehan stated we did receive all that information. Chairman Ian Murray replied correct. Engineer Ken Martin added correct and numerous times.
Chairman Ian Murray added with that said, this happened with the Town Board too - where an article said information submitted didn't go to the Town Board members as well. Everyone here can attest that Linda gets us everything that comes in here to us and he added Supervisor Thomas Wood stated they receive them as well, so again, it's just more fake news and disgruntlement.
Patrick Hanehan questioned, after talking to him (reporter), is he going to retract - Chairman Ian Murray said he's not going to. He added after he talked to and discussed it with him, he now has all the facts between that conversation and talking to Linda. He said he totally understands our position and said he's sorry this had to happen this way. Chairman Ian Murray stated he just wanted to bring it up to the Board and state the facts on it, that's all.
Robert McConnell stated it's unfortunate he (reporter) can't correct the record and put the real story down.
Chairman Ian Murray responded exactly.
New Business: None
A motion was made by Patrick Hanehan,
seconded by George Olsen, to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m. Chairman
Ian Murray – aye, Laurie Griffen – absent, Patrick Hanehan – aye, Robert
McConnell – aye, Joseph Lewandowski – aye, George Olsen - aye, Christopher
Koval - absent.
Carried
5 - 0
Meeting Adjourned
The next regular meeting will be held Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. McCabe
Planning Clerk
*Please Note: Minutes are not verbatim unless so specified.