1996-10-22
QUEENS BURY PLANNING BOARD MEETING
SECOND REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 22, 1996
INDEX
Subdivision No. 13-86
Herald Square, Phase III 1.
Subdivision No. 5-87
PRELIMINARY STAGE
Cedar Court, Phase II S.
Tax Map No. 48-6-36.20, 36.21
36.22, 36.23
Site Plan No. 30-96
Sprint Spectrum, L.P. 6.
Tax Map No. 93-2-4
Site Plan No. 59-95
Michael Cantanucci 23.
Tax Map No. 6-1-17
Site Plan No. 62-96
Torren L. Moore 29.
Tax Map No. 19-1-18
Site Plan No. 68-96
Dave Abbott 31.
Tax Map No. 93-2-13.2
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 WOULD STATE SUCH APPROVAL OF SAID MINUTES.
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting
10/22/96)
QUEENSBURY PLANNING BOARD MEETING
SECOND REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 22, 1996
7:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT
ROBERT PALING, CHAIRMAN
CATHERINE LABOMBARD, SECRETARY
TIMOTHY BREWER
DAVID WEST
ROGER RUEL
GEORGE STARK
MEMBERS ABSENT
CRAIG MACEWAN
PLANNER-GEORGE HILTON
PLANNING BOARD ATTORNEY-MARK SCHACHNER
STENOGRAPHER-MARIA GAGLIARDI
OLD BUSINESS:
SUBDIVISION NO. 13-86 HERALD SQUARE, PHASE III OWNER: GUIDO
PASSARELLI ZONE: SR-1A LOCATION: WEST OF HERALD DRIVE, SOUTH OF
LUZERNE ROAD REQUEST IS FOR THE PROPOSED CONVEYANCE TO THE TOWN OF
A 20.35 ACRE PARCEL FOR THE HERALD SQUARE, PHASE III IN LIEU OF
PAYMENT OF RECREATION FEES.
LEON STEVES, REPRESENTING APPLICANT, PRESENT
STAFF INPUT
Notes from Staff, Subdivision No. 13-86, Herald Square, Phase III,
Meeting Date: October 22, 1996 "The applicant is proposing to
convey an approximately 20 acre undeveloped piece of property to
the Tow in lieu of recreation fees for development of Phase III of
Herald Square subdivision. This piece of property which contains
two 20 foot wide "entry" points off of Wayne Court would be able to
serve as a recreation site for residents in this neighborhood.
Residents would be able to access this property by using the local
streets within the overall subdivision. Staff feels this property
could adequately serve as a recreation site for this area. Herald
Square Phase III has received an extension for filing the
subdivision map until October 31, 1996. Because the discussion on
whether or not to accept this parkland may last longer than this
date, the Planning Board may wish to consider granting an extension
of this time period for another two months. By this time, the
parkland issue should be resolved. If an extension were granted,
the applicant would be able to file the subdivision once a decision
is made by the town board concerning the proposed land dedication."
MR. HILTON-Attached with your notes is a letter from Harry Hansen,
Director of the Department of Parks and Rec., stating that his
Department will not be able to comment on this until their regular
meeting in November. So at this point I think that the Planning
Board should probably wait until that time and act 0 this in
November, but they may wish to consider the extension for the
subdivision filing this evening.
MR. PALING-Okay, and do we have any other correspondence on this,
George?
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. HILTON-At this point, no, we don't.
MR. PALING-Okay. Is there someone here representing the applicant?
Okay. Now you're saying that because the Town Board has to act on
it finally, plus the fact we haven't heard from the Rec Commission
or from the Town Board, either, as requested?
MR. HILTON-Correct. Right.
MR. PALING-So there's not much we can do, but we would take any
comment that the applicant.
MR. STARK-They wanted an extension, like, until the first of the
year. So give them an extension until the first of the year, and
then, in the mean time.
MR. PALING-We can do that. I just want to see if there's any
comments that anyone would like. Leon, do you want to make any
comments?
MR. STEVES-No. We hate to keep asking for extensions.
MR. PALING-Yes.
don't believe.
Well, you don't have a choice in this case, I
MR. BREWER-I've got just one question. I don't know if you can see
it or not, but this checkered, is that all Town property, all the
way down through, Leon, or just the hatched marks?
MR. HILTON-The hatched marks is the Town property, to the north.
The checkered is the wetland.
MR. BREWER-All right.
MR. PALING-Who owns the property on Luzerne Road that that wetland
goes through?
MR. HILTON-I believe the last name's Barber.
MR. PALING-Barber? That occupies a very high percentage of that
piece of that land there.
MR. HILTON-Sure.
MR. STEVES-And (lost word) owns the western side of the property.
MR. PALING-Okay. Is there any other comment anyone wants to make
on this? Yes, sir. Come to the microphone and identify yourself,
please.
ROGER RUEL
MR. RUEL-Yes. My name is Roger Ruel. I live at 10 Mabel Terrace,
and I want to bring to your attention something that's not on the
map that was given to you, and that is in the center of this park
land that is for dedication is Clendon Brook, all right. It's not
even shown there. Now I want to show you a cross section of the
proposed parkland. This is the road, Wayne Court, and then
property owner, there are several of them along there. Then
there's about, on one of the properties, there's about 20 feet from
the end of the property to where this land drops off southerly.
There's a 15 to 20 foot drop which is not even shown there. At the
bottom of this is C1endon Brook. On the other side of Clendon
Brook is where most of this parkland is being dedicated, and you
can't even get to it, all right. The access roads are on this
side, very small piece of property. Most of the parkland is on
other side of Clendon Brook. It's absolutely useless. You can't
get to it.
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. PALING-Well, then you disagree with the statement in the Staff
comments, "residents would be able to access this property by using
the local streets within the overall subdivision"?
MR. RUEL-I agree that the 20 foot wide access roads would make a
very small part of this parkland accessible, but only perhaps
about, no more than 20 or 30 percent of it, because that's only
this section up here, this flat section, and all of this drops off,
and it's quite a drop, Clendon Brook on the bottom, and on the
other side of Clendon Brook is a considerable amount of land,
proposed parkland, which is not accessible, and this is somewhat in
line with the comments that were made back in 1992 by the
Recreation Commission, and an identical plan was rejected July 21,
1992 because area has significant wet areas, and that's true, a
very large area, I would say from about to over here, it's all
wetlands, and it's not a suitable plan for an active recreation
facility. Those were their words. In addition they said it was
not compatible with the Recreation Commission Master Plan, per a
letter dated June 26, 1992. Any questions?
MR. PALING-Any questions by the Board?
MR. BREWER-On the other end, where it goes on Arrow Drive, does it
drop off the same up there? On the northern part, where there's
another access on Herald Drive, where you go in there, does it drop
off the same?
MR. RUEL-Yes. I live at one of those lots there, and at the end of
my property, it drops down about 20 feet at least, at quite a steep
angle, about 50 degrees.
MR. PALING-Well, lets see what the Board feels overall, but this,
evidentally, is, we're going to get a postponement of this, and
we're going to get an input from the Rec Commission and the Town
Board, and I think that we better go back and walk this site, and
get a better look at it.
MR. RUEL-I just wanted you to know
not against parkland, believe me.
dedication, the area that's being
portion is accessible.
this. It is not usable. I'm
It would be great, but this
dedicated, only a very small
MR. WEST-There's no access from the west at all?
MR. RUEL-No. There's no roads back there.
MR. PALING-All right. Roger, are you satisfied that we do have the
two more inputs, plus the fact I think the Board members better go
back and walk this site again.
MR. RUEL-A topographical map of this section would be very helpful.
It seems to me it would behoove us to advertise this and have
public comment, in cases where we have parkland to be dedicated,
that the people that live near it should have a say so in whether
it should be dedicated or not, since their properties are right
next to it.
MR. WEST-Adjoin it. Yes.
MR. PALING-I'm going to refer that to, Mark, would you comment on
that, please.
MR. SCHACHNER-I'm not sure I have any comment, Bob, other than to
say that of course the final acceptance of land rests with the Town
Board, and that decision, is of course, considered at a public
meeting at the Town Board.
MR. RUEL-Yes, but that was true of Indian Ridge. It's cases where,
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
when it gets to the Town Board and has a public hearing, a lot of
people show up, and there's a lot of static about it, and we're not
even aware of it here on the Planning Board, because we haven't
advertised it. We don' t have the public comments. How can it hurt
to have public comments?
MR. SCHACHNER-I certainly did not say it would hurt to have public
comment. What I said was that the ultimate decision rests with the
Town Board, and that that consideration happens at a public
meeting. I don' t think anything I said could be construed to
suggest that I said that.
MR. BREWER-I thought that was our policy anyway, that we decided,
months ago, that any recommendations for anything to the Town
Board, we were going to have public meetings.
MR. PALING-Definitely where a SEQRA is involved.
MR. BREWER-No. I think we said, well, there's a SEQRA involved in
this, Bob.
MR. PALING-Then why wasn't this done in that way?
MR. HILTON-The Code book does not call for any type of public
hearing to be held by the Planning Board in this situation. It
will be considered at a public meeting of the Town Board, and it
was the decision of the Planning Department that this was a
different case than Indian Ridge or any of the other high profile
recommendations that this Board has had to make, and that a public
hearing was not warranted or needed with this particular
application.
MR. PALING-All right. I think we better change it, then.
postponement, we're going to ask for a public hearing.
public meeting as long as there's public notification.
In the
Well, a
MR. BREWER-I thought that was our policy. When we recommend
something to the Town Board, lets get it straight tonight if we
can, when we recommend something to the Town Board, I thought we
said that we want to notice, I mean, lets not pick and choose,
whether it's high profile, like Indian Ridge.
MR. STARK-It's not a public hearing. It's public comment.
MR. PALING-Well, there's got to be public notification, whatever
you call it.
MR. HILTON-Well, we may have to discuss this further, maybe at a
special meeting of the Planning Board. Because I know with all
public hearings, there's a cost involved that is usually billed
back to the applicant, and if we start taking everything that is a
recommendation and making it a public hearing, you are asking for
increased fees, and I think we have to get some authorization for
that from the Town Board. I will look into that. Staff will look
into that, and I think we can, you know, your desire is obvious.
You want a public hearing for any type of recommendation. We'll
certainly look into that.
MR. PALING-In the interim, we're going to call for one here, until
it's clarified.
MR. STARK-You want to move on, and we'll get the extension out the
way.
MR. PALING-We need a motion on this.
MR. HILTON-I had a comment, just before we leave this item. Who's
to say what development will happen in the future, if the missing
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
link here, if you will, of land is dedicated, possibly there could
be some access on the other side of the Brook. You don't know.
There are areas on the site that maybe a bike trail could go in,
but stopping short, I would wait for comment from the Parks
Department and the Town Board, as you're doing this evening.
MR. PALING-Well, we can then just table this, but with a request.
No, we want to grant the postponement and we want to ask for public
notification. All right.
MOTION REGARDING HERALD SQUARE PHASE III SUBDIVISION NO. 13-86,
Introduced by Robert Paling who moved for its adoption, seconded by
George Stark:
That this matter be postponed until the meeting of the Planning
Board on November 19, 1996, and second that Staff undertake public
notice so that a public meeting can be held on this matter on the
same date, and that the approval for this be extended to December
31, 1996.
Duly adopted this 22rd day of October, 1996, by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. West, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stark, Mr. Paling
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: Mr. Ruel, Mr. MacEwan, Mrs. LaBombard
MR. PALING-Kladis is not on. The next item is Cedar Court.
