MINUTES
Town of Hartwick Planning Board
Meeting December 2, 2008
Regular Meeting Minutes
Call to order 7 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance
Attendance:
Board Members: G. Horth, F. Thering, T. Schlesier, V. Rozella, A. Thomas, P. Ingalls.
Secretary: Zondra Hart
Minutes of Last Meeting:
A. Thomas made a motion to approve the minutes with changes. V. Rozella seconded and Motion carried.
Correspondence:
DOT:
Thomas- update on conversations w/DOT-received letter. Traffic study to be
completed by end of January in the Hamlet.
Letter: from Duane and Julie Sharratt, owners of Beaver Valley Campgrounds, in regard to trees being planted on Seminary road blocking their existing sign was read and discussed.
Public Comment:
Anita Briggs- suggests that Duane Sharratt submit a new application documenting the exact position and not rely on someone looking at years of minutes.
Enforcement Officer Report: Not Present. Put on the agenda for the next Planning Board Meeting.
SIGNS:
Jurisdictional Determination:
Cooperstown Beaver Valley Cabins & Campgrounds sign:
Received letter from Duane and Julie Sharratt, owners of Beaver Valley Campgrounds, in regard to trees being planted on Seminary road that would block their existing sign. Mr. Sharratt is in attendance. A. Thomas stated he has never seen an application for the sign. V. Rozella wanted it placed in the record that he did not plant the trees mentioned in the letter and the trees are not planted on his property. V. Rozella then recused himself so there would be no conflict. V. Rozella moved to be seated in the audience. Planning Board generally felt the planting of trees issue was a civil action and not in their realm.
Duane Sharratt stated that the property owner had every right to plant trees and they were not asking anything about the trees, they wish to move the sign. Sign placement was discussed. G. Horth stated that he has never seen anything in writing from Town Highway Superintendent regarding this or any other sign that interferes with snowplowing or motorist vision safety, but has heard several verbal complaints from citizens and Highway Dept. Employees regarding this and other signs in the Town, but hesitates to encourage the Planning Board to act without a written complaint. He would prefer this be a matter for the Town Local Laws Enforcement Officer and the Town Attorney.
P. Ingalls stated that as long as no safety hazard is created or there is a problem with visibility, he has no problem with moving the sign. P. Ingalls made a motion to allow the Sharratt's to move sign 15,' as long as a safety hazard is not created by the placement and the move would not be subject to review, as the move is more of a sign maintenance issue, which is allowed in the sign law without review. Vote-all Ayes.
Development Projects:
ARC: G. Horth- The Town Board is concerned that this is a change of use under site plan law. Pat Ryan stated that by having an application you know when a commercial operation is established. The Planning Board can then make a decision and record same in minutes. I.e.: no site plan review required. This would change the real property land use code. G. Horth stated that many of the codes, even after the re-evaluation, do not reflect or accurately reflect the property's actual use.
A. Thomas - discussion of site plan for all changes from residential to a different type of residential. The Town needs to be careful not to discriminate. Pat Ryan requested a letter be sent from the Planning Board to the Town Board on this matter.
Chalet Village: They wish to put in a pool. The Board discussion felt this was more of County Code Issue, but would like to have location of pool placed on sketch plan for record.
G. Horth - send in a site plan change with sketch showing where pool to be located. No need to appear before Planning Board.
Elliot's: Want to place a second rental cabin. V. Rozella made a motion to approve adding a second and third cabin. No action. They will be sent an application and they will be back in February or March to appear before PB.
Real Property Changes:
Margery Armstrong: - Simple Split
David Mattice -representative. County of Otsego Tax Map # 194.00-1-4.00. Splitting 69.409 acres upper/ 27.8 east of State Highway 28. Rte. 28 to be split line. 10.87 acres across train line to remain as is. V. Rozella made motion to approve simple split. A. Thomas second, Vote-All Ayes.
Helderberg Realty - Henry Whipple of HELDERBERG REALTY LLC, 325 Old Stage Road, Altamont, New York 12009, provided the board with a sketch plan of a proposed subdivision of the east portion of the Margery Armstrong parcel, County of Otsego Tax Map # 194.00-1-4.00. Mr. Whipple will be seeking approval to subdivide a 66.873 acre parcel into ten (10) parcels. The parcel is located at, the corner or State Highway 28 and County Highway 45, in the Town of Hartwick. He has used wooded acres to create lines for lots. He states most of house sites are well drained soil according to soil & water. DOH approval is not required, only required for 5 lots less than 5 acres. P.Ingalls stated project is still subject to perk tests. Mr. Whipple stated that when an individual buys the property a new perk test will be required to built, so the expense to him would be excessive and unjustified. P. Ingalls stated that all road frontages appears to be over 200 feet. Mr. Whipple concurred. G. Horth stated he will need an application, SEQR long form, survey, $ 900 application fee, up to $ 350 escrow, and will need to be sent to County Planning Board for 500 foot referral. Zondra will send application and copy of subdivision regulations. F.Thering asked if there were any deed restrictions? D. Mattice stated that there is none known. Project will be Placed on January Agenda. Mr. Whipple stated that Margery does know he intends to split sell lots. He also stated that site distance good for all parcels, but one is a little limited.
F.Thering Simple Split:
- Will be sent application.
Public Comment:
Liz Fury- She has completed project. Sign record book has been updated with photos of signs. She has created a list of updated signs and a digital record on the PB Laptop. Some signs may have been down for season.
G. Horth would like to see GPS positioning on sign records. Perhaps TB can add this to budget.
Regulation Revision Work:
Comprehensive Plan - Clough Harbor has been contracted by town to oversee. Alex will be PB representative. Board members are encouraged to provide Alex with their input.
Zondra Hart has resigned, this being her last meeting. The Planning Board wishes to thank her for her invaluable efforts during her tenure.
V. Rozella made a motion to adjourn. F. Thering seconded.
Meeting adjourned
V. Rozella made a motion to approve the December minutes with changes. A. Thomas seconded and Motion carried.
