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Home My WebLink About2011-03-17 TOWN OF GROTON PLANNING BOARD Minutes of Regular Meeting - Thursday, 17 March 2011 - 7:30 PM Town Hall - 101 Conger Boulevard - Groton, NY Members, Groton Planning Board (*Absent) Others Present Edward Neuhauser, Chairperson Joan Fitch, Recording Secretary Monica Carey Gary Coats, Town Code Officer Barbara Clark Glenn Morey, Town Supervisor Mark Baxendell Robin Cargian, Deputy Town Clerk Mary K. Gloster Janice Haines John Morey Applicants & Public in Attendance Chris Hatch, Applicant; Sharon Dickerson, Applicant; Shelly Covert, Applicant; Town Councilman Don Scheffler; Abby Homer, Dan Covert. PUBLIC HEARING Chris Hatch, Applicant/Henry Hatch, Reputed Owner - 53 Chipman Corners Road - TM #16.-1- 25.0 - Proposed Home Occupation Chairman Ed Neuhauser opened the Public Hearing at 7:30 p.m. The Board Secretary read aloud the Public Hearing Notice as published in the Groton Independent.; Proof of Publication has been placed on file for the record. Chairman Neuhauser recognized the applicant who explained to everyone present that was seeking approval to have a small showroom and an office in the 400 SF basement of the home on the subject property. Chair Neuhauser then asked if there was anyone present who would like to make any comments regarding this application; there was no one who wished to comment. With everyone being heard who wished to be heard, Chairman Neuhauser closed the Public Hearing at 7:34 p.m. REGULAR MEETING The Regular Meeting of the Town of Groton Planning Board was called to order at 7:34 p.m. by Chairman Ed Neuhauser. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — 17 FEBRUARY 2011 A motion was then made by Member Mary Gloster to approve the Minutes of the 17 February 2011 Planning Board meeting, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Member Monica Carey, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chair Neuhauser Nays: None Member Baxendell Member Carey Member Clark Member Gloster Member Haines Member Morey Motion carried. This becomes Action #8 of 2011. Page 1 of 4 (T)Groton Planning Board Minutes of Public Hearings&Regular Meeting 17 March 2011 OLD BUSINESS Chris Hatch, Applicant/Henry Hatch, Reputed Owner - 53 Chipman Corners Road - TM #16.-1- 25.0 - Final Site Plan Review- Proposed Home Occupation (Reference is made to the Planning Board Minutes of 17 February 2011 for details pertaining to this proposed home occupation.) At the request of Chair Neuhauser, the Board Secretary read aloud Part II of the Short Environmental Assessment Form. Negative responses were obtained to all questions in Part II. A motion was then made by Member Gloster that, based on the information submitted, the proposed action will not result in any adverse environmental impact, resulting in a Negative Declaration under SEQRA. The motion was seconded by Member Janice Haines, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chair Neuhauser Nays: None Member Baxendell Member Carey Member Clark Member Gloster Member Haines Member Morey Motion carried. This becomes Action #9 of 2011. A motion was then made by Member Monica Carey to approve the Final Site Plan for the proposed home occupation, as requested. The motion was seconded by Member Gloster, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chair Neuhauser Nays: None Member Baxendell Member Carey Member Clark Member Gloster Member Haines Member Morey Motion carried. This becomes Action #10 of 2011. NEW BUSINESS Sharon Dickerson, Applicant/Reputed Owner - 196 Lick Street - TM #36.-1-14 - Proposed Healing Center/Gift Shop Chairman Neuhauser recognized the applicant who explained that she would like to open a natural healing center and a small gift shop in two existing rooms in her home with a private entrance. Parking spaces will be in the back off Stevens Road, as shown on an enlarged portion of the tax map which accompanied the application. She also stated there would be additional parking in the front. She would be the sole proprietor. The facility would be open by appointment, Tuesday thru Sunday. The Board members advised the applicant that they needed a better Site Plan, as what accompanied the application did not meet the requirements for same; there were no measurements or locations provided; nothing was to scale. She agreed to consult with CEO Gary Coats regarding submittal of a proper Site Plan. Page 2 of 4 (T)Groton Planning Board Minutes of Public Hearings&Regular Meeting 17 March 2011 CEO Coats commented that he had looked at the proposed location and she could not have an entrance from her kitchen. The applicant has added another door to solve this problem. At the conclusion of this discussion, a motion was made by Member