HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-16 MinTOWN OF GROTON PLANNING BOARD
Minutes of Regular Meeting - Thursday, 16 January 2020 - 7:30 PM
Town Hall Court Room - 101 Conger Boulevard - Groton, NY
Members, Groton Planning Board
Nla•k Baxendell. Chairmai
Leon Brock l'r' N% Jr., 'ice-C:liairmai
Monica Ca•eN-
Edwa•d Neuliauser
Lisa NlaloneN- Dalin
Samuel Rose
Applicants & Public in Attendance
None.
(*absent) Others Present
Rick Fritz. Tovti-ii CFO
.loci Fitch. Board Secreta -N'.
Brimi Klumpp. Tovti-ii Councilmmi
Robui Ca•gimi. Deputy Tovti-ii Clerk
11 REGULAR MEETING
The Regular Meeting of the Town of Groton Planning Board was called to order by
Chairman Mark Baxendell at 7:30 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES — 19 DECEMBER 2019
A motion was made by Member Lisa Maloney Hahn to approve the Minutes of the 19 December
2019 Planning Board meeting, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Member Ed
Neuhauser, with the vote recorded as follows:
Ayes: Chair Baxendell Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Neuhauser
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Brockway
Member Rose
Motion carried.
This becomes Action # 1 of 2020.
OLD BUSINESS
AT & T (Mathew Kerwinl. Auulicant/Christouher & Linda Tallman. Reuuted Owners - 6-1
Sovocool Hill Road - TM #31.-1-3.1 - Prouosed Wireless Communications Tower
Chairmai Mark Baxendell noted that the Public bea•uig scheduled regarding this application was iiot
beuig lield at this meetilig due to mi error in the timely pttblicatioii of the required Legal Notice. mid it
was iiocossmy to reschedule the hea•ilig. be stated lie had beeii iii contact %%itli To« -ii attorney Frai
Casullo mid had asked him to contact the applicait's attoriiey to obtain a copy of the eiigiiieer's
dravti ng of the proposed tower which showed the details of the tower's breaking point. AttorlieN.
Casullo said lie would take care of this. Chairmai Baxendell added that this dravuuig should be made
a part of the application. Member San Rose questioned what would happeii if the tower fell on the
applicait's onsite utility slied.
«"ith no further discussiom a motion was made by Member Monica Carey, to reschedule a Public
Hearing for the proposed Wireless Communications Tower for 20 February 2020 at 7:30 p.m.
Page 1ofI
6l 1' U v,j f . r � I IP. �.,1(I � u == i' � ' . _s fi u
(T) Groton PlatiMsig Elnrd Mituites of RegWar NIMirig
16 Jarman 2020
The motion was seconded by Member Leon Brockway, Jr., with the vote recorded as follows:
Ayes: Chair Baxendell Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Neuhauser
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Brockway
Member Rose
Motion carried.
This becomes Action #2 of 2020.
NEW BUSINESS
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS FOR 2020
Selection of Board Chair
A motion was made by Member Rose to select Mark Baxendell as Town of Groton Planning
Board Chairman for 2020. The motion was seconded by Member Brockway, with the vote
recorded as follows:
Motion carried.
Ayes: Chair Baxendell Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Neuhauser
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Brockway
Member Rose
This becomes Action #3 of 2019.
Selection of Board Vice -Chair
A motion was made by Member Carey to select Leon Brockway, Jr., as Town of Groton Planning
Board Vice Chair for 2020. The motion was seconded by Member Lisa Maloney Hahn, with the
vote recorded as follows:
Motion carried.
Ayes: Chair Baxendell Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Neuhauser
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Brockway
Member Rose
This becomes Action #4 of 2019.
Selection of Meeting Day/ Tim
A motion was made by Member Carey to set the 2019 Town of Groton Planning Board meetings
for the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m., as needed. The motion was seconded by
Member Rose, with the vote recorded as follows:
Motion carried.
Ayes: Chair Baxendell Nays: None
Member Carey
Member Neuhauser
Member Maloney Hahn
Member Brockway
Member Rose
This becomes Action #5 of 2019.
Page 2 of d
6.FfGif . 1' �I C �.,1(IIu==i'�'. _sfiu. =fry,
(T) Groton Planning Board Minutes of Regular Meeting 16 January 2020
PROPOSED PLANNING BOARD POLICY FOR APPLICATION REVIEW
Board members were provided with a copy of a proposed policy for the Town's ZBA and Planning
Boards suggesting that each Board select a designated member at their Organizational Meeting who
will be available to check applications that are received by the Town Clerk.
This Board discussed the pros and cons of providing this liaison. Chairman Baxendell stated he had
done some research on this proposal and perhaps this might be a redundant position; the Town Code
Officer does this work as part of his job. He also reported that this matter had been considered a few
years ago. If the Board decides to do this, Chairman Baxendell suggested that Board members do this
on a quarterly basis, with each member serving in this capacity for three months at a time, as needed.
Being a liaison would give Board members the opportunity to use this as training to see "how the
procedure operates in the office where the paperwork starts." Members would be reimbursed extra by
the Town Board.
Member Carey commented on when the liaison would meet with the Deputy Clerk/Code Enforcement
Officer to review applications, as some of the Board members have full-time jobs and would only be
available evenings/ weekends. Member Neuhauser thought this was a second chance to review things
before the actual meeting. CEO Rick Fritz thought it would be a big help.
Member Carey said that Board members, once they've received the application(s), had the
responsibility of visiting the site and take a look at it. Any questions should be brought back to the
Board. Member Brockway commented that if someone is acting unilaterally by themselves outside of
the Board, that would be a problem.
Chairman Baxendell stated that previously a Sketch Plan Review was held with the applicant at a
regular meeting, providing the opportunity to review the application and give advice regarding what
was being proposed. This process worked very well, and could be done again. Member Carey recalled
that the Board moved from not doing the Sketch Plan Review right to the Preliminary Review and then
the Final, which is in the Code. If everything was complete at the Sketch Plan Review then, at the
same meeting, they would approve the Preliminary, with the Final Review completed at the next
month's meeting. Board members felt that instead of having a liaison, this procedure would allow all
Board members to be involved.
Board Secretary Fitch commented that, when this Board had its Sketch Plan Reviews, the Minutes of
that meeting included the Board's needs, if any, to complete the application/ project. Use of a liaison
would not provide any record of comments/ recommendations. A complete record should made.
At the conclusion of this lengthy discussion. the Board agreed to resume the Sketch Plan process in
accordance with the Town Code.
No Action Taken.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE PROPOSAL
Deputy Clerk Cargian reported that the Town Board will be discussing this matter at their
PLANNING BOARD VACANCY
Chairman Baxendell said he would like to interview candidates at the March meeting of this Board.
Deputy Town Clerk Robin Cargian reported that the opening will be advertised in the Town's official
newspaper.
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:25 p.m., a motion was made by Member Brockway to adjourn the meeting. The motion was
seconded by Member Rose, with all members present voting in favor.
�� �� Page 3 of 4
(T) Groton Planning EWard Nfintites of Regular NImiling
Jowi E. Fitch. Board Secretm-v
16 Jantian 2020
Emailed to Supv, Town/Deputy Clerks, CEO Fritz,
Attorney Casullo & Board Members on 1/19/20
Page 4 of 4
I U i
"-i-, �Jl 1� Uv"J r� I IF j