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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-21TOWN OF GROTON PLANNING BOARD Minutes of Public Hearing & Regular Meeting - Thursday, 21 December 2017 - 7:30 PM Town Hall Court Room - 101 Conger Boulevard - Groton, NY Members, Groton Planning Board Mark Baxendell, Chairman *Leon Brockway, Jr., Vice -Chairman Monica Carey Barbara Clark Edward Neuhauser Lisa Maloney Hahn Bret Wyllie (*Absent) Others Present Joan Fitch, Board Secretary Sheldon Clark, Town Councilman Rick Gamel, Town Councilman Rick Fritz, CEO Victoria Monty, Town Attorney Applicants & Public in Attendance Alan Wilkinson, Applicant; Doug Morrison for American Towers, LLC, Applicant; Wayne Snyder, Brian Belcher, Monica & David Dykeman, Robyn & Tim Foote, Tammy & Jeff Lasher, Ray Miller, Nancy Kelly, Walt Protas. PUBLIC HEARING Alan Wilkinson, Applicant/ Reputed Owners - NYS Route 34B - TM #35.-1-25.2 - Proposed Self - Storage Facility The Public Hearing was opened at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Mark Baxendell; the Board Secretary read aloud the Legal Notice as duly published in the Finger Lakes Newspaper on 20 December 2017. Proof of Publication has been placed on file for the record. Chairman Baxendell, after informing those present of the public hearing procedure, recognized the applicant who explained that he was seeking approval to construct self -storage units on the subject 45± -acre parcel. He stated that he would start out with 37 units, constructing more as needed. Chairman Baxendell asked if there was anyone present who wished to comment on the application; there were, as follows: Monica Dvkeman - 834 N. Wood Road - Serves on Rec Committee, Youth Commission, Library Board, etc. Representing herself, not any organization. Does not fit in with character of area. It's a commercial project with many units on five acres. Not for our community; it's for outside people. It's a 24-hour facility to be located in a residential area, meaning 24-hour lighting and traffic. It's not bringing in any jobs. Assessments will go down in immediate area. Will not benefit community in any way, shape, or form. Not attractive when coming in to Groton; it's an eyesore. Crime magnet, used by drug dealers and thieves. Do not need a facility of this size in this small community. It will be of no benefit, only a detraction. Against the project. Tim Foote - 967 Peruville Road - Has same concerns as Ms. Dykeman. Proposed facility is "very out of character for the surrounding landscape," farming. People moved "out here" and did not expect commercial facility. Love the outdoors, the landscape, the peace and quiet. Nothing personal, but wants Board to consider all the work put into their properties only to have storage units within view. Will have nighttime lights. People will come in at night, moving stuff and talking. Enterprises should be located where they fit. Can envision it closer to Town. You need to protect all of the citizens. Road is dangerous with heavy salt truck traffic. Sight distances too short when coming from private driveways onto highway. Like to see application tabled for further discussion, and notice given to everyone within a distance of 500 feet. Page 1 of 5 (T) Groton Planning Board Minutes of Public Hearing &Regular Meeting 21 December 2017 Wavne Snvder - 89 Sharpsteen Road - Been in this country setting for over 30 years. Coming into Dryden, the existing storage units there look awful. We don't need to see proposed eyesore when coming into Groton. Has difficulty exiting his driveway onto highway; near miss with tractor trailer. Notified police agencies, but has not solved problem. Has interest in buying property next door, but definitely won't do it if storage units are next door. It's a commercial business in what I think is residential area. Traffic is biggest concern; someone will get killed on this road. Second time Mr. Snyder spoke, he stated that traffic on his road since 1990 has increased by 75%. Tammv Lasher - 913 Peruville Road - Salt trucks and steel trucks makes it take 20-30 minutes just to cross the road to get her mail at 4:30 p.m. If storage facility added there will be someone killed. Likes the country area; proposed facility does not belong here. Nancv Kellv - 916 Peruville-So. Lansinay Road - Property immediately to west of applicant's property. Looked at all information regarding putting commercial