NEW BUSINESS:
SUBDIVISION NO. 5-87 PRELIMINARY STAGE TYPE CEDAR COURT, PHASE
II OWNER: LAD ENTERPRISES C/O ROBERT LENT ZONE: SFR-1A
LOCATION: NORTH OF INTERSECTION OF BAY & HAVILAND IN THE CEDAR
COURT SUBDIVISION. APPLICANT PROPOSES PRELIMINARY STAGE APPROVAL
FOR PHASE II OF CEDAR COURT FOR 10 TOWNHOUSES. TAX MAP NO. 48-6-
36.20, 36.21, 36.22, 36.23 LOT SIZE: N/A SECTION: SUBDIVISION
REGULATIONS
LEON STEVES, REPRESENTING APPLICANT, PRESENT
STAFF INPUT
Notes from Staff, Subdivision No. 5-87 Preliminary Stage, Phase
I I, Cedar Court, Phase I I, LAD Enterprises, c/o Robert Lent
Meeting Date: October 22, 1996 liThe applicant is seeking
preliminary approval for the second phase of Cedar Court townhomes.
This second phase proposes four new lots with a total of 10 new
units. This current phase conforms to the setback and density
requirements of the 1982 Zoning Ordinance which this development
was originally planned under. Staff anticipates no adverse impacts
associated with this subdivision. Recreation fees for this phase
have no been paid and must be prior to the recording of this plat
with Warren County. Staff recommends approval of this second phase
of Cedar Court subdivision. II
MR. BREWER-Do we have to do a SEQRA on this tonight?
MR. STEVES-The SEQRA was done.
MR. HILTON-Yes. SEQRA was done with the application beforehand,
that included this land.
MR. STARK-Okay. Leon, do you have any comments?
MR. STEVES-No.
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. BREWER-This is basically, you've lessened the density on this,
didn't you?
MR. STEVES-Yes.
MR. STARK-Okay. I have no comments. At this point, then, I'll
open the public hearing. Anybody from the public that wishes to
comment for or against this project, please come forward.
PUBLIC HEARING OPENED
NO COMMENT
PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED
MR. STARK-I'll entertain a motion.
MOTION TO APPROVE SUBDIVISION NO. 5-87 PRELIMINARY STAGE CEDAR
COURT, PHASE II, Introduced by Timothy Brewer who moved for its
adoption, seconded by Roger Ruel:
That recreation fees must be paid prior to recording this plat with
Warren County.
Duly adopted this 22nd day of October, 1996, by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Ruel, Mr. West, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stark
NOES: NONE
ABSTAINED: Mrs. LaBombard
ABSENT: Mr. Paling, Mr. MacEwan
OLD BUSINESS:
SITE PLAN NO. 30-96 TYPE: UNLISTED SPRINT SPECTRUM, L.P. OWNER:
WILLIAM & CATHERINE EHLERT ZONE: LI -lA LOCATION: NORTHWEST
CORNER OF INTERSECTION OF LUZERNE RD. AND I-87. PROPOSAL TO
CONSTRUCT A 150' HIGH COMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA AND PLACEMENT OF UP TO
5 RADIO EQUIPMENT CABINETS, EACH MEASURING APPROXIMATELY 30" X 30"
X 60" HIGH. ANTENNA AND CABINETRY WILL BE CONTAINED WITHIN A CHAIN
LINK FENCE. CROSS REFERENCE: AV 47-1996 WARREN CO. PLANNING:
6/12/96 TAX MAP NO. 93-2-4 LOT SIZE: 3.75 ACRES SECTION: 179-
26
TONY STELLATO, REPRESENTING APPLICANT, PRESENT
MR. PALING-The next item on the agenda is for Sprint, or Site Plan
No. 30-96. Now we haven't got it on the schedule, the agenda. So
I'll just explain it. There's been a change in the property line,
reducing the size of the lot that the tower is on, resulting in the
tower being moved 10 feet, and this hearing is to approve the
movement of that tower, but we've got to realize that there has
been no public notice on this, and we might bear that in mind when
we consider how far we want to take this tonight.
MR. STARK-I have a question for Mark.
MR. PALING-Go ahead.
MR. STARK-Mark, does this require a public hearing, the
modification?
MR. SCHACHNER-I'll give you the same answer as in other situations.
It's discretionary with the Planning Board. If you feel that the
proposed modification is minor or non material or nonsignificant,
there's no requirement that you have a public hearing. If you feel
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
that the proposed modification is material, it's major or
significant, then you should have a public hearing. It's at your
discretion, here.
MR. PALING-Lets bring it to a point. We'll hear from Staff and the
applicant, and then face up to that question as to how far we'll go
or if we can. George, do you have comments on this?
MR. HILTON-The only comments I have, first of all, are that the
applicant, I hope, will clarify what has happened out here. There
has been some concern from a member of the public who is here this
evening, and I think that he would like to speak, just to let the
Board know that. So with that, I would let the applicant explain
what's going on.
MR. PALING-Okay.
MR. STELLATO-I'm Tony Stellato from Clough Harbor and Associates.
I'm going to refer to some exh~bits on the Board. The plan that's
up on the easel right now lS the actual site plan that was
presented to the Planning Board back when approval was granted. It
shows the property outlined in green, that's the Ehlert property,
and the Arrowhead Truck center is in this location, colored brown,
and there's an existing driveway and a gravel yard associated with
that facility. Our parcel, our site is located in the back corner,
it would be the northwest corner of the property, and it's
portrayed on this drawing, and what we show here in darker green is
what we were portraying as an existing tree line that we believed
we were going to be located within. Now I will explain how we got
to this point, but I'd like to put up next for your consideration
actually what we're looking for. I'll put this up. This is the
revised site plan. It shows the same piece of property, the Ehlert
property. The parcel is identical in size and shape, with the
exception that we're also showing another line along the northerly
property boundary, and it's offset from the original property line
12 feet on the west end and four feet on the east end, plus or
minus. What that line represents is where our neighbor to the
north, Mr. Drellos, and his surveyors believe that property
boundary is, and the long and the short of it is we're giving them
the benefit of the doubt, and we have re-Iocated our site about 12
feet to the south, to maintain the setbacks from that property line
that were originally shown which is 38 feet to the center of the
monopole from this northerly property line. Now we're maintaining
38 feet from that reputed boundary, which we mayor may not agree
with. The other difference between the two drawings is where the
existing tree line is, and this drawing, the revised drawing shows
the tree line in its actual position, which is not actually on the
Ehlert property, but actually a little bit to the north of there.
So we've compensated for that by adding proposed planting around
our site, to achieve the same result as the existing trees where we
thought they were. Those are really the two differences. One is
the location of the existing trees is 100 feet to the north, and
two is we've shifted 12 feet to the south on the entire site, so
that we can give Mr. Drellos the benefit of the doubt as to where
he claims the property line is. I just wanted to have three
versions of the same plan, just to give you the chronology of where
we were and where we are. On the left is we're calling Site Plan
Number One, and again, we've shown the tree line where we
originally thought it was. What happened was, and I have to take
the responsibility for that, we did a field survey, and we surveyed
a limited portion of this property. The portion where we got the
topography from was pretty much the northwest corner of the
property. When we put that field data, and we inserted it into the
property map, we misread one of the field monuments, and we wound
up inserting the tree line and the topography 100 feet south of
where we should have. Mr. Drellos actually brought our attention
to that fact, because we had some stakes pounded into the ground on
what was actually his property, where we thought our tower, our
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
monopole, or our equipment was going to be. We responded to that
by moving the site plan 100 feet to the south, so that we would, in
fact, be where we showed it on the site plan that was approved on
Mr. Ehlert's property, and we proposed to add some plantings in
this location. As we were developing this plan, Mr. Drellos came
out again and he had some stakes, again, in the ground in the new
location, and he brought to our attention the fact that he still
disagreed with our stake out, based on the fact that he believed
the property line still to be somewhat further south of where we
were showing it. We had a meeting out in the field with Mr.
Drellos and his surveyor and our surveyor were there, and we agreed
to do some more field investigation and try to find out exactly
what the source of the discrepancy was. What we found was is that
there is an overlap in the two pieces of property. The Drellos
property, which lies to the north, and the other property, which is
the piece of property we're on, if you put the two deeds together
and try to plot the two surveys on the same piece of paper, the
properties overlap by that 12 feet on the west end and about four
feet on the east end. In an effort to try to resolve that, we
offered to Mr. Drellos to actually settle that by a quick claim
deed where he'd be paid a sum of money to actually quick claim that
piece over to Mr. Ehlert, and resolve the dispute, giving him a
right to that strip of land that was in dispute, and he declined to
do that, which is when, I think, Mr. Martin from the Town got
involved. At Mr. Drellos' request, we had a meeting in the field.
We went over the whole thing with Jim Martin and John Goralski. We
agreed, this was on the 10th of October. We agreed at that meeting
to do a number of things. We agreed that there was an overlap in
the property. We agreed that Clough Harbor would go out and survey
both properties. We would do an exhaustive amount of field work to
determine exactly where the boundary was, that we would resolve any
discrepancies with Mr. Drellos' survey. We also agreed that if we
did document where that overlap was, if we could document that it
was that 12 foot overlap that we thought it was, that we would just
pull our site plan down the 12 feet, so that we'd maintain the
original setbacks that were presented to the Town, and we would
also add some landscaping on the north side of the property, so
that Mr. Drellos would have some additional screening there, should
he ever decide to develop his property. We did that. We did an
exhaustive amount of survey, and what we found was that the
overlap, I'll take you to the end, and what we found was that
there's a very old deed to the Ehlert property, to the property
that we're on, and that deed has a very old description that
includes meets and bounds description, very detailed for (lost
words). The deed for the Drellos property did not. That was, if
you go back through the historical progression of deeds to that
property, the deed is described from a pile of rocks to a knot in
a tree stump to a fence post. So it was not a protractable
description. In 1959 there was a survey of the Drellos property
that was done, and at that time, they prepared a protractable
description of the property, and the best that we could recover,
what they did was when they got to this common boundary between the
two properties, there was an old fence line that was there, and it
appears to us that the surveyor held that fence line as the
property line, and computed those meets and bounds of that line,
instead of putting the Ehlert deed in and making the two pieces of
property fit together. The older, protractable deedship, in our
opinion (lost word) taken into consideration. That wasn't done.
We believe if we pursued it that the property boundary discrepancy,
that the dispute would be resolved in Mr. Ehlert's favor, but
again, we did agree that if we could document the overlap that we
would give Mr. Drellos the benefit of the doubt. We'd just move
our site down. So that's where we are. That's the plan that we're
at today. This plan was discussed at a meeting in the field, a
week after that initial meeting, and at that time, Mr. Drellos
advised us that he would no longer agree to those conditions. What
we're asking the Board to do is to consider the two plans, the
original plan where we're at today, which is this one, and to
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
recognize that there are two differences, one being where the tree
line actually is, and the other being the fact that we have moved
down the 12 feet, and we would ask that you find that these are
very, very minor, inconsequential changes to the site plan, and we
would ask that you uphold that previous approval of the site plan,
and if we could, we would ask that you decide on that tonight,
because, for a number of reasons, and one is that this site is
important to Sprint, as part of their system, and it's important to
the launch of their system, which is forthcoming here shortly. We
have a contractor that's involved with this facility. He's on
board. He's been awarded the contract. He's done some
mobilization, and we're facing a delay plane, and thirdly, in good
faith, after that meeting on the 10th with Mr. Drellos and the
surveyors, when we discussed the additional landscaping that we
would do, we went ahead in good faith and ordered the trees. The
trees have been cut at the nursery, at paddington' s Nursery.
They're involved in burlap and they're sitting there waiting to be
transplanted, and every day that ticks by, we get a little more
nervous about the survivability of those trees. So we would ask
that if this Board could come to a determination tonight that this
is not a substantial change in the site plan and that the original
site plan can be upheld. We respect the comment from the public.
Mr. Drellos is here. So he will have the opportunity to say his
piece. We would ask that the Board act tonight.
MR. PALING-Well, you realize, I trust, that no matter what the
Board decides tonight, it has nothing to do with the decision
regarding that property line. That's something we just don' tenter
into. It's not part of our responsibility.
