Regular Meeting
Town of Watertown Planning Board
November 2, 2020
Members Present: Tom Boxberger, Co-Chair (via Zoom)
Pam Desormo, Co-Chair
Terry MacAdam
Jim Smith
Randy Vaas
Mrs. Desormo called the regular meeting of the Town of Watertown Planning Board to order at 3:00 p.m.
Motion 76-20: Motion by Mrs. Desormo, seconded by Mr. Boxberger to schedule a workshop meeting with the Tug Hill Commission to November 9, 2020 at 2:00 P.M.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
Motion 77-20: Motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. MacAdam to accept the minutes of the October 5, 2020 meeting as written and distributed.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT
CKWP Development, LLC – 21297 County Route 202 – Tax Map #82.11-1-41.2 – Preliminary discussion concerning a new restaurant.
Peter Souch presented proposed plans for a Corelife Eatery on the Corner of Route 202 and NYS Route 3. It will be a 25,000 square foot eatery in the existing building at 21297 County Route 202. The only change to the existing building will be a patio and sidewalk in the front facing NYS Route 3.
The County has already granted permission to move the driveway. Discussion followed.
The Planning Board feels that site plan review can be waived and CKWP Development, LLC only needs to apply for a sign permit. Mr. Souch stated there will be a sign on the building and changes to the existing pole sign.
Motion 78-20: Motion by Mrs. Desormo, seconded by Mr. Smith to waive site plan review for CKWP Development, LLC, 21297 County Route 202, Tax Map #82.11-1-41.2 for a 25,000 square foot eatery as the exterior modifications are minor, the facade will remain consistent with the existing building, and there is no increase in square footage.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
Mr. Souch will come back with a sign permit when plans are finalized.
Mike Romeo – 24353 Gotham Street Road – Tax Map #83.18-1-7 & 24415 Gotham Street – Tax Map #83.18-1-6- Lot Line Adjustment.
Mike Romeo submitted proposed plans for a lot line adjustment at 24353 Gotham Street Tax Map # 83.18-1-7 and 24415 Gotham Street, Tax Map #83.18-1-6. Mr. Romeo recently purchased 24415 Gotham Street and would like to sell the house but keep the acreage and add it to his property. Discussion followed.
Mr. Romeo will have an easement agreement written into the lot descriptions regarding access and use of the well.
-2-
Motion 79-20: Motion by Mrs. Desormo, seconded by Mr. MacAdam to grant a lot line adjustment to Mike Romeo, 22353 and 24415 Gotham Street as both properties are owned by Mr. Romeo. This lot line adjustment will remove 2.91 acres from Lot A (24415 Gotham Street – Tax Map #83.18-1-6) and adding it to Lot B (24353 Gotham Street – Tax Map #83.18-1-7) making it 4.246 acres as shown on plans prepared by Twin Tiers Land Surveying, signed by Nathan Romeo, dated 9/10/20 with a revision date of 10/18/20, Job #20457, conditional upon satisfactory review of lot descriptions.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
SITE PLAN
National Grid – 21265 NYS Route 232 – Tax Map #90.2-1-33 – Two (2) 25′ x 160′ & One (1) 18′ x 56′ Storage structures and renovations to an existing structure – Site Plan
Derrick Kuehnhold (via Zoom), on behalf of National Grid, reviewed proposed plans for 3 new storage structures and renovations to an existing structure at 21265 NYS Route 232. The color of the siding has not yet been determine, however, it will be consistent with the existing structures. Discussion followed.
Mr. Vaas would like to coordinate a time to look at the catch basin that is cited on the plans.
All adjacent property owners need to be cited on the plans.
Motion 80-20: Motion by Mrs. Desormo, seconded by Mr. Smith to schedule a public hearing for National Grid, 21265 NYS Route 232, Tax Map #90.2-1-33 for the construction of two 25′ x 160′ storage structures, one 18′ x 56′ storage structure, and renovations to an existing structure on Monday, December 7, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
This matter will be referred to the Jefferson County Department of Planning for review.
SITE PLAN/SPECIAL USE PERMIT
Verizon Wireless “Spring Valley Drive” Communications Facility – 19079 US Route 11 – Tax Map #91.05-1-63 – Construction of a Cell Tower on Rent-A-Wreck Property.
