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TOWN OF GROTON PLANNING BOARD
Minutes of Regular Meeting - Thursday, 21 July 2016 - 7:30 PM
Town Hall Court Room – 101 Conger Boulevard – Groton, NY
Members, Groton Planning Board (*Absent) Others Present
Edward Neuhauser, Chairperson Rick Fritz, Town Code Enforcement Officer
Lisa Maloney Hahn, Vice-Chair Joan Fitch, Board Secretary
Monica Carey Sheldon Clark, Town Councilman
Barbara Clark Victoria Monty, Town Attorney
Mark Baxendell
Bret Wyllie
Leon Brockway, Jr.
Applicants & Public in Attendance
Robert Brenner, representing Verizon Wireless, Applicant; Robert Walpole, Applicant; Wayne Snyder,
Applicant; Jay & Carol Engels, Applicants; Cary Besemer, Applicant; Kris Boyce, Roger & Tina Adams,
Paul Fouts, Julie Besemer.
REGULAR MEETING
The Regular Meeting of the Town of Groton Planning Board was called to order by
Chairman Ed Neuhauser at 7:30 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – 16 JUNE 2016
A motion was made by Member Barbara Clark to approve the Minutes of the 16 June 2016
Planning Board meeting, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Member Monica Carey,
with the vote recorded as follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #26 of 2016.
OLD BUSINESS
Verizon Wireless, Applicant/Roger F. Adams, Reputed Owner – 868 Peruville Road – TM #35.-1-
27.1 – Proposed Communications Tower
(Note: Reference is made to this Board’s Minutes of 16 June 2016 where the applicant’s representative
first appeared.)
Chairman Ed Neuhauser recognized Robert Brenner of Nixon Peabody Law Firm, representing the
Verizon Wireless who was seeking approval to erect a 160-foot communications tower at the location
indicated. Attorney Brenner once again reviewed what the applicant was proposing. Instead of using
small buildings to house the necessary equipment, he explained that small ground-level cabinets
would be used. The proposed facility would be set back over 1,000 feet from the road. A 24 June 2016
letter from the Tompkins County Department of Planning was acknowledged. It stated that the County
had reviewed the proposal and has determined that it had no negative inter-community or County-
wide impacts.
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Page 2 of 7
At the close of the discussion, a motion was made by Member Mark Baxendell to approve the
Preliminary Site Plan for the proposed communications tower, with a Public Hearing set for 18
August 2016 at 7:30 p.m. The motion was seconded by Member Carey, with the vote recorded
as follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #27 of 2016.
Paul Fouts/Fouts Farm – 1356 NYS Route 222 – Update on Proposed Earthen Manure Storage &
Transfer System
Chairman Neuhauser recognized Mr. Fouts who had requested to appear before the Board to update
them on the proposed earthen manure storage and transfer system that he will be utilizing on his
farm. A complete explanation of the system’s operation and maintenance, complete with drawings, all
prepared by JESS Engineering, PLLC, was submitted to the Board, a copy of which has been placed on
file for the record.
At the end of the update, Chairman Neuhauser thanked Mr. Fouts for keeping the Town abreast of his
plans regarding this extensive project.
No Action Required.
NEW BUSINESS
Richard & Georgie Tillotson, Applicants/Reputed Owners – Elm Street Ext. – TM #27.-1-28.2 –
Minor Subdivision
Chairman Neuhauser recognized the applicant who was seeking approval to subdivide a 5.68±-acre
parcel out of his 212.5±-acre property, as shown on the map accompanying the application.
With no further discussion, a motion was then made by Member Lisa Maloney Hahn that the Town
of Groton Planning Board declares itself Lead Agency under SEQRA for the proposed Minor
Subdivision. The motion was seconded by Member Leon Brockway, with the vote recorded as
follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #28 of 2016.
Chair Neuhauser then read aloud Part II of the Short Environmental Assessment Form. Negative
responses were obtained to all questions in Part II.
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Page 3 of 7
A motion was then made by Member Maloney Hahn that, based on the information and analysis
of the SEQR concerning this application, the Town of Groton Planning Board has determined
that the proposed action will not result in any significant adverse environmental impact,
resulting in a Negative Declaration. The motion was seconded by Member Barbara Clark, with
the vote recorded as follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #29 of 2016.
With no further discussion, a motion was then made by Member Carey to waive the Public Hearing
and approve the Minor Subdivision as requested. The motion was seconded by Member
Baxendell, with the vote recorded as follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #30 of 2016.
Cary L. Besemer, Applicant/Reputed Owner – 139 Sincerbeaux Road – TM #31.-1-26.32 – Minor
Subdivision
Chairman Ed Neuhauser recognized the applicant who was seeking approval to split this 14±-acre
parcel into two lots, as shown on the survey map accompanying the application; one lot to be
approximately 8.45± acres with the second lot composed of the remainder.
With no further discussion, a motion was then made by Member Brockway that the Town of
Groton Planning Board declares itself Lead Agency under SEQRA for the proposed Minor
Subdivision. The motion was seconded by Member Maloney Hahn, with the vote recorded as
follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #31 of 2016.
Chair Neuhauser then read aloud Part II of the Short Environmental Assessment Form. Negative
responses were obtained to all questions in Part II.
