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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-03-PB-FINALTOWN OF ULYSSES PLANNING BOARD MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, October 3, 2017 Approved: December 5, 2017 Present: Chair David Blake, Benjamin LeWalter and John Wertis; Town Planner Darby Kiley, and Town Liaison Richard Goldman. Mr. LeWalter was named a voting member. Board members Rebecca Schneider, David Tyler and Sara Worden were excused. Public in Attendance: Matt Napierala, Jason Demarest, Carl Mazzocone, Vicki Taylor-Brous, Mack Travis, and John Driscoll. Call to order: 7:00 p.m. Agenda Review; Minutes Review (09/19/17) Mr. Blake removed item 5 from the agenda, regarding discussion of the Ag/Rural zoning update, since Ms. Schneider was not in attendance. Mr. Wertis MADE the MOTION to postpone the vote on the September 19, 2017 meeting minutes, and Mr. Blake SECONDED the MOTION. The vote was carried unanimously. Privilege of the Floor: No one from the audience addressed the Board at this time. Public Hearing: Consideration of SEQR and Site Plan Approval for Inn at Taughannock – site development for a level lawn with gardens and patios. The project includes the construction of retaining walls, stone fence walls, grading/filling, reconfiguration of the patio/stairway on the south side of the Inn, landscaping and a stormwater system 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. After a brief overview of the project by Mr. Demarest, Mr. Napierala – the project’s site engineer – gave a report on stormwater mitigation. Because the project is disturbing less than 1 acre of land, the applicant does not require a stormwater pollution protection plan. However, they recognize the area is environmentally sensitive and have proposed a set of 4-foot tall underground water retention chambers to be installed on the property. Similar in concept to a septic tank, the containers would collect stormwater runoff and slowly release the water through a 4-inch, controlled outlet. The water would be piped from the tanks to an existing culvert located on the west side of Route 89. There, the runoff would follow the culvert east, beneath Route 89, and continue south until it reaches an existing sluice that drains into Cayuga Lake, near the Taughannock Park swimming area. Engineers have been working with a Department of Planning Board October 3, 2017 2 Transportation engineer on these efforts. We have the capability to make an open connection with the existing culvert, Mr. Napierala said. With the underground storage tanks and their controlled release, water runoff will be less than what it is today, and it will be cleaner, since the underground system will help filter out pollutants. Mr. Wertis MADE the MOTION to open the public hearing, and Mr. LeWalter SECONDED the MOTION. The motion was unanimously carried. Ms. Taylor-Brous said she is the new owner of New Park and spoke in favor of the project. Hospitality is a difficult business, with a number of challenges. Management at the Inn has a dream and is investing capital to make a destination here in Tompkins County, but this investment requires new streams of income. Hosting events will be such a source of revenue for the Inn. Mr. Driscoll said he supports the project. Mr. Wertis MADE the MOTION to close the public hearing, and Mr. Blake SECONDED the MOTION. The motion was unanimously carried. Mr. Wertis asked questions concerning the underground storage tanks. Mr. Napierala said water enters the tanks via collection ports and catch basins on the property, and Mr. Demarest added roof water would be piped, and all patios would be sent to centralized drains. Mr. Wertis noted that such information was not in the plans, and asked how important it was to include in the scope of the Board’s review. Ms. Kiley suggested adding a provision to the site plan resolution, giving approval on the condition that the County’s Soil and Water Conservation District approve the applicant’s stormwater plan. Responding to a question from Mr. LeWalter, Mr. Demarest said there is a 13-foot difference in height between the upper driveway and the proposed patio. Resolution for SEQR Classification Mr. LeWalter MADE the MOTION to approve the resolution for SEQR Classification, and Mr. Blake SECONDED the MOTION as follows: WHEREAS: 1. This is consideration of site plan approval for the Inn at Taughannock site development for a level lawn with gardens and patios. The project includes the construction of retaining walls, stone fence walls, grading/filling, reconfiguration of the patio/stairway on the south side of the Inn, landscaping and a stormwater system. 