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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-09-05-PB-FINALTOWN OF ULYSSES PLANNING BOARD MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, September 5, 2017 Approved: September 19, 2017 Present: Chair David Blake, and board members Rebecca Schneider, David Tyler and John Wertis; Town Planner Darby Kiley; Town Board Liaison Rich Goldman. Sara Worden and Benjamin LeWalter were excused. Public in Attendance: Carl Mazzocone, Jason Demarest, and Jamie Swinnerton (press) Call to order: 7:00 p.m. Agenda Review; Minutes Review (8/15/17) Ms. Schneider said she has been working on materials about marinas and pollution and will have the documents ready for Board review in the next few days. Mr. Wertis MADE the MOTION to accept the August 15, 2017 meeting minutes, and Mr. Blake SECONDED the MOTION. The motion was carried, 3-0, with Ms. Schneider abstaining from the vote. Privilege of the Floor: No one from the public addressed the Board at this time. Sketch Plan: Inn at Taughannock — site development. The project includes the construction of retaining walls to create a level lawn with patios, garden, and reflecting pools. The property is located at 2030 Gorge Rd, Tax Parcel Number 14.-1-11, B1 -Business District. TFI LANDCO, LLC, owner; Carl Mazzocone, contact for owner; Jason Demarest, architect. Mr. Demarest provided a project overview, stating first that the project has changed since the Planning Board last saw it. The applicant would like to level the lawn area near the Inn and construct a retaining wall. An existing path would be rerouted around the retaining wall. Also, an existing retaining wall located west of the proposed reflecting pools could possibly be demolished. The Inn will shut down after Thanksgiving for at least one more winter, and the hope is to get approval for this project so as to begin as soon as possible. As part of additional projects, the applicant intends to relocate existing powerlines located just south of the Inn — powerlines that obstruct Inn views — and move them further west, across the driveway and near a future utility structure. Mr. Demarest said the applicant would need a storm water protection plan if doing all site work, but if doing just the retention pool area, it would fall under the 1 -acre threshold for the storm water plan. Planning Board members were unclear as to what exactly was being proposed, since plans suggested further development of the Inn property. Mr. Mazzocone said he is only looking to get Planning Board 2 September 5, 2017 a retaining wall built. You are saying there could be a building in the future? Mr. Tyler asked. Yes, Mr. Demarest said, but it is unclear if the reflecting pools are still part of the plan. After another round of questions from Board members, Mr. Demarest said the applicant wishes to build a level lawn area and build a retaining wall and utility area. Whether the lawn area becomes either lawn or patio, we are not sure that is a major concern of the Board, he said. Conversation turned to water runoff, with Ms. Schneider saying the plans call for excavation, and there is a lot of ground water coming off the nearby hill. She wants to see more information regarding subsurface water. In response, Mr. Demarest said a geo-tech boring was completed, and leveled land will be above groundwater flow. The ground water will percolate, she said; how will engineers mitigate subsurface water? Asked about patio surface, Mr. Demarest said it would be a rock surface with speckled stone in between. As for utilities, powerlines running across Gorge Road would be above ground, while lines from the proposed utility shed to the Inn would be underground, he said. Planning Board members were asked to request any information they feel they may need. Ms. Schneider requested information on sediment and the tactics used to prevent erosion, to which Ms. Kiley said the stormwater plan would include such information. Responding to a question from Mr. Wertis regarding fill, Mr. Demarest said if the existing retention wall is demolished, they would use the same fill for the planned lawn area. Underground storage tanks will be used to catch water runoff and slowly percolate it back into the soil. Mr. Tyler felt there were no concrete plans to consider, and he could not evaluate the project without knowing specifically what is being proposed. Mr. Mazzocone felt this comment unfair and said most of his initial plans were denied by the BZA. He is trying to make money, and needs the Planning Board's permission to build a retaining wall so he can host weddings. He is planning to install underground storage tanks in the event his business expands in the future; better now than later. Mr. Wertis MADE the MOTION to open the sketch plan, and Mr. Blake SECONDED the MOTION. The motion was unanimously carried. Having heard Ms. Schneider's concerns over stormwater, Mr. Wertis asked if the Planning Board should seek out a consulting engineering company to review the stormwater plan. Ms. Kiley said the Town works with the Soil and Water Conservation District, which reviews any stormwater plan that comes before the Town. Mr. Tyler asked about the materials used for the retaining wall. Mr. Demarest said the wall would be constructed with large, pre -cast concrete that has a rock look to it. Additional landscaping is also being developed to serve as a sound buffer, Mr. Mazzocone added. Ivy will eventually cover the wall, with the goal of hiding the wall as quickly as possible. He said he turned down 175 weddings and is losing money. I have no intention of building anything other than what I am proposing tonight, he said. Ms. Schneider said she would like to see terracing on the retaining wall. Signs were briefly discussed. Ms. Kiley asked if the applicant wanted to include the signs within site plan review, Planning Board 3 September 5, 2017 but since there is no rush to put up signs this season, Mr. Demarest suggested including signage in a phase 2, which can be reviewed through the winter. Mr. Mazzocone expressed his frustration in trying to get the Inn back to profitability. Even if he gets permission to put up a tent and host weddings, that would be a salvation, he said. He also noted the need for a back-up generator, which would be housed in the future utility shed. He has had five power failures in the last two weeks. Mr. Demarest said the applicant has already paid for sound and traffic studies, which are in -hand. Ms. Schneider requested both studies be considered. Parking was also discussed, followed by a short conversation regarding process and timeline. Mr. Mazzocone and Mr. Demarest left the meeting at 8:13 p.m. Planning Board members continued their conversation of the Inn project, discussing parking, site plan review, and allowable uses. Agenda items for next meeting — Moore's Marine Ms. Kiley said the Moore's are waiting on a surveyor and may have the necessary materials submitted in time for the Planning Board's next meeting. Ms. Schneider said she has been crafting a summary about evidence of pollution near marinas. A water quality professional she spoke with said a minimum 100 -foot buffer should be required near creeks. Ms. Schneider MADE the MOTION to adjourn the meeting, and Mr. Blake SECONDED the MOTION. The motion was unanimously carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Louis A. DiPietro 11 on September 12, 2017.