Regular Meeting
Town of Watertown Planning Board
May 4, 2015
Members Present: Tom Boxberger, Co-Chair
Pam Desormo, Co-Chair
Terry MacAdam
Jim Smith
Randy Vaas
Mr. Boxberger called the regular meeting of the Town of Watertown Planning Board to order at 7:00 p.m.
Motion 21-15: Motion by Mr. Vaas, seconded by Mr. MacAdam to accept the minutes of the April 6, 2015 meeting as written and distributed.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
Motion 22-15: Motion by Mr. Desormo, seconded by Mr. Smith to accept the minutes of the April 22, 2015 meeting as written and distributed.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
Motion 23-15: Motion by Mr. Boxberger, seconded by Mr. Smith to schedule a special meeting of the Town of Watertown Planning Board with the Tug Hill Commission for Monday, June 1, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
PUBLIC HEARING
Lundy Development & Property Management, LLC – Jefferson County Industrial Park – New building on Lot #2B – Site Plan.
Legal notice was published in the newspaper.
The public hearing was opened at 7:03 p.m. No one from the public wished to speak. The public hearing will remain open until the June meeting as the Jefferson County Department of Planning has not had an opportunity to review the proposed plans.
Motion 24-15: Motion by Mr. Boxberger, seconded by Mr. Vaas to allow the public hearing for the new building on Lot 2B in the Jefferson County Industrial park for Lundy Development & Property Management, LLC to remain open until the June 1, 2015 meeting.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
SIGN PERMIT
NASCO Signs – Donna Yang – Berkshire Hathaway – 20991 NYS Route 3 – Sign Permit
Ms. Yang presented preliminary plans for proposed signage for Berkshire Hathaway, 20991 NYS Route 3. Discussion followed.
Ms. Yang needs to submit a completed application and plans with a detailed drawing showing the dimension of both of the proposed signs before the board will act on this request.
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NASCO Signs – Donna Yang – Jake’s Lawn Care – 17948 US Route 11 – Sign Permit
Ms. Yang presented preliminary plans for proposed signage for Jake’s Lawn Care, 17948 US Route 11. Discussion followed.
Ms. Yang needs to submit a completed application and plans with detailed drawings showing the dimension of the proposed signage meeting all required setbacks, along with a description of the decorative base and proposed vegetation.
SUBDIVISION
Todd Badalato – Gotham Street Road – 3 Lot Subdivision
Mr. Badalato was not present.
Mr. Boxberger stated, for the record, that Mr. Vaas and himself met with Mr. Badalato to discuss some alternatives to developing his property on Gotham Street Road.
Mr. Badalato’s proposed plans are for a 3 lot subdivision with frontage on Gotham Street Road to maintain legal frontage to the back parcel as well as another right of way into the parcel. The board will review the proposed plans when Mr. Badalato gets all paperwork ready.
Morgan Development – County Route 202 – Tax Map #82.11-1-35.221 – 2 lot subdivision for financing purposes for new development.
Daren Morgan, of LaFave, White & McGivern, on behalf of Morgan Development, approached the board regarding the 2 lot subdivision approved on April 22, 2015 contingent upon consolidation of two tax parcels. County Tax Mapping will not combine the two parcels as the smaller tax parcel is in a different school district.
Mr. Morgan stated that he spoke with the Town’s Attorney, Joe Russell, who stated to him that he did not believe there would be any conflict with the subdivision process containing 2 different parcels in 2 separate school districts. Discussion followed.
The consensus of the board is that they will not act on this request without something in writing from the Town Attorney and input from the Town Assessor.
SITE PLAN
Sullivan’s Body Shop – 17085 US Route 11 – Construction of a 24′ x 36′ cold storage building.
Mr. Sullivan was not present. A public hearing needs to be scheduled for this proposed project.
Motion 25-15: Motion by Mr. Boxberger, seconded by Mr. Smith to schedule a public hearing for Sullivan’s Body Shop for the construction of a 24′ x 36′ cold storage building for Monday, June 1, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
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Don Phillips – Duffany’s Body Shop – 24884/888 NYS Route 126 – Tax Map #83.15-3-15.1 – Lot Line Adjustment.
Greg Ashley, GYMO, on behalf of Duffany’s Body Shop, presented plans for a lot line adjustment at 24884/888 NYS Route 126, Tax Map #83.15-3-15.1. Lot descriptions were submitted. Duffany’s is planning on adding an addition to their building and to meet setback requirements a lot line adjustment is needed. Discussion followed.
A completed application with fee and SEQRA need to be submitted.
Motion 26-15: Motion by Mrs. Desormo, seconded by Mr. Boxberger to grant a lot line adjustment for Don Phillips for property located at 24884/888 NYS 125, Tax Map #83.15-3-15.1. The adjustment includes taking 1.4 acres from parcel 2 and adding it to parcel 1 as shown on File #9-125S.02 dated 4/22/15. The survey date is 8/23/12 and 4/21/15 signed and dated by Gregory Ashley, contingent upon submission of a completed application with fee, and satisfactory review of lot descriptions and SEQRA.
Ayes All: Motion Carried
Don Phillips – Duffany’s Body Shop – 24884/888 NYS Route 126 – Tax Map #83.15-3-15.1 – Site Plan
Greg Ashley, GYMO, on behalf of Duffany’s Body Shop, presented proposed plans for the construction of an addition to the existing building at 24884/888 NYS Route 126, Tax Map #83.15-3-15.1. Discussion followed.
A completed application with fee, SEQRA, proposed plans showing square footage, lighting, elevations, and a color rendering consistent with the existing building needs to be submitted. The board would also like to see the road frontage addressed. They would like to see restricted access in and out of the property with green space to dress up the front of the property.
