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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-02-19r �1 Planning Board .Town of Dryden February 19, 1981 Present: Chw. Caldwell, M. Lavine, J. Hunt, C. Dann, Zo, S. Stewart The meeting opened with Chairwoman Caldwell stating that a new state law willgb_) into affect April lst regarding noise levels. It can be enforced on local levels. if noisey.trucks etc. that exceed eighty -two decibels or a rock party, something can be done about it. Also noted that last months county planning board meeting was cancelled due to the weather. John Hunt presented the information he gathered on solar energy. Pamphlets and books that he got from National Center for Solar Energy in Rockland, Maryland were given to Mr. Stewart to keep on file for anyone_to read. This all came about due to a change in the state law for municipalities which was amended to read under Section Purposes and View, dealing with zoning regulations should be made in accordance with the comprehension plan and design to lessen conges- tion in the streets, to secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other dangers, to promote health.and general welfare, to provide adequate flight and air, over crowding of land, to avoid undue concentration of population and following was added: To make provision for so far as conditions may permit, the accommodation of �lar energy systems and equipment and access to sunlight necessary therefore. We need to amend zoning code to make some provisions for solar collector or equipment the access to the sun. If do like mentioned, we would go from a two dimen- sional to a four dimensional. Togography is another thing that directly affects solar access. Slope you are on determines the length of the shadow that the tree or building will cast. Our present code for zoning is basically unrestricted. The restrictions are a definition of building height but nothing else. No architectural code. Restric- tions we have are center line of road, set backs, side yard, width and back yard. These are two dimensional. A four dimensional would be length, width, heighth, and time. Basically time would be 9 to 30 Would have wou. d do better state has and 1 can accommodate lath convenants to rewrite code to get four dimensions. to state in our purposes, make same type eave things in area of deregRjg tions. So solar access and encourage private agree and easements. Mr. Hunt stated he thinks of ammendment that the with reasonable planning ments between individuals Mr. Hunt thinks with state law set up as is, could hold up in court of law. Doesn't think should tell people how to build -- to a designer etc. Any new building or change in existing building, should be examined on its general affect. I Dealing with solar access you have two limiting angles. First is altitude of sun and the azimuth which is treated as diviation from true south. Look at sun's path during the year, the winter lowest December 21th and summer highest on June 21st. Sun's radiation only has power left when gets to earth, when the sun at altitude more than 12�. Sun's rays absorbed in atmosphere. Togography is another thing that directly affects solar access. Slope you are on determines the length of the shadow that the tree or building will cast. Our present code for zoning is basically unrestricted. The restrictions are a definition of building height but nothing else. No architectural code. Restric- tions we have are center line of road, set backs, side yard, width and back yard. These are two dimensional. A four dimensional would be length, width, heighth, and time. Basically time would be 9 to 30 Would have wou. d do better state has and 1 can accommodate lath convenants to rewrite code to get four dimensions. to state in our purposes, make same type eave things in area of deregRjg tions. So solar access and encourage private agree and easements. Mr. Hunt stated he thinks of ammendment that the with reasonable planning ments between individuals Mr. Hunt thinks with state law set up as is, could hold up in court of law. Doesn't think should tell people how to build -- to a designer etc. Any new building or change in existing building, should be examined on its general affect. I r r Planning Board Town of Dryden -2- February 19, 1981 Not quite sure how to accomplish this. Also how to control vegetation. Shading of trees more greater than by building. Mr. Dann stated in an article he had read, that if you hire .someone to put it in, its quite expensive and the most you can expect is 400 of your heat. In this area with its cloudy weather, only 40% is all you can expect. Mr. Hunt has solar collector which he did himself. Has about 4o% of useable sunlight and should get three year payout, which includes tax credit. Mr. Lavine stated that he felt it was not cost effected or energy effected in this area yet, with technology could improve where it could be in future. As a planning board, Mr. Hunt stated there are couple things could do. To run roads east and west so lot protects solar access. Mr. Lavine's concern was on focusing our concerns on solar access that we for- get about some of other concerns. East -west road maybe best for solar access but maybe not be for other things. Examples, steeper road, more corners, intersections with bad location causing snow problems etc. Keep minds in prospective. Mr. Hunt stated that grades etc. of roads would override solar access. Chairwoman Caldwell stated that Sectd,on 8 of Sub - Division law; we would have authority to make adjustments in set backs now. Would be best to have statement of purpose and intent: