HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB Jan.21.16.Minutes Draft Town of Danby Planning Board
Minutes of Regular Meeting
Thursday January 21, 2016
DRAFT
PRESENT:
Joel Gagnon
Anne Klingensmith
Frank Kruppa
Ted Melchen
Jim Rundle
Steve Selin
ABSENT:
Naomi Strichartz
OTHER ATTENDEES:
Town Planner C.J. Randall
Town Board Leslie Connors
Community Council Susan Franklin
Recording Secretary Kelly Cecala
Public Colleen Strong, Kevin Lacey, Edward Shay, Nancy Kotmel,
Nancy Medsker and Thomas Seaney
The meeting was opened at 7:03 pm.
(1) CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA REVIEW:
Frank Kruppa handed out the agenda to the Planning Board for comment and review, nothing was
added or deleted.
(2) PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR:
There were no comments from the public during Privilege of The Floor.
(3) APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
There was a discussion about whether or not Ted Melchen could vote since his term expired in
December 2015 and he was an interim member of the Planning Board. Gagnon said that there were
no provisions in town law regarding seats on the Board that have been appointed in the interim.
Kruppa suggested that Melchen refrain from voting until the Planning Board gets clarification from the
Town Board. Gagnon said that the Town Board was not given sufficient notice to get applications in to
appoint a replacement. Connors agreed that the Town Board needs more time to complete the
process of finding/appointing replacements.
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MOTION - Approve December Minutes
Moved by Gagnon, Second by Rundle
In Favor: Gagnon, Melchen, Rundle, Selin, Kruppa
Abstain: Klingensmith
The motion passed
(4) PRE-SUBMISSION CONFERENCE: Redevelopment of former Danby Market, 1774 Danby
Rd. Board Action(s) in December: No Action - Discussion Only. Tax Parcel 10.-1-13. Applicant,
Nancy Medsker; Owners, Nancy Medsker and Thomas S Seaney.
Applicant/Owner, Nancy Medsker, handed out copies of the building's elevation and planing view from
the street and blueprints of the proposed new layout. Medsker commented that the original building
had been gutted and that three unique spaces now exist. The largest area, which is approximately
1,800 sq. ft., will be used as both an auto fabrication "shop" and an art studio "space" and will be
more or less hobby related and not operating as a business. Medsker said that the other space is
approximately 900 sq. ft. and that they are currently looking for a tenant to run a small cafe and/or
market in this commercial space. Medsker is planning to have an open house in April 2016.
The backyard of Colleen Strong's home, located at 8 Gunderman Rd., is adjacent to the former
Danby Market parking lot. Strong raised a concern about loosing privacy in her backyard, where her
children play often, once the new building was complete and the parking lot was full. Strong wanted
to mention her concerns to the owner now, while the building was still in the construction phase, so
her privacy issue can be considered during site plan review.
(5) TOWN BOARD LIAISON REPORT:
Leslie Connors reported that the Town Board is busy reviewing the documents and information for
PDZ 10. Connors reported that the Danby Community Council made connections with the former
school district about sharing some of their space for children's activities. The old school, located on
Gunderman Rd., is owned by the school district and is currently being used as a meeting space.
Susan Franklin, from the DCC, said that the school district is open to having the gym used as an
additional meeting and/or a play space.
Connors said that the deadline to receive applications for vacancies on the Planning Board was
March 1st. Kruppa commented that Rebecca Brenner requested job descriptions for both the
Planning Board and Board of Zoning Appeals members. Melchen requested of Connors that the
Town Board find a permanent replacement for him. Melchen agreed to stay on the Planning Board in
the interim, but does not want to be appointed to another seven (7) year term with the known intention
to resigned early. Klingensmith added that every December someone's term ends but that no one
plans for it. Klingensmith added that advance notice needs to be given to the Town Board so they
can plan ahead to find replacements. Gagnon said that there have been times when the Planning
Board have been without a member and/or members have been appointed late. Connors said that a
replacement for Melchen should have been advertised back in October 2015. Melchen agreed to
stay on the Planning Board until April 2016. Gagnon commented that a term should expire at the end
of the year OR until a member is replaced so they can continue until a new appointed was made.
Gagnon suggested clarifying this rule with the town law.
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MOTION - SUGGEST to the Town Board that open vacancies be advertised in October; or two
months before the term ends
Moved by Klingensmith, Second by Kruppa
In Favor: Unanimous
The motion passed
(6) PLANNING & ZONING REPORT:
Randall reported on Work Plan 2016 and handed out copies to the Planning Board for discussion.
