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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2-18 Planning Board MinPage 1 of 3 TOWN OF GROTON PLANNING BOARD Minutes of Regular Meeting via Zoom - Thursday, 18 February 2021 - 7:30 PM Town Offices – 101 Conger Boulevard – Groton, NY Members, Groton Planning Board (*Absent) Others Present Mark Baxendell, Chairman Don Scheffler, Town Supervisor Leon Brockway, Jr., Vice-Chairman Rick Fritz, Town CEO Monica Carey Robin Cargian, Deputy Town Clerk/Host Edward Neuhauser Guy Kroga, Acting Town Attorney Lisa Maloney Hahn Joan Fitch, Board Secretary Samuel Rose Dan Cerretani Applicants & Public in Attendance Jeff Brockway, Applicant; Sam & Natalie Sweeney. 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 – 4 FEBRUARY 2021 A motion was made by Member Sam Rose to approve the Minutes of the 4 February 2021 Planning Board meeting, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Member Lisa Maloney Hahn, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chair Baxendell Nays: None Member Carey Member Cerretani Member Neuhauser Member Maloney Hahn Member Brockway Member Rose Motion carried. This becomes Action #6 of 2021. OLD BUSINESS Jeffrey Brockway, Applicant/Owner (dba Cayuga Tool and Die) 700 Stevens Rd. – TM #31.-1- 19.52 - Final Site Plan Review – Proposed Fabrication & Repair Facility. Chairman Baxendell asked Board members if they had visited the site, and some had. Chairman Baxendell commented that he found it “very educational.” He thanked the Board members for doing some research regarding trees and fencing. Chairman Baxendell acknowledged a 23 December 2020 letter from the Tompkins County Department of Planning and Sustainability from Commissioner Borgella, in which it was recommended to move the driveway on this site. This driveway, as stated by the Chairman, has been an existing driveway for many years before and it has now been built up and made much nicer. Member Brockway, who visited the site with Member Rose, commented that there is no portion of the applicant’s road that is out of the 1115 ft. elevation recorded on the USGS topographical map. The map is off, especially at the creek line as it bends to the south. The Board felt there are important points to bring up about the (T) Groton Planning Board Minutes of Regular Meeting 18 February 2021 18 August 2016 Page 2 of 3 maps along the Stevens Road area being incorrect. The Town, he reported did visit the site and, utilizing a transit, did a visual assessment and also determined that elevations of the road/site is not what is on the outdated maps. At the conclusion of this discussion, a motion was made by Member Maloney Hahn that the Town of Groton Planning Board hereby declares itself Lead Agency under SEQRA for the proposed fabrication and repair facility. The motion was seconded by Member Monica Carey, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chair Baxendell Nays: None Member Carey Member Cerretani Member Neuhauser Member Maloney Hahn Member Brockway Member Rose Motion carried. This becomes Action #7 of 2021. Member Brockway 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 Dan Cerretani that, based on the information and analysis of the SEQR concerning this application for a proposed Fabrication and Repair Facility, 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: Chair Baxendell Nays: None Member Carey Member Clark Member Neuhauser Member Maloney Hahn Member Brockway Member Rose Motion carried. This becomes Action #8 of 2021. Chairman Baxendell advised that the Town’s Acting Attorney for this application, Guy Kroga, had prepared two proposed conditions for the Board’s consideration with regard to this Site Plan, and the Board reviewed them. He read aloud each of the conditions and a discussion ensued. The first condition was with regard to setting forth the business’ hours of operation, and the second condition related to fencing. At the conclusion of an extensive discussion, a motion was made by Member Cerretani to approve the Final Site Plan for the proposed Fabrication and Repair Facility, incorporating the following conditions: (1) Applicant has volunteered to make reasonable efforts to maintain customary business hours of operation between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm to minimize potential impacts that could arise from deliveries, employee operations, or related events, and such condition is thereby adopted. However, this is not a regulatory condition specific to business hours on any specific future days, but applies only generally to anticipated hours of usual operations over the spans of months and years. However, if any change in the general hours of operation is required for any period of time in excess of 15 days, the Applicant shall apply for an amendment to this site plan approval, and (2) the Applicant will install three 6’ tall by 8’ wide sections of fencing as a privacy and glare screen, with the middle section to be centered upon the business dumpster. These fence sections shall be maintained in good and serviceable condition at all times. Such fencing shall be a solid-type fence that blocks light, and fencing sections shall (T) Groton Planning Board Minutes of Regular Meeting 18 February 2021 18 August 2016 Page 3 of 3 be of natural materials finished in natural tones or in muted color palates that blend with the natural surrounding environment of trees and lawns. For example, a solid pressure-treated wood stockade fence finished in a natural stain or color tone, when installed to meet the size and placement conditions stated above, would meet this requirement. The motion was seconded by Member Maloney Hahn, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chair Baxendell Nays: None Member Carey Member Clark Member Neuhauser Member Maloney Hahn Member Brockway Member Rose Motion carried. This becomes Action #9 of 2021. NEW BUSINESS - NONE OTHER DISCUSSION Chairman Baxendell advised that there will be an 18 March 2021 meeting to discuss Site Plan Application updates. Board members need to come up with suggestions to streamline the application process, making it easier for the applicants so they will know exactly what they will need to provide. ADJOURNMENT At 8 p.m., a motion was made by Member Sam Rose to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Member Ed Neuhauser, with all members present voting in favor. Joan E. Fitch, Board Secretary Emailed to Supv., Town/Deputy Clerks, CEO Fritz, Attorney Casullo & Board Members on 3/5/21. Approved as corrected on 18 March 2021.