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Page 4 of 7
A motion was then made by Member Baxendell that, based on the information and analysis of
the SEQR concerning this application, the Town of Groton Planning Board has determined that
the proposed action will not result in any significant adverse environmental impact, resulting in
a Negative Declaration. The motion was seconded by Member Clark, with the vote recorded as
follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #32 of 2016.
With no further discussion, a motion was then made by Member Brockway to waive the Public
Hearing and approve the Minor Subdivision as requested. The motion was seconded by Member
Bret Wyllie, with the vote recorded as follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #33 of 2016.
Jay Engels, Applicant/Jay & Carol Engels & Eleanor Hunter, Reputed Owners – 554 Scofield
Road – TM #34.-1-31.22 – Minor Subdivision
Chairman Neuhauser recognized Mr. and Mrs. Engels who were seeking approval to subdivide their
20.66±-acre property as shown on a portion of a tax map accompanying their application. A 9 June
2016 narrative was also attached, explain what they wanted to do and why.
Chairman Neuhauser advised the owners that a survey map would need to be provided to the Town,
and Member Carey reminded them that the lots would need to have a minimum road frontage of 150
feet.
With no further discussion, a motion was then made by Member Clark that the Town of Groton
Planning Board declares itself Lead Agency under SEQRA for the proposed Minor Subdivision.
The motion was seconded by Member Maloney Hahn, with the vote recorded as follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #34 of 2016.
Chair Neuhauser then read aloud Part II of the Short Environmental Assessment Form. Negative
responses were obtained to all questions in Part II.
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Page 5 of 7
A motion was then made by Member Maloney Hahn that, based on the information and analysis
of the SEQR concerning this application, the Town of Groton Planning Board has determined
that the proposed action will not result in any significant adverse environmental impact,
resulting in a Negative Declaration. The motion was seconded by Member Brockway, with the
vote recorded as follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #35 of 2016.
With no further discussion, a motion was then made by Member Baxendell to waive the Public
Hearing and approve the Minor Subdivision as requested, contingent upon receipt of a survey
map prepared by a Licensed Land Surveyor. The motion was seconded by Member Carey, with
the vote recorded as follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #36 of 2016.
Richard & Georgie Tillotson, Applicants/Reputed Owners – Chipman Corners Rd. – TM #16.-1-
12.3 – Minor Subdivision
Chairman Neuhauser recognized Robert Walpole, Realtor, representing the applicants who were
seeking approval to subdivide a 1.07±-acre parcel out of their 88±-acre property, as shown on the map
accompanying the application. Mr. Walpole advised that a new survey was currently being done.
The Board then discussed whether or not a flag lot was being created; there seemed to be some
confusion with regard to what appeared to be a “pole” accessing the remaining portion of the land.
Chair Neuhauser commented that this should be researched before any further action is taken.
With no further discussion, a motion was then made by Member Baxendell to postpone any action
on the requested Minor Subdivision until 18 August 2016 to allow time to research additional
information. The motion was seconded by Member Brockway, with the vote recorded as follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #37 of 2016.
Wayne Snyder, Applicant/Reputed Owner – 89 Sharpsteen Road – TM #35.-1-24.14 – Minor
Subdivision
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Page 6 of 7
Chairman Neuhauser recognized the applicant who was seeking approval to subdivide his 11.5±-acre
parcel into three parcels, as shown on the map accompanying the application. Lots A & B, as shown,
would be two smaller lots to be used for A-frame homes. Lot C, 9.26± acres, is improved with Mr.
Snyder’s current homesite.
After reviewing the survey map accompanying the application, the Board members agreed that they
needed to know the actual acreage of Lots A and B to make sure they conform to the Town’s
requirements.
With no further discussion, a motion was then made by Member Maloney Hahn that the Town of
Groton Planning Board declares itself Lead Agency under SEQRA for the proposed Minor
Subdivision. The motion was seconded by Member Wyllie, with the vote recorded as follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #38 of 2016.
Chair Neuhauser then read aloud Part II of the Short Environmental Assessment Form. Negative
responses were obtained to all questions in Part II.
A motion was then made by Member Clark that, based on the information and analysis of the
SEQR concerning this application, the Town of Groton Planning Board has determined that the
proposed action will not result in any significant adverse environmental impact, resulting in a
Negative Declaration. The motion was seconded by Member Wyllie, with the vote recorded as
follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #39 of 2016.
With no further discussion, a motion was then made by Member Carey to waive the Public Hearing
and approve the Minor Subdivision as requested, contingent upon receipt of a survey map
prepared by a Licensed Land Surveyor. The motion was seconded by Member Baxendell, with
the vote recorded as follows:
Ayes: Chairman Neuhauser Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Clark
Member Baxendell
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Wyllie
Member Brockway
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #40 of 2016.
OTHER BUSINESS
• Chairman Neuhauser reminded Board members that the State requires four hours of training for
each year that is served on the Board. With Planning Board terms of seven years, this means that 28
(T) Groton Planning Board Minutes of Regular Meeting 21 July 2016
Page 7 of 7
hours of training is required during each term. If the State-required training is not completed during
their seven-year term, a Board member will not be recommended for an additional term.
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:25 p.m., a motion was made by Member Maloney Hahn to adjourn the meeting. The motion was
seconded by Member Clark, with all members present voting in favor.
Joan E. Fitch, Board Secretary Emailed to Supv., Town/Deputy Clerks, CEO Fritz,
Attorney Monty & Board Members on 7/28/16.