MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT PLANNING BOARD HELD AT THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 215 SOUTH WORK STREET, FALCONER, NY 14733 ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 AT 7:00 P.M.

 

PRESENT: Chairman Dan Evans, Gary Swanson, Ron Calanni, Phyllis Belin, Paul Shanahan, Steven Peterson, Attorney William Wright, Code Enforcement Officer Randy Woodbury, Secretary Valerie Pierce

 

ABSENT: Dave Carlberg 

 

Chairman Evans opened the meeting at 7:00 PM.

 

Motion made by Gary Swanson, seconded by Ron Calanni to approve the minutes of the August 8, 2007 meeting.

 

Carried.                         Ayes – 6                                  Noes – 0                               Absent – 1

 

Dave Carlberg entered the meeting at 7:01 PM.

 

Chairman Evans reopened the Pubic Hearing for Site Plan Review for Richard Kaczar for an addition for Rick’s Collision, 3148 Fluvanna Ave. Ext., Jamestown, NY.

 

Paul Potter, Project Engineer, presented the site plan for an extension on Mr. Kaczar’s collision shop.  Mr. Potter reviewed the plans for the Board noting:

1)      the pre-construction site plan was surveyed by Steve Carlson – the property in the back does not show on the survey – it does show the existing buildings

2)      the property is zoned Mercantile

3)      currently there is open gravel graded ground that is parking and/or drive accessibility

4)      it shows the green space that has been developed prior

5)      they developed an erosion sentiment plan that is required by the State DEC – it shows there will be a silt fence on the lower side as the water drains toward the east – the fence will catch the silt that will happen during the period of construction – the hedge will capture a lot of the water and will keep it on the property – it will drain to the front – there is another existing drainage structure in the corner of the lot in the front

6)      the existing drainage that is there that shows on the preconstruction plan is owned by the State – it is not entirely on their property – when the State moved the center line of the road over they moved the right-of-way at the same time but they did not keep an easement and/or any obligation for the drainage system that was technically there – they still have the right to maintain it but they don’t have the authority to tell owners they have to adjust the drainage to theirs because it is now on private property

7)      the neighbors were not shown on the site plans – the Board wants to see any neighbors shown on the site plan that are within 200 feet -

8)      post site development is the addition of a building – the fill will be only about one to two feet, which will be gravel type fill – the garage floor level will remain the same as the existing building

9)      the used car parking lot next door has a gravel or stone parking lot

10)  the completed plan shows pavement – Mr. Kaczar would like an extension of time for the paving – Dan said the contours do not show what is going on with the neighbors property – Mr. Potter said the property is generally flat and the water spreads from the back to the front of the property – no one has any DI’s on their property – Mr. Kaczar said no water goes onto the neighbors property – the Board wants to see that – Mr. Potter stated that the only topal changes were in the immediate area of the building and where the parking is – everything else stayed the same – he is not adjusting any of the grades at the end of the property –  the planting bed being higher than the existing ground prevents anything entering the neighbors property – it is about two feet higher the full length and four feet on the other side of that – Mr. Kaczar put it there to slow down the traffic from Hiller Tire

11)  Mr. Kaczar said he just uses the other building for storage

12)  the lighting will be done by the City of Jamestown – the poles are existing and are shown on the plan – there is a possibility of adding one additional light – Mr. Potter said they expect the City to come forth with their projection as to how it would be to best to light the parking lot

13)  the green space is shown on the plan but the planting schedule will be done by the landscaper hired by Mr. Kaczar

 

Attorney Wright asked what the storm water management plan included.   Mr. Potter said it was the E & S plan and because it is less than Ό acre they do not have to do storm water calculations. 

 

This application has not been referred to the County. Chairman Evans signed the referral for this to go to the County Planning Board.

