Town of Hartwick
MINUTES
Of The January 5, 2010: Regular Meeting of
Town of Hartwick Planning Board
Call to order 7 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Attendance:
Board Members: G. Horth; A. Briggs; A. Thomas; T. Schleiser
Alternate PB Member(s): None-No appointees from Town Board to date
Public: T. Ives, L. Ives, D. Petri; P. Broe; O. Higgins; P. Kennedy; K. Williams; E. Madison; B. Brouillard; F. Field; Tavis Austin
Minutes of Last Meeting:
Anita Briggs, made a motion to approve the December 1, 2009 minutes as presented at the meeting with changes to Cooperstown Outlet Village and Greystone Parking Lot Expansion. T. Schleiser, seconded. Vote: All Ayes. Motion carried.
Correspondence: Discussion of T. Austin letter to D. Brockman regarding subdivision application requirements from November. Planning Board discussed a public comment (email) regarding number of teams at Dreams Park per week, "Cap at 96 teams?" Board decided T. Austin should investigate conditions of approval for Dreams Park and report to the Board. A. Briggs, as a follow-up, requested that all past Planning Board minutes be made digital by a means that would allow text search of all minutes.
Public Comment: O. Higgins stated concerns with regard to the Whipple Subdivision to be discussed later on the agenda. Specific concern related to the area of land between the river and the railroad tracks and the proposed access to ST HWY 28. Further, ‘should there be a frontage road constructed' to serve all future homes. Also, O. Higgins stated concern that the agenda read "Minor subdivision" where he believes that it should be considered a "major subdivision' based on the recent subdivision (within last year) of the parent lot across ST HWY 28.
Enforcement Reports: None at this time.
Public Hearing(s): None at this time.
Regular Agenda:
•1. "Cooperstown Outlet Village." Owner: Sterling Trust fbo (Jeffrey Salinger) Applicant: Pinecrest Builders LLC. Location: 2 & 4 Coulman Road, Cooperstown, NY. Tax Map #: 162.00-1-11.01; -11.02. Proposal: Create tent site to be leased to vendors during the summer; provide port-a-johns; food vendor tent. Future expansion potential on "temporary basis." T. Austin discussed the comments and action of the County Planning Board and the State Department of Transportation (DOT) comments included therewith that essentially stated, ‘Comply with DOT regulations.' A. Briggs questioned whether there were plans to establish a more permanent development of the project site and, if not, whether the Planning Board felt there should be a time limitation on the Board's action. T. Austin suggested that if a time limitation were sought, the Planning Board should endeavor to make a condition of approval to that effect and substantiate the condition with a Finding of Fact based in the Site Plan Review Law. A. Briggs suggested that the proposed development was inconsistent with the adopted Comprehensive Plan. T. Austin stated that conditions of approval and findings are most appropriate when based on the Law itself rather than the Comprehensive Plan. The Board reviewed Parts I and II of the State Environmental Quality Act (SEQR) Long Form Environmental Assessment Forms (EAF). G. Horth noted that in Part I of the EAF, item B #16 should be changed to "yes," at 4 tons per month; with the Montgomery-Otsego Solidwaste Authority (MOSA) as the refuse facility. The Board then changed B #25 and C #1 to denote the requirement for the Planning Board Approval of Site Plan Review. The Board discussed C.6, consistency with the adopted land use plan. A. Briggs fell that the proposal was not consistent. A. Thomas stated that he felt the project was consistent with surrounding development patterns. The Board established that the project was consistent with the adopted land use plan. The Board then reviewed Part II of the EAF. It was determined that there was an impact under Item #11, Impact On Aesthetic Resources, but that the impact was "Small to Moderate." No other impacts were identified. On a motion by A. Thomas, that was seconded by T. Schleiser, the Board approved a Negative Declaration with a unanimous vote. A. Briggs made a motion to approve the project as submitted with conditions that the applicant 1)return in four years for a renewal of the Site Plan Review based on Section 2.2 of the 2000 Comprehensive Plan, and 2) that the applicant comply with State DOT regulations. This motion was seconded by T. Schleiser. The motion passed with all votes "Aye."
Signs:
•1. "Holiday Inn Express and Suites Replacement Signs" Owner: Rainbow Enterprises Applicant: Gloede Signs, Inc. Locations: 4758 ST HWY 28 Cooperstown, NY. TAX MAP #: 162.00-1-53-02. Proposal: Replacement of existing freestanding and wall signage to incorporate new logo. The Planning Board discussed the proposed changes to the signs as submitted. A. Thomas made a motion to approve the signs as submitted with a condition that "no other signage be installed." G. Horth seconded the motion, and the motion passed with all votes "Aye."
Development Projects:
•1. "Whipple Subdivision." Applicant/Owner: Henry Whipple Location: ST HWY 28 north of its intersection with CO HWY 45 Tax Map #: None provided Proposal: 4 lot, minor subdivision of 38 acres. Sketch Plan review only. No application/fees submitted. The Board discussed the history of the previous "Hawthorne Subdivision" located across State Highway (ST HWY) 28 from the proposed subdivision. Based on that review, A. Thomas made a motion to determine that the proposed subdivision is in fact a "Major Subdivision" and that a complete application including application form, Major Subdivision fees, and Long Form EAF be submitted as a sketch plan prior to any further Planning Board review of the Whipple Subdivision. G. Horth seconded the motion and the motion passed with all votes "Aye." H. Whipple asked whether or not he should submit a surveyed plat for the next meeting. G. Horth said a survey is fine, but the plans will be reviewed as a sketch plan until the Board determines the subdivision may be reviewed as a Preliminary Plat.
Public Comment: None.
Planning Board Business: T. Austin stated that G. Horth and A. Thomas were appointed as co-chairs of the Planning Board and that, to date, P. Ingalls seat has not been appointed. Additionally, no Alternate Planning Board members were appointed.
T. Austin presented a draft amendment to the Site Plan Review Law that would require at least one acre of land for each residential unit where three or more units were proposed. The language of the draft had been proposed during the November Planning Board meeting. The Board reviewed the draft and voted, unanimously to forward the language to the Town Board for consideration. A. Thomas was concerned over the proposed change stating that "the law seems to favor large property owners over small property owners, would spread development over a very large area, and could deter bed and breakfasts in hamlets."
G. Horth proposed a resolution from the Planning Board that requested that they, the Planning Board, receive a copy of the draft Comprehensive Plan prior to any Town Board action. The motion was seconded by A. Briggs; the motion passed with all votes, "Aye."
G. Horth presented a Resolution, "Opposing Various Proposed Anti-Gun Owner Legislation in New York State." The Board reviewed the resolution and unanimously approved it following a motion by A. Thomas that was seconded by G. Horth.
A. Thomas made a motion to adjourn at 9:40 PM. Seconded by T. Schleiser. Vote: All Aye, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:40 PM.
