2005-12-27
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
QUEENSBURY PLANNING BOARD MEETING
SECOND REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 27, 2005
INDEX
Subdivision No. 22-2005 Schermerhorn Properties 1.
FINAL STAGE Tax Map No. 289.20-1-7
Subdivision No. 13-2003 James Newbury
3.
Tax Map No. 307-1-47, 46.2
Subdivision No. 1-2005 J. Michael Blackburn 8.
PRELIMINARY STAGE Tax Map No. 253-1-8
FINAL STAGE
Subdivision No. 23-2005 David & Gertrude Sperry 17.
PRELIMINARY STAGE Tax Map No. 289.7-1-58, 59, 60, 61
FINAL STAGE
Freshwater Wetlands Permit Michaels Group & Bay Meadows Corp. 21.
No. 6-2005 Tax Map No. 296.16-1-2
Subdivision No. 26-2005 Michaels Group & Bay Meadows Corp. 21.
Tax Map No. 296.16-1-2
Site Plan No. 68-2005 RPS Property Holdings, LLC 22.
Tax Map No. 309.11-2-11
RESOLUTION Recommendation for Planning Board Chair
30.
THESE ARE NOT OFFICIALLY ADOPTED MINUTES AND ARE SUBJECT TO
BOARD AND STAFF REVISIONS. REVISIONS WILL APPEAR ON THE
FOLLOWING MONTHS MINUTES (IF ANY) AND WILL STATE SUCH APPROVAL
OF SAID MINUTES.
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
QUEENSBURY PLANNING BOARD MEETING
SECOND REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 27, 2005
7:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT
CHRIS HUNSINGER, CHAIRMAN
GRETCHEN STEFFAN, SECRETARY
ROBERT VOLLARO
RICHARD SANFORD
GEORGE GOETZ
ANTHONY METIVIER
THOMAS SEGULJIC
LAND USE PLANNER-SUSAN BARDEN
TOWN COUNSEL-MILLER, MANNIX, SCHACHNER, & HAFNER-MARK SCHACHNER
STENOGRAPHER-SUE HEMINGWAY
MR. HUNSINGER-Before we get into the agenda, I just want to say, tonight is the last
meeting for Richard Sanford. Thank you. It’s been a pleasure, Richard. Good luck on the
Town Board.
MRS. BARDEN-Do you want to make an announcement about Bay Meadows and King and
Monsour?
MR. HUNSINGER-If there is anyone here to comment to the Board about David
Monsour/Peter King, Subdivision 24-2005, that application has been withdrawn. So we don’t
know when that will be coming before the Board again, and anyone here for The Michaels
Group and Bay Meadows Corporation, Planned Unit Development, 26-2005, the applicant
has asked that that be tabled. We will be tabling that to a January meeting. I guess it would
be my inclination to set it to the second meeting, which is January 24. We will have a
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formal resolution later in the meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
SUBDIVISION NO. 22-2005 SEQR TYPE PUD CONSISTENCY SCHERMERHORN
PROPERTIES AGENT(S): NACE ENG., J. LAPPER OWNER(S): GLENS FALLS HOME
ZONING PUD LOCATION HAVILAND/MEADOWBROOK APPLICANT PROPOSES A 42
LOT SUBDIVISION RESULTING IN 38 RESIDENTIAL LOTS [TOWNHOUSE UNITS] AND 4
COMMERCIAL LOTS OF 2.07, 1.39, 1.28 AND 1.30 ACRES, RESPECTIVELY WITH 1,300 SQ.
FT. OF ROAD. SUBDIVISIONS OF LAND REQUIRE PLANNING BOARD APPROVAL.
CROSS REF. PUD 8-2000, SKETCH PLAN REVIEW 10/25/05 WARREN COUNTY
PLANNING N/A LOT SIZE 40.00 ACRES TAX MAP NO. 289.20-1-7 SECTION A-183
JON LAPPER & TOM NACE, REPRESENTING APPLICANT, PRESENT
MR. HUNSINGER-Susan, do you want to summarize Staff Notes on Schermerhorn.
MRS. BARDEN-I do have the tabling motion from December 20, asking the applicant for
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revised drawings, specifically for relocation of the walkways and elimination of the street
lights, and a C.T. Male signoff. You do have an e-mail message from Jim Houston of C.T.
Male, dated December 23. You should have that in your packets.
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MR. HUNSINGER-Yes.
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MRS. BARDEN-Basically that this re-submittal addresses all of our previous comments, but
I notice that the plans are missing information about the (lost word) plantings and the
stormwater basin. That’s from Jim Houston, and that’s it. That’s all I have.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay. Good evening.
MR. LAPPER-Hi. For the record, Jon Lapper and Tom Nace. Thank you for handling this
the way you did. What happened was there were three things that we had to do. Two for the
Board, and then there was a third item for C.T. Male last time, and Tom got everything down
to him, and what he said was, thank you, everything you sent down is fine, but there’s
something that I missed last time that I hadn’t raised. So this issue that Susan just
mentioned about the aquatic bench was something that wasn’t something that had come up
in his review. So since he sent that back, Tom sent him back a letter today, including that.
So it wasn’t that we were remiss in any way. It was just something that was raised today for
the first time. So we certainly want to do what he wants on that, and it’s no issue, and we
would ask you to approve it, subject to final C.T. Male signoff on that last minute issue.
MR. HUNSINGER-I’ll open it up to the Board, questions, comments?
MR. VOLLARO-I can just say that the new plans eliminated the lighting and did change the
walkways. I checked that out, and they seem to be in conformance with what we asked for
last time.
MR. HUNSINGER-Anyone else? Okay. Would anyone like to put forward a motion?
MOTION TO APPROVE FINAL STAGE SUBDIVISION NO. 22-2005 SCHERMERHORN
PROPERTIES, Introduced by Gretchen Steffan who moved for its adoption, seconded by
Robert Vollaro:
WHEREAS, an application has been make to this board for the following:
Applicant proposes a 42 lot subdivision resulting in 38 residential lots [townhouse units] and 4
commercial lots of 2.07, 1.39, 1.28 and 1.30 acres, respectively with 1,300 sq. ft. of road.
Subdivisions of land require Planning Board approval
WHEREAS, the application was received, and is supported with all documentation, public
comment, and application materials in file of record;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter A183, Subdivision of Land, A183-10C, D of the Code of the
Town of Queensbury a public hearing was advertised and was held on 12/20/05; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Board has determined that the proposal complies with the
Subdivision application requirements of the Code of the Town Queensbury (Zoning); and
WHEREAS, the Planning Board has considered the environmental factors found in the Code
of the Town of Queensbury (Zoning); and
WHEREAS, the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review Act have been
considered and the Planning Board has adopted a SEQRA Negative Declaration; and/or if
application is a modification, the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review
Act have been considered; and the proposed modification(s) do not result in any new or
significantly different environmental impacts, and, therefore, no further SEQRA review is
necessary; and
Final [ A183-13 E (2) (3) (4) ] WHEREAS, upon granting conditional approval of the final
plat, the Planning Board shall empower a duly designated officer to sign the plat upon
compliance with such conditions and requirements as may be stated in its resolution of
conditional approval. Within five days of such resolution, the plat shall be certified by the
Chairman of the Planning Board as conditionally approved and a copy filed in the Planning
Office and a certified copy mailed to the subdivider. The copy mailed to the subdivider shall
include two findings sheets, one of which shall be signed by the applicant and returned to the
Planning Board. Such requirements which, when completed, will authorize the signing of the
conditionally approved final plat. Upon completion of such requirements to the satisfaction of
the duly designated office of the Planning Board, the plat shall be deemed to have received
final approval, and such officer shall sign the plat accordingly. Conditional approval of a final
plat shall expire 180 days after the date of the resolution granting such approval unless the
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
requirements have been certified as completed within that time. The Planning Board may,
however, extend the time within which a conditionally approved plat may be submitted for
signature if, in its opinion, such extension is warranted in the circumstances, for one or two
additional periods of 90 days each. [Amended 6-3-1991] [ A-183-13 E (2) ]
WHEREAS, the final plat shows exact location and depth of sewer and water service. It has
also set forth the exact layout and dimensions of proposed streets with the street names and
house numbers. [ A183-13 E (3) ]
WHEREAS, final approval of the subdivision plat plan shall be limited to that phase of the
development currently pending before the Planning Board. [ A183-13 E (4) ]
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that
We find the following: The application for Final Stage is hereby approved in accordance with
the resolution prepared by Staff and is subject to the following conditions which shall be
listed on the final plat submitted for Planning Board Chairman’s signature and filing:
1. C.T. Male Associates engineering sign-off to be received on the aquatic bench plan.
2. Recreation fees in the amount of $ 500.00 per lot are applicable to this subdivision
modification.
3. Waiver request(s) are granted / denied [Sketch plan, Stormwater, Grading and
Landscaping Plan].
4. No-Cut Buffer areas shall be field located by surveyor and flagged in a color that is
different from boundary markers.
5. All necessary outside agency approvals have been received by the applicant, with a copy
sent to and received by Planning Department Staff within 180 days.
6. The plat must be filed with the County Clerk within 60 days of receipt by Planning
Department Staff of outside agency approvals noted.
7. Final, approved plans in compliance with this subdivision must be submitted to the
Community Development Dept. before any further review by the Zoning
Administrator or Building & Codes personnel. Subsequent issuance of further
permits; including building permits are dependent on receipt
8. All site related improvements, such as but not limited to landscaping and lighting,
shown on plans shall be complete within one year of obtaining a building permit, and
no later than 6 months after receiving a building and codes certificate of occupancy.
9. Development of one (1) commercial lot per 10 residential units.
10. NOI filed prior to submission of building permit.
Duly adopted this 27th day of December, 2005, by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Metivier, Mr. Goetz, Mr. Seguljic, Mr. Sanford, Mrs. Steffan Mr. Vollaro,
Mr. Hunsinger
NOES: NONE
MR. NACE-Thank you.
MR. LAPPER-Thanks.
MR. HUNSINGER-You’re all set. Thank you.
SUBDIVISION NO. 13-2003 SEQR TYPE UNLISTED JAMES NEWBURY AGENT(S): VAN
DUSEN & STEVES OWNER(S): SAME ZONING LC-10 LOCATION 62 CORMUS ROAD
APPLICANT PROPOSES SUBDIVISION OF APPROXIMATELY 52.24 +/- ACRES OF LAND
[24.34 +/- ACRES IN THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY, 27.9 +/- ACRES IN THE TOWN OF
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
LAKE LUZERNE] INTO 4 LOTS OF 5.11 ACRES, 4.31 ACRES, 8.44 ACRES AND 6.48
ACRES IN THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY [WITH THE TOTAL SIZSE OF EACH LOT
BEING 10.64 ACRES, 14.24 ACRES, 14.1 ACRES AND 13.26 ACRES]. CROSS REF. AV 22-
2004 WARREN COUNTY PLANNING N/A ADIRONDACK PARK AGENCY YES LOT SIZE
24 +/- ACRES TAX MAP NO. 307-1-47, 46.2 SECTION SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
JON LAPPER, REPRESENTING APPLICANT, PRESENT; JIM NEWBURY,
PRESENT
MR. HUNSINGER-Susan, if you want to summarize Staff Notes.
MRS. BARDEN-The only thing I have is an e-mail from Jim Houston at C.T. Male, “In
response to our December 21, 2005 comment letter, we received a response letter dated
December 23, 2005 and excerpts from revised plans from Matthew Steves (the applicant’s
consultant). Provided that the revisions shown in the excerpts are incorporated into the final
plans, our comments are addressed. Jim Houston”
MR. HUNSINGER-Good evening.
MR. LAPPER-Good evening. For the record, Jon Lapper with Jim Newbury and Tom Nace
as needed. I’ve not been involved in this application to date. I have an agency form for
submission. Apparently I got called in at the last week to sit for a denial, just so my record
would be affected with a loss, but that said, if I could have about two minutes before you pass
the resolution that apparently you’ve crafted, this was something that Matt Steves, the
surveyor, handled, and as you know they’ve gone through SEQRA joint review by Lake
Luzerne and Queensbury, the variances for the lot size in the Town of Queensbury, and then
came to you for subdivision, and I guess, in looking at this issue, I understand that the
neighbors are pretty bent out of shape, or a couple of neighbors are. What I find most
remarkable about this application is that because the property is in the two Towns, what you
may not be aware of is there’s this logging road that already goes to the West Mountain
property, and with or without the approval from the Planning Board tonight, there can still
be four houses and four lots. It’s just that the configuration will change and you’d have to
access the two of them in Lake Luzerne through the logging road, and it just doesn’t, in terms
of the neighbors and the impact, I think that what was proposed and reviewed for SEQRA
and for all these other reviews is the best way to subdivide it, but there are still, the four
homes can still be built because there’s more than 20 acres in Queensbury. There’s more than
enough land to have two houses in Queensbury. You just change the lot configuration, and
the two houses that are proposed for the Town of Lake Luzerne would be right where they
are. It’s just that they would be accessed by the logging road. So the only thing that we’re
really talking about is the driveway from Cormus Road to Lot Three, and that’s really the
only distinction, and I think, you know, with that in mind, you have to just ask yourself
what’s the best way to do this, and all we’re really talking about is whether that third lot has
its own driveway or has a shared driveway off of that existing logging road, and I don’t know
that it’s been explained to you that way in the past, but when I looked at this with the
applicant and the surveyor, it kind of jumped out at me that there’s just another way to
accomplish this that maybe not as good for the people who are going to live there, but it’s still
going to allow the four houses because there’s 50 some odd acres that’s more than enough for
four homes. So it’s your pleasure, but I hope you’ll approve what’s been proposed.