to show. Mr. Lavine said one approach we might take . is just take philosophy of first landowner to make use of solar access on his site, has claimed that solar access. Mr. Hunt stated there are other things that interfere. Also said should think of wind access too. Not faced with same problem. You either are in good wind lo- cation or not. The question of wind mill an accepted use? Mr. Lavine wanted to know how to encourage individuals to make arrangements for solar access. Mr. Hunt stated in terms of basic siting of houses, we have materials to read, lectures and groups who would talk to anyone. In longterm plan if we state the purpose of encouraging solar energy in the zoning code, and sub- division re- gulation. Would have made a small step in giving additional legal base, any private convenant of easements that are developed between individuals without being involved ourselves. Chairwoman Caldwell wanted to know if there should be a statement in sub - division regualtions or part of official minutes. Mr. Hunt said to give legal force has to be Town Board action. For our own use the minutes of meeting would be sufficient. Possibly be in sub - division rules and zoning code. Mr. Hunt said could be stated to promote and encoui "e the use of solar energy where as residential, commercial and industrial purposes consisted with improving and maintaining a standard of good desic nd appearance Mr. Lavine thought that was broa, gent. C_ ees in sol.ir energy too. •4 t Planning Board -3- • Mr. Hunt stated we should agree as basic information tonight. February 19, 1981 to what the board wants to do. Just enough Mr. Lavine said his own feeling in terms of issue to promote, encourage or just to consider whether solar access to solar radiation or say use of solar energy. He would prefer broader one. Solar energy. Allow people to interpret as direct or in- direct. about making that implication. He would prefer development to go-in a line of fuel wood as oppose to solar conversion. 'Mr. Hunt said people would not define solar energy as wood burning stoves. Think over what was said and see.what to do. Mr. Lavine recommended keep in mind a broader prospect as to what we are trying Lo promote, encourage or consider. if say trying to promote access solar energy to jalar radiation for heating systems or direct solar conversion. Then at same time saying we put higher value on that than other potential uses of sunlight. Concerned about making that implication. He would prefer development to go-in a line of fuel wood as oppose to solar conversion. The board will think over what was discussed and possibly come up with wordage and mechanics at next meeting. REspectfully submitted, Joan Bray - Secretary Planning Board Town of Dryden Revision of minutes, February 19, 1981 The meeting opened with Chairwoman-Caldwell stating that a new state law will go into affect April 1st regarding noise levels. It can be enforced on local levels. If noisey trucks etc. that exceed eighty -two decibels or a rock party, something can be done about it. Also 'Noted that last months county planning board meeting was cancelled due to the weather. John Hunt presented information he gathered on solar energy. Pamphlets that he got from the National Solar Heating and Cooling Information Center in Rockville, Maryland were given to Mr. Stewart to keep on file for anyone to read. This all came about due to a change in the state law for municipalities which was amended to read, under the Section Purposes and View, dealigg with zoning re- gulations should be made in accordance with the comprehension plan and design to lessen congestion in the streets, to secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other dangers, to promote health and general welfare, to provide adequate flight and air, over crowding of land, to avoid undue concentration of popular ion, and following was added : "to make provision for.; so far "as: conditions -may. permit,_. the:ac6ommodation, of solar energy systems and equipment and access to sunlight necessary therefor. 0 We apparently need to amend the zoning code and sub - division regulations to make some provision for solar collectors and access to the sun. In providing for solar access, we have to be concerned with two limiting angles of the sun. First the altitude, which is defined as the angle of the sun above the horizon, Second, the azimuth, which in this case is defined as the deviation of the sun east or west of true south.. N E .__N - WINTER SUN W PATH i 34 JIe M IMMER SUN PATH A14 114 KR on 1 jrruu y[' SUMMER l!� 1y�.,. SUN PATH or The sun's ppthl:varies during the year. At the location of the village of Dryden, approximately 420 30" North 1'atitude and 760 22' East Longitude, the alti- tude of the sun varies from 230 on the winter solstice (Dec. 21) to 71° on the summer solstice (June 21) at noon. The sun's rays only have effective power when it reaches an altitude above 120 about which it does on Dec. 21 at 9:00 AM. On the same date, it sinks below 120 at about 3:00 PM. This is also the date when longest shadows are cast by any obstruction. These times-correspond roughly ,the to azimuth of 450 east and'west of true south. Topography is another thing that directly affects solar access. Slope you-,are on determines the length of the shadow that the tree or building will cast. I Revisions Page 2 Shadow Lengths Are Shorter and Higher Densities Easier on South Slopes FLAT NORTH SLOPE Y SOUTH SLOPE Z X wwr DISTANCE "X" ON A FLAT SLOPE IS LESS THAN DISTANCE "Y" ON A NORTH SLOPE, FOR IDENTICAL POLES. DISTANCE "T' ON A SOUTH SLOPE IS THE LEAST. Our present