 

The Board reviewed the site plan checklist noting:

1)      there are no water courses – topals show the grading plan – drains into the existing highway swale – final plan should show the drains - Mr. Potter told the Board that there is a stone based driveway and parking lot now, which under the storm water calculations is 78% and 80% impervious and if you blacktop it is 98% - the property changes 4 feet for the total 200 foot length – discussion on what would be paved and how it would affect the drainage

2)      Mr. Potter provided plans showing elevations

3)      no outdoor storage - there is an existing dumpster that will be moved and needs to be shown on the plans

4)      no new fences or retaining walls

5)      there is existing municipal sewage and water – the proposed addition will not have any provisions for sewer or water – Randy suggested that Mr. Potter contact the County about the sewer

6)      no new signs – existing sign

7)      buffers – the pre-construction shows the old buffer and the post construction shows the new buffers

8)      the Board asked to see the specifications for the pole lighting from the BPU - Mr. Kaczar asked if he needed any more pole lights - he will not need security lights on the building – it was determined there would be no new lighting

9)      the Board wanted to see the planting schedule (the actual identification of the plants)

10)  construction schedule – 4 weeks to the start of the construction – they will need to appear next month because of the referral to the County

11)  no required permits required from other governmental bodies

12)  Attorney Wright said according to the GIS that the adjacent buildings are about 23 feet on the east and the one to the west is about 63 feet – the Board requested they show contour intervals for the adjacent property owners

 

Attorney Wright stated there is a zoning issue.  Under 146-36 (bulk regulations for mercantile district) the parking areas are required to be 30 feet from the side and rear property lines.  Mr. Potter said they could make the parking compliant.

 

Motion made by Gary Swanson, seconded by Paul Shanahan to table this application for Richard Kaczar, 3148 Fluvanna Avenue Ext., Jamestown, NY, pending additional information.

 

Carried.                              Ayes – 6                                     Noes – 0                                Absent – 1

 

Chairman Evans opened the Public Hearing for Acu-Rite, One Precision Way, Jamestown, NY, for an addition and road change.

 

Mr. Bob Arnone, Habiterra Architecture, and Mike Metzger, Vice-President of Acu-Rite, request an addition to the existing building and to relocate the service drive that enters the property for trucks. They provided sight drawings

 

Mr. Arnone told the Board:

1)  they intend to do the addition to the building next spring but in order to simplify that and

     give them a little longer building season they would like to relocate the service drive 

2) the current drive presently is in the way of the addition - they would like to do the drive this 

    fall before the blacktop plants close and then start the building construction in the spring

3) the road will be constructed in a manner very similar to the existing road and will remain

    closed all winter

4) the drive will move 120 feet north of the current road

5) he had elevations of what the building would look like – the addition will be 120’ by 165’-

    the building will take on the same character of the existing building – existing building is a

    113,00 SF

6) it will used primarily for machine equipment – the maintenance department will be moved

    to the end of this addition

7) they have sent applications to the County to change the location of the road cut – that has

    been approved

8) the existing road will be used for a construction road during the construction season

9) they opened bids for the road construction and have a contractor ready to start in a week to

     ten days

 

Paul Shanahan asked if the Board is considering this road change as Phase I and the addition as Phase II.   Dan said this was being brought in as one project.  They will construct the road now but would have a year to finish the addition. 

 

Chairman Evans signed the application to refer this application to the County Planning Board.

 

The Planning Board continued with a review of the site plan checklist noting:                                                1)  there was an aerial map of the property boundaries – they will provided plans that show all

                  the buildings and boundaries

            2) storm water – Mr. Arnone explained the drainage and told the Board he had done the

                  calculations based on all the additions – they need to decide on the size the second 

                  addition - they will have a much larger storm water detention system – currently a lot of the

                  storm water is in the ditch line that surrounds the entire building

            3)   there are no natural watercourses

            4)   they will not be changing any parking – only adding a new road – no new loading area

            5)   no new outdoor storage

6)   no fences or retaining walls

7)   existing water and sewer

8)   existing fire hydrant

9)   no new signage – they will relocate the existing truck signage

10)  they will cut trees only for the road and will leave others for buffer – there will be no new

        plantings and the plans show the existing landscaping

11)   lights on the building will be the same as exist

13)    construction schedule – the road should be complete in 6 weeks and next April they will   

        start the building and complete it by October 2008

14)  they have the permit from the County for the road

 

Chairman Evans reviewed what Acu-rite had to provide for the next meeting:

1)      the property boundaries shown

2)      the existing buildings shown

3)      the storm water plan – the Board could waive it for the driveway but not the addition 

4)      lighting plan – need to show the pole and building lights

5)      approval from the County Planning Board

 

Randy said he would work with the County Planning Board. The County Department of Public Facilities has already looked at the project and was very helpful.