MR. HUNSINGER-Thank you for your comments. Since we already completed the SEQRA,
and closed the public hearing, I guess I would just open it up for any questions that might be
new or new information from the Board, and then I’ll turn the floor over to Bob to go over
the two resolutions that he prepared. So are there any final questions or comments from the
Board?
MR. SANFORD-Well, just in terms of what Mr. Lapper just said, which is news to me, but I
guess in terms of process, I’m just curious, I don’t have the answer. If the Board decided not
to go in the direction of an approval and you were going to do your alternative approach, it
raises a question whether or not that would be a new application or a modification to an
application, and I’m not sure how that determination is reached or who reaches it. So I guess
my question is probably directed a little bit towards legal on that.
MR. SCHACHNER-Typically Staff can make that initial determination subject to
confirmation by the Board. There’s no magic touchstone for when something must be
considered a new application versus a modification. The general standard that Planning
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
Board’s typically apply is that if there’s something in common with the application that’s
been reviewed thus far, and it’s not completely totally different, then it’s typically considered
a modification. If there’s something completely totally different, then that’s often considered
a new application.
MR. SANFORD-Okay. Now in the event of a new application, that would trigger a new
SEQRA review. Is that correct?
MR. SCHACHNER-That is correct.
MR. SANFORD-Okay. Thank you.
MR. SCHACHNER-A new application would trigger an entirely new process including
SEQRA review, public hearing, the works.
MR. SANFORD-How about the modification?
MR. SCHACHNER-Modification would only trigger, could only trigger new public hearing if
you deem it to be a substantial and material modification, and same answer for SEQRA
review.
MR. SANFORD-Okay. Thank you.
MR. LAPPER-I should probably just very briefly reply. I think it can be done without
seeking an approval, so it wouldn’t need a modified application because there are already two
lots in Queensbury. It would just be a boundary adjustment so that the first lot, the most
northern lot on the right side would have to be 10 acres. Both lots in Queensbury would have
to be 10 acres, and then there would just be the existing right of way to get to the Lake
Luzerne property, which wouldn’t be, to my mind, a Queensbury approval because that’s just
an existing drive that’s there now, you’d be accessing it in the Town of Lake Luzerne.
MR. SANFORD-Would there still be a subdivision in Queensbury? Well, no, it would be a
boundary line adjustment because there’s two lots now in Queensbury.
MR. SANFORD-Okay. Well, boundary adjustments, my understanding, do come in front of
this Board. Is that correct?
MR. LAPPER-Only of an approved, only boundary adjustment of an approved subdivision.
You can do a boundary adjustment that is not, if you’re not creating any new lots, if you
have two lots and you change the line so that they’re both conforming, that generally doesn’t
require Planning Board approval in Queensbury.
MR. SANFORD-Okay.
MR. HUNSINGER-Any other questions or comments? Everyone should have in front of
them the memorandum, as well as the title on the second sheet is conditions for approval on
James Newbury subdivision that Mr. Vollaro prepared. Did you have any comments, Bob?
MR. VOLLARO-No. I just wanted to know whether all members of the Board had
understood what I had written and if there’s any question on what’s in there, I’d be happy to
answer those.
MR. SANFORD-I would like you to walk us through that, because it’s not a simplistic
analysis that you ended up doing, and I think if you could verbally just sort of express the
substance of it, I think it would be helpful.
MR. VOLLARO-Sure. Okay. At our last meeting, I had agreed to write this and one we were
advised by Counsel to make sure that we didn’t go over anything that had to do with
SEQRA. In other words, we had passed the SEQRA so we couldn’t rely on something in
SEQRA that would cause us to go through a denial. There are two references. One is the
Open Space Plan, which it was adopted by the Town Board on July 7, 2003, and the other
reference is Chapter A183, Article Nine, called Cluster Development. Now those two, when I
talked to the Executive Director, she, Marilyn Ryba, said to me that the Open Space Plan
should be considered an addendum to the CLUP, Comprehensive Land Use Plan, consider as
an addendum. We never looked at that addendum. We never considered that addendum at
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our last meeting. It was never mentioned, and it should be treated as part of the document,
and in that Open Space Plan, on Page 25, of Reference A, which is the Open Space Plan, it
addresses the mountain ridges, specifically the Luzerne Mountains. When you go to the
Comprehensive Land Use Plan for Neighborhood Eleven, you’ll find that it remains relatively
silent in that area. It doesn’t say anything, but the Open Space Plan says a lot, and what it
does say, at the very end, it says care should always be given to changes in character of the
mountain ridge. That’s one. Now, Reference B in my memorandum talks to A183-35 called
Procedures. Now, it says a cluster design alternative shall be required if the characteristics of
the site include any of the following, and it does include number nine. There were nine issues
there, and the last one states sites located in the scenic vista or view shed identified on the
Scenic Views and Vistas map. Now, I had a meeting on December 5 with Staff and we
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looked at that Scenic Views and Vistas map with Mrs. Barden and our Zoning Administrator
and we agreed that this particular property was in the view shed. So therefore 183-35 would
require an alternate submission for a cluster design. Now, the applicant and the Planning
Board could I understand again with, I think that Craig Brown, the Zoning Administrator,
had spoken to Counsel concerning the fact that if this Board and the applicant were to agree
to extend the 62 day limit then it could be done, providing it was mutually agreed to. Is that
correct?
MR. SCHACHNER-True of this application and any other application ever before this or any
other Board.
MR. VOLLARO-Okay. Thank you. So that this Board could agree to an extension of the 62
day requirement for the Planning Board to make a motion, or for the Planning Board to
make a denial or an approval, and the applicant would agree to provide a cluster alternative
design for the Planning Board and if it was agreed to, a Sketch Plan should be submitted, I
think, for review and comment. Now that means that if you go to the alternative cluster
design, it’s going to have to agree to Article Nine in the Cluster Development section of 183.
If the applicant does not agree with an extension, one of two motions, a denial based on the
discovery of this new information, or a conditional approval. Now that’s up to the Board.
I’m not going to make that motion. I’ve done the work and I want the Board to try to
understand where we are. They’ve got two alternatives. The applicant can agree to the 62
day extension, and could submit a cluster development, or a cluster development and an
alternate development for a non cluster. So it would be a modified submission. If conditional
approval is selected by a majority of the Board, it should be with the understanding that they
are ignoring the recommendation in the CLUP and the Open Space Plan and the direction
given to 183-35 Number Nine. Now, I’ll go along with the conditions of approval. I
understand there’s a very recent letter that came in from C.T. Male that is not on here, but
I’ll go over these in any event. Unless everybody’s read them and they understand what the
conditions of approval would be. If you want me to go through them, I will. The more
complicated section of this was in the memorandum that I’ve already finished on. So I think,
if the applicant has listened to what I had to say, he can agree to an extension of the 62 days.
MR. LAPPER-Certainly if that’s what the Board would like. It hasn’t been requested up
until today. So the application could certainly be supplemented with comparing it to a
cluster, sure.
MR. VOLLARO-It would have to be a cluster design that we would approve.
MR. LAPPER-But it would only be the two homes in Queensbury, not the two in Lake
Luzerne, just clustering the two homes in the Town of Queensbury.
MR. VOLLARO-Well, this has been looked at as a complete application in the past, and I
don’t know whether we’d want to segment it, but I would leave that up to the Chairman. I
would not certainly want to see it, I’d like to see it proposed as it’s been proposed, as a full
application with the houses in Lake Luzerne, and the houses in Queensbury. I don’t think
segmenting it, but I think that’s the Chairman’s call. It’s not mine.
MR. LAPPER-Well, whatever the Board’s prerogative. It can be changed in any way to still
have the four houses, whatever you want to see.
MR. VOLLARO-I think you’ve got to take the original submission and give it to us that way.
MR. HUNSINGER-Well, I was going to say, it’s not entirely up to me. It’s up to the Board.
My personal opinion is I think it’s kind of silly to look at a four lot cluster development, but
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that’s just one of seven. I understand where you’re coming from, Bob, I really do, but I think
it’s a silly exercise, but again, that’s just my opinion.
MR. VOLLARO-Yes, well, I’m just going by what 183-35 says to do.
MR. HUNSINGER-I totally understand.
MR. VOLLARO-And one of them said that a cluster design shall be required if the
characteristics of the site include any of the following.
MR. HUNSINGER-Right, I realize that.
MR. VOLLARO-So I think they’re obligated to do that in any event, even if they come back.
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes. I don’t know how the rest of the Board feels on that particular
issue. Richard?
MR. SANFORD-I don’t think, I understand what Bob’s saying about the cluster, but I don’t
think whether it should be a cluster of two versus four should be at the pleasure, if you will, of
any one person or really of this Board. It should really be a fact, not a debated issue.
MR. HUNSINGER-Right.
MR. SANFORD-In other words, if we go in the direction that Mr. Vollaro was suggesting,
we’re going to require a cluster, would it be for the full application which involves the four
houses or would, as Mr. Lapper was suggesting, it be split in half and we would somehow not
address the Luzerne land in the same way as we would the Queensbury land? It’s a
complicated issue. I’m not sure if there’s a legal opinion on it at this point in time, but I
clearly don’t, you know, I disagree with Mr. Vollaro when he says it’s sort of the Chairman’s
pleasure or whatever the word he used. If I was Chris, I’d say, wait a second, I’m not
touching that.
MR. HUNSINGER-Right, and the other comment I would just make, I’m sorry to interrupt,
is we can ask the applicant for whatever we want, but he has no legal obligation to give it to
us. I mean, if we ask them for a four lot, four house cluster with all the houses in Queensbury,
he can come back with two and say, here’s my new plan.
MR. SANFORD-Sure. Just to answer your direction question, though, Chris, is because of
the sensitivity on developing up on the mountain, it’s going to be a visual situation, and there
are a number of issues that the neighbors have expressed that I also happen to share. I am
inclined to want to see the cluster alternative.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay. Tom?
MR. SEGULJIC-Well, my main concern is the visual impacts. I guess what I’d really like to
see is how any development up there is really going to have, what its visual impact is going to
be, and I’m struggling with the cluster. I guess I’d want to hear more discussion about that.
MR. VOLLARO-Well, he certainly could cluster everything on one of those lots. I mean,
there is, I think Lot Three might be one of the better lots to cluster on, since it’s got a lot of
flat space on it. You’d have to look at what you want to do to the thing. Not necessary that
you put four houses up there either. So I think that’s up to the applicant, though, to redesign
and not for the Board to try to redesign for him.
MRS. STEFFAN-In my opinion, we’re talking about a cluster now which we haven’t talked
about before. The visual impacts are pretty key. The last two meetings that we’ve had, those
were when the visual impacts came to light. I asked for a notation of the height of the land.
Two of the lots actually have house sites that are at the height of land, and it just doesn’t fit
with our Town plan. So I understand what Bob’s put together, but my feeling is not to ask
the applicant to come back with a cluster design. It’s my suggestion that there be a motion to
deny for two issues cited in our Subdivision Regulations and our Open Space Plan. That’s my
position.
MR. HUNSINGER-George, we skipped over you.
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MR. GOETZ-I think we’re really sort of beating around the bush by sending them back to do
a cluster. Actually, I believe in pretty much what was just said. I think we should take a
vote.
MR. HUNSINGER-Tony?
MR. METIVIER-I just don’t know where a cluster would get us. I think it would just
prolong the agony, if you will, of this. I mean, if you really look at it, you still are allowed to
build four houses up there, whether or not you cluster them. I think to keep in the harmony
of the neighborhood you should keep it at the zoning that we’ve been looking at all along, and
to cluster it just would almost add insult to injury to all of the neighbors in the area that have
come out in disagreement with this application. I just think that that’s not the way we
should move on this.
MR. HUNSINGER-Bob, I know you read to us the Code, but what’s your feeling?
MR. VOLLARO-My feeling goes along with what Gretchen had to say. I would make a
motion to deny this and let the applicant come back with a new application, if he so chooses.
MR. HUNSINGER-Well, if those are the feelings from the Board members, maybe instead of
going through the conditions for approval, we’d just look for a motion, if anyone wants to put
forward a motion.