Mr. Rick’s Bakery – 17099 US Route 11 – Site Plan
Paul Alberry approached the board regarding his business at 17099 US Route 11. Mr. Alberry stated he has complied with regulations from the New York State Department of Health and New York State Department of Ag & Markets and should be able to open soon in the new location. There will be no changes to the exterior of the building.
Motion 27-15: Motion by Mr. Boxberger, seconded by Mr. Vaas to waive site plan review for Mr. Rick’s Bakery located at 17099 US Route 11 as there will be no changes to the exterior of the building.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
Mr. Alberry also submitted proposed plans for signage. A sign application with fee needs to be submitted.
Motion 28-15: Motion by Mr. Boxberger, seconded by Mr. Smith to authorize the Zoning Officer of the Town of Watertown to issue a sign permit to Mr. Rick’s Bakery for a 70.5 x 29 sign as shown on plans signed and dated 5/4/15 by Paul Alberry. The height of the sign will be 69 with a landscaped base of red mulch over top soild with shrubs and flowers. The sign is to be located a minimum of 48′ from the center line and as close as possible to the location of the existing sign.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
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Griffith Energy – 21822 Gillette Road – Tax Map #90.12-1-6.6 – Construction of an Office Building.
Steve Hall and Scott Edmonds presented preliminary plans for an office building at 21822 Gillette Road. Discussion followed.
A completed application with fee, SEQRA, proposed plans including a color rendering showing elevations, parking, lighting, landscaping and proposed signage needs to be submitted. John Maguire, Highway Superintendent, also needs to be contacted regarding the water and sewer services and district boundaries.
Motion 29-15: Motion by Mr. Boxberger, seconded by Mr. MacAdam to schedule a public hearing for Griffith Energy for a proposed office building located at 21822 Gillette Road for Monday, June 1, 2015 at 7:00 p.m., conditional upon receipt of a completed application and plans to be reviewed by the Jefferson County Department of Planning.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
Don Davidson – Gillette Road – Tax Map #90.12-1-6.6 – Construction of additional Solar Panels.
Mrs. Desormo apologized that Mr. Davidson’s maps were not picked up from the City where they were sent.
Mr. Davidson presented preliminary plans for additional solar panels on Gillette Road, Tax Map #90.12-1-6.6. It will be approximately 1 1/3 acres.
The board stated that the Town Board has requested that this go through site plan review. The additional panels will be considered a structure. A completed application with fee, SEQRA and proposed plans needs to be submitted.
Motion 30-15: Motion by Mr. Boxberger, seconded by Mr. Smith to schedule a public hearing for Davidson’s Solar Farm Expansion off Gillette Road for Monday, June 1, 2015 at 7:00 p.m., conditional upon receipt of a completed application and review by the Jefferson County Department of Planning.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
Lundy Development & Property Management, LLC – Washington Summit – New Building on Lot #8.
Mr. Lundy was not present. A public hearing needs to be scheduled for the June 1, 2015 meeting.
Motion 31-15: Motion by Mrs. Desormo, seconded by Mr. MacAdam to schedule a public hearing for Lundy Development & Property Management, LLC for a 5,200 square foot building on Lot #8, Tax Map #91.05-1-17.251 in Washington Summit for Monday, June 2, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
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Lundy Development & Property Management, LLC – Tax Map #73.20-1-2.6 – Site plan for a 10,000 square foot warehouse on Lot 2B in the Jefferson County Industrial Park.
The proposed project will be addressed on June 1, 2015 after comments from the Jefferson County Department of Planning have been reviewed.
SIGN PERMIT
Longhorn Steakhouse/Olive Garden – 20988 Salmon Run Mall Loop Road – Sign Permit.
No one was present to represent Longhorn Steakhouse/Olive Garden.
Mrs. Desormo presented proposed signage submitted by Longhorn Steakhouse/Olive Garden, 20988 Salmon Run Mall Loop Road. Discussion followed.
The board has no issues with the location of the proposed signage, however, they feel that a lower sign would be more in harmony with the area.
While the requirements of the town regulations say that the sign cannot be more that 20′ above the road level, the board feels that the sign is too tall. They have concerns with the line of sight and other issues. The board would be glad to entertain submission of a new design with a lower sign base.
Mr. Boxberger addressed a letter from Patrick Scordo, GYMO, dated 5/4/15 (Attachment #1) regarding the Traffic Study prepared for Nice N Easy on Washington Street. Mr. Scordo asked that the Town of Watertown Planning Board reconsider endorsement of the proposed project.
The board was polled:
Jim Smith – Endorses the project itself but does not endorse the Traffic Impact Assessment.
Terry MacAdam – Endorses the project itself but does not endorse the Traffic Impact Assessment.
Pam Desormo – Endorses the project itself but does not endorse the Traffic Impact Assessment.
Randy Vaas – Endorses the project itself but does not endorse the Traffic Impact Assessment.
Tom Boxberger – Endorses the project itself but does not endorse the Traffic Impact Assessment.
Mr. Boxberger will draft a letter to be signed by the Co-Chairs stating that they have had similar projects come before the board in the past which were review by the New York State Department of Transportation where a left in/left out in that environment is not good. He will cite two examples. He will also explain that this letter was received today leaving the board no time to consult with the New York State Department of Transportation and, therefore, the Town of Watertown Planning Board cannot endorse this project at this time. If they seek endorsement from the town before issues can be resolved, they must approach the Town Board.
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Motion 32-15: Motion by Mr. MacAdam, seconded by Mr. Boxberger to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
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Susan Burdick
Secretary