regulations are basically unrestrictive. —There is a definition of building height, but no limitation. We have no building code or architectural code. We only have vegetation control to provide vision at road intersections. The re- strictions that we do.have are two dimensional: set backs from the center line of a road, lot width, side yard and back yard set backs. Providing specifically for solar access would require four dimensional controls, taking height and time into considera- tion, as well as width of lots and building placement. Mr. Hunt stated that he thinks we would do better to make a statement in our purpose; make the same kind of amendment the state has, and leave things without specific regulation, so that with reasonable planning, we can accomodate solar access and encourage private agreements between individuals by covenant and easement. With the state law as it is, he feels that private agreements could hold up in a court of law, but a local change would strengthen them. Mr. Hunt stated that he was not sure how to accomplish encouragement and pro- tection of solar access, in the regulations, but he recommends a general statement of purpose in them. This would give us the basis for the encouragement of private agree- ments; planning for solar access, i.e., east -west road orientation, modification of frontage requirments and elimination of restrictions and construction of collectors. He doesn't think that we should tell peopgle how to build. Building should be ex- amined on its general effect. Vegetation control is more difficult, but is important to solar access, since, generally, shading.,-by trees is greater than by buildings in most areas of the town. Mr. Dann stated in an article he had read, that if you hire someone to put it in, its quite expensive and the most you can expect is 4o% of your heat. In this area with its cloudy weather, only 40% is all you can expect. Mr. Hunt has solar collector which he did himself. Has about 40% of useable sunlight and should get three year payout, which includes tax credit. Mr. Lavine stated that he felt it was not cost effective or energy effective in this area yet, with technology which could improve to where it could be in future. As a planning board, Mr. Hunt stated that there arc few things we could do. Encourage developers to run roads east and west so tha+, lots themselves protect Revisions Page 3 • solar access; ease setback and other placement restrictions or lot widths where it is appropriate. Mr. Lavine's concern was that in focusing our concerns on solar access that we forget about some of other concerns. East -west road maybe best for solar access but maybe not be for other things. Examples, steeper road, more corners, inter- sections with bad location causing snow problems.etc. Keep minds in prosepctive. Mr. Hunt stated that grades etc. of roads would override solar access. Chair- woman Caldwell stated that Section 8 of.Sub••Division Law, we would have authority to make adjustments in set backs now. Would be best to have statement of purpose and intent to show. Mr. Lavine said one approach we might take is just take philosophy of first landowner to make use of solar access on his site, has claimed that solar access. Mr.. Hunt stated there are other things that interfere. Also said should think of wind access too. Not faced with same problem. You either are in good wind location or not. The question of wind mill an accepted use? Mr. Lavine wanted to know how to encourage individuals to make arrangements for solar access. Mr. Hunt stated in terms of basic siting of houses, we have materials to read, •lectures and groups who would talk to anyone. In longterm plan if we state the purpose of encouraging solar energy in the zoning code, and sub - division regula- tion, we would have made a small step in giving additional legal base to any pri- vate sonvenants or easements that are developed between individuals without being involved ourselves. Chairwoman Caldwell wanted to know if there should be a statement in sub- division regulations or part of official minutes. Mr. Hunt said to give legal force has to be Town Board action. For our own use the minutes of meeting would be sufficient. Possibly be in sub - division rules and zoning code. Mr. Hunt said could be stated to promote and ecourage use of solar energy where residential, commercial and industrial purposes,are consistent with improv- ing and maintaining a standard of good design and appearance. Mr. Lavine thought that was broad statement. Cutting trees is solar energy too. Mr. Hunt stated we should agree as to what the board wants to do. Just basic information tonight. Mr. Lavine said his own feeling in terms of issue to promote, encourage or just to consider whether solar access to solar radiation or say use of solar energy. He would prefer broader one. Solar energy..Allow people to interpret as direct or indirect. Mr. Hunt said people would not define solar energy as wood burning stoves. Think over what was said and see what to do. Revisions Page 4 Mr. Lavine recommended keep in mind a broader prospect as to what we are trying 9 to promote, encourage or consider. If say trying to promote access to solar energy for heating systems or direct solar conversion. Then at same time saying we put higher value on that than other potential uses of sunlight. Concerned about making that implication. He would prefer development to go in a line of fuel wood as oppose to solar conversion. The board will think over what was discussed and possibly come up with wording and mechanics at next meeting. Respectfully submitted, Joan Bray - Secretary