MR. STELLATO-We understand that there is an ongoing dispute between
the two property owners, as to where that property line lies, and
we agree that that is between the two property owners, and we also
agree, actually our client, Sprint Spectrum has agreed not to
pursue that.
MR. PALING-Okay. That's up to you, but the Board cannot enter into
any kind of a dispute like that. We'll make a decision, based on
what we're told, but not on the property line.
MR. STELLATO-We understand that.
MR. PALING-Okay.
MR. HILTON-Just to clarify here, Bob, for a second. What is
actually happening here is that the applicant has recognized Mr.
Drellos' property line and moved their site to the south, and in
effect, that is a modification and you would be voting on that this
evening, if you so chose. So they're not approving the old site
plan with the old dimensions. They're actually approving a
modification. I just thought I'd clarify that.
MR. PALING-Okay.
MR. STELLATO-However, just let me enter a point. If we do
recognize that relocated property line, the dimensions, the
setbacks and everything are identical to the original approval,
which is really essentially the same plan.
MR. HILTON-Well, I guess what I'm just trying to say, though, is
that it will actually be in a different physical location, the
tower itself. So that the Board, in effect, be approving a
different, a modified plan.
MR. PALING-But we would be approving it in a new location, and
that's going to be a fixed location, no matter what happens.
MR. HILTON-It's going to be a fixed location. Yes.
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MR. PALING-Yes. Okay. All right. Go ahead.
MR. STELLATO-I'm at the end of where I wanted to leave off with the
Board, and I'll turn it back to you, if you have any further
questions.
MR. PALING-All right. Well, lets, I think there are those that
would like to comment on this. So we better allow that tonight,
regardless of what our decision is, whether deciding it tonight or
at another meeting. I'll open a public meeting on this. We'll
take public comment, if there's anyone here that cares to comment.
DAVE LITTLE
MR. LITTLE-I'm Dave Little, from Little and O'Connor, representing
George Drellos. I brought nine copies of the survey map that
VanDusen and Steves did for our client, Drellos, showing the 100
foot variance between the initial application and the one that's
being shown here this evening. The preceding occasion when the
presentation was made to you, in fact, the location was not on the
property belonging to the applicant but in fact on Mr. Drellos'
property, quite a different set of circumstances than represented
to you in the past. In addition, there were other factors
presented to Mr. Drellos at that point which make him believe that
it has nothing to do with this property, he now has great concern
about. I would like to give you a minute, to hand these out to
you, then everybody can get a look at them.
MR. PALING-This is one you have already George?
MR. LITTLE-You don't have those drawings.
MR. HILTON-Yes.
MR. PALING-Make sure George gets a copy. Okay.
MR. LITTLE-There are issues that would have, had the identification
of this tower been correctly set in the first instance, have been
considered at the hearing, that were passed by reason of no comment
on Mr. Drellos' part, with the understanding that the tower itself
was going to be placed within a treed location on the applicant's
parcel instead of on Mr. Drellos' parcel. There's also another
philosophical aspect of this that this Board, and I think Mr.
Schachner, would like to look at, and that is that I don't know
that any public necessity was shown for this tower to exist in the
first instance, and if in fact, and we recognize that as a matter
of law that it may well be a public utility, but it still has to
show adequate necessity in order for you to approve the variance.
MR. PALING-Sir, a variance is not our prerogative.
MR. LITTLE-I understand that, but that's part of the issue. The
other aspect of the situation is that in the Ordinance itself we
have a 30 foot setback in this zone, side and or rear setback, and
there's also a limitation in the Ordinance for the height of the
building, and the height of the building is 50 feet, and here
you're talking about a tower that is 150 feet on a 30 foot setback,
and I think that those considerations all put together show that
we're not talking about the proposition that was originally
presented to you for hearing. Our endeavor this evening is to
request you to have them commence anew, with notification so that
it can be proper input placed on it, and the considerations of
public necessity and all that be heard. It's our intent, in
establishing the boundary line and showing you the difference on
the map, and I have Mr. Steves here this evening who can certify
the correctness of the map in his opinion, that you are definitely
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considering a different item, even though in concept it's the same.
The location itself is at least 100 feet further away than the
original application considered by you folks, on a different parcel
of property.
MR. PALING-You said the need, the height, and you had a third
point, I believe.
MR. LITTLE-The public necessity.
MR. PALING-Well, the need, the necessity, and the height of the
tower. Did you have another one?
MR. LITTLE-Yes, the height of the tower against the setback. The
regulations require a 30 foot setback and a building not higher
than 50 feet.
MR. PALING-Okay. This is not a building. It's not a structure.
MR. LITTLE-I understand, but in the same context. Were it a
structure, it would be placed no closer than 30 feet and it would
be allowed no higher than 50 feet, and I'm suggesting you that,
since the tower is 150 feet, that the setback should be
correspondingly taken away from the property line, so as not to
impose on or impact on the property of the Drellos', and that's the
real situation here.
MR. PALING-Okay.
MR. LITTLE-So there are actually three items that I'm bringing up.
MR. PALING-Need, height, and setback. Okay.
MR. SCHACHNER-Bob?
MR. PALING-Okay. Mark, do you want to comment on that?
MR. SCHACHNER-Yes. I think George and I feel we should. Myself on
the necessity and George on the height and setback. The necessity
comment is very simple and very straightforward. Contrary to the
individual's counsel's position, that is totally not an issue for
consideration by this Board. The only place where that could
legitimately be an issue would be in front of the Zoning Board of
Appeals, in the context of granting the variance. That's already
happened. Nobody's seeking modification of that. If they have a
problem with the way the Zoning Board of Appeals considered the
issue of public necessity, they can pursue that elsewhere, if they
want, but not with our Board.
MR. HILTON-And just as far as Planning Staff is concerned, with the
setback and the height, building setback and building height are
exactly that, for buildings. This has been deemed a structure, not
a building, which is not, those setbacks do not apply in the
situation, and this is similar to what has been done with the rides
at the Great Escape, just for your information.
MR. PALING-All right. Well, do we have numbers for setbacks on
something like this?
MR. HILTON-Requirements, we only have the building setbacks that
are listed in the zoning district, the zoning.
MR. PALING-Okay. Did you have anything further?
continue with the public hearing.
We'd like to
MR. LITTLE-The corresponding aspect of this situation is that if
Mr. Drellos erects a building within the legal setback on his
property, in conformity with the Ordinance, and you have a
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structure on Mr. Ehlert's property that is located at the distance
which has been permitted under this application, or previously
presented, then should there be any damage that occurs, certainly
it can have dire impact on Mr. Drellos' parcel and the suitability
of his parcel for future construction, and that's what Mr. Drellos
is concerned about.
MR. PALING-Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? All right. Then we'll
cease the public comment for tonight and we'll go to a Board
discussion. I don't know. I think I'd say two things.
JOHN KURBOLOK
MR. KURBOLOK- I'm sorry. Mr. Chairman, might we address some of the
points raised by counsel?
MR. PALING-Yes. Okay. Go ahead.
MR. KURBOLOK-My name is John Kurbolok from the law firm of Crane,
Kelly, and Clemente. I'm here on behalf of Sprint Spectrum. With
regard to the location of the property, the location of the site on
Mr. Drellos' property, as contended by Mr. Drellos' attorney, that
is in fact not the truth. The original site plan properly located
the tower. What was improperly located was the trees around the
tower, and if you look at the revised site plan, the tower is in
exactly the same place, and the trees are properly located to the,
I believe it's the south. The trees have been moved south, but the
site is essentially in the same position. The only moves with
regard to the actual location of the tower site was to accommodate
this discrepancy with where the property line was drawn, and our
client has agreed to move the site 12 feet, such that even if we
were found to be wrong, in other words, even if Mr. Drellos is
right, which we don't agree with, but if he were right with regard
to the property line, we would still be in compliance with all
zoning requirements. With regard to the 50 foot requirement for
building, which we've already addressed, we've agreed that it does
not apply to a tower. In regard to all other Zoning Ordinances,
they're all met with regard to the proposed tower. With regard to
location of other future buildings on Mr. Drellos' property, this
doesn't present a problem with the tower, as similar situations
occur in numerous properties within this County and elsewhere in
New York State. We have one point of clarification on the survey
that's provided. I've just had an opportunity to glance at the
VanDusen and Steves survey and I think it's important to note that
we're not contesting the boundaries shown in that survey. The only
thing that I think is a little bit misleading is the fact that it
shows our original power location as being on Mr. Drellos'
property, and that's an interpretation that Mr. Drellos or his
surveyor has made (lost words) proposed. I believe that the
proposed site location as shown in the northerly location on that
map is something that was never proposed by us. It was purely an
interpretation made by them.
MR. PALING-Okay. Thank you. George, you wanted to?
MR. HILTON-No, I'm all set, and it's entirely up to the Board how
they feel about this. If they'd like to.
MR. PALING-Okay. Well, I think we've got a couple of situations
here. One is that there seems to be quite a bit of feeling on
this, and it may not seem it right now, but for the applicant's
protection and our protection, everyone else's, I think we better
go to a public meeting on this, with notification. I understand
the applicant's problem with time. We would offer to them a
special meeting, if this'll help, and we would do it as quickly as
the proper public notice can be made and another meeting held, but
I want to poll the Board to see how you feel about that.
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. BREWER-I feel exactly the same way, Bob, but I have other
concerns.
MR. PALING-All right. If we do, lets bring them out now, so that
the applicant knows from all of us.
MR. BREWER-I wasn't here for the original site plan. I was on
vacation at the time. Had I been here, I think I would have had
some concerns about the setbacks. We've been through this with a
structure and buildings. Whether anybody agrees or disagrees, in
my mind, I think it is a structure, and structures, to me, is
something that's affixed, just like the definition says, the
setback is 30 feet.
MR. PALING-Excuse me, but that's been ruled on, and I don't think
it's our individual choice to dispute it.
MR. BREWER-Well, it has to do with the site plan, Bob, as far as
the setback. If we have a site plan, can't we state our opinion as
to whether we should move things or not?
MR. SCHACHNER-Well, I think we're talking apples and oranges here.
I think that what Bob is pointing out is that it's not up to the
Planning Board to decide what the required setbacks are, and I
think what Tim is saying is that, or is asking, is whether the
Planning Board can consider, in some instances, requiring as part
of a site plan approval more than the what is required by law. Is
that right?
MR. BREWER-Yes.
MR. SCHACHNER-And the answer is yes to both of you. The answer is
yes to both of you.
MR. BREWER-Yes, right. I know that we can't change it. I'm just
saying that I would have had concerns about setbacks. It's 150
feet tall. I was at the site. There's plenty of land. I mean, if
Mr. Drellos has a concern about the closeness, I don't see what the
problem is moving it. If there's a dispute, I think we ought to
review it again.
MR. PALING-All right, but you're in favor of the second meeting and
the?
MR. BREWER-Yes.
MR. PALING-Okay. Dave?
MR. WEST-I'm also in favor of the second meeting. Was its original
location, the intent there was to kind of hide it in amongst the
tree line? Was that part of its original intent?
MR. KURBOLOK-Whether it was intentional or accidental, that's what
the original site plan was
LARRY CALLENDAR
MR. CALLENDAR-I think I'd like to address that for the Board. My
name is Larry Callendar, and I work for Sprint Spectrum as a
Property Specialist. Part of what entered into our discussions
with our landlord, we are, in fact, leasing this parcel from the
individual who owns this site. Part of our discussion was concerns
about his usage of his land, and the fact that he wanted to have
this site as far away from his existing operations because it was
unclear to him what his future use would be. We obviously did not
want to put our facilities in the middle of this site.
