Town of Hartwick Planning Board
Meeting Minutes
Mary 5, 2008
Call to order 7 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance.
Attendance: Tony Schlesier, Vincent Rozella, Greg Horth, Paul Ingalls, Alex Thomas arrived at 7:25, Neal McManus, Zondra Hart. Absent: Amy Ford.
Minutes of the Last Meeting - V. Rozella made a motion to accept the minutes as written. T. Schlesier seconded. Motion carried.
Public Hearing for Brockman Rentals
G. Horth, Chairman called the Public Hearing for the Brockman Rental Units open. G. Horth asked Dennis Brockman and BJ O'Neal to give the public in attendance a brief overview of the project. He also asked that they explain the County Planning Board comments regarding ‘wetland'. BJ O'Neal explained there is a small ‘spot' of wetland. He called NYS DEC who said call Soil & Water. Otsego County Soil & Water wrote a letter to DEC stating that they do not consider it wetlands. The traffic light will be operating four ways with a pedestrian walk. It will control traffic in and out of Brockman's. Dennis Brockman briefly described the project as eight units within a Morton pole barn construction. Each unit will have two bedrooms and two baths, a living room and a kitchen. They will be seasonal rentals.
The Chairman asked for public comment, asking each individual state their name and that all comments be kept to two minutes until all have been heard. Their being no public comment, G. Horth called the Public Hearing closed.
Correspondence -
G. Horth has received a copy of the agreement between the Town of Hartwick Planning Board and the Otsego County Planning Board and an updated version of procedure.
Public Comment-
Anita Briggs feels that it is not fair to the residents of Hartwick that there are only four PB members present. That F.Thering's position should have been filled five months ago.
Enforcement Officer Report-
Neal McManus present a copy of his April report. He has surveyed and measured offsite signs in the Town. He reviewed the measurements of the Beaver Valley and Briggs Campground offsite and onsite signs. P. Ingalls questioned if the wings of the one sign are approved for just seasonal use or for all year. He feels the wings are a safety hazard as they are too small to read. PB Members recommended N. McManus obtain all information before further discussion. V. Rozella made a motion that N. McManus obtain information from Lynn Green, Town Council, before the PB discusses further.
Real Property Changes -
Clara Satriano submitted an application for a simple split of property on Pleasant Valley Road. C. Satriano provided a map with a penciled in new property line. She explained that approximately five acres will be split from the 19.29 acres for her son. A. Thomas made a motion to accept the application for simple split of parcel Tax Map#161.00-1-26.01 into one parcel of approximately 5 +/- acres and one parcel of 14.20 +/- acres. T. Schlesier seconded. Motion carried.
Sign Applications-
Leatherstocking Cooperative Insurance submitted a sign application for their new location on County Route 11. Wayne Benjamin provided photos of the waiting to be hung sign. The Leonards of Carefree Gardens are completing the landscaping. There will be no lighting. W. Benjamin invited the PB and audience to visit the new office. T. Schlesier asked for the sign maker as the sign has been put together well. Answer - Terry of Hamilton. V. Rozella comments it's classy. G. Horth asked how high the sign will stand. Answer - 10 feet with a fieldstone planter underneath. V. Rozella made a motion to approve the sign application as submitted. A. Thomas seconded. Motion carried.
Town of Hartwick Company #2 sign for approval. G. Horth presented the Board with photos of the new Fire Department sign. The center of the sign is removable and changeable. G. Horth commented that the sign is classy. T. Schlesier made a motion to approve the new sign for Company #2 Fire Department. V. Rozella seconded. Motion carried.
Development Projects -
Hartwick Pines Village - Sal Furnari presented a request of change to an approved application for site plan review for the Hartwick Pines Village. He would like to build a 20 x 20 ft storage building. Drawing with site plan placement was provided. S. Furnari commented that the building will have siding and roof similar to the cabins. The building will serve as storage for the skid steer/plow, racks, shovels, etc. It will be built on a concrete slab. Howard Wood of Otsego County Codes Office has asked for Planning Board approval or a letter from the PB Clerk before issuing permit. The wall will be 2 x 4 walls, stick built. S. Furnari will return in June with a sign application. P. Ingalls made a motion to approve adding the storage building and pour the slab on the condition that S. Furnari return in June with the drawings. A. Thomas seconded. Motion carried.
Brockman Rental Unites - A. Thomas made a motion to approve the Brockman Rentals project contingent on approval of wetland permit from army Corp of Engineers. Vote: P. Ingalls - aye, A. Thomas - aye, G. Horth - aye, V. Rozella - aye, T. Schlesier - aye.
Public Comment - there being none.
Neal McManus presented the Board with an application for a simple split of property on Bice Road. V. Rozella made a motion to approve the simple split of parcel Tax Map# 129.00-1-7.22 into one parcel of 9.08 +/- acres and one parcel of 4.09 +/- acres. A. Thomas seconded. Motion carried.
G. Horth requested the PB Clerk send a letter to the Town Board requesting the PB vacant position be filled. P. Ingalls seconded. Motion carried.
A. Thomas informed the Board that the original Hartwick Seminary site of one acre is for sale. He asked if the PB should consider the property a historic site. S. Furnari stated that whoever buys the property must preserve the monument. Discussion of state marker, site of oldest Lutheran Seminary in U.S., John Luther Christopher. A. Thomas will draft a letter of concern to the college from the PB and cc: the Lutherans and NYSHA. P. Ingalls made a motion to direct A. Thomas to draft letter of concern to Hartwick College from the Planning Board. G. Horth seconded. Vote - 4 ayes, 1 nay.
Sign Law Revision to Format -
Jessica Breiten presented a newly formatted electronic version of the sign ordinance. G. Horth thanked her for the work to provide the new format. J. Breiten recommends setting a limit of the number of signs and that the PB consider construction signs and canopy signs. The current ordinance does not address canopy signs. Discussion of banners, flags and moveable signs that are not allowed. Spinners included. P. Ingalls state that logo flags should be allowed. Discussion of vehicle signs not addressed in current version to be address in new version. Members will review and prepare to discuss at the next meeting. T. Schlesier suggested a separate meeting be schedule in the future to work on the ordinance and that it be attached to the back end of meeting only once or twice. He feels smaller numerous sessions become disjointed.
T. Schlesier made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9 p.m. Motion carried.
