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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-10-21 TGPB OWN OF ROTON LANNING OARD Minutes of Regular Meeting - Thursday, 21 October 2004 – 7:30 PM – Town Hall Members, Groton Planning BoardOthers Present (*Absent) Monica Carey, Chair Joan Fitch, Recording Secretary Barbara Clark Gary Coats, Town CEO Tom Guihan Mark Baxendell Brad Albro Mary K. Gloster Janice Haines Applicants & Public in Attendance John D. Wood, Applicant, & Mrs. Wood; Kathy & Steve Howard, Applicants; Sheldon Clark, Town Councilman The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairperson Monica Carey. John D. Wood, Applicant/Bonnie M. Swearingen, RO – 925 Spring St. Extension – TM #25.-1- 11.3 – Motor Vehicle Repair Shop (Reference is made to the August and September 2004 Planning Board Minutes for details of the application, and the results of the Public Hearing, after which the Board postponed their decision until this meeting to review all of the comments given.) Chair Carey noted that although this application was omitted from the Agenda for this meeting, it had been postponed until now at the September Planning Board meeting. The Board discussed the issues brought up at the Public Hearing. With regard to noise, the applicant stated that he does the majority of his work inside the garage but, on occasion, a car carrier will load/unload vehicles. Also, there had been one occasion when a customer had an emergency situation with his dump truck which the applicant repaired later than usual in the evening because the truck was needed the next morning. Chair Carey complimented Mr. Wood on the visual improvement to the subject parcel. It’s been cleaned up. The Board then asked the applicant for the number of vehicles he would like to be allowed on the property for repairs, and where he planned to park them. Mr. Wood commented that he made more room on the site when he moved the trailer from in front of the garage. Member Tom Guihan asked the applicant if he had “cleaned up that pallet of batteries.” The applicant responded that there was no pallet of batteries there and never has been. He stated he has an outlet for the batteries and does not keep them. Member Baxendell again asked about the number of vehicles the applicant would like on the site for if you take junk parts, we would like those removed as soon repair. Chair Carey then stated that “ as you can, ” and that would be a stipulation for the Special Permit. With regard to the number of vehicles to be allowed, licensed and unlicensed (turnkey cars from a dealer), Mr. Wood stated that he probably eight at the most would like “.” These, he stated, could be easily parked around the garage. The Board agreed this would be reasonable. Chair Carey then advised the applicant to work with the Code Enforcement Officer to come up with a parking plan that would be placed in his file for the record. CEO Coats stated that if “eight is the number we’re looking at, those are cars. Now if you bring in a large tractor, that’s going to count as so many cars. Say, one tractor might count as three cars, so then you’d have the tractor and five other cars, because that takes up so much more room.” Mr. he could work with having Wood argued that it was still just one vehicle; however, he added that Page 1 of 4 (T) Groton Planning Board Minutes of Regular Meeting 21 October 2004 eight vehicles. Chair Carey then commented that if he had a different number there, temporarily, he could call the CEO and let him know. Mr. Wood stated that he realized he only makes money when the cars are turned out on a timely basis, so they would not be there that long. Also, any vehicles brought to him that end up as junk vehicles would be removed and disposed of properly. CEO Coats advised the applicant to come up with a parking plan and asked him to finish the siding on the building. Mr. Wood stated he would finish the siding as soon as he got enough money to do so. He stated he would also fill in the west side of the building with gravel/stone, and he may later add on to the garage at this location. Member Barb Clark asked the applicant about lighting on the site, and Mr. Wood stated there was a light on the front of the garage, but it hasn’t been hooked up yet. If he ends up parking cars at the other end of the garage, he stated later on he may install a security light there. The Board advised that any light should not be placed so high as to shine onto anyone else’s property. Chair Carey asked the applicant to contact CEO Coats regarding any proposed signage. Member Brad Albro asked the applicant what his hours of operation would be, and he responded he wouldn’t be working after 8 p.m. and agreed to respect his neighbors. In conclusion, he agreed that the six days per week, Monday thru Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 8:30 days/hours of operation would be p.m. A motion was then made by Member Baxendell to approve the Site Plan/Special Permit with the stipulations as discussed. The motion was seconded by Member Albro, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chair Carey Nays: None Member Albro Member Baxendell Member Clark Member Gloster Member Guihan Member Haines Motion carried. This becomes Action #38 of 2004. David McMasters, Applicant/RO – Cor. Cobb Street & West Groton Rd. – TM #23.-1-5.311, 312, 313, & 314 & 23.