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; and 2. The site development project allows the Inn at Taughannock to serve guests and host events on the flagstone patio area and lawn, which total approximately 23,000 square feet; and 3. This additional area is greater than the intent/scope of the Type II action listed in SEQR Section 617.5 (c) (7) “construction or expansion of a primary or accessory/appurtenant, non- Planning Board October 3, 2017 3 residential structure or facility involving less than 4,000 square feet of gross floor area and not involving a change in zoning or a use variance and consistent with local land use controls;” NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Town of Ulysses Planning Board hereby determines that the action is Unlisted and will act in an uncoordinated environmental review with respect to the project. The vote was as follows: Mr. Blake AYE Mr. LeWalter AYE Mr. Wertis AYE Result: Resolution passed. Resolution for SEQR Negative Determination: Mr. LeWalter MADE the MOTION to approve the resolution for SEQR Negative Determination, and Mr. Blake SECONDED the MOTION as follows: WHEREAS: 4. This is consideration of site plan approval for the Inn at Taughannock site development for a level lawn with gardens and patios. The project includes the construction of retaining walls, stone fence walls, grading/filling, reconfiguration of the patio/stairway on the south side of the Inn, landscaping and a stormwater system. 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; and 5. This is an Unlisted Action for which the Town of Ulysses Planning Board is acting in an uncoordinated environmental review with respect to the project; and 6. The Planning Board, on October 3, 2017, reviewed and accepted as adequate the Short Environmental Assessment Form Part 1, submitted by the applicant, and Parts 2 and 3 prepared by Town staff; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Town of Ulysses Planning Board hereby makes a negative determination of environmental significance for the reasons set forth in the Environmental Assessment Form Parts 2 and 3 referenced above, in accordance with the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act for the above referenced action as proposed, and, therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement will not be required. The vote was as follows: Mr. Blake AYE Mr. LeWalter AYE Planning Board October 3, 2017 4 Mr. Wertis AYE Result: Resolution passed. Resolution for site plan approval Mr. Wertis MADE the MOTION to approve the resolution for site plan review, and Mr. LeWalter SECONDED the MOTION as follows: WHEREAS: 1. This action consideration of site plan approval for the Inn at Taughannock site development for a level lawn with gardens and patios. The project includes the construction of retaining walls, stone fence walls, grading/filling, reconfiguration of the patio/stairway on the south side of the Inn, landscaping and a stormwater system. 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; and 2. The proposed project is an Unlisted Action for which the Planning Board made a negative determination of environmental significance on October 3, 2017; and 3. The Tompkins County Planning Department reviewed the proposed project, pursuant to NYS General Municipal Law §239-l, -m, and –n, and in a letter dated September 22, 2017 determined that the project has no negative inter-community or county-wide impacts; and 4. The Planning Board, at a public hearing held on October 3, 2017, has reviewed and accepted as adequate the project narrative dated 9/11/17, Context Map (SR0.00) dated 9/11/17, Site Plan (SR1.00) dated 9/11/17, Site Sections (SR1.01) dated 9/12/17, Retaining Wall Product Info (CP1.00) dated 9/12/17, Landscape and Site Lighting (SR1.03) dated 9/18/17 prepared by Jason K Demarest Architecture; Stormwater Drainage Report, dated September 2017, prepared by Napierala Consulting; Geotechnical Evaluation, dated November 25, 2016, prepared by Empire Geo-Services, Inc.; Noise Level Study, dated September 11, 2017, prepared by Napierala Consulting; Traffic Assessment, dated September 11, 2017, prepared by Napierala Consulting; and other application materials submitted by the applicant; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: 1. That the Planning Board of the Town of Ulysses hereby waives certain requirements for Site Plan Approval, having determined from the materials presented that such waiver will result in neither a significant alteration of the purpose of site plan control nor the policies enunciated or implied by the Town; and 2. That the Town of Ulysses Planning Board approves site plan as shown on the following: the project narrative dated 9/11/17, Context Map (SR0.00) dated 9/11/17, Site Plan (SR1.00) dated 9/11/17, Site Sections (SR1.01) dated 9/12/17, Retaining Wall Product Info (CP1.00) dated 9/12/17, Landscape and Site Lighting (SR1.03) dated 9/18/17 prepared by Jason K Demarest Architecture; Stormwater Drainage Report, dated September 2017, prepared by Napierala Consulting; Geotechnical Evaluation, dated November 25, 2016, prepared by Empire Geo- Planning Board October 3, 2017 5 Services, Inc.; Noise Level Study, dated September 11, 2017, prepared by Napierala Consulting; Traffic Assessment, dated September 11, 2017, prepared by Napierala Consulting; and other application materials submitted by the applicant, subject to the following condition: approval of the stormwater drainage plan by the Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District. The vote was as follows: Mr. Blake AYE Mr. LeWalter AYE Mr. Wertis AYE Result: Resolution passed. Mr. Mazzocone and his project team left the meeting at 7:44 p.m. Town Board Liaison Report: Mr. Goldman said the Town Board is deep into crafting next year’s budget. The Planning Board briefly discussed the Moore’s Marine application. Mr. Wertis MADE the MOTION to adjourn the meeting, and Mr. Blake SECONDED the MOTION. The motion was unanimously carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Louis A. DiPietro II on October 3, 2017.