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HomeMy WebLinkAboutB - 01 Planning Board Minutes 08/29/2023Page 1 of 4 TOWN OF CORTLANDVILLE PLANNING BOARD Minutes of Regular Meeting - Tuesday, 29 August 2023 – 6:30 PM Town Hall Meeting Room – 3577 Terrace Road – Cortland, NY Board Members (*absent) Others Present Christopher Newell, Chairman Bruce Weber, Town Planning/Zoning Officer Nicholas Renzi Abigail C. Albro, Board Secretary Laird Updyke *John DelVecchio, Town Attorney Nasrin Parvizi Ann Hotchkin Applicants & Public Present Katherine Eastman, Applicant; Andrew Gordon, Representing Carson Power Renewable Energy; Matt Napierala, John Bessette, & Mike McCracken, Representing Hospitality Restaurant Group; Adam O’Brien, Doug Clark, & Mark Chambers, Representing Pall Corporation; Town Residents John Reynolds, Pam Jenkins, Bob Martin, & Jim Nichols; Jack Eves, from X101 News. REGULAR MEETING The Regular Meeting of the Town of Cortlandville Planning Board was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chairman Christopher Newell. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – JUNE 27, 2023 A motion was made by Member Renzi to approve the Town Planning Board Minutes of 27 June 2023, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Member Updyke, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chair Newell Nays: None Member Hotchkin Member Parvizi Member Renzi Member Updyke Motion carried. This becomes Action #40 of 2023. NEW BUSINESS KATHERINE EASTMAN (EXECUTRIX), APPLICANT/BARBARA ANGELL (DECEASED) and ERIC J. & CLAUDIA A. MAKI, REPUTED OWNER – 2293 & 2313 BLODGETT MILLS RD. – TM #97.04-02- 19.000 & 97.04-02-18.000 – Subdivision - The Application for - Lot Line Adjustment Chairman Newell recognized Katherine Eastman who was seeking a Lot-Line Adjustment for the properties referenced above. Ms. Eastman explained to the Board that she is the executor of her mother’s estate and during the process of settling the estate she has been made aware that part of the existing deck on the home is over the neighbor’s property line. The Board and Ms. Eastman discussed the Lot-Line Adjustment, agreeing that basically it would be an even exchange of land. With no further discussion, a motion was made by Member Renzi to approve the Lot Line Adjustment, as requested. The motion was seconded by Member Updyke, with the vote recorded as follows: (T) Cortlandville Planning Board Regular Meeting Minutes 29 August 2023 Page 2 of 4 Ayes: Chair Newell Nays: None Member Hotchkin Member Parvizi Member Renzi Member Updyke Motion carried. This becomes Action #41 of 2023. CARSON POWER RENEWABLE ENERGY, APPLICANT - BLUE CREEK ROAD AREA - Sketch Plan Conference held for proposed solar project and 38-lot residential subdivision Chairman Newell recognized Andrew Gordon representing Carson Power Renewable Energy, who presented the Board with a sketch plan review for a proposed 10 Mega Watt Tier 3.b Solar Project and a 38-lot residential subdivision. Mr. Gordon stated that since the first sketch plan review, was presented to the board back in February he took a hard look at the feed back from the Planning Board, the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, and a previous solar project proposed on this parcel a few years ago. Mr. Gordon stated that it became very clear after reviewing everything that this parcel is better suited for residential development than solar development. Mr. Gordon stated that he believes the new sketch plan proposing the solar on a much smaller, less visible, portion of the parcel (40 acres) and a 38-lot residential subdivision on the rest of the parcel is a creative solution and that instead of the traditional lease of property for solar, the parcel would be purchased. Mr. Gordon made it clear that this would be one application and one SEQR. Member Renzi asked Mr. Gordon how big his company is, where it is located, and if they have completed a project like this elsewhere. Mr. Gordon stated that they are a small company located in Manhattan with about twenty employees and that this would be the company’s first time proposing/developing a project like this. Member Renzi asked Mr. Gordon if the residential portion would be owned by the company or sold to the developer. Mr. Gordon stated that Carson Power would own the solar portion of the project and sell the remaining portion of the parcel for residential development to the developer. The Board and Mr. Gordon had much discussion regarding the parcel and the proposed development including: visual impact; slope over fifteen percent; retention basin; prime farmland; proximity to the Fisher Ave. substation; market study for development in this area; what type of residential housing; the cost of getting roads and utilities to the residential housing; where the developers would come from; has Carson Power talked to the neighbors; and does it make financial sense for Carson Power to go through with this project now that there is such a small amount of solar. Member Hotchkin asked PZO Weber if the Board would be “mudding things up” if the Board did one SEQR for a solar and residential project. PZO Weber explained that the SEQR would be based on the application before the Board. If the application specifies solar and residential development, then the Board would do one SEQR because that is the scope of the project. The Board asked PZO Weber how they could do them together when they know eventually, they won’t be together. PZO