Consequently, that lead us back to that corner of the lot which is
largely underutilized. Certainly, a consideration when we site the
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tower is if we can take advantage of existing vegetation. The
vegetation that's there is pretty sparse anyway, and you're not
going to hide a 150 foot tower (lost words), and certain that was
something that was presented in our original site plan. As a
result of the fact of the existing vegetation being shown
incorrectly on the plan, we made that decision, at Sprint Spectrum,
to add the landscaping that's proposed here. This is fairly
significant landscaping. These are 24 inch trees. We're proposing
seven to eight foot trees, White Pines, Austrian Pines and Blue
Spruce. So they're fairly significant and will grow quite rapidly.
MR. WEST-Okay.
MR. PALING-Thank you. Okay.
MR. WEST-No.
Dave, did you have any more?
MR. PALING-Okay.
Roger?
MR. RUEL-I wasn't
before the Board.
have a lot of
postponement, so
present at the time that this application came
This is the first time I've seen it, and I would
questions. So therefore, I'm in favor of
that I'd have an opportunity to review it.
MR. PALING-Okay.
Cathy?
MRS. LABOMBARD-I think I need a little more time, too.
MR. PALING-George?
MR. STARK-I disagree with everybody on the Board, Bob. As you
know, you and I were here then, and I think Cathy was here also,
and they made a pretty nice presentation, as far as sighting it
from the Northway, from West Mountain Road.
MR. WEST-Yes.
that, yes.
They did all kinds of view shed analysis and all
MR. STARK-And about the view shed and so on, and I don't consider
this (lost words). Grant it, they made a big mistake, whoever
their surveyor was. Doing something like this, you'd think you'd
want to know where your property line was, but I don't think it's
that major a problem.
MR. PALING-If there weren't so much concern by people opposed, yes,
I'd agree with you, but because of that, I think you're actually
protecting the applicant from some trouble down the road. If we go
ahead and approve this and something new comes up, and then they're
in trouble, and we're in trouble.
MR. STARK-Wait a second. Mark, how could we be in trouble further
on down the road if we approve this?
MR. SCHACHNER-I don't think the Board is at any risk at all if you
deem this to be a minor modification. I think, I'm not sure where
Bob's coming from, but I think Bob is addressing that the applicant
might be better off, and that's between, I mean, that's up to the
applicant, but I don't see the Board at risk either way on this
decision.
MR. KURBOLOK-Mr. Chairman, one more, with regard to the purpose of
site plan review, obviously the public at large has an interest in
seeing what the proposed project is and having input. That was
done at the public hearing. The proposed modification is quite
minimal, and the person that it would certainly affect is here
tonight. I think that the purposes of a public hearing were served
at the earlier meeting, and the gentleman's here tonight who is
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
obviously effected by this, and with regard to the location of the
trees, and I think that the Board has heard his comments, and we've
had an opportunity to lend some input. Obviously the Board has to
make its own decision on that, but I don' t believe there is a
necessity for a second public hearing.
MR. STARK-You know yourself at the first meeting, when this first
came up for approval, it was a pretty good presentation. Roger and
Timmy weren't here. Fine. These guys did their homework in every
aspect except where the property line was, which is very bad on
their part.
MR. BREWER-So that's why I feel we should have another meeting,
George.
MR. PALING-Well, I think the poll has been completed, and I think
it's pretty heavy to another meeting, which I think, you know, may
be, and I'm not saying I'm against it. I'm not against it. I'm in
favor of it, as I voted before, but.
MR. STARK-The public hearing was closed, was it not?
MR. PALING-Yes, the public hearing was closed.
MR. RUEL-So why are we having another meeting?
MR. PALING-Well, we would look at final plans, and we would have a
final, I'm sure they would finalize it by then, the exact
locations, boundary lines and that stuff, which we don't enter
into, and then the public would have an opportunity to comment on
the modification.
MR. BREWER-And if we had any other concerns we could bring them up.
MR. PALING-Yes.
MR. RUEL-Do you think that it's necessary to have public comment on
the modification since there was a public hearing on the plan
originally? I wasn't here, but I'm just asking.
MR. PALING-How would I like to see it happen? I would like to see
it go through tonight, but I don't think it's the best way to go.
I think the better way is the conservative way and have another
public hearing.
MR. BREWER-We polled and we decided to do that, so lets do it.
MR. PALING-Well, the poll is done, unless somebody wants to change.
MR. STARK-Well, I don't think we need another public hearing.
Notices went out the first time.
MR. RUEL-Yes. I don't think you need a public hearing, really.
MR. BREWER-Why did we poll the Board?
MR. STARK-Ask Mark what he thinks.
MR. SCHACHNER-It's not a legal call. I mean, we've explained the
legal parameters. I think you understood them. The way Roger just
phrased the question is the correct way to phrase the question.
It's up to you to decide whether you feel the modifications are
significant enough to warrant another public hearing, but that's up
to the Board.
MR. PALING-Well, Roger, do you want to see a public hearing?
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. RUEL-No, not for a modification. No.
MR. PALING-That's all this is is a modification. They're moving
the tower 12 feet, and I think you can say they're changing the
vegetation a little bit, but the only real move is the tower 12
feet.
MR. RUEL-Yes. Well, I had a selfish motive in asking for a
postponement, in that I wasn't at the initial application meeting,
and I wanted an opportunity to review all of the paperwork.
MR. PALING-George stated very accurately, did an excellent job of
explaining the whole thing, and those of us here were very much in
favor of it at the time, and we're talking about a minor
"modification". All right, Dave?
MR. WEST-Well, my main concern was the increase in visibility of
the tower with its being moved away from the tree line.
MR. PALING-But they've, I think, more than compensated for that.
MR. BREWER-Bob, why did we even poll if we're going to debate it
all night? We're either going to do it or not.
MR. RUEL-Well, the Board gave approval, right, on the
application, the initial one? So all they're talking about
modification here?
site
is a
MR. PALING-Yes.
MR. RUEL-AII I say was the modification, and I would vote yes.
MR. PALING-All you're doing is moving the tower 12 feet and you're
changing the vegetation.
MR. RUEL-AII right. Assuming that the first go round that the
Board agreed that everything was in order, I would say yes on the
modification, and therefore I would see no need for another
meeting, if that's the case.
MR. PALING-Okay. So you're saying public hearing. You're saying
no.
MR. BREWER-I'm saying, we polled the Board. We made our mind up,
and now we're debating it again.
MR. PALING-That's all right. There's nothing wrong with that.
MR. WEST-Okay. My position, again, was the visibility. If there
is a negligible impact with respect to visibility as a result of
this modification, then I would have no, would not be opposed to
the modification.
MR. RUßL-If all criteria was met the first time, and it was
approved, and all I'm looking at is a modification, I would say yes
to the modification, and I find no need for another meeting.
MR. PALING-All right. Then I think if we're kind of changing that
way, then my suggestion is that we re-open public comment now, and
let, there seems to be feeling in the audience now.
MRS. LABOMBARD-I've got to hear a few more things right now.
MR. PALING-Okay. All right. Then is that agreeable to the Board?
I'm going to re-open it to both the applicant and to the public and
take additional comment, and then we'll go through the exercise
again.
MR. RUEL-But I don't see why. Aren't we going to hear the same
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
thing?
MR. PALING-Well, I'm sure they're not going to, we'd ask them not
to come up and repeat themselves, but if they feel there's
something new they want us to hear or someone else wants to talk
about it, then let it be.
MRS. LABOMBARD-I agree with that.
MR. PALING-All right. We'll re-open the public hearing, first.
MR. SCHACHNER-Which is not a public hearing at all.
allowing additional public comment.
You're
MR. PALING-I apologize.
MR. SCHACHNER-No, that's okay.
purposes of our ultimate record.
public comment.
I'm only doing this for the
You're going to allow additional
MR. PALING-Yes. I'll never make that mistake again.
MR. SCHACHNER-Don't go out on a limb.
MR. LITTLE-Just so Mr. Drellos' position is clear, if they wish to
move that tower 150 feet, so that it will not have any possibility
of having any impact on his property, he has no objection
whatsoever to this location. He would not have been in a no
comment position in the first place if representations that were
made to him were true and accurate in the first place, but they
were not. The other thing I could tell you is that the survey you
are looking at shows where the test holes and the types or the
flagging were located by VanDusen and Steves, which was placed on
the property by someone representing Mr. Ehlert or rather whoever
it was. They were not put there by anyone else, and if you tell me
that 112 feet and the wrong property location is minor, that's the
decision that the Board can make, but I can tell you Mr. Drellos
would not have, in the first instance, been silent in the matter if
he had, in fact, representation as to what was going on. Now if he
didn' t, how could anybody else have? That's the whole point. Now,
we will concede that if they would move that tower, move it back
another 100 feet, we have no objection to it at all. We would
shake hands and say, everything is satisfactory. We're in good
shape. I don't think they would call that minor. The issue now
gets to be, is it major or is it minor. Is it significant or
insignificant, and I think it's significant.
MR. PALING-Okay. George, you have a question?
MR. STARK-Yes. Mr. Little, would Mr. Drellos be amenable, you
know, you're saying 150 feet south of his south property line.
MR. LITTLE-Away from his boundary, correct.
MR. STARK-That puts the tower practically in the middle of Mr.
Ehlert's property. Could you reach an agreement, maybe 75, 80 feet
or it has to be the 150 feet before he agrees to it, or what?
MR. LITTLE-The concept is that the location of the tower 150 feet
in the proximity of the boundary line, places the property of
Drellos at risk from its existence. It has the potential for
falling over on a building or otherwise impacting the utilization
of this property. I'm saying, Mr. Ehlert, you can do whatever you
want with your property, just don't have an adverse impact on the
Drellos property. That's the only thing we're talking about, and
that's why I'm saying what I'm saying.
MRS. LABOMBARD-Could you point out on there approximately where?
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. LITTLE-I can't. Mr. Steves probably can.
MRS. LABOMBARD-Where you would be satisfied with it?
MR. LITTLE-Could you tell them approximately where it would have to
be located on the Ehlert parcel to meet the requirements?
MR. STARK-Leon, how far is that from the building there, just
rough?
MR. WEST-It's about 150 feet, isn't it?
MR. STARK-No, no, from that building right there, the northern part
of that building.
LEON STEVES
MR. STEVES-120 feet.
MR. STARK-Thank you.
MRS. LABOMBARD-What is , it says "See Note One Proposed location
of tower fence and drive as originally stated by Clough Harbor and
Associates". That's not a dwelling or anything on your property.
GEORGE DRELLOS
MR. DRELLOS-George Drellos. I own the property we're talking
about. That's where the tower was originally going, where they
made the mistake, whatever you want to call it. They were putting
it on my property. They dug test borings and cleared some trees
and that's where it originally was going. That's how far they were
on my property. The trees that were around it were actually mine.
MRS. LABOMBARD-Why weren't you here the last time?
MR. DRELLOS-Why wasn't I here the last time?
MR. LABOMBARD-When they made their presentation?
MR. DRELLOS-Well, a couple of reasons. I thought that I was
protected. I thought there was laws and zonings for these things,
but I guess I was wrong. I figured if it was 150 feet high, it
would be 150 feet away.
MRS. LABOMBARD-So back then, when they were making the test borings
and things, you did not know it.
MR. DRELLOS-No. I didn't know until I just happened to go out
there and see it.
MRS. LABOMBARD-So that was after the fact that they made. All
right. Okay. Now I'm putting it all together. Thank you.
MR. PALING-Okay. Now, anyone else from the public that cares to
comment on this, for or against? Okay.
MR. KURBOLOK-The point that I'd like to reiterate is that we did
not propose the tower to be on Mr. Drellos' property, because the
stake was made when we staked it out, and we staked out on his
property incorrectly, not as it was shown on the plan that was
approved. It was a mistake. The mistake resulted from the fact
that we had the tree line in the wrong spot, and therefore when we
went out to stake out the property, we tied into some (lost word)
that was in a different location than where we thought it was. It
was a mistake which they rectified. The actual difference between
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
what was proposed and what we're here for tonight is 12 feet, and
the only reason it's 12 feet is that we're giving Mr. Drellos the
benefit of the doubt and we're recognizing his version of the
property line instead of ours. That is the only location change
that's presented here tonight. The only other change that is
before you is the fact that we have incorrectly shown the tree
line.