-1-5.2 – Boundary Change Request It was noted by Chair Carey that, once again, neither the applicant, nor a representative, were present to answer the Board’s questions. CEO Coats commented that the applicant was proposing to consolidate five previously subdivided parcels and make them one. There were three houses on the total of the five parcels; then there would be one parcel with three individual homes on it which is not allowed. Chair Carey stated the Board could allow him to combine two of the vacant parcels to make one, but the applicant was not present to get his input. The Board members felt that since he was not present, and no one had heard from him, Mr. McMasters may not want to do the subdivision. A motion was then made by Member Barb Clark to deny the proposed boundary change as the applicant, or a representative, had twice failed to appear to answer the Board’s questions. The motion was seconded by Member Baxendell, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chair Carey Nays: None Member Albro Member Baxendell Member Clark Member Gloster Member Guihan Member Haines Page 2 of 4 (T) Groton Planning Board Minutes of Regular Meeting 21 October 2004 Motion carried. This becomes Action #39 of 2004. Approval of Minutes – 16 September 2004 A motion was made by Member Baxendell to approve the Minutes of the 16 September 2004 Planning Board, as corrected (Member Albro voted Aye on all actions). The motion was seconded by Member Clark, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Member Albro Nays: None Member Baxendell Member Clark Member Gloster Member Guihan Abstain: Chair Carey Member Haines Motion carried. This becomes Action #40 of 2004. As the Howards had not yet arrived, Chair Carey proceeded with other business in the interim. Other Business CEO Coats advised the Board that he had received a pamphlet from the Tompkins County  Planning Board (Annual Report). Regarding page 9, middle left-hand column, the CEO Coats stated that the County is inundated with GML reviews which are not really necessary. He stated that ten out of the 28 municipalities in the County have opted out of the GML Review for small things like setback requirements, boundary changes, etc. These ten municipalities no longer send these types of referrals to County Planning; they do, however, refer those applications that do require a decision from them. CEO Coats, with the agreement of the Planning Board, stated he would ascertain the procedure to do the same. He will take the matter to the ZBA and the Town Board for their thoughts on the matter. According to CEO Coats, County Planning stated they do not need the Town Board’s approval. Chair Carey stated she will also talk with the ZBA members at the upcoming training session on Monday. When asked by the Planning Board what he had heard about the proposed cell tower, CEO  Coats responded he had heard nothing more. Before considering the next application, Chairperson Carey excused herself from the discussion/voting (the applicant is her sister), and stated that Member Gloster would assume the responsibility of Acting Chair. Kathy & Steve Howard, Applicants/R0s (dba Pizza Barn) – 608 Cortland Road (NYS Rte. 222) – TM #20.-1-29.1 – Preliminary Site Plan Review for Proposed Garden Center Acting Chair Mary Gloster recognized the applicants who explained they were seeking Site Plan Review/Special Permit to convert their present business, the Pizza Barn, into a Garden Center, as shown on the sketch map accompanying their application. There will be no more Pizza Barn as of the end of the year. Mr. Howard stated they plan to grow a few vegetables and plants and sell garden supplies, etc. They would also like to stock a few plumbing, electrical, pet, and hardware supplies, lawnmower parts —– Page 3 of 4 (T) Groton Planning Board Minutes of Regular Meeting 21 October 2004 the types of things people run out of, but don’t want to make the trip to Cortland to get. He stated they plan to call their business “Howard Farms.” In response to Member Guihan’s question, they would like to open their new business in early May when the nursery-type business starts. Mrs. Howard stated they will try to stay open year-round, but they will see what the future brings. Plants and garden supplies are springtime items, except for holiday plants, but plumbing, electrical, pet and other supplies could take them through the winter. Member Guihan thought the planned changeover would be a good idea. Acting Chair Gloster commented that there was certainly adequate parking for the business. Member Clark asked the applicants if they would be expanding their existing greenhouse, and the replied they would, but only if needed. CEO Coats advised that the property lies in an M-2 District, as well as an Ag District where a greenhouse is allowed. A greenhouse, however, is not allowed in an M-2 District in and of itself. However, the NYS Ag & Markets Law provides that a greenhouse is an allowable use and supercedes Town zoning. The greenhouse used by the applicants will not be a commercial store, but will only be accessed by them for product and maintain the plants. The Garden Center store such as is proposed is an allowable use in the M-2 District, with a Special Permit. There will, of course, be a change in occupancy from A to M. CEO Coats advised the applicants to obtain a Building Permit for the change in occupancy, and stated he will work with them. The Board affirmed that a SEQR review was not required as “Under 6 NYCRR Part 617.5(c)(10), (12) or (13) of the State Environmental Quality Review Law, the proposed action is a Type II action and is determined not to have a significant impact on the environment, or is otherwise precluded from environmental review under the Environmental Conservation Law, Article 8.” Acting Chair Gloster stated that the Board needed to set a Public Hearing date/time. A motion was then made by Member Guihan to approve the Preliminary Site Plan for the proposed Garden Center and set a Public Hearing for 18 November 2004 at 7:30 p.m. The motion was seconded by Member Pat Haines, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Acting Chair Gloster Nays: None Member Baxendell Member Clark Member Albro Member Guihan Abstain: Chair Carey Member Haines Motion carried. This becomes Action #41 of 2004. Adjournment At 8:12 p.m., a motion was made by Member Baxendell to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Member Clark, with all members present voting in favor. Joan E. Fitch, Board Secretary Emailed to Deputy Town Clerk, Chair Carey, & Board Member Gloster on 10/27/04. Originals mailed. Page 4 of 4