MOTION TO DENY SUBDIVISION NO. 13-2003 JAMES NEWBURY, Introduced by Gretchen
Steffan who moved for its adoption, seconded by Robert Vollaro:
Citing Subdivision Regulations A-183-34 Letter H, building lot shall be set back away from
ridges or military crests in order to protect the natural silhouette of Queensbury’s mountain
ranges. I’d also like to cite on Page 25 from the Open Space Vision Plan from the Town of
Queensbury which is an addendum to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, that states
mountain ridges and West Mountain, a large part of Queensbury’s diverse beauty comes from
the dramatic scenic back drop provided by the mountain ranges that frame vistas throughout
the Town. West Mountain and part of Luzerne Mountains, with the entire ridge commonly
referred to as West Mountain frames the western horizon of the Town. As scenic resources, it
is only fitting to recognize these mountain ridge lines as important elements of the Town’s
landscape. Care should always be given to changes to the character of that mountain range.
This application does not meet the criteria set forth in those two provisions.
Duly adopted this 27 day of December, 2005, by the following vote:
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MR. HUNSINGER-Comment from Counsel.
MR. SCHACHNER-There is a comment from Counsel. As I understood the motion, which
has been seconded, I heard a motion to deny and I heard citing this section and then citing
this section. I didn’t hear anything in the motion stating whether the motion, or anyone who
seconded the motion, how the citing of those sections relates to the application. In other
words, I didn’t hear any language to the effect of, citing this section and noting that the
application does not comply with, or that the application fails to meet the standard, or
something other than citing this section. So I’m going to suggest that the motion, if that’s
way the motion’s going, be that somebody consider a motion that not only cites those sections
but indicates whether this application does or does not meet the criteria of those sections.
MR. HUNSINGER-Would you like to clarify?
MRS. STEFFAN-Okay. If I could just use the last sentence that Mark suggested. After
finishing with the Open Space Vision Plan, under the mountain ranges, this application does
not meet the criteria set forth in those two provisions.
MR. VOLLARO-Do you still second it, Bob?
MR. VOLLARO-Yes.
MR. SANFORD-Let me just clarify this. I don’t want to make a bad vote. If I vote yes, I’m
voting in favor of a denial, correct?
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. SCHACHNER-That’s the correct.
MR. SANFORD-Then the vote is yes.
AYES: Mr. Sanford, Mr. Seguljic, Mr. Goetz, Mrs. Steffan, Mr. Vollaro
NOES: Mr. Metivier, Mr. Hunsinger
MR. LAPPER-Tom and I wanted to give you a present on the last meeting of the year to
withdraw The Michaels Group application, or to table it for tonight, so it would be a short
meeting.
MR. HUNSINGER-I appreciate that. Thank you.
SUBDIVISION NO. 1-2005 PRELIMINARY & FINAL STAGE SEQR TYPE UNLISTED J.
MICHAEL BLACKBURN AGENT(S): VAN DUSEN & STEVES OWNER(S): SAME
ZONING RR-5 & LC-10 LOCATION EAST SIDE RIDGE RD. NORTH OF DUNHAMS BAY
GUN CLUB APPLICANT PROPOSES A 3 LOT SUBDIVISION RESULTING IN LOTS OF 5.17
AC., 5.18 AC., 22.10 ACRES. SUBDIVISION OF LAND REQUIRES REVIEW BY THE
PLANNING BOARD. CROSS REF. AV 80-2005 WARREN COUNTY PLANNING N/A
ADIRONDACK PARK AGENCY YES LOT SIZE 32.45 ACRES TAX MAP NO. 253.-1-18
SECTION A-183
TOM HUTCHINS, REPRESENTING APPLICANT, PRESENT
MR. HUNSINGER-Susan, if you could summarize Staff notes, please.
MRS. BARDEN-The application was tabled on November 22, for a couple of items in the
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tabling motion, specifically looking for follow up by C.T. Male to review the data on test pits,
in accordance with their Item Number Four in their letter of 16 November 2005 where they
talked about that. Secondly we would like to make sure that the deed concerning the
existence of the Dunham’s Bay Fish and Game Club to the south, those deeds shall recognize
the existence of that, and that condition should be stated on the preliminary and final plat.
There should also be a cross easement agreement between the three lot owners, that we have a
cross easement between all three, concerning the driveway, and ultimately what we’d like to
is a C.T. Male signoff. We do have a C.T. Male signoff dated December 22, 2005 from Jim
Houston of C.T. Male. That’s it.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay. Thank you. Good evening.
MR. HUTCHINS-Good evening, Board. I’m Tom Hutchins of Hutchins Engineering, here
on behalf of Mr. Blackburn. I was not involved in the earlier meetings before this Board, and
I guess I would focus on the tabling resolution of November 22, and the three items that
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Staff just mentioned, the first of which was the soils information. We have revisited the site
and I have reviewed the soils criteria with C.T. Male, and we have revised the plans
accordingly, and they have reviewed revised plans, and I believe you have their signoff letter
of December 22. The other two items I recall from the tabling resolution were the cross
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easement for the driveway, and a note has been added to the plans to indicate that will be
part of deeds for the parcels, and the other item is a note’s been added to the plan with
reference to the existence of the Dunham’s Bay Rod and Gun Club to the south, which will
also be incorporated into the deeds, and with that, I’d turn it back to the Board.
MR. HUNSINGER-I’d just open it up for questions or comments. I just have one comment.
In the letter from C.T. Male, December 22, he talks about a revised set of plans. He says that
the applicant’s engineer (lost word) consisted of a transmittal letter dated December 20 and
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the revised set of plans. Do we have, because I’ve got the old plans. Do we have a revised set
of those plans from Blackburn?
MR. HUTCHINS-They were submitted.
MR. VOLLARO-I’m sure you submitted them. I just have the old set, which is dated, the
last update on the set that I have is 10/3.
MR. HUNSINGER-12/2 is the latest.
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. VOLLARO-12/2 is the one I have, yes, 12/2 is the latest plan.
MR. SEGULJIC-The sheet of plans is a package of three plans. We only received one in our
package, is that correct? It refers to one of three.
MR. HUTCHINS-There were three plans in the set that were submitted.
MR. VOLLARO-I’m looking at S-1, and I think the Chairman is correct. The last one on
that is 12/2/05. Now, in the C.T. Male letter, they talk about a revised set of plans, but that’s
dated December 22.
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MR. HUNSINGER-Well, if you look at the tabling resolution, Bob, it was tabled on
November 22. So the plans were revised in accordance with the tabling resolution, and then
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resubmitted on 12/2.
MR. VOLLARO-Yes, but my plan doesn’t show, I think we asked for a buffer, didn’t we ask
for a buffer on the southern side of that? We have a 50 foot buffer between the Dunhams
Bay Fish and Game Club the residential community to the north.
MR. HUTCHINS-Yes, and that’s indicated.
MR. VOLLARO-And I don’t have that buffer on the plan that’s dated 12/2/05.
MR. HUTCHINS-The plans that were submitted most recently, Sheet S-1 is Revision Seven
dated 12/9, Sheet S-2 is Revision One dated 12/21.
MR. VOLLARO-Okay. So the ones that are dated 12/2 are not up to date, essentially, is that
correct?
MR. HUTCHINS-Correct.
MR. VOLLARO-So we’re not looking at the right set of plans here.
MR. SEGULJIC-You also indicated Sheet Two is dated?
MR. HUTCHINS-Sheet Two is dated 12/21. Sheet D-1 is dated 12/21.
MR. SEGULJIC-We don’t have Sheet 2.
MR. HUTCHINS-They were submitted.
MR. SEGULJIC-Okay, well, we just don’t have them.
MR. VOLLARO-I think the bottom line, Mr. Chairman, is we don’t have the most updated
drawings to look at.
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes.
MR. SEGULJIC-Also with regard to the test pit information, is that on one of the plans
there?
MR. HUTCHINS-That is on Sheet S-2.
MR. SEGULJIC-Okay. Once again, I only received Sheet S-1.
MR. VOLLARO-That’s the only one that I have is S-1 on the latest submission, Tom.
MR. HUTCHINS-They were submitted December 20 with response to C.T. Male.
MR. HUNSINGER-Well, what’s the will of the Board?
MR. SEGULJIC-I’d like to see the plans. I’m sorry.
MR. VOLLARO-Did you show the 50 foot buffer on the latest update?
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. HUTCHINS-Yes, I did. I’ll gladly put them up and show you, if that would help.
MR. VOLLARO-It would help me.
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes, that would be helpful.
MR. HUTCHINS-Sheet S-1 is Revision 7, last revised 12/9. It shows topography around the
area of proposed houses, which is something C.T. Male had requested. It shows a 50 foot wide
no cut buffer zone, all the way across the south line. It shows clearing limits around the
driveway, and it shows, deeded 25 foot cross easements for all lots for access to the driveway,
and a reference in the deeds for future owners of these lots shall inform them of the active rifle
range that exists on the property to the south. That summarizes the changes on Sheet 1.
Sheet 2, we carried over the clearing limits from Sheet 1 to show on the sheet. It shows three
additional test pits that were conducted.
MR. HUNSINGER-Can you show us where those are located on your plan?
MR. HUTCHINS-Test Pit Three is located up here. Test Pit Four is located here, in the
general area of Test Pit Two, and Test Pit Five is located here in the general area of Test Pit
One. As a result of Three, we did shift the system back further east.
MR. VOLLARO-They were done on December 5?
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MR. HUTCHINS-They were done on December 5, yes, with the letter of December 14.
thth
MR. VOLLARO-Okay. Now was C.T. Male present at that?
MR. HUTCHINS-They were not.
MR. VOLLARO-Okay. Because I know on the minutes of 1/18/05 we had requested, our
understanding that C.T. Male would be present when the pits were done, but were they in
touch with you on that?
MR. HUTCHINS-I discussed it with them, yes, and I believe it says in the minutes of
November 22, and I believe it was you, Mr. Vollaro, if I’m not mistaken, that indicated that
you did not expect them to be present. You just wanted them to review the information and
concur.
MR. VOLLARO-Okay.
MR. HUTCHINS-And I did read that today.
MR. VOLLARO-I’m not sure that that’s what I said.
MR. GOETZ-Yes, Bob, it’s on Page 30 of the meeting minutes.
MR. VOLLARO-As long as C.T. Male concurred with that information and you discussed it
with them.
MR. HUTCHINS-I did, I reviewed it with them, yes.
MR. SANFORD-How do you do test pits in December?
MR. HUTCHINS-Those were done as borings, actually.
MR. SANFORD-Yes, I mean, but isn’t it very difficult, that time of year, isn’t it preferred to
do them in the Spring?
MR. HUTCHINS-I guess ideally. That’s why we hired soil scientist. He can do them pretty
much year round. These were done as borings.
MR. SANFORD-I have the minutes of 11/22 with me. Where does Mr. Vollaro?
MR. HUNSINGER-On Page 30, right in the middle of the page.
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. GOETZ-First of all, Mr. Steves: Okay. You do want C.T. Male to witness those? MR.
VOLLARO: No, just to review the data that they have, in accordance with their Item
Number Four in their letter of 16 November 2005 where they talk about that.
MR. SANFORD-See, my Page 30 is actually the resolution. I’m talking in terms of these
minutes. So we’re on a slightly different thing.
MR. GOETZ-This was on 11/22.
MR. HUNSINGER-You have the actual, it was in our Board package.
MR. SANFORD-I’ve got you.
MR. HUNSINGER-The page, it’s on letter size instead of legal size. So the page numbers are
different.
MR. SANFORD-All right.
MR. VOLLARO-I think even the motion that I introduced said looking for follow up by C.T.
Male to review the data on the test pits. I just wanted to make sure that C.T. Male was
involved in this, because we had asked them to be right in front.
MR. HUTCHINS-And they were. I discussed it with them up front, and I told them what I
was going to do, and we went and did it. We got the report from Charlie, I discussed it with
him, subsequently, and they’ve reviewed the design.
MR. VOLLARO-Your answer to Mr. Sanford’s question was you did borings as opposed to a
dig, is that correct?
MR. HUTCHINS-Charlie Maine did borings, yes.
MR. VOLLARO-Were you there when he did it?
MR. HUTCHINS-Yes, I was.
MR. VOLLARO-Okay.
MR. SANFORD-Now, in the future, I think we’ve been through this so many times, as sort
of a parting shot, I think the key word is we’re looking for verification of test pit data,
typically, which means witnessing them. I mean, not in this case, obviously.
MR. HUNSINGER-Well, I think that was why Mr. Steves asked for the clarification,
because on a prior application we had asked for it to be witnessed.
MR. SANFORD-Okay. Well, that’s always been my preference.
MR. VOLLARO-A key way to put this to bed without finding out who did what is to get the
logs. The logs would show, in other words, if you did them or Charlie Maine did them, or C.T.
Male, they take logs and they write down what they find. A copy of the logs coming to the
Planning Board would satisfy me.
