HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-11-19PB 11/19/2009
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TOWN OF DRYDEN
PLANNING BOARD MEETING
November 19, 2009
Planning Board Members Present: Joseph Lalley, Chair, 'Thomas Hatfield, Wendy
Martin, Joseph Laquatra, Jr., Thomas Hatfield, David Weinstein, Martin Hatch, Megan
Whitman
Town Board Members Present: Supervisor Mary- Ann Sumner, David Maker
'Town Staff Present: Dan Kwasnowski
Others Present: Bambi 1.. Avery, Town Clerk; Thomas Quinn, Zoning Board of
Appeals; Craig Schutt, Conservation Board
Introductions were made.
Chair J Lalley e xplained that: he and Supv Sumner would like to .form a task
team to focus on getting the draft: zoning law to a final state .with a recommendation
for adoption. That; tea-in «611 also finalize the lines on the new zoning map. The task
team will consist of at least two members from the Planning Board and Town Board
and a member each from the Conservation Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. J
Lalley has asked D Weinstein to participate and chair that task team. The team will
be known as the Zoning Law Task Force and consist of:
Dave Weinstein and Megan Whit.main - Planning Board
Steve Stelick and ,Joe Solomon - Town Board
Craig Schutt - Conservation Board
Tom Quinn - Zoning Board of Appeals
Dail Kwasnowski will provide stuff support.. The Task Force_ will refine the
draft. zoning law and have a final recommendation for the boards as soon as they can
accomplish that, together with a recommendation on the zoning map. A report. of their
progress will be made at the December 17 Planning board meeting.
At the request of Supv Sumner, D Weinstein has prepared a short list of
general issues that will need to be resolved before the draft is presented to the public.
The work of the Task Force will be organized around these; issues. The list: was shared
with members present.
D Kwasnowski said the group should include Zoning Officer Henry Slater in
some of the discussion alx.)ut details because he knows a lot of the history behind why
some things have been done in certain ways. He suggested holding the first public
meeting in January because it is the bigger things that the public will be concerned
with. D Kwasnowski will work on supporting examples for the January presentation
to the public. He will work with Behan to take the bigger changes (density,
conservation zone, etc) and have posters throughOUt a roorn for people: to move around
and talk about the changes with represent:a.tive% of the Town.
J Lalley said the idea is to get the document to a final draft and then move on
with public presentation after the various boards have approved it. It will be subject
to some further revision after comments are received. This is not meant to be an
is exclusive project and members of all the boards and public are welcome to participate.
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Once the governing bodies of
the town have said it
is pretty close, it
can be presented
is to the public.
Tom Hatfield said one of the bigger issues is to decide, which board(s) will be
handling special permits and site plan reviews and how much crui be handled by staff.
That is outlined in the current draft and one of the things the Task Force will address.
Supv Sumner said the goal of the 'Task Force is to have a draft that can be
presented to the public and defended in public_ involved members and boards should
understand that there will still be opportunity to make any changes after it is
presented to the public. T Hatfield said it should be presented as a draft: with a
statement that we are looking for public input and comment; the public needs to buy
into this.
The rneetu-ig date for the Conservation Board may need to be rescheduled so
they have ample opportunity to review and comment on the proposed zoning law. I)
Kwasnowski will make sure they get copies of the proposed zoning law. Supv Sumner
would like to have a response from them before the December Planning Board
meeting.
Public presentation of the new draft zoning law and map will be January 26,
2010, Nvith a snow date of January 27.
D Kw'asnowskl said work should begin now on the generic Environmental
Impact Statement because it explains the rationale for the decisions that were made.
J Udley said an hour of the December Plarming Board meeting could be devoted to the
GEiS and an hour for a report: from the Task Force.
Zoning Law Task Force meetings were set for December 3 and December 10,
subject to confirmation by the Town Board members.
The Task Force is expected to research the issues identified and make a
recommendation based on that research.
Marketing of the new zoning law was discussed. Input. is desired from realtors,
agriculture, contractors and community groups. A representative can be sent to
meetings of those groups. A press release will go to the media and a notice; put in the
Town Newsletter. An insert can be placed in the property tax bills that go out the first
of January.
Highlights in the zoning regulations and key talking points will be represented
by posters at stations on the night of the first public presentation. Dan Kwasnowslci
will develop the talking points.
M I- Iat:ch suggested therit posters and information be available and on display
prior to the actual presentation for the public to review.
J Lalley said there needs to be a consistent message about what is changing
and when the opportunity for input is. it was agreed that this should be
presented as the culmination of a process that started with the rewwrite of the
Comprehensive Plan and as an extension of that effort that. was driven by surveys and
citizen input and a shared desire to preserve the rural nature of the community while
having an orderly development process. In order for this to work, it has to serve the
public.
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Supv Sumner said Henry Slater is working on a document that. describes how
the various boards interact and that should feed nicely into the administrative detail
of the new zoning law.
There was a comment about the new zoning law not addressing drilling and
that; it is likely to come up in public meetings, and the public; needs to understand
that the Town does not regulate drilling. J Lalley said the Town can try and provide a
path to affect change, and should develop an answer to that question when it comes
lip.
M Hatch said it would be challenged, but he believes drilling regulation can be
addressed in the zoning law. Supv Sumner said there is information about what some
Towns have done, and she will try to put: that together. M Hatch would like to address
this as a separate issue.
Supv Sumner would like to develop a list of particular people or groups to
invite to the presentation, and asked that people email suggestions to her.
Presentations at groups such as Rotary and Sertoma were suggested, as well as the
two Villages and community centers and fire departments. J Lalley and Supv Sumner
will work on that list and try to put together presenters /presentations for them.
It was suggested
that an executive
summary be put
on
the website after the
December meeting. The
Town can luik to
Behan's website
presentation.
J Lalley and 1) Kwasnowski will come up xa•-ith the context, the highlights of the
zoning changes, the opportunities the public: will have for input: and influence, and the
roadmap to conclusion.
Wrap up and Review:
• The Task Force will meet twice before the December 17 Planning Board
Meeting and the first: hour of that: meeting will be devoted t:o the 'Task Force's
report.
• J Lalley and D Kwasnowski will have a brief presentation of the talking points.
• J Laquatra and T Hatfield will have a draft of a guest viewpoint for The Ithaca
Journal,
• Supv Sumner will continue to compile a list of groups to visit.
• Supv Sumner will develop an insert for the tax bills to be approved at the
December Town Board meeting.
Gas Drilling Issue - M Hatch would like to see us sign on to the petition to
vacate the dSGEIS completely. He would like to challenge the assumption that we
cannot challenge the current law. .J Lalley said we first need to understand the
current limitations on the town and what the path forward might be to doing it.
J Lalley said the question might be why isn't: the zoning law addressing gas
drilling and the answer is that the current construct will not allow us to do that, so we
are trying to change the construct. He asked M Hatch to prepare a draft to be
addressed at the next meeting.
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Supv Sumner said the Town is doing things to address the drilling dangers,
including a road protection ordinance, creation of CEAs and other things. But those
things are riot related to the zoning law. 17 Kwasnowski said we are sperifically, by the
Governor, not authorized to prohibit drilling by local law.
J Lalley said trying to do something in the zoning ordinance won't work in the
current construct. The energies might be better funneled in this direction and will
accomplish the same thing. The message is that: we are concerned; we are limited by
law as to what we can do, and the zoning law is not a method to do that by. T Hatfield
said zoning is not the answer for everything. It has a very specific plat and purpose.
Adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ba.mbi L. Avery
Town Clerk
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