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Home My WebLink About06-17-2026-Planning Board-DRAFT-Minutes Mary Ann Barr 2021 Planning Board Minutes Wednesday June 17 2026 at 7:00PM The Town of Danby 1830 Danby Road Ithaca, NY 14850 danby.ny.gov For questions on how to use Zoom or access the meeting, please contact George Frantz, Interim Town Planner, at 607-592-0417 or planner@danby.ny.gov MINUTES- DRAFT PRESENT: Pacific Austin Colleen Cowan Jody Scriber (arrived 7:16 PM) Jamie Vanucchi Kelly Maher ABSENT: Ed Bergman Jacob Colbert OTHER ATTENDEES: Interim Town Planner: George Frantz Recording Secretary: Cindy Katz Public (in-person): Zach Larkins (Town Board Member), Matthew Weise Public (virtual): Ted Crane, Joel Gagnon (Town Supervisor), “X”, Gerald Montgomery [1] CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA REVIEW The meeting was called to order at 7:04PM. There were no additions or deletions to the agenda, but later on in the meeting the Planning Board Members decided to flip the order of development review applications to ensure they had a quorum for voting. [2] PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Crane wondered why so many board members were missing. Chair Maher wondered if they should choose an alternate Planning Board member to fill in. [3] APPROVAL OF MINUTES The board elected to wait until hopefully another member came before they voted on the May 2026 minutes, as Chair Maher had not read the minutes so they did not have enough votes. [4] TOWN BOARD LIAISON REPORT (VERBAL ) Board Member Leslie Connors was not present. Supervisor Gagnon provided an update:  Juneteenth has been added to the town as a holiday.  They have hired assistant to the supervisor.  The Town Board went through SEQR at their last meeting in preparation for the July public hearing on the Special Events Law.  They are almost ready with a new design in order to make the Town Hall entryway ADA compliant.  An upcoming community forum will be held in person. [5] DEVELOPMENT REVIEW SUB-2026-04 110 Howard Rd Parcel 13.-1-3.2 Applicant Matthew Wiese Proposal: Minor Subdivision Zone: Rural 1 SEQR: Unlisted Anticipated Board Action: Environmental Impact Determination; Public Hearing; Consider Approval Cowan went and sat in the audience and the Planning Board realized they didn’t have enough votes to pass anything with her abstaining. They decided to go to the other development review. SPR-2026-02 15 Bald Hill Road Parcel: 10.-1-39 Applicant: Town of Danby Proposal: Construct a public skate park Zone: Hamlet Neighborhood SEQR: Type 2 Anticipated Board Action: Sketch Plan Review; Consider Approval Interim Planner Frantz explained that he had reviewed the grading plan. Although it was a little hard to read, he understood it and thought it made sense. They discussed that the park itself will act as the retaining wall, with Board Member Larkins adding that the design of the park was to keep the disturbance and environmental impact low. Interim Planner Frantz added that the plan for the cemetery also seemed to look good, with Larkins added that there will be a fence, and that he has a longer term hopes to add an ornamental seal to the cemetery. Scriber arrived at 7:16pm. They briefly discussed the benefits of removing certain vegetation. MOTION: To Approve Resolution 14 of 2026 Approving the Site Plan at the planned skate park at 15 Bald Hill Road. Moved by Cowan, seconded by Austin They briefly discussed if they wished to add the cemetery needs as a condition but decided that would come at a later stage. The motion passed. In favor: Austin, Cowan, Scriber, Vanucchi, Maher They returned the 110 Howard Road, as another planning member (Jody Scriber) had arrived. SUB-2026-04 110 Howard Rd Parcel 13.-1-3.2 Applicant Matthew Wiese Proposal: Minor Subdivision Zone: Rural 1 SEQR: Unlisted Anticipated Board Action: Environmental Impact Determination; Public Hearing; Consider Approval Colleen Cowan recused herself and sat in the audience as she is representing the applicant as his real estate agent. She is also his nearest neighbor. Planner Frantz reviewed the application and the ask. Chair Maher reviewed SEQR, sharing SEAF Part 2 on the large screen. She reviewed all of the questions and their responses. All responses were “little to no impact.” MOTION: To Approve Planning Board Resolution No 15 of 2026 – Determination of Environmental Significance, Minor Subdivision, 110 Howard Road, Tax Parcel #13.-1- 3.2 Whereas an application has been submitted for review and approval by the Town of Danby Planning Board for a Minor Subdivision of Town of Danby Tax Parcel No. 13.