MR. HUTCHINS-It’s on Sheet S-2.
MR. VOLLARO-Yes, you know, and those logs are usually signed off.
MR. HUTCHINS-It’s there, a copy of Charlie’s report is on Sheet S-2. It’s unfortunate you
don’t have it.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay. Any other questions, comments from the Board?
MR. SEGULJIC-Could I get a clarification?
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes.
MR. SEGULJIC-You refer to clearing limits on the site, correct?
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. HUTCHINS-Yes.
MR. SEGULJIC-But then we also have the 50 foot buffer. I mean, if we have the clearing
limits, what do we need a 50 foot buffer if I’m interpreting this, everything along the
southern and western borders are already wooded.
MR. VOLLARO-Well, it’s part of the Code that says if you have a different function between
sites you have to have a 50 foot buffer.
MR. SEGULJIC-Okay, but we’re already putting clearing limits on the site plan. I apologize
because I wasn’t here on the 22. Okay. The other thing was stormwater. Once again, I
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apologize, I wasn’t here on the 22. How is that going to, if I recall correctly, this had a,
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when it first came before us, there was a stormwater retention pond up in the northwestern
section of the site, and now that appears to be gone. Maybe I’m confusing that with another
application.
MR. HUTCHINS-I believe that’s the case, Tom, because there was not a retention pond on
here. The intent here is to, at this time, to manage the stormwater created by construction of
the driveways and because we don’t have the details of the house construction, how big the
houses are going to be, how they’re going to orient the driveways, and the like, they would be
individual stormwater plans prepared with the building package, because they’re in the Lake
George basin, as would typically be the case. So we have shown stormwater and erosion
controls for the road construction to the house site.
MR. SEGULJIC-And how is that, I guess just for clarification on Lot Three, because Lot
Two is an existing driveway. So, for Lot Three, once that site plan approval.
MR. SANFORD-That won’t need a site plan review.
MR. HUTCHINS-No, that would be part of the building submission package, as with any
individual home construction within the Lake George basin has to do a stormwater plan.
MR. SANFORD-We don’t see it again.
MR. SEGULJIC-Okay. So at that time.
MR. HUTCHINS-At that time the site specific stormwater plan for the house, where we
know the size of the house and the walkways.
MR. SEGULJIC-Okay. So all of the driveway from Lot Two to the new home, that’s what
would be reviewed at that time?
MR. HUTCHINS-Yes.
MR. SEGULJIC-Okay. All right.
MR. HUNSINGER-Any other questions, comments from the Board? We do have a public
hearing scheduled. Is there anyone from the audience who would like to make comments or
ask questions about this application?
PUBLIC HEARING OPENED
JOHN SALVADOR
MR. SALVADOR-Good evening. My name is John Salvador. I’m referring to Section A183-
23 of the Town Subdivision Ordinance. It’s entitled Layout of Streets and Roads. It says,
“The Town Streets and Roads shall include both public and private streets.” This
specification is laid out as though all subdivision streets will some day become Town roads.
This says that they shall, both public and private streets and roads in all sections of these
regulations. The way I read this, that common easement, private driveway, whatever you
call it, has got to conform to these Subdivision Regulations, and these do specify the criteria
for maintaining that road. Also, I believe there’s got to be some maintenance agreement, at
least on file with the Town, that’s enforceable by the Town, to ensure that these lot owners do
maintain this road and keep it up to standard for purposes of emergency access, etc. Not that
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
any one of them can abandon their obligation to pay for the maintenance and upkeep of the
road, let alone the initial construction. You talked about stormwater management, and each
lot owner is going to do their own stormwater management. Who’s going to do the
stormwater management on the road? It’s probably the most important aspect of the
project. I think that has to be provided for in some kind of an agreement that at least is put
on file with the Town, is enforceable by the Town, and that this doesn’t just get abandon
some day, to the detriment of the property owners. Thank you.
MR. HUNSINGER-Thank you. Anyone else? Is the Board comfortable in moving forward
with SEQRA?
MR. SANFORD-I would like some kind of a response to what Mr. Salvador just said, either
by Counsel or the applicant, if you have any comment on that.
MR. HUNSINGER-Personally I think he made a very good point. We have required similar
agreements to be on file with previous subdivisions.
MR. VOLLARO-Well, we’ve asked in the last motion that there should be a cross easement
between the three owners, and I think in that cross easement, the words have to be in that
cross easement concerning maintenance of the road. I’d have to ask Counsel if cross
easements use those kinds of words when the easements are put together.
MR. SCHACHNER-They certainly can.
MR. HUTCHINS-I’ll address that if I can. Part of the logic for the shared driveway is
because it just makes sense, in this case, to not have three separate cuts into the highway.
MR. HUNSINGER-And I think we all agree, yes.
MR. HUTCHINS-The drive is, it exists, and it’s less clearing. We don’t have a cut, or we
don’t have two more cut lines at the highway, and it was just done because it makes sense.
It’s not intended to be a Town road, and the cross easement is the device we’ve chosen to
allow the three owners to use the common road.
MR. SANFORD-Right, and we understand the logic and agree with you on that.
Nevertheless, everything that Mr. Salvador just said makes a lot of sense as well. What is the
assurance that the road will be properly maintained so that the safety issues are appropriately
addressed to not only to all owners of this land, the one that will probably be moving in in the
future. So I think what we’re asking is are you agreeable to provide something that would go
on file that would, in fact, prescribe or obligate the owners of the property to maintain the
driveways, because these are lengthy driveways.
MR. HUTCHINS-Yes, I think we could do that. I mean, realistically, they’re going to have
to do that anyway. Yes. That could be written into the easement.
MR. SANFORD-Okay. Because my concern is the one closest to Ridge Road, if they’re
negligent, then that could impact the ones further back, depending upon how it’s all set up
and agreed upon. Okay.
MR. HUTCHINS-Okay.
MR. SANFORD-Okay.
MR. HUNSINGER-Any other questions or comments? Any written comments from the
public, Susan? Okay.
MR. VOLLARO-We have a Long Form on this, or Short?
MR. HUNSINGER-Are members comfortable moving forward with the SEQRA?
MR. SEGULJIC-Yes, I guess just a general comment. Are we comfortable with doing
SEQRA if we haven’t seen the test pit information, or the boring information?
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. SANFORD-Based on what we sent them away with, they did what we asked. I think
that’s the bottom line. They did what we asked, reflected in the minutes. I think if you’re
saying, did we ask the right thing, I think that might be water under the bridge at this point.
MR. VOLLARO-Well, we’ve got C.T. Male’s assurance that he collaborated with the other
engineer on this, and that was my concern. I didn’t want C.T. Male left out of this, because
we had asked for them to participate, and in fact back in 1/18 when we did, the minutes of
1/18 said that he would be there. It was our understanding that C.T. Male would be present
when the pits were dug. That was the understanding that we had on 1/18. It’s okay it’s
moved from that to yourself, and then you’ve sat down with C.T. Male and confirmed what
you did and he took a look at what you did, and he agreed with it. I just didn’t want him all
of a sudden we didn’t see C.T. Male anymore, what we saw was you. I think there’s some
words in there that says our engineer. When I read that, it was, I think they were referring to
yourself and not to C.T. Male, in other words. I remember reading that myself.
MR. HUTCHINS-If I could make a little point, and it may not be completely applicable to
this, but it is, it’s somewhat confusing within the Town of Queensbury if the Town Engineer
needs to witness soils testing or not. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. We thought, in this case,
that Mr. Steves directly asks the question, do we want C.T. Male to witness, and from where I
sit it’s sometimes confusing as to whether or not, I mean, they probably don’t have time to
witness every test hole in the Town of Queensbury.
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes, it’s not required, but sometimes we do request it, if there’s
something unusual involved.
MR. VOLLARO-I think the reason on this that that came up is that we do have a
considerable amount of wetlands on this property.
MR. HUNSINGER-I guess there’s, I think in the end I see us tabling this, primarily because
we don’t have the final drawings. I guess the question is, how far do we want to go this
evening without having the final drawings in front of us. At least one member is a little
uncomfortable without having the test pit data, even though C.T. Male signed off.
MR. METIVIER-I have to disagree with that.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay.
MR. METIVIER-If those drawings were presented to the Staff and they weren’t forwarded to
us, the applicant should not be held responsible for that. I think if the information is on there
and he verified it in front of, it’s on the minutes, C.T. Male’s fine with it. I think we should
move forward with this application. We’re going into a year on this, and I think, give
everybody five minutes to review it if necessary, but don’t send him away again. I mean, this
application is too near the end, and what more are they going to give us? Everything’s right
there. If we need five minutes, let’s take five minutes to review it. I don’t think it’s going to
make or break the application tonight. I realize that we take a pretty hard stand on not
taking things the night of the meeting, but if that stuff was supposed to have been forwarded
on to us, it should have been. It’s not the applicant’s fault.
MR. HUNSINGER-Bob?
MR. VOLLARO-I think that it’s a question of how we set precedents on the Board for things,
how we like to operate. We like to operate with the most updated set of drawings, and it’s not
that, and this is a question of protocol, as far as I’m concerned. We should really have all the
information with us when we review, particularly when we review at home. It’s okay to come
to the Board and see the drawing, and I understand it, I looked at it, but each one of us do
these evaluations of these applications at home by ourselves, and we assume all the time that
we’re looking at the most recent data. So when we come to a meeting in the evening we’re not
confronted with new information, which can be very confusing when you’ve got stacks and
stacks of stuff to do, and, you know, you’ve got four or five applications that you’re trying to
keep in your head, and all of a sudden one of them gets kind of turned around on you, and I
know we’re supposed to think on our feet with stuff like this, but I would prefer to have,
agree with the Chairman, would prefer to have the drawings, you know, presented to us the
way we do it now. I know what Tony’s saying, and Tony’s right. It’s not really your fault.
You submitted the drawings and they didn’t get to us, but that doesn’t help us any here, in
15
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
terms of what this Board really wants and what it needs to do their job. So I tend to agree
with you on this, Chris.
MR. HUNSINGER-Gretchen?
MRS. STEFFAN-I think we should probably table it and get the information that we need.
MR. HUNSINGER-George?
MR. GOETZ-I agree with Tony. This applicant’s been here many times. We’ve asked a lot of
things from the applicant. They’ve always complied. This is not their fault that we didn’t
have those. We did see them. We do know they’re there, and I don’t see why we should table
it. I think when we’re doing this we have to definitely consider the comments by Mr.
Salvador because they were very good comments, and they should, if we get to giving a
resolution to approve at some time, that they should certainly be included.
MR. HUNSINGER-Tom?
MR. SEGULJIC-I hate to be the grinch, but I think we’ve got to see the full package. We
have one shot at this, and if everything’s there, it should be, just take a couple of minutes the
next meeting.
MR. HUNSINGER-Richard?
MR. SANFORD-Just a question. I’m not clear on it. When we’re dealing with individual
septic systems, isn’t the criteria that you need 24 inches without water to support systems?
MR. VOLLARO-If you don’t have that, you have to go to a raised bed.
MR. HUNSINGER-Right.
MR. SANFORD-But here, I mean, based on what I’m reading on the February 17, 2005,
they’re talking 17 inches and 22 inches.
MR. HUTCHINS-These are all raised systems.
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes, these are mound systems.
MR. SANFORD-Okay. They’re not going to be traditional systems.
MR. HUTCHINS-They’re all raised systems.
MR. VOLLARO-They’re all raised beds.
MR. SANFORD-Okay.
MR. HUTCHINS-And it’s kind of borderline. The last pits we did, I think we had 24 in two
of them, but I’m uncomfortable with even conventional shallow systems in the this site. The
24 inches at the site, I really think it’s appropriate. The raised systems are the right thing
here.
MR. SANFORD-I’m going to really confuse you, Chris. I guess I’m inclined to go along with
Tony on this one. So that makes it probably a split, right?
MR. HUNSINGER-There’s seven. With that, I will close the public hearing and let’s move
forward with the SEQRA.
PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED
MRS. BARDEN-Tom, do you know when you submitted those plans?
MR. HUTCHINS-Yes. December 20.
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MRS. BARDEN-Because they’re not in our file. So I don’t have them either.
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes, that’s what you had said earlier.
MR. METIVIER-Well, let me ask you this. Are they in a hurry to break ground on this? I
mean, desperately in a hurry to break ground? Are they planning to do anything before
Spring?
MR. HUTCHINS-I don’t believe so.
MR. METIVIER-All right. Then let me change my thought. Give us a set of plans, the final
set, seven copies of them. Get us some kind of easement put together or deed restriction put
together for the three lots for the driveway. Let’s table this tonight. Let’s get everything
that we need, make sure that we request everything from him right now, he writes it down,
let’s get this on the first meeting in January and be done with it, and we can officially make
this a year long application, but, you know, if you guys don’t feel comfortable moving
forward and he’s not in that much of a hurry, let’s just get everything done and get it to bed
once and for all.
