HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board Minutes - April 21, 2016 Town of Danby Planning Board
Minutes of Regular Meeting
Thursday April 21, 2016
DRAFT
PRESENT:
Joel Gagnon
Anne Klingensmith
Frank Kruppa
Jim Rundle
Jody Scriber
Steve Selin
Naomi Strichartz
OTHER ATTENDEES:
Town Planner C.J. Randall
Town Board Leslie Connors
Recording Secretary Kelly Cecala
Pubic Ted Crane
The meeting was opened at 7:03 pm.
(1) CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA REVIEW:
C.J. Randall provided copies of the agenda. Strichartz said that Ted Melchen was in
the hospital and requested that the Planning Board purchase a get well card for him.
Gagnon suggested to pass a resolution of thanks as well.
(2) WELCOME NEW PLANNING BOARD MEMBER:
Jody Scriber is a newly appointed member of the Planning Board and replaced Ted
Melchen's expired term.
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(3) PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR:
There were no comments from the public during Privilege of The Floor.
(4) APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Kruppa commented that Ted Melchen voted at the January and February meetings,
however he was not an active member of the Planning Board at the time. The
Planning Board agreed to leave Melchen's name on the minutes, as a true record of
what happened, but with a notation that his vote did not effect the outcome of any
of those decisions.
Strichartz requested to strike the following statement from the February minutes
which in her opinion was misrepresented and inaccurate - "She (Strichartz) said that
everyone that has come in (to Danby) has moved to the area recently."
Rundle suggested to strike a statement from the February minutes because it does
not make sense - "Mr. Casper will be back in February." He added that there was
no March meeting and Mr. Casper was not present tonight.
MOTION - Approve January Minutes
Moved by Gagnon, Second by Rundle
In Favor: Gagnon, Rundle, Selin, Kruppa
Abstain: Klingensmith, Strichartz, Scriber
The motion passed
MOTION - Approve Amended February Minutes
Moved by Strichartz, Second by Gagnon
In Favor: Gagnon, Klingensmith, Rundle, Selin, Strichartz, Kruppa
Abstain: Scriber
The motion passed
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(5) TED MELCHEN
Kruppa will be purchasing a get well card for Ted. Strichartz said that cards should
be sent to the hospital. Kruppa asked if a resolution should be passed recognizing
Ted's contribution on the Planning Board.
MOTION - PASS A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION
Moved by Gagnon, Second by Strichartz
In Favor: Gagnon, Klingensmith, Rundle, Scriber, Selin, Strichartz, Kruppa
The motion passed
RESOLUTION NO.3 OF 2016 - RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION FOR
TED MELCHEN
Resolved, that the Planning Board of the Town of Danby formally acknowledges
and extends its appreciation to Ted Melchen for his many years of service.
Moved by Gagnon, Second by Strichartz
In Favor: Gagnon, Klingensmith, Rundle, Scriber, Selin, Strichartz, Kruppa
The motion passed
(6) TOWN BOARD LIAISON REPORT:
Connors reported on a presentation that Kris Gardner gave about the County
Unification Program and the money that was available from the Cooperative
Extension. Connors said that Gardner gave ideas on how the available money can
be used; examples included new signs and planting native plants along the road, at
special sites (i.e. Jennings Pond) and near welcome signs.
Connors said the acquisition of the property next door was still being worked on but
that an actual offer had not been made. Klingensmith asked why the Town wants to
buy it? Randall replied that it stemmed from the community's support to the hamlet
sustainability plan. She said the idea was to purchase parcels like this and make it
useful for the Hamlet Center.
Connors said that the Town Board was still deciding on whether or not the Highway
Superintendent position should be a hired position or an elected position.
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Connors reported that there was a special meeting to discuss PDZ 10 and that the
Town was currently completing SEQR on the project. Connors also said that the
Town Board went through the list of uses, line by line, and made some changes.
Randall added that the Planning Board can submit comments during the scoping of
PDZ 10.
Connors reported that there were three (3) vacant BZA seats that need to be filled
and the application process was under way. Gagnon said an advertisement would
be featured in the Danby News.
(7) PLANNING & ZONING REPORT:
Gagnon asked Randall for an update on the Planning Board's recommended
Subdivision Regulations. Randall said the Town Board received the Amendments
but that Steve Winkley, who has been working on the Ground Water Protection
Law, also proposed Subdivision Amendments as it would pertain to new
developments. As a result the Town Attorney, Guy Krogh, would like to see a full
revision of the Subdivision Amendments including Major Subdivision.
Randall reported on the agricultural easements that are available through Ag &
Markets. She said there is a beef rancher in town who has applied for an
agricultural easement on his property near Caroline. Randall said that she has
advocated for this, on behalf of the town, with county planning and will do
everything possible to help support the application. Randall added that it would
permanently take this parcel out of play for development and that the easement
would be held by New York state.
Randall said that Verizon Wireless is planning to build a telecommunications tower
at the American Legion on 96B and is in the process of submitting a development
application. Randall suggested doing a full Subdivision review at next month's
meeting which would also include a 45 minute presentation on SEQR.
(8) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REPORT:
Randall conducted a "brain writing" activity with the Planning Board members.
She asked them to write down their answers to six (6) over arching broad questions
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about Danby. Randall will be summarizing the responses into a word cloud image
which she will present at the next meeting. Randall also provided the members
with current copies of the Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan.
Selin said that the concept of assessment had come up periodically and that it
encourages farms to get caught up because the people can't afford their taxes
anymore. Selin commented that if it were only up to the Town then some of the
easements could be used to help those farms. Strichartz said that she didn't think it
was the Town's right anymore. Gagnon said that the easements are a sate mandate
and that the land must be valued at market value.
Selin wondered what the Planning Board could do to influence those decisions on
ag-assessments? Selin commented that he believed there was a lot going on in the
county assessment office that was encouraging development but that people are not
paying attention to. Selin suggested writing a letter to the county assessment office
asking them to take into account the agricultural uses on the land. Gagnon added
that it should also go to the legislature. Selin offered to write a draft letter for the
Planning Board to review.
(9) ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm.
______________________________________
Kelly Cecala, Planning Board & Board of Zoning Appeals Recording Secretary
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