She provided thorough details of the plan by section and reported on her research and work efforts in
putting the plan together. Randall mentioned the "Comprehensive Plan Work Program" and said that
she has condensed all of her research and would have additional information on this section next
month.
Randall discussed the "Area Planning and Hamlet Design Work Program" and said that the Town had
applied for the Design Connect Award through a student organization at Cornell. She said that if
Danby was awarded it would help bring some of the "Hamlet Revitalization" to life in the form of
illustration. Randall also gave examples on how to apply for funding for projects that have an
economic development angle. Randall also suggested writing rules for what the town wants in place
and as parcels become available let owners buy and "fulfill" the town's vision. She added that getting
the public's buy in for PDZ is the key to success.
Randall said that her audit was almost complete and that the Work Plan was the preliminary piece to
the audit. Randall has allocated 180 hours in the Work Plan to just Planning and Zoning.
Klingensmith asked for an update on the Groundwater Protection Law and said that the Town Board
was supposed to vote, pass and implement it. Randall said that she allocated hours towards the new
law and would get it wrapped up ASAP. Randall mentioned the town's Emergency and Recovery
Plan had not been updated since H1N1 and that it was on the Work Plan to get updated.
Randall also reported on "Growing Danby Greener" and said that the county has authorized several
tax deductions for building LEED (and other green building certifiers alike) homes. Randall said that
Danby could come up with building and construction incentives for builders if supported by the Town.
She added that the county authorizes the tax abatement as the assessor, but that it would need to
pass the Town Board and that the Town of Danby would need to adopt it locally. Randall added that
Paul Hansen was also working in tandem with HERD (Home Energy Rating Disclosure Program) and
that they will be giving a presentation to the Town of Danby this year. Randall said that HERD could
be the retrofit and revitalization piece of existing buildings to accompany the new construction of
greener buildings. Randall also commented that all applicants are now required to print and provide
copies of studies, maps, applications, etc., for the Planning Board before the meeting.
Randall also distributed copies of Part 1 of SEQR for PDZ 10 and invited the Planning Board
members to provide comments as either individuals, or as a Board, to her or the Town Clerk. She
said that Part 2 of SEQR for PDZ 10 would be started in February.
Gagnon raised concerns about the Work Plan's timeline and said that interim measures have been
discussed over the past year but nothing is resolved. Rundle suggested to revisit the idea of a
moratorium. Randall said that zoning amendments are a challenging and time consuming process
and added that the audit will have a lot of useful information to consider. Gagnon replied…but what
about in the meantime? Gagnon said that a moratorium on site plan review would be of no help at all
and a moratorium on building permits could cause problems. Kruppa said that there are also
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problems with a moratorium. He said that there is a process to make it happen which includes public
hearings for both the PB and TB, which is also time consuming, so the potential exists to rush into
subdivision.
MOTION - REVISIT ZONING ORDINANCE RECOMMENDED CHANGES
Moved by Gagnon, Second by Selin
In Favor: Gagnon, Klingensmith, Melchen, Rundle, Selin, Kruppa
The motion passed
Connors said that the biggest issue is the cutting up of the lots. Randall is recommending that the
minimum lot size be increased to 20 acres or more in rural areas and that conservation subdivision
will be mandatory. Gagnon said, that in light of trying to craft a passing moratorium, wouldn't it be
easier to implement the short-term fixes that were suggested to the Town Board a year ago? Gagnon
suggested getting rid of Land Division by Permit. Klingensmith agreed and said that it was not perfect
but that it would be more effective then a moratorium.
RESOLUTION NO.1 OF 2016 - DELETE LAND DIVISION BY PERMIT
WHEREAS, this action is to ask the Town of Danby to consider a quick pass of deleting land divisions
by permit; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Board has considered this issue on several occasions and understands the
potential of additional work load during this interim time while zoning is being review and until the
amendment process is completed; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Board had made previous recommended zoning changes to the Town
Board; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Board is willing to take on extra work of seeing applicants at Public
Hearings; and
WHEREAS, this is an interim solution until the audit is done and the zoning changes are complete as
part of Work Plan 2016.
NOW, THEREFORE IT IS
RESOLVED, That the Town of Danby Planning Board recommend to the Town Board to delete Article
II, Section 201(B)-LAND DIVISION BY PERMIT, of the Subdivision and Land Regulations of the Town
of Danby.
Moved by Gagnon, Second by Selin
In Favor: Gagnon, Klingensmith, Melchen, Rundle, Selin, Kruppa
The motion passed
(7) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REPORT:
The Comprehensive Plan Report will be updated in conjunction with the Work Plan 2016 timeline.
(8) ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.
______________________________________
Kelly Cecala, Planning Board & Board of Zoning Appeals Recording Secretary
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