 

Motion made by Phyllis Belin, seconded by Steve Peterson to table this application pending the additional information.

 

Carried.                      Ayes – 7                             Noes – 0                           Absent – 0

 

Chairman Evans opened the Public Hearing for Dunn Tire at 685 Fairmount Ave., W.E., Jamestown, NY 14701.

 

Mr. David Sobina, RW Larson Associates, told the Board they had come in August for a sketch plan conference.  Angie Dart, RW Larson Associates has been working with Randy with the building and site.  Mr. Sobina said the building and use has stayed the same.  They have handled the storm water and have made provisions for fire lanes.  Ms. Dart provided a letter with the 28 points of the checklist outlined. 

 

David Simons, Chief Financial Officer for Dunn Tire, and Marie Lawrence, facilities coordinator for Dunn Tire, were present to answer any questions.  Attorney Wright said the Board did make a determination at the last meeting that Dunn Tire did not need the complete site plan. The Board asked to see the parking (bituminous) area in the back of the building and signage. 

 

The Board discussed:

1)      the drainage – the water runs toward the building – the trench drains go through drain pipes to the back of the property to the existing ditches in the back of the property – it will prevent the water accumulating and coming in the doors – Jim Hall told the Board there was an underground pipe – they also re-graded in the back so if it reaches 8”-10” it would automatically flows into the creek

2)      the paving – there is new pavement to get to the back door and the dumpster

3)      there are no floor drains – it is a dry shop - if there is a minor oil spill the operational procedure is to use the dry material on the spill and it cleans up dry

 

In reviewing the site plan checklist it was noted:

1)      the lease agreement was provided – it shows the boundaries of the property

2)      there was no change in the existing grading – the drainage changes are shown on the site plan

3)      there will not be any changes to the existing storm water management

4)      no long term outdoor storage – a dumpster will be located on the south east back corner of the building and are shown of the plans

5)      no changes to the water or sewer service

6)      the approximate location of the fire hydrant is on the drawings

7)      the electric service is provided by the Jamestown BPU

8)      proposed signs – they have been to the ZBA - they will have a compliant 150 SF sign on the north side of the building – if they decide to pursue a variance they would get a variance for a similar type sign, with the size to be determined, on the west face of the roof – the signs will be compliant or be by variance and will be on the north and west side of the building

9)      no change in existing buffer areas

10)  no changes in the existing outdoor lighting other than general maintenance of fixtures – Dan asked if they needed lights for security – they proposed the lighting on the plan and if it appears to be non-compliant Randy can request they change it

11)  no change in the landscaping

12)  construction will begin as soon as the approval is given with an anticipated completion date of 11/01/07

13)  doors should be closed during hours of operation except for bringing in and out vehicles - Randy said that will also be stated in their certificate of occupancy

14)  tires will be picked up weekly or bi-weekly but will be stored inside the building – Randy said the building code of NYS takes care of that issue – Larson designed a storage area for the tires that have extra fire safety features in it

 

The Board reviewed the short form EAF.  Attorney Wright stated that this proposed would not exceed any type I threshold in 6 NYCRR Part 617.4 and would not receive coordinated review.

 

The Board noted in Part II C that the doors will be closed during hours of operation and the fire lane would be kept open.

 

Motion made by Gary Swanson, seconded by Ron Calanni making the determination that this proposed project will not result in any significant adverse environmental impact and authorizing Chairman Evans to sign the EAF form.

 

Carried.                     Ayes – 7                                     Noes – 0                                 Absent – 0

 

Motion made by Paul Shanahan, seconded by Phyllis Belin to approve the site plan for Dunn Tire at 685 Fairmount Ave., W.E., Jamestown, NY as presented with the lighting plan being submitted to the Code Enforcement Officer.

 

Carried.                     Ayes – 7                                    Noes – 0                                   Absent – 0

 

Chairman Evans said the last thing on the agenda was a request from the Town Board for an opinion for rezoning property on North Main Street Extension from Girts Road to Salisbury Road. Dan did not think that the clock was ticking on this but Attorney Wright said that it was.