MR. STARK-Would the applicant be amenable to moving the tower
further south, or what?
MR. STELLATO-We have a lease with Mr. Ehlert, and we're leasing a
100 by 100 square foot parcel. We approached Mr. Ehlert about the
possibility of relocating that site further away from Mr. Drellos'
property line, and Mr. Ehlert has indicated that he's not willing
to do that. So it was impossible for us to move our site without
being able to get a new lease with our landlord, and he's indicated
he's not interested in doing that.
MR. PALING-George, I have a question. I think it's for you. Have
we done any towers in the past like this?
MR. HILTON-As far as I've been here, I have not seen one, but the
one that exists, off of, I think it's south of Luzerne Road, I'm
not sure if that's a radio tower or a cellular tower, but I guess
the answer is, no, I haven't seen any cellular.
MRS. LABOMBARD-I have a question. I don't care who answers it.
When you say "his" version of the property line versus "your"
version of it, you didn't use the word, versus your version of the
property line, but I have a problem with this. I mean, a property
line is a property line. Now, if it's been surveyed and you've
gone through all the records, don't we have a true property line?
Obviously, you're not happy with this property line because, and
you're saying, well, we'll just move it the 12 feet, because you're
saying we're qivinq them the 12 feet, for their version of the
property line. So that implies, I'm inferring from you that you
don't really buy this idea of the property line where it is. Is
that correct?
MR. STELLATO-It's very common for there to be discrepancies between
adjoining pieces of property, especially when the deeds go back so
far. Surveying techniques have evolved over time and become much
more accurate. Many of your old surveys don't fit together. There
are overlaps between properties. (Lost words) back me up on this.
We do have a bonafide overlap in the survey. Really, if you take
Mr. Drellos' deed and you take Mr. Ehlert's deed and you plot them,
they do overlap. The issue becomes, why do they overlap and where
does that overlap originate from, and we believe that because the
Ehlert deed is a much older deed, it's a much older protractable
deed, and the Drellos deed only picked up its meets and bounds
description in 1959, we believe that the error was made in that
1959 translation. We believe that the Ehlert deed, it wasn't the
Ehlert property at the time, but we believe that the deed to that
property at the time was not considered when that Drellos survey
was done, and again, we're not contesting that. We're saying, it's
only 12 feet. We don't care. We'll go with it. We'll give him
the benefit of the doubt and we'll recognize his version of the
line, even though we feel that if we pursued it we could prove our
version of the line. It's not an important enough issue for us.
MRS. LABOMBARD-That 100 square feet that Mr. Ehlert's willing to
give, that you're going to lease from him, where are the minimum
lines for that?
MR. STELLATO-It's 100 foot by 100 foot parcel.
MRS. LABOMBARD-Okay.
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. STARK-Okay. You said he would agree to lease you a 100 by 100.
So you're actually up in the northwest corner of that 100 by 100.
Why can't you just drop down another 50 feet and be 27 feet off the
south part of your lease?
MR. STELLATO-The reason is that within that 100 by 100 property
parcel we have to bury a grounding grid that will protect the tower
from lightning.
MR. STARK-Bury it on the north side of the tower.
MR. STELLATO-It needs to surround the entire facility. We need
room on all sides to get that in. So we've essentially pulled the
tower and the equipment as far south as we really practically can
while staying within our leased area, already in the site plan.
MR. RUEL-This tower is in the center of the property?
MR. STELLATO-No. It's not. It's pretty close, yes.
MR. STARK-It's three quarters of the way north of your southern
boundary line. I'm talking about on the 100 by 100 that you're
leasing.
MR. STELLATO-It's pretty close to being in the center. It's 38
feet from the reputed property line, which is 12 feet from our
original property line, which puts it 50 feet from the edge of the
leased parcel, which makes it just about in the center.
MR. RUEL-What's the diameter of the lightning ring?
MR. STELLATO-It's going to be almost the full 100 feet. We've
pulled it back. We actually did have to pull it back to keep it
out of the 12 foot area in dispute, but it will go to the limits of
the (lost words) .
MR. RUEL-It'll be smaller on the southern site.
MR. STELLATO-And it's only comprised of buried copper wire with
some ground rods driven in it.
MR. RUEL-It's buried, right?
MR. STELLATO-It's buried. You won't see it.
MR. RUEL-You couldn't bury that on the gentleman's property?
MR. STELLATO-We don't have permission to do that. Our lease is
only 100 by 100 and we have to contain our equipment within that
area.
MR. PALING-Okay. George, do you have any comments on the setbacks
of this tower?
MR. HILTON-As I said before, it has been deemed a structure which
is, you know, the setbacks are building setback. The requirements
do not apply to structures such as this, as has been the case with
other areas such as the Great Escape. The only other comment I can
offer, and I know Niagara Mohawk's situation may be different than
Mr. Drellos', but in the process where there was a Use Variance and
a site plan, Niagara Mohawk was notified, and they had no concerns
whatsoever about the tower falling over and with their wires on
their property, I think if they had some serious concerns, they
would have, in some way, let the Board know.
MR. PALING-What's the distance between their wires and the tower?
MR. HILTON-It's under 150 feet.
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. PALING-It's under 150 feet.
MR. HILTON-So, as far as it falling over, I don't
these fall over, but, you know, Niagara Mohawk,
weren't concerned enough to provide comment, and
previously, building setbacks do not apply to this
know how often
obviously they
as I've stated
tower.
MR. PALING-I think we've had exhaustive discussion on this thing.
One more thing.
MRS. LABOMBARD-One more thing. We've polled the Board, and five of
us wanted to spend a little more time on this. During the course
of spending a little more time, you could now present the situation
to Mr. Ehlert that the circumstances have changed. In other words,
he just said to us that he has no intentions of letting you go to
another part of his property. Well, that's because he daeol1' t know
that your project could be, lets just say, hypothetically, in
jeopardy. So maybe, as a good business man, he would like to have
the rent that your company's going to pay him and maybe he would
reconsider in this little interval of time, and you could do some
homework in that respect.
MR. STELLATO-Again, that was my first concern here, because we've
already initiated construction, the fact that some of the equipment
is due to be delivered to the site, and I thought that the day that
this problem (lost words). One of the things that we tried to do
is resolve this problem without coming back before this Board. All
efforts failed. I would have liked nothing better than to work out
all the issues so that we wouldn't have to be back before here.
After negotiations between us and Mr. Drellos broke down, I did
speak to Mr. Ehlert again and I did ask him if he would consider
allowing us to relocate the site. He indicated that he did not
want to do that because he had equipment stored in that area,
trucks and what not, and he really did not feel that that was a
viable option. I hear what you're saying, but again, we tried very
hard to try to work this out. We were unsuccessful, and that's the
reason why we're here.
MRS. LABOMBARD-Okay. Thank you.
MR. STARK-Bob, we're spinning our wheels. Lets have, granted,
they're in a hurry and so on. Okay. Then we can recognize that.
Give them a special meeting, maybe next week. Can we notify by
then? The public hearing or public comment period, and if I were
you guys, I would make sure, I'd have, on the map that you give us,
setbacks from all sides, from the south, where the 100 foot by 100
foot parcel is, the side setback, the front setback, and all that,
and we'll get the ball rolling here.
MR. PALING-George, what's the earliest November date, with public
notification, that we could accommodate a meeting?
MR. HILTON-Well, we need five days for public notification. I
don't think we can do this as soon as next week, but at this point,
maybe the first week of November. I think we'd have to take care
of this tomorrow and contact the Board members individually,
contact the applicant, and then at such time we would send out the
notices. Now, would the Board prefer an evening meeting, a day
meeting?
MR. BREWER-Evening.
MR. PALING-Evening would be preferable, yes. All right. Lets
expend all conversation, and lets just take it to a consensus vote.
Tim?
MR. BREWER-Yes, table it, get to another meeting.
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. PALING-Dave?
MR. WEST-Public meeting.
MR. PALING-Roger?
MR. RUEL-Yes.
MR. PALING-That's it. The best we can do is to accommodate you
with a special meeting as early as we can, and as long as we can
get a quorum, I want more than a quorum, we will accommodate you
the earliest we can with proper public notice.
MR. KURBOLOK-Is there anything additional you would like us to do?
MR. BREWER-Could I get a copy of the original site plan, and then
what you propose now? I probably got it. I'm sure I did, but I
don't have it now.
MR. STELLATO-Could I hand these out tonight, so that you have what
we propose now, and I'm sure the existing plans you have?
MR. PALING-Okay. Yes. Go ahead if you want to hand them out.
Make sure we get a copy over here.
MR. STELLATO-Do you want us to submit the whole thing together,
would that be easier?
MR. PALING-Probably. We know exactly what we're getting.
MR. STELLATO~I'11 do that. In addition to that, is there any other
information that was not discussed tonight?
MR. PALING-You heard what George asked for.
MR. STELLATO-Right, and I believe that'll be covered on the plan.
MR. PALING-Okay. Cathy, what else do you want?
MRS. LABOMBARD-I'm set enough.
MR. PALING-All right. Tim?
MR. BREWER-The only thing I'd like is a copy of the old site plan.
MR. PALING-I might have that here.
MR. STELLATO-We'll include it in the submission.
MR. PALING-Dave?
MR. WEST-Setbacks, George covered it.
MR. PALING-Yes. Okay. Roger?
MR. RUEL-I need a copy. I wasn't here.
MR. PALING-Yes. Okay. That's two copies. They were both absent.
MR. STELLATO-Okay.
MR. PALING-All right. That's all we know. Do we need a motion to
table?
MR. SCHACHNER-Well, more importantly, a motion to schedule a public
hearing, table it and schedule a public hearing.
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. PALING-All right. Do I have a motion on that.
MR. BREWER-How can we schedule it when we don't know when we're
going to have it, Mark?
MR. SCHACHNER-We don't have a date?
MR. PALING-No. We don't have a date.
MR. BREWER-When's the earliest we could do it in November?
MR. HILTON-Well, I mean, we can do it probably the first day of
November, but right, you know, we've got to find out when this room
is free and coordinate some things.
MR. PALING-And make sure the Board's available and that kind of
thing. Can we say, prior to a certain date? Is that all right?
MR. SCHACHNER-If you don't have a date, then you can just table it
and then schedule your public hearing.
MOTION TO TABLE THE RECONSIDERATION OF SITE PLAN NO. 30-96 FOR
SPRINT SPECTRUM, Introduced by Robert Paling who moved for its
adoption, seconded by Timothy Brewer:
That this be tabled until a meeting can be called with proper
public notification.
Duly adopted this 22nd day of October, 1996, by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Stark, Mrs. LaBombard, Mr. Ruel, Mr. West, Mr. Brewer,
Mr. Paling
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: Mr. MacEwan
SITE PLAN NO. 59-95 TYPE II MICHAEL CANTANUCCI OWNER: SAME
ZONE: WR-1A MODIFICATION LOCATION: BRAYTON LANE PROPOSAL IS TO
MODIFY APPROVED PLAN TO INCLUDE MODIFIED BUILDING FOOTPRINT,
LANDSCAPE PLAN, STONE STEP LAKE ENTRY AND DRY STONE WALKWAYS WITHIN
50' OF SHORELINE. CROSS REFERENCE: AV 63-1995, SP 59-95, AV 37-
1996 TAX MAP NO. 6-1-17 LOT SIZE: 1.9 ACRES SECTION: 179-16
DENNIS MACELROY, REPRESENTING APPLICANT, PRESENT
MR. PALING-Do they have the ZBA approval for this?