Barbara Clark to set a Public Hearing for the proposed healing center/gift shop for 21 April 2011 at 7:30 p.m. The motion was seconded by Member Carey, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chair Neuhauser Nays: None Member Baxendell Member Carey Member Clark Member Gloster Member Haines Member Morey Motion carried. This becomes Action #11 of 2011. A motion was then made by Member Mark Baxendell to accept the Preliminary Site Plan with modifications, indicating the required items on the Final Site Plan. The motion was seconded by Member Clark, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chair Neuhauser Nays: None Member Baxendell Member Carey Member Clark Member Gloster Member Haines Member Morey Motion carried. This becomes Action #12 of 2011. Shelly Covert, Applicant/Reputed Owner - 767 Clark Street Ext. - TM #20.-1-7.7 - Proposed Multi-Family Housing Unit Chairman Neuhauser recognized the applicant and her husband, Dan, who explained to the Board that they had purchased approximately three acres of land improved with a three-apartment house. They would like to modify one of the large rooms into a fourth unit (studio apartment) containing 384± SF, as shown on the sketch accompanying the application. It was noted that the application had not been signed by the applicants; they signed it at that time. CEO Coats commented that although this property has been a three-unit apartment house for years, it had never been inspected as such. It had never been on the Town's list for Fire Safety Inspection. CEO Coats has been onsite and the window in the proposed kitchen did not meet egress standards. Egress is now not an issue, he stated. There are still some things they have to do, he said, but they have their Building Permit and are working on correcting all of the issues. Parking was discussed; there should be two spaces per unit. The driveway entered the property from Clark Street, according to Mr. Covert. Mr. Covert stated there were about six spaces now, but the parking could be expanded to meet the requirements. Member Carey commented that the Board did not want to see any onstreet parking. The Board advised the applicants that they would like to see a detailed Site Plan containing all locations, measurements, etc., as required. A motion was then made by Member John Morey to set a Public Hearing for the proposed Multi- Family Housing Unit on 21 April 2011, immediately following the Dickerson hearing. The Page 3 of 4 (T)Groton Planning Board Minutes of Public Hearings&Regular Meeting 17 March 2011 motion was seconded by Member Haines, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chair Neuhauser Nays: None Member Baxendell Member Carey Member Clark Member Gloster Member Haines Member Morey Motion carried. This becomes Action #13 of 2011. A motion was then made by Member Baxendell to accept the Preliminary Site Plan with modifications, indicating the required items on the Final Site Plan. The motion was seconded by Member Carey, with the vote recorded as follows: Ayes: Chair Neuhauser Nays: None Member Baxendell Member Carey Member Clark Member Gloster Member Haines Member Morey Motion carried. This becomes Action #14 of 2011. OTHER MATTERS • Member Clark reported that she had completed her required training for 2011. She attended sessions given by the NY Association of Towns on 20 and 21 February. • Member Carey commented on the Dickerson application. In the past, parking on the road has created difficulties for farm machinery traveling thereon. Board should make sure that there would be no onstreet parking allowed for her proposed business. CEO Coats stated this had already been brought to her attention. The location of the septic system should also be shown on the Final Site Plan. • Town of Groton's Revised Land Use & Development Code: There will be a Public Hearing on April 12th, 7:30 PM. There will also be an additional public hearing in May. Supervisor Morey explained why the Town Board did not respond to the County Planning Department's concerns as contained in four letters; the County just had not read what the Town had done; a cover letter was sent with to the County with each revision, but they still responded the same. • CEO Coats reported that there may be 1 or 2 businesses coming in, but applications had not yet been received. • NYS Route 222 Signs (Beck): CEO Coats stated that he was still awaiting final disposition from the Court. ADJOURNMENT At 8:30 p.m., a motion was made by Member Clark to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Member Haines, with all members present voting in favor. *n E. Fitch, Board Secretary Emailed to Town/Deputy Clerks, CEO Coats, Chair Neuhauser& fr Board Members Baxendell, Gloster, Carey, Clark&Morey on 4/14/11 Page 4 of 4