 

Phyllis asked if the Board had ever granted a special use variance because of  “grandfathering”. The neighbors do not seem to object to the business and they want it to be able to be there.  Dan said there are a lot of issues.  Dan stated that Randy has been trying to clean this property up for years.

 

Dan said it is the Board’s job to look at the area and the neighborhood and decide if it is still a residential area or an extension of the airport district or if the property should be rezoned.  There are used car lots at the bottom of the hill and at the other bottom of the hill there are acres of mercantile-zoned area.  Dan said he had not driven out to see the neighborhood because he did not think there was a time issue.  He said that Trinity Biotech is out there and a vegetable vendor.  Mr. Louis Anderson has a business on the other side and has been there for years.  Dan said his place looks good and is very well kept. 

 

The property that brought this rezoning up belongs to Bradley Swanson.  He is an electrical contractor.  He has dumpsters and equipment there and should at least have a site plan review so the Planning Board can look at it. 

 

Paul Shanahan said he would like to know the history on this because in reading this it appears that there is one person that is not from the neighborhood mading a complaint.  Dan said Randy has been trying to get Brad Swanson compliant for a few years. Paul asked if he technically has a business there or does he just have vehicles with the signs on them.  Ron suggested that this might be an enforcement issue.  Randy can tell Brad Swanson to move all of his equipment if the Town Board decides it should stay residential.  Phyllis said that would affect other people who have had businesses there a long time.  Paul said if it is just the issue of his vehicles being there he does not see it as an issue for the Planning Board.  Dan said it is actually being used as commercial property.  Mr. Swanson wrote a letter to the Board. 

 

Randy said that he had issued an Order to Remedy.  He told Mr. Swanson that he had received a complaint from a reliable source that witnessed business operations on his property; particularly that he had just put up a large sign on a tree in the NYS DOT right-of-way advertising his business. Mr. Swanson did take down the sign and asked if he could request rezoning. 

 

Randy said he talked to Pat Tyler and the Board in general understood what Mr. Swanson was asking for but made a broader request because they didn’t want a yo-yo of requests going back and forth like they experienced with the Lowe’s project and the Carlson’s project.  The Town Board wanted some direction from the Planning Board if Mr. Swanson’s problem could be fixed with a change in zoning.

 

Mr. Louis Anderson took a different approach to the letter he received from Randy.  He did not ask for rezoning but claimed a right to be there. 

 

Randy did not think the question from the Town Board is specific towards those two issues.  He told the Board that the complainant called today and if those businesses are not allowed in that zone they should not be there or they should have some process. The complainant is a Town resident.

 

Gary stated that if you drive up and down any street in this township you find the same things.

 

Randy told the complainant the he plans to present about ½ dozen issues after he gets advised from the processing attorney for the Town’s code enforcement.  Randy said they should look at more than just this corridor.

 

Attorney Wright said there are two potential issues.  The letter from Pat Tyler does say they want to look at the potential of extending the mercantile zone or the industrial zone behind the airport to pick up the Swanson property. Attorney Wright said the resolution that the Town Board did very specifically says Brad Swanson submitted the request. Mr. Tyler recommended that the request be referred to the Planning Board for further review. On motion by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Councilman Pickett a motion was made to refer the request to rezone a section of North Main Street between Girts and Salsibury from residential to mercantile to the Town of Ellicott Planning Board for further review.  That is an official request to do Mr. Swanson’s request, which is to do a rezoning from residential to mercantile, and the clock does start ticking.

 

The Board wants to take a detailed look at this issue.  Attorney Wright said the Board could respond that the Board does not recommend rezoning of the Swanson property pursuant to his letter, however the Board would like to take the next couple of months to look at the whole area.  They also have the comprehensive plan that should be an integral part of it. The problem is that you have the enforcement action stayed pending what happens with the Planning Board and the Town Board. 

 

Paul suggested that the Planning Board should leave it up to the comprehensive plan and the enforcement action should be stayed pending that. 

 

There was more discussion by the Board and it was decided that they would seek clarification and additional time from the Town Board.

 

Motion made by Ron Calanni, seconded by Steve Peterson to ask the Town Board for clarification and request an additional 90 days to review this.

 

Carried.                              Ayes – 7                               Noes – 0                             Absent – 0

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