enterprise on agricultural land. (Showed an aerial map of the area.) Nowhere are there adequate provisions for drainage. There is no potable water. Future plans of applicant indicate filling entire property with storage units. There's nothing to handle runoff from pavement. No gravel assessment, no soil assessment provided; plan is very deficient. No provisions for restrooms; weeded area probably will be used. Talk tonight about emotional impact is correct. Timed salt trucks that went by her house two years ago at 7 a.m. and there were a total of 63 within five minutes. Now also contending with Weitsman materials haulers. Trucks overloaded and pay fines; they cannot stop easily. Planning Board will be open to potential lawsuit as they are cognizant of the fact of potential driving hazard. Town doesn't need to open itself to that type of liability. Pointed out creek that goes to Owasco Inlet and runs thru the subject property. What will proposed commercial development, with all the oil, fluids from the vehicles coming in and out of storage facility, do to Owasco Inlet? Pollute it, she responded. There is insufficient information on soil assessments, etc., Board should, if not delay a vote, vote no. Second time she spoke: asked applicant why he didn't investigate having subject property "leased as agricultural?" to area farmer. Third time she spoke: this would be a redundant storage area; there is one five miles down the road in a commercial area. We don't need one in this area. Rav Miller - 983 Peruville Road - Has property across road. Subject property, not used in over 40 years, is good place to have development of some sort. Concerned with traffic; counted 360 trucks/cars per hour most days. Robvn Foote - 967 Peruville Road - Lives across from subject property. Husband contemplating leaving area and is looking at other properties. They love their 83 -acre property and don't want to do that, but is concerned with potential negative activities that could happen across the street. Assessments will decrease. This is not a good potential for the community. There's other land available in the Groton area for this commercial facility. Tim Foote - 967 Peruville Road - Property owners in the area will not be able to sell their properties after the construction of 563 storage units for the amount they could today. No one will compensate us for this loss. There are places for this type of thing. Other businesses are small and not intrusive; no night hours. Proposed business is very large. Asked Board to explain process; Chairman Baxendell advised that this would be the only public hearing on the matter. However, every meeting is open to the public and is held the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. With everyone heard who wished to be heard, Chairman Baxendell closed the Public Hearing at 8:12 p.m. Page 2 of 5 (T) Groton Planning Board Minutes of Public Hearing &Regular Meeting 21 December 2017 REGULAR MEETING The Regular Meeting of the Town of Groton Planning Board was called to order by Chairman Mark Baxendell at 8:13 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 16 NOVEMBER 2017 A motion was made by Member Monica Carey to approve the Minutes of the 16 November 2017 Planning Board meeting, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Member Lisa Maloney Hahn, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chairman Baxendell Nays: None Member Carey Member Clark Member Neuhauser Member Maloney Hahn Absent: Member Brockway Member Wyllie Motion carried. This becomes Action #75 of 2017. OLD BUSINESS Alan Wilkinson, Applicant/ Reputed Owners - NYS Route 34B - TM #35.-1-25.2 - Proposed Self - Storage Facility Chairman Baxendell acknowledged receipt of a 19 December 2017 letter from Wayne and Robyn Snyder objecting to the proposed facility. The letter has been placed on file for the record. Chairman Baxendell then acknowledged receipt of a letter from Joyce Ferris, 996 Peruville Road, dated 20 December 2017, which also objected to the proposed facility. This letter, too, has been placed on file for the record. Member Carey stated that, as part of Groton's Code, the Planning Board can request a consultant review and she thought this would be appropriate for the proposed storage facility. Chairman Baxendell advised that the cost would be borne by the applicant, or the applicant could retain his own consulting (e.g., a Licensed Professional