MR. VOLLARO-I think that’s the right thing to do, I really do.
MR. HUNSINGER-That wasn’t my preference, Tony. I was kind, I thought I was
summarizing the Board’s feeling, which is why when I saw three people ready to move
forward, I was ready to move forward.
MR. METIVIER-But the fact remains, who knows if we can get through SEQRA not
knowing everything, and furthermore Mr. Salvador’s comments are well taken.
MR. HUNSINGER-Absolutely.
MR. METIVIER-If he can put together some type of easement or deed restriction for an
easement for the three lots, it’ll certainly alleviate a lot of pain when we go to resolution.
MR. HUNSINGER-The other thing that I would ask for, if we’re going to ask for a revised
drawing, is ask that the clearing, the clearing limits are shown on the plan, but if you could
label the acreage, you know, for example, Lot One you have a clearing limit delineated on the
plan, and you say Lot One is, you know, 5.17 acres, but if you could say clearing limit on Lot
One, you know, whatever that number is, shown on the plans.
MR. HUTCHINS-I believe I do, but you don’t have the plans.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay.
MR. VOLLARO-You think that’s on the updated drawings?
MR. HUTCHINS-I believe it is, but it’s up there somewhere. I think what I did is put the
total disturbed area.
MR. HUNSINGER-And this is S-2, so it’s probably on S-1 I would imagine. Is there
anything else that we would need to see?
MR. VOLLARO-I don’t think so. I think having the drawings and having that cross
easement with the correct language in it that refers to maintenance of the driveways is all we
really want.
MR. HUNSINGER-Do you want to put that in the form of a motion, Tony?
MR. METIVIER-Sure.
MOTION TO TABLE PRELIMINARY STAGE SUBDIVISION NO. 1-2005 J. MICHAEL
BLACKBURN, Introduced by Anthony Metivier who moved for its adoption, seconded by
Robert Vollaro:
Until the first meeting of January, January 17, with the following: The most revised set of
th
drawings with the clearing limits and acreage cleared, per Chris’ request, and label the extent
of the clearing, and also draft wording for easements for the main driveway to show a cross
easement showing maintain requirements for the main driveway.
17
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
Duly adopted this 27 day of December, 2005, by the following vote:
th
MR. HUTCHINS-You’re looking for a draft of the language that would be included within
the deeds?
MR. METIVIER-Yes.
MR. HUTCHINS-Okay, because the easements wouldn’t be developed until the deeds were
developed.
MR. METIVIER-Right. It would be in the deeds.
MR. VOLLARO-We’re looking for the draft language.
MR. HUTCHINS-Okay.
MRS. STEFFAN-Just as an example, if we’re looking at a Homeowners Association, we
would want to look at the sample language. So it’s the same kind of thing.
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes.
AYES: Mrs. Steffan, Mr. Goetz, Mr. Seguljic, Mr. Sanford, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Vollaro,
Mr. Hunsinger
NOES: NONE
MR. HUNSINGER-Thank you.
MR. HUTCHINS-Thank you.
NEW BUSINESS:
SUBDIVISION NO. 23-2005 SEQR TYPE UNLISTED DAVID & GERTRUDE SPERRY
AGENT(S): W.J. ROURKE ASSOCIATES OWNER(S): SAME ZONING WR-1A
LOCATION DINEEN RD. ON LEFT APPLICANTS HAVE 4 CONTIGUOUS LOTS [SIZED
1.02, 0.73, 0.61 & 0.47 ACRES] AND PROPOSE LOT LINE ADJUSTMENTS WHICH WILL
RESULT IN 3 LOTS SIZED 1.20, 0.908 & 0.704 ACRES RESPECTIVELY. SUBDIVISIONS OF
LAND REQUIRE PLANNING BOARD REVIEW. CROSS REF. AV 89-2005 WARREN
COUNTY PLANNING N/A LOT SIZE 2.812 ACRES TAX MAP NO. 289.7-1-58, 59, 60, 61
SECTION A-183
DAVID & GERTRUDE SPERRY, PRESENT
MR. HUNSINGER-Susan, if you’d summarize Staff Notes, please.
MRS. BARDEN-Sure. This is a proposed three lot residential subdivision. The subject
parcel is located at Dineen and Moon Hill Roads. The property is zoned Waterfront
Residential One Acre. This project is a SEQRA Unlisted Action. You do have a resolution
from the Zoning Board meeting December 21, 2005. Variances were approved on this
application for minimum lot size and minimum lot water frontage, and under Project
Description: The applicant has four contiguous lots, totaling 2.8-acres, and proposes
reconfiguring the lots, resulting in 3 lots sized; 1.2, .7, and .9 acres respectively. Staff
Comments: The existing 4-lots are sized, 1 acre, .47, .61, and .73, acres. This proposal will
reconfigure the lots resulting in 3-lots. No new house sites will be created with this proposal.
I do have Staff Notes from the variance, again approved December 21, and that’s all I have.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay. Thank you. Good evening.
MRS. SPERRY-Good evening.
MR. SPERRY-Good evening. My name is David Sperry. This is my wife Trudy. I guess
she’s explained just about everything. What we wanted to do is cut down on the density of
the property. One small lot would be actually to the right of our house and in front of it. So
if that lot was ever sold, I’d be looking at a house. We wanted to make the lots a little bit
18
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
bigger by splitting them up, and I wanted lake frontage for my property. My house sits on
parcel three.
MRS. SPERRY-One and three are the ones by the lake.
MR. SPERRY-That has the lake frontage. Parcel Two has no lake frontage.
MR. HUNSINGER-Is there any plans to provide lake frontage or lake access to Parcel Two?
MRS. SPERRY-No.
MR. SPERRY-No.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay. Well, that was one of the questions that Staff had.
MRS. SPERRY-I’ve lived there for 65 years. I don’t want to change it.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay. I’ll open it up for questions or comments from the Board.
MR. SANFORD-I see this just as a lot line adjustment.
MR. VOLLARO-Yes.
MR. SANFORD-Actually reducing density. I don’t have anything. Maybe some people from
the public have comments, but I don’t see anything.
MR. SEGULJIC-I just have one question here. The access to Lot Two, if I’m understanding
this correctly, access to Lot Two is from Parcel Three because of a macadam onto the dirt
drive. Does it have its own access?
MRS. SPERRY-Excuse me?
MR. SEGULJIC-Does Lot Two have its own access?
MRS. SPERRY-Two and One share a driveway. Is that what you’re talking?
MR. SEGULJIC-Okay. So that’s a shared driveway. You don’t have any other access.
Okay.
MRS. SPERRY-It could if it needed to be.
MR. SEGULJIC-Is that an issue at all?
MR. SANFORD-It’s been shared. It’s going to continue to be shared.
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes, it’s an existing condition.
MR. SEGULJIC-It’s existing? Okay.
MRS. SPERRY-I believe that would be grandfathered in. I mean, it’s been there probably
for 40 years now.
MR. VOLLARO-Yes. I think this is just really a lot line adjustment, like Mr. Sanford said, I
don’t see any complications to this one at all, myself.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay. Anyone else? We do have a public hearing scheduled. Is there
anyone here that wanted to address the Board on this application?
PUBLIC HEARING OPENED
NO COMMENT
PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED
MR. HUNSINGER-This is an Unlisted Action.
19
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MRS. BARDEN-Short Form.
MR. HUNSINGER-Short Form.
MRS. BARDEN-Actually, it’s a Long Form.
MR. HUNSINGER-I was going to say, they submitted a Long Form.
MRS. BARDEN-Yes, Long Form.
MR. HUNSINGER-Long Form.
MRS. STEFFAN-Just for clarification, if they did not submit the Short or Long Form,
because it’s a Type II, do we even have to do a SEQRA?
MR. HUNSINGER-No, it’s an Unlisted Action.
MRS. BARDEN-It’s an Unlisted Action.
MRS. STEFFAN-Okay. Sorry.
RESOLUTION WHEN DETERMINATION OF NO SIGNIFICANCE IS MADE
RESOLUTION NO. 23-2005, Introduced by Gretchen Steffan who moved for its adoption,
seconded by Anthony Metivier:
WHEREAS, there is presently before the Planning Board an application for:
DAVID & GERTRUDE SPERRY, and
WHEREAS, this Planning Board has determined that the proposed project and Planning
Board action is subject to review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED:
1. No Federal agency appears to be involved.
2. The following agencies are involved:
NONE
3. The proposed action considered by this Board is Unlisted in the Department of
Environmental Conservation Regulations implementing the State Environmental
Quality Review Act and the regulations of the Town of Queensbury.
4. An Environmental Assessment Form has been completed by the applicant.
5. Having considered and thoroughly analyzed the relevant areas of environmental concern
and having considered the criteria for determining whether a project has a significant
environmental impact as the same is set forth in Section 617.11 of the Official
Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations for the State of New York, this Board finds
that the action about to be undertaken by this Board will have no significant
environmental effect and the Chairman of the Planning Board is hereby authorized to
execute and sign and file as may be necessary a statement of non-significance or a
negative declaration that may be required by law.
Duly adopted this 27 day of December, 2005, by the following vote:
th
AYES: Mr. Vollaro, Mr. Goetz, Mr. Seguljic, Mr. Sanford, Mrs. Steffan, Mr. Metivier,
Mr. Hunsinger
NOES: NONE
20
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. HUNSINGER-Any final comments or questions? Would anyone like to make a
resolution?
MOTION TO APPROVE PRELIMINARY STAGE SUBDIVISION NO. 23-2005 DAVID &
GERTRUDE SPERRY, Introduced by Robert Vollaro who moved for its adoption, seconded
by Gretchen Steffan:
WHEREAS, an application has been make to this board for the following:
Applicants have 4 contiguous lots [sized 1.02, 0.73, 0.61 & 0.47 acres] and propose lot line
adjustments which will result in 3 lots sized 1.20, 0.908 & 0.704 acres respectively.
Subdivisions of land require Planning Board review
WHEREAS, the application was received; and
WHEREAS, the above is supported with all documentation, public comment, and
application materials in file of record; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter A183, Subdivision of Land, A183-10C, D of the Code of the
Town of Queensbury a public hearing was advertised and was held on 12/27/05; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Board has determined that the proposal complies with the
Subdivision application requirements of the Code of the Town Queensbury (Zoning); and
WHEREAS, the Planning Board has considered the environmental factors found in the Code
of the Town of Queensbury (Zoning); and
WHEREAS, the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review Act have been
considered and the Planning Board has adopted a SEQRA Negative Declaration; and/or if
application is a modification, the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review
Act have been considered; and the proposed modification(s) do not result in any new or
significantly different environmental impacts, and, therefore, no further SEQRA review is
necessary; and
Preliminary [ A183-10 F(2) ( 3) ( 4) ]]
WHEREAS, the modifications to the preliminary plat are or are not acceptable; and [A -
183-10 F (2) ]
WHEREAS, the character and extent of any required improvement for which waivers may
have been requested and which, in its opinion, may be waived without jeopardy to the public
health, safety, morals and general welfare; and [ A183-10 F (2) ]
WHEREAS, approval of this preliminary plat shall not constitute approval of the
subdivision plat but rather, it shall be deemed an expression of approval of the design
submitted on the preliminary plat and as a guide to the preparation of the subdivision plat. [
A183-10 F (3) ]
WHEREAS, the developer shall sign and date a copy of the Planning Board's findings sheet,
and such approval shall be deemed to have occurred upon the return of such signed findings
sheet to the Planning Board. [ A183-10 F (4) ]
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that
We find the following: The application for Preliminary Stage is hereby Approved in
accordance with the resolution prepared by Staff.
Duly adopted this 27 day of December, 2005, by the following vote:
th
AYES: Mr. Goetz, Mr. Seguljic, Mr. Sanford, Mr. Metivier, Mrs. Steffan, Mr. Vollaro,
Mr. Hunsinger
NOES: NONE
MR. HUNSINGER-Would anyone like to offer a resolution for Final?
21
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MOTION TO APPROVE FINAL STAGE SUBDIVISION NO. 23-2005 DAVID & GERTRUDE
SPERRY, Introduced by Robert Vollaro who moved for its adoption, seconded by Gretchen
Steffan:
WHEREAS, an application has been make to this board for the following:
Applicants have 4 contiguous lots [sized 1.02, 0.73, 0.61 & 0.47 acres] and propose lot line
adjustments which will result in 3 lots sized 1.20, 0.908 & 0.704 acres respectively.