MR. HILTON-They have an existing ZBA approval from 1995.
that approval, they came in with a site plan, 59-95.
they're seeking to modify it.
After
Tonight
MR. PALING-Okay. Does the ZBA variance carryover?
MR. HILTON-It does carryover, yes.
MR. PALING-Okay. So there's no problem there, we can go ahead?
MR. HILTON-Right.
STAFF INPUT
Notes from Staff, Site Plan No. 59-95, Michael Cantanucci, Meeting
Date: October 22, 1996 "The applicant is seeking to modify an
existing site plan, Site Plan 59-95, for his property located on
Brayton Lane on Lake George. This modification involves changes to
the previously approved landscaping plan, the addition of a stone
step lake entry and dry stone walkways which will be within 50 feet
of the shoreline. The revised landscaping plan seeks the removal
of some of the existing vegetation within 35 feet of the shoreline
- 23 -
(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
of this property. The applicant is proposing an alternate cutting
and planting plan for this area of the property. Section 179-60B
subsections 1 to 5 of the Zoning Ordinance outlines the procedure
for review and approval of an alternate cutting plan for areas
within 35 feet of a shoreline. A review of the previously approved
plan shows 16 trees would be left in the 35 foot no clear zone.
The new plan seeks to cut this number by 8 trees, a removal of 50%.
The Zoning Ordinance allows for 30% of the trees to be removed,
anything more would require a variance from the ZBA. II At this
time, the applicant has some plans which he will have up this
evening. I believe the Board also has them. They indicate that
the amount of trees that he will be removing will be under 30%. So
that this plan will not have to go back before the ZBA to modify,
to seek another variance. II If the applicant plans to replant trees
once existing trees are removed, in order to meet the 30% mark,
staff would recommend that the new plantings be a 'like
replacement' of what is being removed. The applicant also plans to
construct a stone walkway and stone step lake entry. This would
increase impervious area in front of the home but overall lot
permeability would still conform to the standards of the WR-IA
district. Staff is concerned about direct runoff into the lake and
would recommend that some berming be provided in front of the
portion of the walk closest to the shore. This would redirect
water and cut down on direct runoff into the lake. The Planning
Board may wish to consider any condition which they feel would help
promote the purpose of the WR-1A zoning district and Section 179-
60B of the Zoning Ordinance. II
MR. RUEL-Was there a Warren County statement in there?
MR. PALING-What else do you have, George?
MR. HILTON-Warren County was not required to comment on this. It's
a modification, but we do have some public comment, when we get to
that point.
MR. PALING-Would you identify yourself, please.
MACELROY - Yes. My name is Dennis MacElroy, from Environmental
Design Partnership. We represent Mr. Cantanucci on this
residential property. Mr. Cantanucci is unable to be here tonight,
and apologizes. Also with me tonight is Gary Gillespie who is a
landscape designer representing Mr. Cantanucci, and Robert Stewart,
an attorney.
MR. PALING-Are you familiar with the Staff comments that George
just read?
MR. MACELROY-Yes, I am.
MR. PALING-Okay. Do you have any comments on those?
MR. MACELROY-Well, I would like to clarify one, George had prepared
those comments, and subsequent to that we met and clarified the
count, the number of trees within that 35 foot area, and issued the
letter which probably is included in your packet, the letter of
October 17th.
MR. PALING-Yes, but there's a little contradictory sentencing. Are
you, the burned trees that are on that property, are you taking
credit for those in the 30?
MR. MACELROY-They are part of the 30%.
MR. PALING-I don't think they should be.
MR. MACELROY-They're not part of dead and diseased trees.
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. HILTON-Right.
MR. PALING-That's what I'm saying.
diseased trees.
They're not part of dead and
MR. MACELROY-No. There are four trees that qualify and have been
documented by Mr. Gillespie as being dead and diseased trees.
Those other trees referred to in the letter are not part of those.
MR. PALING-Those burned trees are coming down?
MR. MACELROY-Correct.
MR. MACELROY-They've been recommended for removal, and Jim Martin
has been to the site as well.
MR. HILTON-Right, and he's counting those as the 30% that he can
remove, without having to go for another variance. The diseased
trees are separate and can be removed without any, that's just
normal property maintenance.
MR. WEST-So these are live, unburned trees that we're worried
about, right, as far as the SO%?
MR. MACELROY-That would be remaining.
MR. WEST-Yes.
MR. MACELROY-Certainly.
MR. HILTON-Right.
MR. PALING-And you're saying that the burned trees are part of the
30%. I'm not hearing good tonight.
MR. HILTON-Yes. No, I guess that's what we're both saying
MR. MACELROY-I could bore you with the specific numbers. There are
22 trees of six inch deviation or greater within the 35 foot
setback.
MR. PALING-Right.
MR. MACELROY-Four qualify as dead and diseased, that's documented
by Mr. Gillespie. That leaves 18. Thirty percent is the maximum
removal, according to the Ordinance. Thirty percent of 18 is 5.4,
five trees, basically could be removed without exceeding the 30%
maximum. There are four trees that have been damaged by the fire,
but those four are within the permissible five.
MR. PALING-I don't buy it. If you're telling me that four is part
of the S. that can be removed, I don't agree.
MR. STARK-What don't you agree with, Bob?
MR. PALING-The trees shouldn't have been burned in the first place.
MR. STARK-They could have taken them down without being burned.
MR. HILTON-Well, that's a separate issue, I think, because what
we're looking at here is that the applicant, under our Ordinance,
has the ability to remove 30% of the trees within 35 feet without
having to go for a variance or any kind of action by a Board. So
of those trees that are on this property right now, five can be
removed. Four of those five that he's planning on removing happen
to be the burned trees, and he's counting those toward that five
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
that he can ultimately remove.
MR. PALING-How convenient. I guess I've got a high prejudice on
this thing that that should never have been handled this way in the
first place, and how do we know that those were the ones that would
have been removed if they weren't burned? Those are big, mature
trees that were burned and ruined.
MR. STARK-He could have taken them down.
MR. PALING-Maybe, maybe not, I don't know.
MR. BREWER-Regardless, he could still take them down. If he's
allowed 30%, whether they're burned or unburned, he could pick
those trees and take them down, by the Code.
MR. RUEL-Yes. If they weren't burned, he could take them down.
MR. BREWER-So regardless of whether they're burned, or he did it
intentionally, or not.
MR. STARK-Bob, we looked at his planting list. The guy's planting
a million trees, I mean, you know, and shrubs and this and that.
MR. PALING-Any time trees are removed, I don' t like it. Okay. Any
questions from the Board on this? Comments? George, do you want
to read the public comment? We'll open the public hearing on this.
PUBLIC HEARING OPENED
MR. HILTON-Certainly. I don't know if there's anyone here, first
of all, that wants to speak.
MR. PALING-No, go ahead. We'll do those first.
MR. HILTON-Okay. First of all, I have a letter dated October 21,
1996. It's from Florence Conner. It says "Dear Planning Board:
This letter is in reference to Site Plan No. 59-95. The applicant
is Michael Cantanucci. The location is Brayton Lane. Purchasing
shoreline property automatically gives one the unique
responsibility to preserve and protect the lake that property
borders on. However, purchasing that property does not
automatically give one the know-how to in fact preserve and protect
that lake. Therefore, it is the planning boards and the zoning
boards of the lakeside communities, that with wisdom, direct the
owner in the proper direction. By covering the permeable soil with
stonework, runoff is guaranteed. Runoff is one of the major
sources of pollution of the lake. Stone steps at the shoreline can
preserve the shoreline, however, stone walkways cover the land
where gravel would be a better choice. In addition, I understand
Mr. Cantanucci intends to remove established vegetation. Whenever
vegetation is disturbed erosion occurs. New plantings do help;
however they cannot replace the loss of the established root system
for years to come. If in fact new plantings are put in, the owner
invariably tends to manicure and fertilize the new ' lawn' and
again, the runoff is extremely detrimental to the lake. Especially
in this area where milfoil is presently only a number of yards
away. I welcome Mr. Cantanucci to the neighborhood. I feel it is
important that he preserve the area attracted him in the first
place. Pavement and walkways are necessary on city streets but we
must remember our front lawn borders a lake not a roadway. A very
sensitive lake that needs us all to understand and protect it from
ourselves. I urge you to curtail any plan that reduces the
absorption of runoff to Lake George or streams that board it.
Sincerely yours, Florence E. Connor" And before I continue, you
don't have these comments in front of you because they came, one,
via the fax and the other, the gentleman sat here and wrote the
letter in our office today. So, the second letter is a letter from
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
Robert Walden, dated October 22, 1996, to the Town of Queensbury
Planning Board, from Robert Walden, Christopher Walden, Claudia
Friedman, Kevin Walden, Leigh Walden Herrmann, Mark LaPore and Greg
LaPore, the subject is Site Plan No. 59-95 "Dear Members of the
Queensbury Planning Board: We sincerely wish to be good and
friendly neighbors to our new neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Michael
Cantanucci and their children, as we have been to our many
neighbors over the past thirty years. We have supported almost all
the requests that Mr. & Mrs. Cantanucci have made to the Planning
Board, except those which we believe, in principal, are injurious
to the physical and aesthetic well being of Lake George. The
people of N. Y. State own Lake George. The people's regulations are
meant to protect the aesthetic and physical welfare of their lake.
There has to be a very good reason to set aside these regulations.
I believe that the Queensbury Planning Board, in their wisdom, can
discern when and why a regulatioll should be aILe.t'ct!. Lake Oeo~'ge
is famous for its natural wilderness topography. Anything which
appears to interfere with the retention of this aesthetic from the
land or from the lake should be questioned! I ask the Board to
deliberate just how the proposed front walkway, as submitted, will
impact the aesthetic and physical appearance and purity of Lake
George. Very cordially submitted, Robert L. Walden"
MR. PALING-Okay. Is there anyone here that would care to comment
on this from the public, for or against? Okay. If there is no
comment, then we will close the public hearing.
PUBLIC HEARING OPENED
NO COMMENT
PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED
MR. PALING-This is a Type II.
MR. STARK-Would you point to the walkways up there, please.
MR. MACELROY-The proposed walkways are those areas in gray, going
from the main house to the boat house, the main house to the
existing lake cottage, and to the dock.
MR. STARK-How much does that reduce the permeability of the whole
lot? Do you have percentages?
MR. PALING-George, the stone walkways they're talking about are
considered zero permeable, right?
MR. HILTON-Yes. They would be listed as paved area, within the
calculations of permeable area on the site.
MR. MACELROY-Let me just describe (lost words) for those walkways.
They were interlocking stone dry jointed walkway, bounded in stone
dust type beds.
MRS. LABOMBARD-Now the one along the water, that was a sea wall.
MR. MACELROY-There is an existing sea wall.
MRS. LABOMBARD-But the walkway is on top of the sea wall or
adjacent?
MR. MACELROY-In back of that.
MRS. LABOMBARD-It's behind it.
MR. MACELROY-And in response to conversations we've had with Staff,
we have shown a berm now in this area of the lawn, slightly raised
area, which would help to retain stormwater as it may, in a heavier
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
event, tend to sheet toward the down gradient toward the lake, and
this would tend to retain and recharge stormwater in that capacity.
MR. STARK-So what is the permeability before the walk and after the
walk?
MR. MACELROY-Well, specifically related to the walk?
MR. STARK-Yes. Do you know, off hand, rough?
MR. BREWER-It's an addition of.
MR. MACELROY-13 percent.
MR. MACELROY-Well, that's with all the permeable surfaces on the
entire 1.9 acre site, driveways, walkways.
MR. HILTON-According to the figures that I have in the application,
it's an increase, this site plan modification represents an
increase of 3.3% in the paved area, bringing the total site green
area down to a level of 73.4%, which is well within the figures for
WR-IA.