Engineer). Member Carey reminded everyone that the applicant still needed to fill out an application with the NYSDOT. Mr. Wilkinson responded that he was not aware of this. Town Attorney Victoria Monty provided Mr. Wilkinson with a copy of this form. Chairman Baxendell stated that a Full Environmental Assessment would be conducted and asked CEO Rick Fritz to assist the applicant with this process. The Board then discussed Coordinated Review with Dryden (because of their proximity to the proposed project), and also who would act as Lead Agency under SEQRA. At the conclusion of this discussion, a motion was made by Member Barbara Clark that the Town of Groton Planning Board recommends to the Town Board that the Town Planning Board act as Lead Agency under SEQRA, and include the Dryden Planning Board as an involved agency regarding the proposed self -storage unit facility. The motion was seconded by Member Edward Neuhauser, with the vote recorded as follows: Motion carried. Ayes: Chairman Baxendell Member Carey Member Clark Member Neuhauser Member Maloney Hahn Member Wyllie Nays: None Absent: Member Brockway This becomes Action #76 of 2017. Page 3 of 5 (T) Groton Planning Board Minutes of Public Hearing &Regular Meeting 21 December 2017 A motion was then made by Member Maloney Hahn that the continued Site Plan Review is postponed until the 18 January 2018 meeting of this Board in order to obtain additional information and complete the SEQRA review regarding the proposed self -storage unit facility. The motion was seconded by Member Neuhauser, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chairman Baxendell Nays: None Member Carey Member Clark Member Neuhauser Member Maloney Hahn Absent: Member Wyllie Member Brockway Motion carried. This becomes Action #77 of 2017. Chairman Baxendell asked Mr. Wilkinson if he understood everything regarding his application for the proposed self -storage facility, and Mr. Wilkinson responded that he did. NEW BUSINESS Organizational Matter - Set Meeting Dav/Time A motion was made by Member Clark that the Town of Groton Planning Board has selected the third Thursday of each month, 7:30 p.m., as its Regular Meeting day/time for 2018, as needed. The motion was seconded by Member Neuhauser, with the vote recorded as follows: Motion carried. Ayes: Chairman Baxendell Member Carey Member Clark Member Neuhauser Member Maloney Hahn Member Wyllie Nays: None Absent: Member Brockway This becomes Action #78 of 2017. American Towers, LLC, Applicant/John A. Beck, Reputed Owner - 422 Champlin Road - TM # 19.-1-10 - Proposed Telecommunication Facility Chairman Baxendell recognized Doug Morrison, representing the applicant who was seeking approval to construct a 125 -foot high monopole to be used as a telecommunication tower for Verizon (there may, however, be one or two other carriers). American Towers would be the owner, and Verizon is the tenant. He explained the proposed facility, reviewed the extensive materials (including maps) accompanying the application, and advised that the tower would be constructed by the end of 2018. Chairman Baxendell and the Board acknowledged receipt of a "removal plan" from the applicant. At the conclusion of the discussion, a motion was made by Member Maloney Hahn to accept the Preliminary Site Plan for the proposed telecommunication facility, with a Public Hearing set for 18 January 2018 at 7:30 p.m. The motion was seconded by Member Neuhauser, with the vote recorded as follows: Motion carried. Ayes: Chairman Baxendell Member Carey Member Clark Member Neuhauser Member Maloney Hahn Member Wyllie Page 4 of 5 Nays: None Absent: Member Brockway (T) Groton Planning Board Minutes of Public Hearing &Regular Meeting This becomes Action #79 of 2017. 21 December 2017 OTHER BUSINESS • Chairman Baxendell advised that there will be training available to Board members in April at the Sagamore Resort on Lake George. Board members were provided with a flyer for this conference. • Chairman Baxendell asked the Town Councilmen and Code Enforcement Officer present if they had any information they needed to convey to the Board; they did not. ADJOURNMENT At 8:45 p.m., a motion was made by Member Clark to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Member Carey, with all members present voting in favor. J E. Fitch, Board Secretary Page 5 of 5 Emailed to Supv., Town/Deputy Clerks, CEO Fritz, Attorney Monty & Board Members on 1/16/18.