Subdivisions of land require Planning Board review
WHEREAS, the application was received; and
WHEREAS, the above is supported with all documentation, public comment, and
application materials in file of record; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter A183, Subdivision of Land, A183-10C, D of the Code of the
Town of Queensbury a public hearing was advertised and was held on 12/27/05; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Board has determined that the proposal complies with the
Subdivision application requirements of the Code of the Town Queensbury (Zoning); and
WHEREAS, the Planning Board has considered the environmental factors found in the Code
of the Town of Queensbury (Zoning); and
WHEREAS, the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review Act have been
considered and the Planning Board has adopted a SEQRA Negative Declaration; and/or if
application is a modification, the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review
Act have been considered; and the proposed modification(s) do not result in any new or
significantly different environmental impacts, and, therefore, no further SEQRA review is
necessary; and
Preliminary [ A183-10 F(2) ( 3) ( 4) ]]
WHEREAS, the modifications to the preliminary plat are or are not acceptable; and [A -
183-10 F (2) ]
WHEREAS, the character and extent of any required improvement for which waivers may
have been requested and which, in its opinion, may be waived without jeopardy to the public
health, safety, morals and general welfare; and [ A183-10 F (2) ]
WHEREAS, approval of this preliminary plat shall not constitute approval of the
subdivision plat but rather, it shall be deemed an expression of approval of the design
submitted on the preliminary plat and as a guide to the preparation of the subdivision plat. [
A183-10 F (3) ]
WHEREAS, the developer shall sign and date a copy of the Planning Board's findings sheet,
and such approval shall be deemed to have occurred upon the return of such signed findings
sheet to the Planning Board. [ A183-10 F (4) ]
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that
We find the following: The application for Final Stage is hereby Approved in accordance
with the resolution prepared by Staff.
Duly adopted this 27 day of December, 2005, by the following vote:
th
AYES: Mr. Goetz, Mr. Seguljic, Mr. Sanford, Mr. Metivier, Mrs. Steffan, Mr. Vollaro,
Mr. Hunsinger
NOES: NONE
MR. HUNSINGER-You’re all set. Thanks very much.
MRS. SPERRY-Thank you.
MR. SPERRY-Thank you.
22
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
FRESHWATER WETLANDS FWW 6-2005 SEQR TYPE UNLISTED MICHAELS GROUP &
BAY MEADOWS CORP. AGENT(S): JONATHAN LAPPER OWNER(S): BAY MEADOWS
CORP. ZONING PUD LOCATION NORTH SIDE CRONIN ROAD THE APPLICANT
PROPOSES A 40 LOT RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION ON A 23-ACRE PARCEL.
SPECIFICALLY 39 TOWNHOUSE UNITS AND ONE OPEN SPACE LOT. ASSOCIATED SITE
WORK IS ALSO PROPOSED. SUBDIVISION OF LAND REQUIRE REVIEW BY THE
PLANNING BOARD. CROSS REF. SP 18-93, SP 38-93, SUB 21-93, SUB 12-93, PZ 6-91,
PZ10-89, FW 5-03, PUD SP 8-2000 WARREN COUNTY PLANNING N/A LOT SIZE 6.88,
19.79, 4.00 ACRES TAX MAP NO. 296.16-1-2 SECTION A-183
MR. HUNSINGER-I will open the public hearing.
PUBLIC HEARING OPENED
MR. HUNSINGER-And I will leave the public hearing open, and I will entertain a motion
from the Board to table this to the January 24 meeting, as requested by the applicant.
th
MOTION TO TABLE FRESHWATER WETLANDS PERMIT NO. 6-2005 MICHAELS GROUP
& BAY MEADOWS CORP., Introduced by Robert Vollaro who moved for its adoption,
seconded by Anthony Metivier:
To table this to the January 24, 2006 meeting.
Duly adopted this 27 day of December, 2005, by the following vote:
th
AYES: Mr. Goetz, Mr. Seguljic, Mr. Sanford, Mrs. Steffan, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Vollaro,
Mr. Hunsinger
NOES: NONE
SUBDIVISION NO. 26-2005 SEQR TYPE UNLISTED MICHAELS GROUP & BAY
MEADOWS CORP. AGENT(S): JONATHAN LAPPER OWNER(S): BAY MEADOWS
CORP. ZONING PUD LOCATION NORTH SIDE CRONIN ROAD THE APPLICANT
PROPOSES A 40 LOT RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION ON A 23-ACRE PARCEL.
SPECIFICALLY 39 TOWNHOUSE UNITS AND ONE OPEN SPACE LOT. ASSOCIATED SITE
WORK IS ALSO PROPOSED. SUBDIVISION OF LAND REQUIRE REVIEW BY THE
PLANNING BOARD. CROSS REF. SP 18-93, SP 38-93, SUB 21-93, SUB 12-93, PZ 6-91,
PZ10-89, FW 5-03, PUD SP 8-2000 WARREN COUNTY PLANNING N/A LOT SIZE 6.88,
19.79, 4.00 ACRES TAX MAP NO. 296.16-1-2 SECTION A-183
MR. HUNSINGER-Again, the applicant has asked that that be tabled. I will open the
public hearing.
PUBLIC HEARING OPENED
MR. HUNSINGER-And leave the public hearing open, and I will entertain a motion to table
the application to January 24, 2006.
MOTION TO TABLE SUBDIVISION NO. 26-2005 MICHAELS GROUP & BAY MEADOWS
CORP., Introduced by Robert Vollaro who moved for its adoption, seconded by Anthony
Metivier:
To table this to the January 24, 2006 meeting.
Duly adopted this 27 day of December, 2005, by the following vote:
th
AYES: Mr. Seguljic, Mr. Sanford, Mr. Goetz, Mrs. Steffan, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Vollaro,
Mr. Hunsinger
NOES: NONE
MR. HUNSINGER-And finally, I was a little remiss. For anyone following along in the
audience, Subdivision 24-2005 for David Monsour & Peter King was withdrawn.
23
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
SITE PLAN NO. 68-2005 SEQR TYPE II RPS PROPERTY HOLDINGS, LLC AGENT(S):
JARRETT-MARTIN ENGINEERS OWNER(S): SAME ZONING MU LOCATION 17 MAIN
STREET APPLICANT PROPOSES A 1,075 SQ. FT. ADDITION AND ASSOCIATED SITE
WORK TO AN EXISTING 2,755 SQ. FT. MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING. EXPANSIONS OF
SITE PLAN REVIEW USES REQUIRE REVIEW BY THE PLANNING BOARD. CROSS
REF. AV 91-2005, BP 2005-109, BP 99-216 WARREN COUNTY PLANNING 12/14/05 LOT
SIZE 0.38 ACRES TAX MAP NO. 309.11-2-11 SECTION 179-4-020
TOM JARRETT, REPRESENTING APPLICANT, PRESENT
MR. HUNSINGER-Susan, if you could summarize Staff Notes.
MRS. BARDEN-Sure. The applicant requests site plan review for expansion of an existing
use. Subject property is located at 17 Main Street and it’s zoned Mixed Use. This project is a
SEQRA Type II Action. The variance was granted on December 21 for additional parking
st
spaces over the required parking spaces, and for deficient drive aisle width and parking space
dimensional requirements. The applicant proposes a 1,075 square foot addition to the
existing medical office building, resulting in an increase in the total building area to 3,330
square feet. Associated site improvements are also proposed. Staff Comments: The applicant
requests a waiver from full compliance with the Town’s lighting standards. The proposed
addition will displace 6 parking spaces, which will be relocated to the rear of the site. An
additional 5 parking spaces in the front of the site will be eliminated permanently, “remove
pavement; seed, mulch, and fertilize to grass”. The latter change, will be in keeping with the
Main St. design guidelines. The front right parking space should be eliminated because of its
potential to conflict with incoming vehicles. Is it possible to realize one of the future
interconnections with this plan? This is a very tight site; therefore, an additional outlet at the
rear of the site would help alleviate backed-up traffic as well as help with emergency vehicle
accessibility. As well as the potential for much needed additional parking, perhaps a shared
parking arrangement. The applicant should approach their neighbors on this. The addition
will displace the handicapped ramp, will this be relocated? Street trees are a requirement
under streetscape elements specific to the Main Street design guidelines. “Minimum three-
inch caliper trees should be planted every twenty feet in a five-foot-wide strip located between
the sidewalk and the asphalt.” The submitted site plan shows “1 street tree required”, the
entire width of the property should be considered when applying this standard, the site is
approximately 100-feet wide, thus, 5 street trees are required between the sidewalk and the
asphalt. These site changes, in accordance with the design guidelines for Main St., will not be
undertaken until the widening of the road, but should be shown on the plan for future
compliance. What is the plan for signage for the site? Is the existing wall sign to remain?
“The signs of individual establishments should be centered above each respective shop front,
two feet above the awning.” The existing sign, if to remain, should be centered. A snow
removal plan should be discussed, and we have C.T. Male comments dated December 21
st
from Jim Houston, which you have in your packet. There is a memo from the Fire Marshal
dated November 23 in your packet as well. The roadway satisfies the access requirements
rd
for fire apparatus, and I think that’s it.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay. Thank you. Good evening.
MR. JARRETT-Good evening. Tom Jarrett of Jarrett Martin Engineers. On my left is Todd
Jorgenson, and on my right is Sean Jorgenson, owners of the property and the practice. I
believe our proposal is relatively straightforward. We’re planning addition of roughly 1,000
square feet, along the existing building frontage, and in conformance with the design
guidelines for Main Street. The proposal calls for relocating parking, as Staff Notes noted, to
the rear of the property. Parking would actually be reduced in number, which hurts the
practice to some degree, but we think we can live with that number, at least at this stage, and
with that parking expansion in the rear, we would put in a stormwater management system
that would be to the northern end of the property. Staff has brought up the interconnection
concept to the two adjoining properties, and the property to the east, which looks to be the
most amenable at this point, is not practical because of the amount of land that the
applicant’s own or have control of right now, because of the configuration of the commercial
property next door. The parking lot does not extend all the way to the rear, and would not be
an easy interconnection right now. The property to the west, which I think has the most
potential for interconnection in the future, we can’t propose an interconnection right now
because there is a septic system in the way. We can explore that when the Main Street
improvements are completed and the sewer line is completed. With regard to lighting, we
planned on maintaining as much of the existing lighting as practical, and that mostly
24
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
involves fixtures on the building to the rear and the light pole on the eastern edge of the
property, and if any of you were at the property after hours, you’ll note that that existing
fixture is relatively compliant. There’s no lens on that right now, but the lens does not extend
down below the housing of the light fixture. So it’s really a cut off fixture, and I think the
spillage on the adjoining property is minimal, but actually helps the adjoining property.
There’s no lighting on that side of the site and it provides some security, especially in the
winter when it gets dark early and there’s no leaves on the trees. In the summer, that lighting
is largely hidden, we believe, and so it’s not seen from the road, and of course there’s more
daylight in the summertime. So I think it works in tandem to the benefit of both properties.
New lighting on the addition would be compliant, as you’ve seen from our lighting plan and
one of the questions that was raised by C.T. Male was regarding intensities underneath the
two fixtures, and that’s just an anomaly based on the grid pattern that we show on this
drawing, but the actual illumination under each light would be consistent at roughly 12 foot
candles, and it drops off quickly because they are compliant cut off fixtures. So as soon as
you get a few feet away from the fixture it drops to 2.7. That was the question raised in those
comments. Now with regard to the remainder of the Staff comments, there was a comment
regarding eliminating the space on the front right of the property, the southeast corner of the
property. We will defer to your judgment on this. We’d rather not eliminate that. We feel
that right now there’s parking right out to the sidewalk and it functions fine. We’ve
eliminated those spaces next to the sidewalk that are off the applicant’s property, and we feel
it will function adequately, but we understand the comment, and we can discuss that if need
be. The handicap ramp, we’ve probably confused the issue by showing the addition over the
top of that ramp. In reality it’s just a roof over the ramp. The ramp will not be changed.
It’s an exterior ramp with a roof now.
MR. VOLLARO-A dotted line would have been better.
MR. JARRETT-A dotted line would have been a little better, yes.
MR. HUNSINGER-So the actual addition wouldn’t extend all the way up?
MR. JARRETT-No.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay.
MR. JARRETT-The building itself would not extend that far north, but the ramp will be
covered.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay.
MR. JARRETT-Next comment in Staff comments were street trees, and we did not go for
additional trees because of the windows along the building front, but we’ve talked it over, and
if the Board wishes us to be compliant with street trees, we will add trees. I’d rather
negotiation to some extra shrubbery or low trees so the signage that we’re proposing on the
building front won’t be hidden, but we can certainly discuss that with the Board. I’d want to
see what your thoughts are and your comments are on that, and the existing sign, the signage
would remain on the front of the building, and it would be centered. It would be centered on
the building. Snow removal is the last comment by Staff, and it’s a good comment. Toward
the rear of the new parking area we’ve shown a hedge or fence, and it does make snow
removal somewhat more difficult and would dictate that snow be removed from the site. The
reason we planned a hedge there was to improve the back drop visually from Main Street, but
also to provide some protection liability, because there’s an embankment there. What we
think we can do instead is push that embankment a little bit to the north, meaning soften the
slope. We can move the landscaping a little bit farther to the north to provide a buffer for
snow. That would remove the liability issue and provide snow stacking and soften the berm.