MR. RUEL-I have a question for Staff, I guess. The agenda
indicates the modified building footprint on the landscape plan
modification. Your notes didn't cover that.
MR. HILTON-Okay. The modification of the building is such that it
stays within the previously approved setback under the ZBA, and it
also now conforms to the new WR-1A regulations. The applicant may
want to discuss what modification is happening, with the building
specifically. As far as the landscaping, I have indicated that he
is planning on removing some vegetation, and you have a plan
indicating what his new planting scheme is, and how that differs
from the old plan.
MR. RUEL-Should we have a new set of plans showing this
modification to the footprint and landscaping?
MR. HILTON-I think you do have a plan, actually, that shows the new
footprint.
MR. PALING-Right here, Roger.
MR. MACELROY-You have a site plan which is the modification, shows
the new footprint. You have a landscaping plan, Sheets One and
Two, which supply the landscaping.
MR. RUEL-I'm sorry. I was looking at an old plan. Okay.
doesn't look like, red is the previous?
This
MR. MACELROY-Outlined in red is the previous.
MR. RUEL-So this is the new one and the plant list is the new plant
list.
MR. BREWER-Just out of curiosity, why all the change?
MR. MACELROY-Well, this plan was originally approved last October.
Mr. Cantanucci had just purchased the property, or was going
through the process of getting approvals prior to closing, to
obtain a variance and site plan approval, and at that point in time
was before the final design of the house was completed. So through
this evolution, the design of the house, we have a slightly
different footprint.
MR. PALING-Okay. Any other comments or questions by the Board?
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. STARK-Bob, maybe the Board would want to decide whether this is
a real, material modification or a slight modification.
MR. PALING-Well, it's a Type II. So we don't need a SEQRA. Is
that a question in your mind, Cathy, stormwater?
MRS. LABOMBARD-Well, I'm sure that the roof pitches and all that
will have, will take care of the stormwater management, but have
you ever thought of not using concrete and using a real nice
pressure treated lumber and doing some artistic workings with the
wood, with I ike a, I've seen some wonderful walkways that are
almost flush to the ground, made out of the lumber, out of decking,
but they are slippery, I suppose.
MR. MACELROY-Right, and you'll find that wood decking is the type
as this proposed stone, and you'd be dealing with the same
permeability.
MRS. LABOMBARD-Maybe.
MR. MACELROY-I will tell you that the owner has though considerably
about a lot of different options on the design of the house and the
site. I think there's a relationship between the stonework and the
walkway and the stone that would be part of the design of the
house. It's an Adirondack style, like the stone, timber, paned
glass.
MRS. LABOMBARD-Well, and I'm sure that he's probably realizing that
he's going to be the first one to feel the effects on the lake
frontage if the stormwater is doing any negative impacts, but may
I make a suggestion, just having, my own family having a place on
the lake for many, many years? We're talking two acres of grass.
We have never once put one gram of fertilizer on that lawn, and
you'd be surprised how Mother Nature takes care of it. Really. So
that's something to really consider. Especially when somebody has
the resources to have their own gardner and have people come in and
take care of it. You just have to watch out with that fertilizer.
MR. PALING-Okay. Any other comments or questions? All right. The
public hearing has been closed. We do not need a SEQRA. We can go
right to a motion.
MOTION TO APPROVE MODIFICATION TO SITE PLAN NO. 59-95 MICHAEL
CANTANUCCI, Introduced by Roger Ruel who moved for its adoption,
seconded by George Stark:
To modify previously approved plan to include building footprint,
landscape plan, stone step lake entry, and dry stone walkways
within 50 feet of shoreline, with the condition that berming be
provided in front of the portion of the walk closest to the shore,
as indicated in Staff notes.
Duly adopted this 22nd day of October, 1996, by the following vote:
AYES: Mrs. LaBombard, Mr. Ruel, Mr. West, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stark,
Mr. Paling
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: Mr. MacEwan
NEW BUSINESS:
SITE PLAN NO. 62-96 TYPE II TORREN L. MOORE OWNERS: ARTHUR &
JILL SPIERRE ZONE: WR-1A, CEA LOCATION: HANNAFORD ROAD - RT. 9L
TO PILOT KNOB ROAD. BOATHOUSE IS ON LEFT APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE
FROM RT. 9L. APPLICANT PROPOSES TO REMOVE EXISTING ROOF FROM
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
BOATHOUSE AND REPLACE WITH 1/3 STORAGE ROOM AND 2/3 OPEN SPACE OPEN
DECK. HEIGHT OF PROPOSED STRUCTURE NOT TO EXCEED EXISTING HEIGHT
OF BOATHOUSE. PER SECTION 179-16, BOATHOUSE IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW
AND APPROVAL BY THE PLANNING BOARD. CROSS REFERENCE: AV 88-1996
WARREN CO. PLANNING: 10/9/96 TAX MAP NO. 19-1-18 LOT SIZE:
24,000 SQ. FT. SECTION: 179-16
STAFF INPUT
Notes from Staff, Site Plan No. 62-96, Torren L. Moore, Meeting
Date: October 22, 1996 "The applicant is seeking to remodel an
existing boathouse on Pilot Knob Road. The height of the boathouse
will remain the same, but the pitch of the roof will be changed
allowing more space within the boathouse. The applicant has
received a variance from the ZBA in order to allow this
modification to the proposed height. At the public hearing held
before the ZBA regarding this item, no one spoke in opposition to
this proposal. Staff foresees no negative impacts associated with
this request and recommends approval of Site Plan No. 62-96."
MR. PALING-There was a modification to the height which was
approved. Right?
MR. HILTON-Yes, it was approved, and the resolution that I have
from the Warren County Planning Board, dated October 9, 1996, the
County Planning Board voted on this item, and the recommendation
was of No County Impact, signed C. Powel South, Chairperson.
MR. PALING-Okay. Anything else you have, George?
MR. HILTON-I have just some public comment, but we may want to wait
until the public hearing.
MR. PALING-Yes. We'll wait for the public hearing.
MR. RUEL-The ZBA granted a modification for what, proposed height?
MR. PALING-Height, as I understand it.
MR. HILTON-Well, it was a modification to the structure itself,
that he is increasing the pitch of the roof to allow more area, and
at the same time, retaining the height of this building, and the
ZBA approved it.
MR. RUEL-The total height is the same, right?
MR. HILTON-It's the same, yes.
MR. RUEL-1098, before and after?
MR. HILTON-Yes.
MR. RUEL-What has changed is what, the sides are up higher?
MR. HILTON-The area.
MR. RUEL-And the pitch.
MR. HILTON-Right. The pitch of the roof, allowing more area within
the building.
MR. RUEL-And he needed a variance for that?
MR. HILTON-Yes.
MR. PALING-Okay. Any other questions? Okay. Would you identify
yourselves please.
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. MOORE-Hi. My name is Torren Moore, the applicant.
MR. PALING-Okay. Unless you want to say something for now, I'll
just open the public hearing on it. Okay. Is there anyone here
who'd care to speak for or against this application?
PUBLIC HEARING OPENED
MR. PALING-Okay. George, you have some letters.
MR. HILTON-Yes. I actually have one letter. It's from Ed Henning.
It's dated October 18, 1996, regarding modification to boathouse
for Torren Moore "To Whom It May Concern: I am the neighbor
adjacent to the property owned by Art & Jill Spierre. Torren L.
Moore has made an application to modify the roof structure and add
a deck to the existing boat house on this property. I wish to
express my approval for the proposed modifications. I have
reviewed the plans and believe that the modifications will improve
the aesthetics of the existing structure and would be an overall
improvement to the property and neighborhood. Sincerely,
Jacqueline Henning"
MR. PALING-Okay. Then we do not need a SEQRA on this. I think we
can go right to a motion.
MOTION TO APPROVE SITE PLAN NO. 62-96 TORREN L. MOORE, Introduce
by Roger Ruel who moved for its adoption, seconded by Catherine
LaBombard:
To remove existing roof from boathouse and replace with 1/3 storage
room and 2/3 open space open deck. Height of proposed structure
not to exceed existing height of boathouse.
Duly adopted this 22nd day of October, 1996, by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Ruel, Mr. West, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stark, Mrs. LaBombard,
Mr. Paling
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: Mr. MacEwan
SITE PLAN NO. 68-96 TYPE: UNLISTED DAVE ABBOTT OWNER: EAST END
ENTERPRISES ZONE: LI-1A LOCATION: LUZERNE ROAD PROPOSAL IS TO
BUILD A 5,940 SQ. FT. COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN THE REAR YARD, ALSO
ADD A 1,686 SQ. FT. ADDITION TO THE EXISTING GARAGE. PER SECTION
179-26 ALL LAND USES IN LI ZONES ARE SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND APPROVAL
BY THE PLANNING BOARD. CROSS REFERENCE: AV 4-1994, SP 5-92
BEAUTIFICATION COMM.: 10/7/96 TAX MAP NO. 93-2-13.2 LOT SIZE:
2.66 ACRES SECTION: 179-26
DAVE ABBOTT, PRESENT
STAFF INPUT
Notes from Staff, Site Plan No. 68-96, Dave Abbott, Meeting Date:
October 22, 1996 "The applicant proposes to build a 5,940 sq. ft.
commercial building and expand an existing garage by adding 1,686
sq. ft. in the rear yard of an existing lot zoned LI-1A. The
proposed expansion conforms to the density, setback and
permeability standards of the LI-1A district. The use contained in
the existing commercial garage and the proposed use of the new
building to be constructed on this site must be identified in order
to determine the parking requirements for this location. Comments
from the Beautification Committee and Rist Frost must be addressed
prior to Planning Board action on this application."
MR. PALING-Okay. Would you identify yourselves, please.
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. ABBOTT-Dave Abbott, the applicant.
FRANK JELLEY
MR. JELLEY-My name's Frank Jelley. I'm representing the applicant.
MR. PALING-Are you familiar with the Staff comments, as well as
those by the Beautification Committee and Rist Frost?
MR. JELLEY-Yes, I am.
MR. PALING-Go ahead and tell us what you want and address those
comments.
MR. JELLEY-Okay. My name's Frank Jelley, and I'm representing
Dave. As far as the Beautification Committee, I did go before
them. I only had a couple of days notice before I went in front of
them. I did not show the proposed landscaping and the existing
landscaping on the plan that I showed them, and I'd like to make
the submission of the site plan to their approval. I tried to get
another meeting, because I didn't know what they were looking for,
and I tried to get another meeting before the Beautification Board
before this planning meeting, and they didn't have another one. So
I'd like to, again, leave the approval conditional to the
Beautification Board, until I can get another meeting.
MR. PALING-All right.
aside for the moment.
Then we'll put the Beautification Committee
How about Rist Frost comments?
MR. JELLEY-I did address many of the comments from Rist Frost, as
soon as I could, many of them. I don't have a list that, I had a
meeting with the representative, Bill, from Rist Frost today, and
he faxed over comments, and the things that are concerning him now
are, as far as the site plan goes, are calculations of stormwater
management. There is no more impervious areas being proposed.
MR. PALING-Okay. Lets go down their comments one at a time. He
talks, first, about "The design basis for the sewage system is not
clear (number of persons served?; number of restrooms?)." And so
on.
MR. JELLEY-Yes. When I had a meeting today with him, I did notify
him of the amount of people. There will be two employees, other
than me.
MR. PALING-Okay. Excuse me. Was this filtered back through you,
George?
MR. HILTON-Yes, and I have these comments. I was planning to go
over them with the Board. If you'd like to do it with the
applicant.
MR. PALING-All right.
whichever the best way
Maybe we'd better let George talk first,
is.