Hyde Clark, Young Sommer, on behalf of Verizon Wireless, reviewed an updated safety report that was submitted at the request of the Planning Board.
The report shows that the proposed cell tower will be running at less than 1% of the allowable use by law. Discussion followed.
Mr. Boxberger stated that the American Cancer Society reports that there are no noticeable health effects from cell towers.
Mrs. Desormo stated that the Town Attorney Joe Russell informed Board members that as per health standards set by the Federal Government, health issues for cell towers are not under the purview of site plan. If Verizon meets all requirements of site plan, the Planning Board cannot take health concerns for cell towers into consideration.
-3-
Joan Rogers, 18961 Watertown Center Loop, was allowed to speak even though the public hearing was closed.
Mrs. Rogers stated that she is opposed to this cell tower. Mrs. Rogers stated that she will be able to see the tower from her house and believes that it will lower the value of her home. She is not comfortable having her children and grandchildren outside because of possible health risks. She was advised from a family member who works with cell towers to put her house on the market if the proposed project is approved, and she believes everyone in her neighborhood will be putting their houses up for sale as well.
Mr. Boxberger stated that the Board needs to consider the following which he believes have been met:
1) Has the developer responded to the Planning Board’s requests for additional information and testing;
2) Does this meets the requirements set forth by Town regulations;
3) The legal statement made by the Town Attorney states the degree to which the Planning Board can consider things not in the scope of zoning requirements; and
4) The Board must take action tonight or this project will automatically be approved.
Board members agreed that all the above have been met.
Mr. Vaas stated that he has completed his SEQR evaluation and has made a determination for a Negative Declaration for the project.
Motion 81-20: Motion by Mr. Boxberger, seconded by Mr. MacAdam to grant site plan/special use permit for Verizon Wireless “Spring Valley Drive” Communication Facility located at 19079 US Route 11, Tax Map #91.05-1-63 for the construction of a cell tower for the following reasons:
1) The plans meet the requirements set forth in the Town Regulations;
2) The developers have responded to the Board’s request for additional information concerning siting and public safety;
3) The opinion of the Town Attorney is that the concerns raised are not included in the Town Regulations and can not be considered solely for the purpose of acceptance or denial of the project; and
4) The tower will be 120′.
The Board was polled for additional comments:
Mr. Boxberger – No further comments
Mrs. Desormo – No further comments
Mr. Smith – No further comments
Mr. MacAdam – Concurs with Mr. Boxberger comments.
Mr. Vaas – Stated that even though Attorney Brennon stated that Verizon would not provide additional analysis and testing, they did submit a 32 page report.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
This project will need a Zoning Permit from the Town and a Building Permit from the County.
-4-
SIGN PERMIT
Steiner’s General Store – 25511 NYS Route 12 – Tax Map #91.12-1-1.4 – Sign Permit.
The Board reviewed plans to replace existing signage for Steiner’s General Store, 25511 NYS Route 12, Tax Map #91.12-1-1.4. Discussion followed.
Motion 82-20: Motion by Mr. MacAdam to approve the sign permit application for Steiner’s General Store, 25511 NYS Route 12, Tax Map #91.12-1-1.4 as shown on plans prepared by Saxton Sign Corp., dated 9/29/20, Job #VG206209.E, conditional upon the construction of a decorative base at the bottom of the sign to hide the mounting brackets.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
They will need to apply for zoning and building permits.
Washington Summit – AAA – 19320 US Route 11 – Tax Map #91.05-1-17.252-201 – Sign Permit.
The Board reviewed plans for signage for AAA at 19320 US Route 11, Tax Map #91.05-1-17.252-201. The sign will be a red 50″ x 84″ sign above the entrance to the building. Discussion followed.
Motion 83-20: Motion by Mrs. Desormo, seconded by Mr. Boxberger to approve the sign permit application for AAA, 19320 US Route 11, Tax Map #91.05-4-17.252-201 for a 50″ x 84″ red sign above the entrance on the building as shown on plans prepared by Charles Sign, Inc. Dated 8/12/20, Job #AAA/Watertown/2020/Wallsign, Page 1 & 2.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
They will need to apply for zoning and building permits.
Motion 84-20: Motion by Mr. MacAdam, seconded by Mr. Smith to adjourn the meeting at 4:23 p.m.
Ayes All: Motion Carried.
___________
Susan Burdick
Secretary