Our stormwater system would be moved slightly to the north. It would not alter the ultimate
proposal.
MR. HUNSINGER-Would you also be moving it towards the west as well, where you show
the hedge row?
MR. JARRETT-No, I did not plan on, that’s because the septic system is located there, to
the west of that parking area. Do I understand your question?
25
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. HUNSINGER-Well, you show a continuous hedge it sort of is “L” Shaped, and you said
you’d move it, the northern boundaries, you’d move it back, but I was asking if you would
also move the western.
MR. JARRETT-Yes, I’d not planned on doing that, because if we move it westerly, we’re
going to encroach on the septic system.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay.
MR. JARRETT-We certainly have opportunities, especially if that interconnection is realized
later on, we have opportunities to remove that hedge and interconnect the site and extend
that embankment. With regard to the C.T. Male comments, and I assume you’ve all seen
them? Okay. Number One is just acknowledging the parking issue that the Zoning Board
took up last week, and I can address any specific questions you have regarding that. Number
Two is the question regarding the retaining wall, and that is in the rear of the property. It is
really not an aesthetic issue at all, in my opinion, and we put a note on there that it needs to
be designed by a professional engineer. So I’d rather not get into further details right now,
unless you specifically request. We’ve discussed the interconnection, which is Item Number
Three. Number Four, municipal sewer connection, we don’t know exactly what’s proposed
right now. We don’t know exactly what that sewer plan is going to be, and we have to get
approval from the Wastewater Department from the Town anyway. Number Five, we have
discussed this proposal with Warren County. Orally they have told me they are amenable to
our plan and we certainly need to get a Highway Work Permit from them when the work is to
be done. Number Six, we’ve discussed the lighting spillage onto the property to the east, and
the inconsistency in the way that the plan shows the foot candle illumination fixtures.
Number Seven, C.T. Male is saying we don’t have a grading plan for that new parking area in
the embankment. I think we’ve done one better. We’ve shown in our details a section
through that area. If you look at the bottom left of Drawing D-1 you’ll see a section through
that area. It shows very specifically what we’re intending to do, and I feel it’s adequate, but
I’ll defer to your judgment or your questions on that issue. Item Number Eight is the hedge
row may inhibit sheet flow stormwater into the stormwater management area. Frankly, I
didn’t understand this comment, and I was talking to another engineer at C.T. Male, and
apparently they’re worried that if we mound up around the root ball that we would impede
runoff from our parking area, which is a legitimate comment, and we can clarify that and
make sure we don’t do that. I’ll open it up to any questions the Board may have.
MR. HUNSINGER-Why don’t we go through the site plan review criteria, starting with
design standards. Any questions, comments from the Board? Site development design?
Stormwater sewage design?
MR. VOLLARO-I’m just going to go from my notes to his questions, because I didn’t follow
that when I did this. You’re going to use the existing system, until you get to go to a sewer
when Main Street dictates that?
MR. JARRETT-Yes.
MR. VOLLARO-Because the perc looks pretty good on this property.
MR. JARRETT-The perc is excellent.
MR. VOLLARO-So it should work pretty good until you get to that.
MR. JARRETT-We’ve had no problems to date and the percolation is excellent.
MR. VOLLARO-Okay, and the load on that system is probably pretty light, I would guess
anyway.
MR. HUNSINGER-Lighting design?
MR. VOLLARO-Yes. I think it looks good. The lighting seems pretty good as far as the site
is concerned. The Uniformity Ratios are close. I think they’re relatively close to our
requirements.
MR. JARRETT-They are, actually.
26
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. VOLLARO-One thing I did notice, when Bruce Frank goes out to do the inspections,
when you get the lights up, one of the your cut sheets should be Hubbel lighting, as opposed
to, you’ve got both of these as Spaulding, and one is Hubbel.
MR. JARRETT-Okay. Inconsistency between the plan and the cut sheets?
MR. VOLLARO-Yes, and if he goes out to survey your lights before they go up and he sees
that you’ve got the wrong light, he’ll call you on it, and the fact that you’re only using 100
watt bulbs, I think you’ve got a really good light situation on that whole site. What’s the
lighting along Main Street look like at this location?
MR. JARRETT-There’s one street light on the opposite side of the road. So it’s reasonable. I
wouldn’t call it ideal.
MR. METIVIER-That’s all going to change though, right?
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes, that’s all going to change.
MR. JARRETT-Yes, that’s going to change with the new.
MR. METIVIER-Yes. This is a tough situation because.
MR. VOLLARO-Well, you’ve got two lights out in front. I’m trying to address some of
Staff’s questions here. You’ve got a building mounted light where you’ve got the 2.7.
MR. JARRETT-We have two wall mounted fixtures proposed, correct.
MR. VOLLARO-Right, and then you’ve got an existing pole that’s going to remain on site.
MR. JARRETT-Right.
MR. VOLLARO-And to me the spread on that doesn’t look too bad. I mean, you’ve got
about .1 and .2 at the, that’s why I asked about how much light is there out on Main Street,
and whether or not that .1 and .2 foot candles are in any way aided by what’s already out
there.
MR. JARRETT-Slightly. I would say there’s another say maybe .2 or so at least added to
that.
MR. VOLLARO-So that whole section is not going to be really dark. It’ll be visible.
MR. JARRETT-No, no. I don’t think it’s unsafe at this point. It’ll be improved with the
corridor improvements.
MR. VOLLARO-Right. So I would say not to change any of the lighting, in my own opinion.
I think the lighting is good on this site. Your poles are 12 foot, the new poles are, to our spec.
MR. JARRETT-Right.
MR. HUNSINGER-Any other comments? Landscape design?
MR. SEGULJIC-My only comment would be the five trees along the perimeter of the
property. I’d like to see those.
MR. JARRETT-You’d like to see the five. Okay.
MR. SEGULJIC-You could go with a Norway Maple or a Pin Oak or something like that,
instead of the arborvitae that you’re proposing. Because that would allow you to see the
building from the road then, but the question is, when do you install it? With new
construction going through.
MR. JARRETT-We’d have to defer some or all of that until the new construction is through.
Yes. Certainly the one on the southeast corner would have to be deferred.
MR. SEGULJIC-Because I’d hate to see you put them in and then take them out.
27
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. VOLLARO-Instead of using five trees, which is the Code, I said drawing note some place
on your drawing additional street trees will be added when Main Street is completed, and then
we’ll decide, from a practical point of view, I see five trees up there being, you’re trying to
stuff five trees and it just doesn’t make sense.
MR. SANFORD-I don’t believe they’ll have to come back, though, Bob. If they get an
approval here, they’re not obligated, my understanding is, to come back and talk about the
plantings later.
MR. HUNSINGER-That’s right.
MR. SANFORD-Yes. We had a previous application like that. So I think we want to give
them pretty good guidance now what we’re kind of looking for, and I’m sure they’ll do what
we say.
MR. VOLLARO-I think five trees up there are two pounds in a one pound bag. That’s why I
used the word additional.
MR. SANFORD-Yes, I know. What I’m trying to say is you were suggesting that down the
road we’re going to be reviewing this, and the answer is we will not be.
MR. VOLLARO-No, we will not. I understand that. I mean, there should be a note on the
drawing. I think I said here, drawing note, additional street trees will be added when Main
Street is completed.
MR. SANFORD-Okay.
MRS. BARDEN-Well, I think Richard’s right. I think that you have to specifically say how
many street trees you’d like to see.
MR. METIVIER-However, we’d hate to have them come back, because after everything goes
through and the work is done on Main Street, we find out that this plan won’t work there,
because we had an application across the street because their landscaping plan didn’t work.
So we have to be careful of that, too. So Bob’s point is well taken, but how do we address it?
MR. SANFORD-A little less is probably fine.
MR. METIVIER-Yes.
MR. SEGULJIC-Yes, I have no problem with less. I just think we have to say within six
months of completion of roadwork, but we have no idea about when that’s going to be.
MRS. STEFFAN-I think Tom Jarrett came up with a reasonable compromise, doing
something with shrubbery and things like that, instead of the street trees, which may be a
better application.
MR. JARRETT-I’d rather put in one or two additional street trees and then some shrubbery,
additional shrubbery that would probably, I think, add to the landscaping.
MR. SEGULJIC-But if I understand, we’re trying to have a tree lined street here. Now’s our
chance to get the trees in because I doubt if they’re going to be coming back.
MR. METIVIER-However, isn’t the Town going to be responsible for the tree lined streets as
well? I mean, if they come in and decimate everything that’s there for a few months, it makes
no sense.
MR. VOLLARO-None.
MRS. STEFFAN-I think one of the other issues is the building, I mean, the building frontage
on Main Street is quite small, and we’re looking at the lot, you know, we’re taking into
account the parking lot. I think five trees is too much, but I certainly think a combination of
street trees and shrubbery would be a better application and fit the site.
28
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. SEGULJIC-What if we say something like three Norway Maples equally spaced across,
along the northern border of the site.
MR. JARRETT-We’re thinking similarly. I think we’d like to put three street trees in total.
MR. HUNSINGER-That was a number I had, too, in my mind.
MR. JARRETT-And one would be on the western edge, and one next to the driveway on the
western edge of the driveway, and then where we show it on the southeast corner. That
would allow visibility to the sign and improve, we could add some more shrubs to this.
MR. SEGULJIC-And then could we also get some plantings along the foundation?
MR. JARRETT-Yes.
MR. VOLLARO-One of the things that’s always bothered me about, when we get into this
Main Street thing, it’s kind of foggy. I mean, I wouldn’t want to have to take the test on
Main Street right now, to understand what’s going on, you know, so when we start to talk
about it, I don’t really have a good solid feeling of what Main Street is really going to look
like.
MR. HUNSINGER-Well, I don’t think anyone does because I don’t think the final
engineering’s been completed.
MR. VOLLARO-Right, but yet we’re sort of folding in some things to fit that unknown.
That’s always difficult for me.
MR. SEGULJIC-But at least they’re following to the current concept. If it doesn’t work for
them, they can come back instead of us leaving it for them just to come back, which is
doubtful.
MR. VOLLARO-Yes.
MR. JARRETT-I think we understand what your intent is, and I think we agree with that.
We’ll come back if there’s a problem with trying to comply.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay. Are we all set on landscape design?
MR. VOLLARO-Yes.
MRS. BARDEN-Can I just check one thing about the species on here before you make it
official Norway Maple?
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes.
MRS. BARDEN-But go ahead.
MR. HUNSINGER-Next item is environmental, wetlands, noise, air quality, aesthetics,
historical factors, wildlife, including rare or endangered species. Any questions or comments
about that?
MR. VOLLARO-No.
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes, I didn’t think so, either. Neighborhood character, including
neighborhood impacts, health, safety and welfare of community?
MR. VOLLARO-I think it’s an improvement.
MR. METIVIER-An improvement.
MR. HUNSINGER-Involved agencies or any other criteria not reviewed?
MR. SEGULJIC-Parking?
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes, go ahead.
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. SEGULJIC-My only comment would be that spot right along the northwest corner, that
very spot, the first spot when you enter.
MR. JARRETT-Southeast.
MR. SEGULJIC-Southeast, sorry. I mean, is that going to cause a conflict there?
MR. SANFORD-Turning radius is sharp.
MR. JARRETT-Staff brought it up. I understand the comment. It functions right now with
spaces right out to the sidewalk, and so we feel that removing two spaces there and starting
our first space on the property is an improvement. We think it’ll work fine. We don’t feel it’s
a conflict, but I understand the comment.
MR. SEGULJIC-So far it is working now?
MR. JARRETT-Yes, they park right out to the sidewalk and there’s been no conflict.
MR. HUNSINGER-My question on parking is how often is your parking lot full?
MR. JORGENSEN-Almost constantly, unfortunately, yes.
MR. HUNSINGER-Is it? Unfortunately? That’s a good thing for you. What do you mean
unfortunately?
MR. JARRETT-Cutting the parking down is somewhat of a tough situation for them. We’re
doing it. We think we can make it work, but it’s not easy to cut this parking down on this
property.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay. Any other questions, comments from the Board?
MR. VOLLARO-I guess I can attest to the fact that their parking lot is always full because
my wife has been waiting to get in to see you folks now for a month and a half. Just so you
know.
MR. HUNSINGER-We do have a public hearing scheduled for tonight. Is there anyone here
from the public that had comments about this application?
PUBLIC HEARING OPENED
NO COMMENT
PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED
MR. HUNSINGER-What’s the will of the Board?
MR. VOLLARO-Well, I think Mr. Jarrett has given us enough information of what he
intends to do. It looks to me like we may not have enough information tonight to go through
this.
MR. METIVIER-Well, I think that a lot of it hinges on what’s going to happen in the future,
too.
MR. VOLLARO-Well, that we can’t control.
MR. METIVIER-No, you’re right.
