HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-11-03-PB-FINALTOWN OF ULYSSES
PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES
Tuesday, 11/3/2015
7:00 p.m.
Approved: 11/17/15
Present: Chairman John Wertis; board members Pete Angie, David Blake, David Diaz,
Rebecca Schneider, and board alternate Lisa Anderson; Environmental Planner Darby Kiley; and
Town Board Liaison Rich Goldman.
Call to Order: 7 p.m.
Agenda Review; Minutes Review (October 20, 2015)
Ms. Kiley circulated the latest Open Development Area draft ordinance proposal and said she
had spoken with Town Attorney Mariette Geldenhuys on a number of matters related to it. She
advised board members to review the proposal and be prepared to discuss it at a future meeting.
In regard to the October 20, 2015 draft meeting minutes, Mr. Wertis pointed to Mr. Goldman's
comment that a town letter from the BZA was a matter to be handled by the BZA and not the
Town Planning Board. Mr. Wertis felt that there has been an issue in the past about
communication between the Town Board of Zoning Appeals and the Planning Board. Even
though the letter, which advised neighbors of a proposed subdivision, had originated from a BZA
action, the matter still affects the Town, he said. Mr. Wertis felt the Planning Board could make
suggestions on how the BZA action item is communicated with the public. Mr. Goldman and Mr.
Blake noted the Planning Board has already established a plan to begin meeting independently
with the BZA to better improve communications between the two boards.
Mr. Blake MADE the MOTION to approve the October 20, 2015 meeting minutes, and Ms.
Schneider SECONDED the MOTION. The vote was as follows:
Mr. Wertis
AYE
Mr. Angie
AYE
Mr. Blake
AYE
Mr. Diaz ABSTAINED
Ms. Schneider AYE
Result: Meeting minutes approved
Introduction to and exposition about Ag Districts and the relationship between NYS Ag
and Markets to Town Zoning Law
Mr. Wertis said the purpose of the evening's meeting is to review a presentation from NYS
Department of Agriculture and Markets on Ag Districts and Town Zoning Law. The presentation
Planning Board 2
November 3, 2015
will be considered as a training session for the present board members. Mr. Wertis said he was
initially uncomfortable with conducting a training session as part of a regularly scheduled
meeting, but the Town Supervisor approved of the idea. Two weeks ago, representatives of
Cornell Cooperative Extension gave a talk on Town Ag districts, since the districts were up for
review. The meeting was not well attended by the public or Town officials, and the information
was not over -stimulating, he said. For tonight, the Board would review a Powerpoint
presentation made by Bob Somers, a field man for State Ag and Markets. Mr. Wertis advised
that the presentation has a bit of a slant in that it implies how lucky towns are to have Ag
districts.
The next 50 minutes were dedicated to the presentation, and additional material was provided
relating to (1) procedures and documents required of the Town, (2) mapping comparison of
County ag districts, (3) presentation on the process and (4) documents used to apply for and
calculate ag assessments, and examples of how the ag district law has affected specific zoning
issues in the Town of Ulysses. Mr. Wertis urged board members to ask questions, and any
questions left unanswered would be documented for further review. Those included:
How are soil maps updated?
How does a property owner prove that they have updated their soils?
Town Board Liaison Report
Mr. Goldman gave a brief report, urging the board to get out and vote since elections for two
uncontested Town Board seats were being held that day.
Ms. Schneider MADE the MOTION to adjourn the meeting, and Mr. Angie SECONDED the
MOTION. The motion was unanimously approved.
Meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Louis A. DiPietro on November 8, 2015