Town of Hartwick Planning Board
Meeting Minutes
September 2, 2008
Call to Order
Attendance: F. Thering, P. Ingalls, A. Thomas, G. Horth, V. Rozella, A. Ford, T. Schlesier. Others: Z. Hart.
G. Horth asked if Greystone has submitted a sign application as of yet.
Minutes of the Last Meeting:
A. Thomas made changes. V. Rozella made a motion to accept the minutes with amendments. T. Schlesier seconded. Motion carried.
Public Comment: there being none.
Enforcement Officer Report: there being none.
Real Property Changes
Ingalls Simple Split - Paul Ingalls submitted and application for simple split of a parcel off Rte 28 behind Brockman's. V. Rozella made a motion to accept application as submitted to split parcel Tax Map# 162.00-1-33.01 into two parcels of approximately 13 +/-acres and the other parcel of approximately 40 +/-acres. T. Schlesier seconded. Vote: F. Thering-aye, A. Thomas-aye, G. Horth-aye, V. Rozella-aye, A. Ford-aye, T. Schlesier-aye. P. Ingalls as applicant abstained.
Site Plan Review
William Carentz requested the PB evaluate the establishment of a part-time auto repair business in his home garage and decide if it requires site plan review. When asked if he would need a sign, W. Carentz stated he does not need one, but in the future would submit and application to place one on the garage. The front of the garage cannot be seen from the road. He will not conduct car inspections. He submitted a letter from the property owner (his father Wm. Carentz) stating that he has permission to use the driveway with right of way for access to the part-time auto repair business. Members asked if there are proposed measures for Haz Mat. W. Carentz replied that he would use a 15 gallon drum of safety clean. V. Rozella made a motion that this project as presented does not require site plan review. F. Thering seconded. Vote: F. Thering-aye, P. Ingalls-aye, A. Thomas-aye, G. Horth-abstained, V. Rozella-aye, A. Ford-aye, T. Schlesier-aye. Motion carried.
Tim Haney and wife Connie Haney request the PB evaluate the use of the old train station next to the Town Hall and Community Center for continued business use as a baseball bat warehouse and shipping business. The Haneys' have recently purchased the Cooperstown Bat Company and the 118 Main St. Cooperstown location. They intend to move most of the business to the 118 Main St. location. They want to purchase the train depot and move a small portion of the business there. T. Haney stated his personal goal is to upgrade and improve the building. C. Haney stated that there will be a retail outlet during the summer months only. They intend to return the building to its original depot façade. They are establishing another online business that will ship from this location. In the future they hope to create a tour of old manual lathes and educate visitors about the process of creating bats. They estimate there will be 6 to 8 deliveries a year by 10 wheeler trucks and daily pick ups by Federal Express trucks. T. Haney stated that his family has been in the area for generations and he wants to encourage more local business. The current bat factory is more creating art graphics on the bats and not making the bats. They do not wish to place a sign on the building until is looks better. G. Horth inquired about hours. In the summer the factory outlet store will be open 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. They also stated the noise will be minimal as the lathe is a muted sound and the nearby Town Highway trucks are louder. They anticipate less traffic than the feed store. T. Schlesier asked if the parking lot will be reopened to the Town residents for the Community Center use. The Haneys replied that they wish to be good neighbors. A. Ford asked if the lathe requires use of water; answer none. A. Ford made a motion that this project as presented does not require site plan review. A. Thomas seconded. Vote: F. Thering-aye, P. Ingalls-aye, A. Thomas-aye, G. Horth-aye, V. Rozella-aye, A. Ford-aye, T. Schlesier-aye. Motion carried.
Realty USA has submitted an application for site plan review and a sign application.
Lizabeth Rose of Realty USA stated their intent is to move the Cooperstown office to this location between the Yum Yum Shack and the Chiropractors. There will be an eight car parking lot behind the building. A. Ford inquired about water run off. P. Ingalls stated the applicant needs to be sure there will be no run off onto the Yum Yum Shack property. L. Rose stated the egress and ingress of the driveway will be wider. P. Ingalls recommended Realty USA include in the contract with Gifford paving that there will be no drainage of water run off onto neighboring properties. V. Rozella made a motion that the PB recognize the change in use and that the applicant will take care of the parking lot drainage and that this project as presented does not require site plan review. T. Schlesier seconded. Vote: F. Thering-aye, P. Ingalls-aye, A. Thomas-aye, G. Horth-aye, V. Rozella-aye, A. Ford-aye, T. Schlesier-aye. Motion carried.
The Planning Board reviewed the Realty USA sign application. V. Rozella stated that he is against large signs and that the sign law only allows for a 4 ft by 8 ft sign and shorter. P. Ingalls suggested the applicant bring the sign down to just 4 ft off the ground. V. Rozella would like to see a classier sign lower to the ground, as in a wooden sign. P. Ingalls stated this is a logo sign. L. Rose stated they want to be a good neighbor and would consider changing the sign. G. Horth stated the sign application meets the sign law of less than 15 ft high. A. Ford stated that both the Yum Yum Shack and the Cooperstown Chiropractors each have classy signs and are direct neighbors. L. Rose stated she will come back to the PB with an improved sign application in October.
Student Internship Project
Alex Thomas introduced Liz Fury a SUCO student who lives in the hamlet and will be conducting a parcel review of the Town. Z. Hart will get her the reval information in an excel spreadsheet format. Discussion of seasonal rentals, vacant homes, and cross referencing with reservation service web sites. The Town Board will pay stipend of $500. Z. Hart will provide access to the sign survey. G. Horth to be the supervisor of the project. L. Fury stated she would like a meeting with G. Horth to review objectives.
Public Comment
Dennis Brockman asked why the Town was conducting the parcel study project. G. Horth stated that in January A. Ford suggested that we survey all businesses to have a base line, as some have never been through site plan view. A. Thomas offered that the current NYS Real Property system does not address multi-use buildings.
Dennis Brockman discussed his old sign and wants compensation for the old sign.
Pat Ryan entered and passed out copies of a letter regarding the gas drilling address to NYS. The Town Board has passed a resolution, a copy is attached. She stated that there will be a meeting on September 15, 2008, a public forum on gas drilling and will be an informative meeting. Mike Covert and Delos Field are coordinating the meeting to be held at the Community Center.
Alex Thomas asked if the PB had receive a response letter from the DOT.
All in attendance were asked to please nominate residents for the Comprehensive Committee.
A. Ford made a motion to adjourn the meeting, the last of her duties as a Planning Board Member. She was thanked for her many contributions to the Board during her four year term.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