MR. VOLLARO-We can’t control anything in the future.
MR. METIVIER-And I made some notes as he was going through C.T. Male’s comments, and
everything is waiting for, you know, the project. So I don’t know what we do here. I mean,
you possibly couldn’t get C.T. Male signoff until after the project’s done, I mean, if you really
think about it, but we can’t wait on that either.
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. VOLLARO-There’s some questions in here that C.T. Male has raised that I think you
could get closure on.
MR. METIVIER-Absolutely, a lot of them you could.
MR. VOLLARO-And those that seem to, as Tony says, those that seem to hinge on future
development we can just, have to put those aside I think. Number Five, it appears a permit
from Warren County Highway Department is needed for a modification cut to the property
along Main Street. Well, do you or don’t you?
MR. JARRETT-That’s a work permit at the time of construction.
MR. HUNSINGER-Right. That’s a work permit.
MR. JARRETT-We have discussed this with them and they’re okay with what we’re
proposing.
MR. VOLLARO-Okay.
MR. JARRETT-But we need a work permit when we do the work. That’s a routine permit.
MR. VOLLARO-Sure. So if you could get, did he intimate to you that he would give you a
signoff on this? Where are you with C.T. Male, get a signoff on this letter?
MR. JARRETT-No, actually Jim Edwards is out on vacation. I only got the comments
today, and he’s out on vacation. So I’ve had no chance to talk with him on this.
MR. METIVIER-Really that’s the only thing we’re waiting for is C.T. Male signoff.
MR. HUNSINGER-Well, there’s a few landscaping changes.
MR. METIVIER-Right.
MR. HUNSINGER-So I guess really, you know, what’s the comfort level here?
MR. VOLLARO-You probably want to table this to get a really complete picture,
particularly landscaping, the C.T. Male signoff. Because I don’t know, I wouldn’t feel
comfortable approving this tonight I don’t believe.
MR. SANFORD-Well, I think what’s happening is a positive change is taking place. We’re
looking now, lately, to have everything relatively complete before we go forward for
approval, rather than setting out a bunch of conditions, and it seems to be working well
because what happens is they come back at a future meeting and it’s a five minute deal, and I
think that’s just doing a better job, to be honest with you. I think it’s a good, clean way of
doing it. It’s not time-consuming. It’s not overbearing, in terms of work for the applicant,
and it dots all the I’s and crosses the T’s.
MR. SEGULJIC-I would agree with that.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay.
MRS. STEFFAN-I have one question. The property owner, I think it’s the cat hospital is
your neighbor, and you talked about an interconnect in the back is not possible because of the
septic. Have you talked about perhaps using their parking lot or leasing? I’m just thinking
because the way your property is configured
MR. JORGENSON-The one to the west of our?
MRS. STEFFAN-No, no, the cat hospital. Because there’s a little grade, and I could envision
just some steps.
MR. JARRETT-You mean as is, without a drive through interconnection, but shared
parking?
MRS. STEFFAN-Shared parking.
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. JARRETT-They have approached them, and I don’t think you’ve gotten any answer,
right?
MR. JORGENSON-No. Their concern is that, you know, if there’s one of our workers that
slips on their property, who’s workers comp does it fall under and, yes, the liability issues is
one of the concerns. The easier interconnect would be with the bar next door, and that’s more
at the same grade. Wouldn’t be as concerned about slipping. The problem is we went over to
talk about possibly renting out property and they have a lot of parking in the back, and as we
go over at five o’clock in the afternoon, there’s a couple of guys throwing empty beer cans
into our, bottles into our back lot, and so there’s kind of some, it’s a rough crowd next door
and our staff has always been nervous about, you know, making sure we lock the doors if
we’re not in there and so I would be concerned about sharing anything with them,
unfortunately.
MRS. STEFFAN-Okay. I was thinking of the cat hospital.
MR. JORGENSON-Yes, they don’t own far. They can’t expand their parking behind, they
don’t own further back, and so, yes, one of the thoughts would be that eventually we could
expand down there, but I guess there’s another property owner that owns the back portion of
their lot.
MR. GOETZ-You were saying earlier that an interconnect would be best going into the west.
Is that the neighbor who you were just talking about?
MR. JORGENSON-Yes, the Filling Station property, yes.
MR. JARRETT-The clientele is not the best, but physically it’s the most amenable. They
apparently carted off a Christmas Tree at one point.
MR. JORGENSON-That’s what we’re concerned about what we plant there, because we had
planted nice hedges there, and one year they took and just cut down one of the trees and we
saw the drag where they dragged it up into their house upstairs. So I don’t know.
MR. HUNSINGER-I guess they’re not exactly compatible.
MR. JARRETT-Unfortunately that used to be a very nice restaurant right there.
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes. Would anyone like to put forward a tabling resolution?
MR. VOLLARO-I’ll give it a try.
MOTION TO TABLE SITE PLAN NO. 68-2005 RPS PROPERTY HOLDINGS, LLC,
Introduced by Robert Vollaro who moved for its adoption, seconded by Anthony Metivier:
To January 24, 2006, for a C.T. Male signoff on their letter of 21 December 2005, and a
revised plan to show the plantings, and how we’re going to deal with the snow removal
problem, whether the plan would show the removal of the rear hedge or not. The light fixture
inconsistency on the lighting plan, and the change in the cut sheet, so the cut sheets agree
with their drawings, and street trees, three trees all together, addition of one more street tree,
and add some shrubs to the base, Norway Maples, from approved Town list.
Duly adopted this 27 day of December, 2005, by the following vote:
th
MR. HUNSINGER-Susan, did you finish checking on the species requirements?
MRS. BARDEN-Norway Maple’s fine.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay.
MR. JARRETT-You would prefer to see that?
MR. HUNSINGER-There’s actually a list of approved.
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. JARRETT-Yes, are you suggesting that, or should I pull from the approved list for the
Town?
MR. VOLLARO-I like the Norway Maples.
MRS. BARDEN-They’re on the approval list.
MR. JARRETT-We’ll start there and move on if we have to.
AYES: Mrs. Steffan, Mr. Goetz, Mr. Seguljic, Mr. Sanford, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Vollaro,
Mr. Hunsinger
NOES: NONE
MR. HUNSINGER-Thank you.
MR. JARRETT-Thank you. See you in January.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay. The last item for discussion is the discussion on recommendation
to the Town Board for a Chairman appointment and nominations for Vice Chair and
Secretary, and the reason why that was put on the agenda, from our short discussion last
week, is that in our By-laws and Procedures, it does say that the Planning Board shall
annually make a recommendation to the Town Board and the Town Board shall annually
designate a member of the Planning Board to act as Chairperson. This was brought to my
attention by Craig Brown who included the two draft resolutions in our packages.
MR. SANFORD-There’s some history here that when you’re done I’d like to add to, okay,
Chris.
MR. HUNSINGER-And I just have one final comment to add. I don’t think that it was
intentional that my name was added to the resolution. I just wanted to make that clear that
certainly wasn’t my intent or his, other than to provide a draft resolution for the Board to
consider. Having said that, I will take your comments, Mr. Sanford.
MR. SANFORD-Okay. I was a little confused when I received it in the packet, because I
thought we resolved this on the 20 when we polled the Board, and I thought that Mr. Goetz
th
sort of summed it up and had the last word. I think it was later clarified by Town Counsel
that a formal resolution wasn’t legally required. Today I spoke with a number of people,
including Marilyn, on this, and she acknowledged that it wasn’t required, but that she would
feel more comfortable if it was a resolution, rather than just a referral. Now I do note, and
where we left it was that she prepared for my review this, I believe you all have a copy of it,
this record of resolution dated December 27, which, in my opinion, accurately reflects what
th
took place on the 20. The one that was prepared, I guess by Craig Brown, I now find out, is
th
flawed in some respect in that it didn’t reflect really the discussion that took place on the 20,
th
and in addition, we do not make references or recommendations to the Town Board for Vice
Chair and/or Secretary, only for Chair. So my understanding, after talking with Marilyn, was
that, or I guess could make the motion, that, if you all have this copy in front of you, I’ll read
it. It’s a motion regarding recommendation to the Town Board to appoint Planning Board
Chairman. It is the recommendation of the Planning Board to have the Town Board decide
which of two candidates should be appointed Planning Board Chairman: Chris Hunsinger,
current Planning Board Chairman, or Robert Vollaro, current Planning Board Vice
Chairman. When polled by the Planning Board membership, each agreed that he would serve
if asked. Duly adopted this 27 day of December, 2005, by the following vote: So that was
th
basically the resolution that Marilyn prepared for my review, and I think it was sent to you
all by e-mail, and then also distributed today.
MR. HUNSINGER-Any other discussion from the Board?
MR. SEGULJIC-That accurately sums up what we had discussed last meeting.
MR. HUNSINGER-I guess I would just add to that that I felt that, as the current Chairman,
I would have been remiss if I didn’t bring back to the Board the requirements as spelled out
in the Policies and Procedures that we, as a Board, adopted, and I think that was really the
only intent of the draft resolution provided by Staff.
33
(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. SANFORD-That’s fine. My only concern, Chris, when I was discussing this with
Marilyn, I was quite frank with her. I think it’s a sensitive issue and it always has been a
sensitive issue.
MR. HUNSINGER-No, it’s become a political issue, is what it’s become.
MR. SANFORD-It’s a political issue as well. There’s no denying the fact that it’s political,
but it’s a sensitive issue as well, and I thought we addressed it, even though it can, at times,
be uncomfortable, we addressed it on the 20, and I thought it was, perhaps, unnecessary to
th
address it again, because of both the comfort level associated with people, because in my
opinion you’re both very qualified, competent people to serve, but there are political issues
involved here. I’m the first to admit it, and so anyway, when we did discuss it on the 20,
th
this is really what we concluded was a comfortable way of doing it, or at least when the Board
was polled, this was the conclusion, and so I was a little bit concerned that we were revisiting
this when it wasn’t necessary really to do so and so nevertheless, Staff does feel more
comfortable with it being in the form of a resolution, and so, Marilyn drafted it, I reviewed it,
I just made it. I guess I’m looking for a second at this point.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay. We have a motion. Is there a second?
MR. SEGULJIC-Second.
MR. HUNSINGER-Any further discussion?
MOTION REGARDING RECOMMENDATION TO THE TOWN BOARD TO APPOINT
PLANNING BOARD CHAIRMAN, Introduced by Richard Sanford who moved for its
adoption, seconded by Thomas Seguljic:
It is the recommendation of the Planning Board to have the Town Board decide which of two
candidates should be appointed Planning Board Chairman: Chris Hunsinger, current
Planning Board Chairman, or Robert Vollaro, current Planning Board Vice Chairman. When
polled by the Planning Board membership, each agreed that he would serve if asked.
Duly adopted this 27 day of December, 2005, by the following vote:
th
AYES: Mr. Seguljic, Mr. Goetz, Mrs. Steffan, Mr. Vollaro, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Sanford
NOES: Mr. Hunsinger
MR. HUNSINGER-Would anyone like to move any nominations for Vice Chairman or
Secretary? That is something that is within the control of this Board, or would we like to
wait until after the first of the year?
MR. SEGULJIC-I would think we should wait until after the first of the year. See when the
dust settles.
MR. HUNSINGER-Okay.
MRS. STEFFAN-If you want to let folks know that I will not be here for the meeting on the
17. So I don’t think we have any alternates.
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MR. VOLLARO-Mr. Chairman, I’d just like to make a statement here. I’ve been trying to do
a little recruiting for this Board, and I’ve come up with a couple of people who might be good
alternates, and I’ll describe them to you. Maybe you know them.
MR. HUNSINGER-They go to the Town Board, not to this Board.
MR. VOLLARO-Yes, but at least I don’t think the Town Board hasn’t done a very good job
of getting us the alternates. So I went out and talked to.
MR. HUNSINGER-Well, my understanding is the positions have been advertised several
times, and no one has stepped forward.
MR. VOLLARO-Yes, I think you’ve got to go out and recruit on this.
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(Queensbury Planning Board 12/27/05)
MR. HUNSINGER-Yes, I think you do as well.
MR. VOLLARO-So, I don’t know if you know Rich Jones, he comes before us as an architect,
very, very seldom, his son, and he might be a candidate. The gentleman who came before us,
who is the President of the Waverly Place Homeowners Association, he came before us the
other night. He also may be a willing alternate, and I’ll pass that up to the Town Board, his
name and how to contact him and so on, and I think this is going to be a recruiting job.
Otherwise we’re going to be without, we’re going to be sitting without alternates here. If we
don’t have an alternate and Gretchen is out, for example, even if Tom fills Rich’s spot, we’re
down to six.
MR. HUNSINGER-That’s right. Okay. If there’s no other business, I will look for a motion
to adjourn.
MR. VOLLARO-I’ll move it.
MR. SANFORD-Second it.
On motion meeting was adjourned.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Chris Hunsinger, Chairman
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