Weber explained that the Board as part of any approval could have conditioning stating that they want to see part of the residential development. Member Renzi and Mr. Carson discussed a few more facts about the solar company, its owner and what type of commitment, if any, the solar company had from potential developers. The Board discussed the solar portion of the proposed development again, Chairman Newell reminded them that was their focus, mainly discussing zoning and prime farmland. Mr. Gordon proposed moving the solar off the prime farmland to the opposite corner of the parcel. The Board agreed that then viewshed would become an issue. Mr. Gordon stated that it is challenging for developers to bring applications for development to the Town knowing that the zoning is going to change with the Town’s new Comprehensive Plan. (T) Cortlandville Planning Board Regular Meeting Minutes 29 August 2023 Page 3 of 4 In conclusion, the Board thanked Mr. Gordon for listening to them at the previous meeting and his thoughtful sketch plan review but stated that they would not consider a waiver on the prime farmland. Chairman Newell stated that if Mr. Gordon wanted to return next month with a developer, he was welcome to and that the Board made it very clear how they felt about a waiver for the prime farmland. No Action Taken. HOSPITALITY RESTAURANT GROUP, APPLICANT – 860 ROUTE 13 – TM #95.20-02-04.000 - Sketch Plan Conference held for proposed drive-thru Taco Bell restaurant Chairman Newell recognized Matt Napierala from Napierala Consulting, representing Hospitality Restaurant Group, who presented the Board with a sketch plan review for a proposed drive-thru Taco Bell restaurant. Mr. Napierala explained the scope of the project, including: the location of the restaurant in the former First Niagara Bank adjacent to Applebee’s; demolishing the existing building; asphalt parking which will remain the same with a few modifications for parking and the drive-thru; a double order board drive-thru with two lanes that will fit up to twenty cars; 29 parking spaces; and eat- in dining with 40 seats. Mr. Napierala stated that the lot is currently 2 separate parcels and that they will go through the process with the Board to combine them into one. Also, stating that the parcel is less than an acre, so no SWIPP would be required and that the survey is almost complete. The Board and Mr. Napierala discussed traffic, snow storage, landscaping, signage, color scheme, hours, drainage, and lighting. Member Renzi asked Mr. Napierala if the already existing Taco Bell restaurant in the City of Cortland would remain open, to which he answered yes. Chairman Newell asked Mr. Napierala when he planned to start construction. Mr. Napierala stated that it depends on how quickly they receive approval and the weather. If things move quickly, they might start in the fall. If not, it would be in the spring of 2024. Chairman Newell thanked Mr. Napierala for the sketch plan review. No Action Taken. PALL CORPORATION, APPLICANT/REPUTED OWNER – 3643 ROUTE 281 – TM # 95.12-01-07.000 - Sketch Plan Conference held for proposed building expansion Chairman Newell recognized Mark Chambers from CNS Engineers, representing Pall Corporation, who presented the Board with a sketch plan review for a proposed building expansion. Mr. Chambers briefly discussed the 22,000 sq. ft addition including modifications to the parking lot. Mr. Chambers explained that the modifications to the parking lot would include 10 x 20 parking spaces and that there would be about 25 less parking spaces available. Board Member Renzi asked if there would be enough parking spaces left for employees during shift change, to which Mr. Chambers answered yes. The Board and Mr. Chambers discussed the following: the elevation of the building; hiring more employees; the new product that would be manufactured; the name of the proposed project; the traffic circulation plan; the overhead door on the proposed addition; and the plan for the modification to the parking lot. Chairman Newell asked Mr. Chambers when he planned to start construction. Mr. Chambers answered early 2024. Chairman Newell thanked Mr. Chambers for the sketch plan review. No Action Taken. (T) Cortlandville Planning Board Regular Meeting Minutes 29 August 2023 Page 4 of 4 Other Discussion • Member Hotchkin mentioned that her term on the Planning Board is ending at the end of the year and wondered what the process is to get re-appointed. Chairman Newell stated that the Town Supervisor’s office will reach out to him, and that it will be added to the Town Board agenda. • The Board discussed the interest in solar near the Blue Creek area, mentioning how close it is to utilities making it a desirable location and the Town’s new comprehensive plan changing the zoning for that location to R-1. • Member Renzi mentioned the retirement of Kathleen McGrath. • Member Hotchkin wondered if anything was going into the empty Echo Park location on Route 281. Member Renzi stated that he believed Echo Park would re-open in the spring. • Chairman Newell mentioned a news article he read recently regarding pickleball noise in other municipalities. ADJOURNMENT At 7:57 p.m., a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Member Updyke, seconded by Member Hotchkin, with all members present voting in the affirmative. Abigail C. Albro, Board Secretary E-mailed to Town Clerk, AR, Bd. Members, JD County Planning, BW and KM & DC on 9/25/23.