HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.20.2010 Planning Board MinutesMinutes
for
Village of Cayuga Heights
Planning Board Meeting #14
Held on
October 20, 2010
The meeting of the Village of Cayuga Heights Planning Board was called to order at 7:04
PM.
Board Members Present: Chair Martin Harms, Graham Gillespie, Frederick Cowett,
Henry Richardson, and Alternate Member, Sean Cunningham
Board Secretary: Mary Jane Neff
Others: George Frantz, Consultant; Brent Cross, Superintendent of Public Works; and
Elena Flash, Attorney
Guests: List attached
On a motion by Richardson, seconded by Cowett the following was passed by the
three members present:
RESOLUTION NO. 47
AUTHORIZING ALTERNATE MEMBER TO VOTE AT TONIGHT’S MEEING
RESOLVE, that the Alternate member, Sean Cunningham,
is hereby authorized to vote at tonight’s meeting.
On a motion by Richardson, seconded by Cowett the following was unanimously passed:
RESOLUTION NO. 48
APPROVING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2010
RESOLVE, that the minutes of September 8, 2010 meeting are
hereby approved.
There were no public comments at this time, but Chair Harms requested that
anyone wishing to make comments speak during the Board’s discussion on the two topics
for tonight’s meeting.
Chair Harms reviewed what had occurred with the preliminary approval of the
Upland Road Subdivision which had set conditions that needed to be met prior to
obtaining final approval. Superintendent Cross explained that Mr. Mecenas, the
developer, had met all of the conditions of the preliminary approval and that Attorney
Flash has reviewed the documents and found them to be according to the conditions.
Mr. Mecenas explained that the process with New York State Attorney General to
get the “Road Maintenance Agreement” approved had been a long process, but that the
agreement had finally been approved by the Attorney General. The final map had been
prepared by his engineers per Superintendent Cross’s requests as well as all of the
development engineers’ documents that had been requested in the preliminary approval.
He has a prospective buyer and is here tonight to get the Planning Board’s final approval.
Chair Harms read into the record the letter from concerned neighbors of the
subdivision (letter attached). The concerns were as follows:
1. Sufficiency of the Stormwater Management Plan
2. Possibility of wetlands in the area to be developed
3. Possible run-off during construction
4. Strength of the road agreement including the maintenance of the storm water
basin.
Superintendent Cross explained that unless a wetland is designated by the
Department of Environmental Conservation, Army Corps of Engineers requirements are
not required to be met. In the proposed area of development, there are no designated
wetlands. He also explained that the Stormwater Management Plan has two calculations
in it – one for pre-construction run-off and one for post-construction run-off. Brent stated
that he had the report if any of the members wished to review it.
Chair Harms commented that some of the proposed lots have a steep slope which
might affect the type of house that can be constructed on it and asked Mr. Mecenas if he
had considered that possibility. Mr. Mecenas replied that the style of the house would be
at the discretion of the home builder which would have to be reviewed by the Village’s
Superintendent of Public Works. Chair Harms also expressed concern that construction
may cause many trees to be cut down and asked if there was a plan that would
incorporate the current landscape with the new construction. Mr. Mecenas replied that
this would be at the discretion of the property owner.
Attorney Flash explained that the site plans for the homes that will be built on the
steep slope side of the development are required to be reviewed and approved by the
Planning Board prior to construction. She also commented that the “Homeowners
Association Agreement” contained conditions that have to be met prior to any
construction. The Board members requested that a copy of the Homeowners Association
agreement be sent to them for review.
The Board discussed possible conditions that can be placed on the final approval
of the subdivision i.e. filing of the requirements with the Attorney General, a road and
infrastructure construction timeline, allowed work hours and days, etc.
It was the consensus of the Board to table final subdivision approval until the next
regular meeting.
Consultant George Frantz arrived and the Board went into a discussion on the
draft goals and objectives for the comprehensive plan. Chair Harms commented that most
of the recommendations made at the last meeting had been incorporated into this draft.
He asked Mr. Frantz where he thought the weakest point in the plan was. Mr. Frantz
replied that the Parks & Recreation section needed to be more specific. Chair Harms
asked the Board how they wished to proceed with the review of the draft. The consensus
was to review as many sections of the draft as they could tonight and then finish the
review at the next meeting.
Some of the recommendations and questions discussed were:
1. Set some phases to work on, i.e. short term priorities and long term priorities
under each section.
2. Start the plan with an introduction that includes historic information about the
Village. Maybe Mayor Marcham’s quote.
3. Should the plan be more specific or should it be general?
4. Recommendations should be value judgments not just the views of the
planning board members.
5. Identify ways to accomplish the end vision of the plan.
6. Under the economy section, add something about the climate of the Village
government, taxation issues.
7. Maybe consider an Economic Development Council or Business Owners
Association.
Consultant Frantz stated that he would incorporate the suggestions into the
sections of the draft, but that he would not present a new draft until this review of the
draft plan was completed.
On a motion by Cowett, seconded by Richardson, the following was unanimously
passed:
RESOLUTION NO. 49
ADJOURNING MEETING
RESOLVED, that this meeting was adjourned at 9:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Jane Neff, Secretary