-1-3.2, by Mathew Wiese, Applicant, on behalf of Shelley Bird & Jerry Wiese, Owner; and Whereas the applicant proposes to subdivide the existing 77.29-acre property into two parcels: one measuring approximately 22.64 acres and the other measuring approximately 54.65 acres; and Whereas the property is in the Rural 1 Zoning District, requiring a lot area minimum of 10 acres and lot depth of 800 feet; and Whereas this is considered a Minor Subdivision in accordance with the Town of Danby Subdivision and Land Division Regulations, Article II, § 201 B.1. Minor Subdivision, Option #1; and Whereas this is an Unlisted Action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act and is subject to environmental review; and Whereas the Town of Danby Planning Board has sole responsibility for approving Minor Subdivisions and declared itself Lead Agency on May 20, 2026 for purposes of SEQRA; and Whereas this Board, acting as Lead Agency in environmental review accepts as adequate: a Short Environmental Assessment Form (SEAF), Part 1, submitted by the Applicant, and Part 2, prepared by the Planning Administrator; a subdivision plat entitled “Final Subdivision Plat, No. 110 Howard Road, Town of Danby, Tompkins County, New York” prepared by T.G. Miller, P.C., and dated 3/18/2026; and other application materials; Now Therefore, be it Resolved that the Town of Danby Planning Board on June 17, 2026, based on careful consideration of the application materials, determines the proposed Minor Subdivision will result in no significant impact on the environment and that a Negative Declaration for purposes of Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law be filed in accordance with the provisions of Part 617 of the State Environmental Quality Review Act. Moved by Scriber, seconded by Maher The motion passed. In favor: Austin, Scriber, Vanucchi, Maher Recuse/Abstain: Cowan Public Hearing Public Hearing Opened: 7:30PM No one spoke Public Hearing Closed: 7:30PM MOTION: To Approve Resolution No. 16 of 2026 - Preliminary and Final Approval, Minor Subdivision, 110 Howard Road, Tax Parcel #13.-1-3.2 Whereas an application has been submitted for review and approval by the Town of Danby Planning Board for a Minor Subdivision of Town of Danby Tax Parcel No. 13.-1-3.2, by Mathew Wiese, Applicant, on behalf of Shelley Bird & Jerry Wiese, Owner; and Whereas the applicant proposes to subdivide the existing 77.29-acre property into two parcels: one measuring approximately 22.64 acres and the other measuring approximately 54.65 acres; and Whereas the property is in the Rural 1 Zoning District, requiring a lot area minimum of 10 acres and lot depth of 800 feet; and Whereas this is considered a Minor Subdivision in accordance with the Town of Danby Subdivision and Land Division Regulations, Article II, § 201 B.1. Minor Subdivision, Option #1– A large-lot land division is permitted, provided the following criteria are met: a. All lots resulting from the land division are (8) acres or more, each with frontage on a public road maintained year-round; b. All lots resulting from the land division meet all other pertinent zoning requirements; and c. No extension or improvement of an existing, or creation of a new public road, public utility, or other public facility or area is involved. d. Compliance with the Stormwater Local Law, if applicable, has been demonstrated, including, but not limited to, the preparation and approval of SWPPPs, the obtaining of Stormwater Permits, and the design, planning, installation, construction, maintenance, and improvement of temporary and permanent Stormwater Management Practices, as each and all of such capitalized terms are defined within such Stormwater Local Law; and Whereas this is an Unlisted Action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act and is subject to environmental review; and Whereas the Town of Danby Planning Board has sole responsibility for approving Minor Subdivisions; Whereas the Planning Board, acting as Lead Agency, did on June 17, 2026 make a Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance for the project; and Whereas legal notice was published and adjacent property owners within 500 feet notified in accordance with the Town of Danby Subdivision and Land Division Regulations, Article VI, § 601 II.H. Hearing and Notices; and Whereas the Planning Board held the required Public Hearing on June 17, 2026; and Now Therefore, be it Resolved that the Town of Danby Planning Board on June 17, 2026 does hereby grant Preliminary and Final Subdivision Approval to the proposed Minor Subdivision of Town of Danby Tax Parcel No. 13.-1- 3.2, entitled “Final Subdivision Plat, No. 110 Howard Road, Town of Danby, Tompkins County, New York” prepared by T.G. Miller, P.C., and dated 3/18/2026, subject to filing with the Tompkins County Clerk within 62 days. Moved by Austin, seconded by Vanucchi The motion passed. In favor: Austin, Scriber, Vanucchi, Maher Recuse/Abstain: Cowan [6] PLANNER REPORT (VERBAL) Interim Planner George Frantz explained that he is deaf and apologizes that his hearing aids need to be improved. He is happy to be here as Danby is the last town in Tompkins County that he has not worked in. The core of his work has been small town rural planning and he is excited to bring his knowledge to the town. [7] ADJOURNMENT 7:35pm Cindy Katz---------Recording Secretary