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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-12-16Dryden Planning Board December 16, 2015 Page 1 of 2 Dryden Planning Board December 16, 2015 Members Present: Joe Laquatra (Chair), David Weinstein, John Kiefer, Craig Anderson, Tom Hatfield, and Marty Moseley Town Hall Staff: Ray Burger, Planning Director Liaison: Craig Schutt, Conservation Board and Planning Board Alternate Guests: Don Scutt The meeting was called to order at 7PM. Review and approval of minute from November 23, 2015: T. Hatfield moved to accept the minutes with the recommended changes. D. Weinstein seconded the motion and the minutes were unanimously approved. Revised definition of Multi-family: Ray Burger - Last month, it was recommended that the term “Group Homes” be removed since most of them are exempted by the State. However, Mr. Burger feels it should stay in the definition to avoid potential issues later. Varna: T. Hatfield asked how much money the Town has put into the Varna Plan. Mr. Burger will get that information together. - It appears that there is opposition in Varna to the overlay district. Perhaps the Town should start over with the plan. - J. Laquatra reminded the group that they had discussed a survey last month. - T. Hatfield is in favor of the survey because the Town has an award winning plan that it appears no one wants. We need more information from the people. The Town of Dryden (government and the Planning Board) have all embraced the plan but there is obviously opposition within the Varna Community that doesn’t want the overlay plan. Maybe we ought to stop spending money on it and go back to base zero. - D. Weinstein disagreed. In general, people think that many aspects of the plan are good. It is only the density along the river border that people are expressing concern about. He would not scrap the whole thing but does agree with the survey and suggested some citizen community meetings to find out where the issues are that folks are stumbling on. - C. Anderson asked about the Design Connect proposal that the Planning Board did not approve last month. - D. Weinstein stated that it was turned in by the Varna Community Center which makes them and to a degree the Town Board are the supervisors of the project. It will help identify the stumbling blocks because he does not recommend scrapping the plan. - C. Anderson asked if the Board should recommend the survey to the Town Board. Dryden Planning Board December 16, 2015 Page 2 of 2 Yes. - It was agreed that C. Anderson and D. Weinstein would work on an email loop with questions that could be included in the survey. Hopefully they will have the survey questions for discussion at the next meeting. - Recommendations included: o a question a yes/no question regarding whether the Community is on board with the Varna Plan o Or a multiple choice question whether they are approve all of the Varna plan, part of the plan or none of the plan o Step outside of the Varna plan, touch on the TIP money and what improvements would they like to see in the future – maybe have them rank their priorities - Before more money is spent on the Community, it is important to determine what the Community is after and verify they are on board. Is it the entire community or just the neighbors that are unhappy with the project? No one tends to be happy with dirt moving next to their house …. - D. Weinstein pointed out that there wasn’t any real community concern with the project on the corner of Freese Road and Route 366. - C. Schutt suggested adding a question regarding whether they feel as though they had sufficient input in the original plan; that led to the suggestion that a “comment” section be added at the end of the survey so people can express themselves beyond the questions in the survey - M. Moseley asked about putting a question in the survey regarding the Freese Road bridge and whether the Community would prefer a single or two lane bridge. D. Weinstein said that the Town Board has already addressed that and has indicated they are in favor of keeping it a single lane. - J. Kiefer suggested looking in the Varna Plan and see if it includes the underlying assumptions that drove the Plan. Members were again encouraged to email further questions to C. Anderson or D. Weinstein. Green Building: J. Laquatra Presentation attached There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50PM. Respectfully Submitted, Erin A. Bieber Deputy Town Clerk