MR. HILTON-Okay. First, what I think I'd like to do is read into
the record the first Rist Frost letter, dated October 8th. The
comments regarding Site Plan No. 68-96 are as follows. "I. The
design basis for the sewage system is not clear (number of
persons?; number of rest rooms?). The location of the test pit and
percolation test is not indicated. We recommend that the
orientation of the septic tank and field be changed to eliminate to
the extent possible the bends in the line from the septic tank to
the distribution box. 2. No spot elevations or contours showing
existing and proposed grades are shown. It is not clear what
paving exists and what is proposed. Existing vegetation, if any,
and clearing limits are not shown. 3. No stormwater management
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
plan was submitted. 4. Proposed site lighting is not clear. s.
Only (4) parking spaces are indicated. Additional spaces may be
required depending on the use, occupancy or number of employees.
At least one handicapped accessible space should be provided.
wider driveways (20 ft.) may be advisable, depending on use. 6.
Plans should refer to Guidelines for Erosion and Sediment Control
in Urban Areas of New York State." And today we received an
updated letter from Rist Frost, and I will also read that into the
record. It says, "Drawing SP1 ' Site Plan' Revision 1 was delivered
to our office this afternoon. The revisions to the plan addressed
some of the comments contained in our letter of October 8, 1996.
Specifically the plan now shows: 1. Existing and proposed
grading. 2. Limits of existing gravel drives and parking areas.
No additional paving is proposed. 3. Existing vegetation. No
clearing is proposed. 4. The location of the perc test and test
pit. S. Parking has been increased and one handicapped accessible
space is provided. 6. Lighting proposed consists of (4) Wall-
paks. Our previous comments regarding the design basis for the
sewage system, the orientation of the sewage system, the absence of
a stormwater management plan and a plan reference to erosion
guidelines have not yet been addressed. If you have any questions,
please feel free to call. Very truly yours, RIST-FROST ASSOCIATES,
P. C. William J. Levandowski, P. E. " Now, as far as the parking
goes at this location, as the applicant has indicated, the use,
well, he's indicated to me, anyway, the use is going to be such
that it's considered a warehouse where he would only need parking
for, and let me get this straight here, he would need one for each
two employees on the maximum working shift, plus one for each
company vehicle. The four spaces that are being provided are
adequate for the expansion. He's providing a handicapped
accessible space. The only comments, at this point, that seem to
be outstanding are Mr. Levandowski's closing remarks in his letter
dated October 22nd.
MR. RUEL-How many parking spaces?
MR. PALING-And that refers to the sewage system, the stormwater
management, and erosion control?
MR. HILTON-Right. To answer your question, Roger, he's proposing
four on the site. According to the Ordinance he would only need
three, one of which has to be handicapped, and he's indicated that.
MR. RUEL-Okay.
MR. PALING-That is the sewage system, the stormwater management,
and erosion control?
MR. HILTON-Yes.
MR. PALING-Now those, if they're going to be addressed tonight,
have they been to you yet, or to Rist Frost? It's going to be hard
for us to judge these technical matters, I think.
MR. HILTON-Right. I understand that. I don' t know if the
applicant has prepared any kind of presentation to address those
issues, and possibly try to put the Board at ease, but those are
the remaining comments from Rist Frost.
MR. PALING-Okay. We're not engineers, and good luck if you want to
try it, but.
MR. JELLEY-What I would like to suggest is if we could have the
approval process conditional to my working it out with Rist Frost,
being that it's very difficult to explain the technical aspects of
it, and being that Rist Frost is involved to be able to work with
these technical issues, again, conditional to my working these
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
issues out with Rist Frost.
MR. PALING-Well, I would say there would have to be written
approval from Rist Frost, name the three items in the motion.
MR. HILTON-Well, you know, it's certainly up to the Board, as to
which way they would like to take this, but as you stated, you're,
this isn't an engineering review board. I, personally, would feel
uncomfortable, as far as the SEQRA Reg's and review goes, if this
were reviewed without some definitive answers from Rist Frost.
MR. PALING-I'm sorry. This is an Unlisted.
MR. SCHACHNER-Yes. See, that's one of the things we were just
talking about is we also have SEQRA review here. So it seems like
we might be missing some information.
MR. PALING-I missed that.
MR. BREWER-I've got a suggestion, Bob. If we can get the comments
to Rist Frost, we could put him on with our meeting for the tower.
MR. PALING-The special meeting, that's right. Along those lines,
just let me divert for a moment, I have on my calendar November
6th, a workshop at 7 o'clock. What is that?
MR. SCHACHNER-You know what I'll bet that is? I only know this
because I had one crossed out for then. I think it was one of the
dates you and I spoke about for the thing that Jim Martin and
myself and Rick Missita talked about last month.
MRS. LABOMBARD-You're right.
MR. PALING-Yes.
to clarify that.
We've done it. Okay. All right.
Yes. I think you're right, Mark.
I just wanted
MR. SCHACHNER-I only remembered that because I have the one, that
crossed out on.
MR. BREWER-Can I get some questions? I/ve got a question for Mark
and George. How many principal buildings can he have on this piece
of land? It says in the Ordinance that maximum density, one
principal building up to 12,000 square feet of gross floor area for
a single story building, and 15,000.
MR. RUEL-Yes, it's per acre, though. There's 2.66 acres there.
MR. BREWER-Right. So he's got a house. He's got the garage, and
now he wants to put this building. That's three. It doesn't cut
it, does it?
MR. HILTON-Well, as far as the number, he's allowed that. If he is
under the 12,000 square foot per acre, his density would be okay
for this location.
MR. BREWER-Even though it's a building?
MR. HILTON-Even though it's a building. He's not limited to one
principal structure for X amount of acres
MR. BREWER-I guess to me it means that you can have a building up
to that size, ª principal building.
MR. HILTON-I think, and it's been, in past applications we've
applied it, that that's a density figure that, you know, you're
allowed 12,000 square feet of building per acre.
MR. RUEL-It doesn't say that, though.
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. BREWER-It doesn't say that. It says one building up to 12,000
square feet.
MR. SCHACHNER-Where is it? What Section?
MR. BREWER-Page 17985, right at the top of the page.
MR. HILTON-That's how we've done it in the past.
179-26A.
MR. BREWER-Well, I'd like to get that in writing from Jim. I
disagree with that.
MR. STARK-Why don' t we table it until the special meeting in
November, put it on after Sprint, before Sprint, it doesn't matter.
That way there it'll allow Rist Frost to answer his answers. Then
we'll have everything right in front of us. Then we'll have enough
to do the SEQRA. You can get your questions answered.
MR. BREWER-Well, I'd just like to get the questions out now.
MR. STARK-Fine, but then Jimmy will have the answer.
MR. PALING-We'll see what Mark and George say on this now?
MR. SCHACHNER-On the issue you raised? It's not really my call.
It's really the Zoning Administrator and the Planning Department
call, and George has relayed to you how it's been interpreted, I
guess.
MR. HILTON-That's how it's been interpreted in the past. If you'd
like some clarification, we can provide that.
MR. BREWER-I'd like a determination.
MR. PALING-Would you go ahead and do that as a separate item, maybe
Jim could just write us a letter.
MR. HILTON-Sure.
MR. BREWER-Also, what is the use of this building you're putting
up, two buildings actually?
MR. PALING-Warehouse.
MR. BREWER-Warehouse for both of them? Warehouse of what?
MR. ABBOTT-Glass, metal.
MR. BREWER-Recyclable glass?
MR. ABBOTT-No. It's new glass, storefront, things like that.
MR. BREWER-In both of them, right?
MR. ABBOTT-Yes.
MR. PALING-All right. Does anyone have any concerns other than
what Tim has voiced and what's in the Rist Frost letter?
MR. RUEL-The Beautification Committee gave a preliminary approval.
MR. PALING-Yes.
MR. RUEL-So we should get final approval.
MR. PALING-Yes.
MR. RUEL-Okay.
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. HILTON-I will read that in right now, actually. The comments
I have are from the Beautification Committee, dated October 7,
1996. It says that they have reviewed Site Plan No. 68-96, with
the following comment. "Frank Jelley presented the site plan. He
explained current site makeup and proposed changes and addition of
new building to the rear of the property. He explained the
surrounding property (vacant on all sides) is very wooded and
currently not occupied or improved at all. The Committee stated
concern with maintaining sufficient buffer zone around site in
consideration of future development of the surrounding properties.
Mrs. Gosline asked what the exterior of the building would be built
from. Mr. Jelley explained the exterior building and roof would be
all metal. No business sign is planned on the property except
something small for deliveries. Mrs. Gosline requested specifics
as to the sign size and Mrs. Wetherbee requested what kind of
landscaping would be on the road frontage around the proposed
building. The Committee determined, since no landscaped plan was
available to review and Mr. Jelley could not provide specifics as
to the site plan and signage, only PRELIMINARY APPROVAL was
recommended. Mr. Jelley only received his notice Saturday, October
5, 1996 and was not able to prepare for this meeting and Mr. Abbott
was sick and also unable to attend. Motion made by Mrs. Gosline
deferred review of this project until Mr. Jelley can go before the
Planning Board. The Beautification Committee will review the site
plan at the November meeting in order to make recommendations at
that time. Motion seconded by Karen Dougherty. II
MR. PALING-When do they meet in November, do you know, George?
MR. HILTON-The date on this was October 7th.
MR. SCHACHNER-The first Monday.
MR. PALING-That's the first Monday. Maybe they'll meet the 4th,
then.
MR. HILTON-Yes, probably the fourth.
MR. PALING-All right. So we'll, one way or the other, and you'll
go to that meeting. Okay. That'll be part of the motion, also.
MR. HILTON-Well, yes, I don't know if the Board's prepared to, at
some point, if they're ready to approve this application, approve
it with the idea that a revised landscaping plan receive approval
from the Beautification Committee before a building permit, and
that's one way we could handle this.
MR. PALING-Yes. Okay.
leave it open, I would
hearing, and it'll just
have no problem there.
We should re-open the public hearing and
think. Okay. So I'll re-open the public
be continued in the next meeting. So we
PUBLIC HEARING OPENED
MR. RUEL-I've got a question for you, George. The Beautification
committee seems to be taking responsibility for signage?
MR. HILTON-Well, they're just indicating that they're not approving
it. They do that all the time.
MR. PALING-Yes. That's just part of what they do.
MR. HILTON-Right.
MR. RUEL-That's out of their jurisdiction though, right?
MR. PALING-Yes.
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
MR. RUEL-So this will be tabled.
MR. PALING-Yes. Do you want to make a motion?
MR. RUEL-Yes. I'll make a motion.
MOTION TO TABLE SITE PLAN NO. 68-96 DAVE ABBOTT, Introduced by
Roger Ruel who moved for its adoption, seconded by George Stark:
Until a special meeting in November, for engineering comments to be
addressed and for final approval from the Beautification Committee,
and for clarification of the number of buildings allowed, 179-26
Letter A.
Duly adopted this 22nd day of October, 1996, by the following vote:
AYES: Mrs. LaBombard, Mr. Ruel, Mr. West, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stark,
Mr. Paling
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: Mr. MacEwan
MR. PALING-Okay. We'll see you, then, at the next meeting we have
in November, at the special meeting.
MR. HILTON-If you'd just like to, I mean, I will contact you, or
you can call me. I should know, tomorrow, when that meeting will
be.
MR. PALING-Now, the meetings in November, we're going to, and,
George, be sure that Pam is aboard on this. The site visits will
now be Saturday mornings. November 16th, 9 a.m., site visits, and
the regular meetings will be on the third and fourth Tuesday which
is the 19th and the 26th, and site visits, Saturday morning, 9 a.m.
MR. RUEL-And this special meeting?
MR. HILTON-To be determined.
MR. PALING-Will be as soon as it can be called.
MR. RUEL-And we'll be notified of that. It'll be some time before
November 16th then?
MR. HILTON-Sure.
MR. PALING-I hope so.
MR. WEST-What about Indian Ridge?
MR. HILTON-Well, we don't know until they submit their application.
We're assuming they're coming in for November. We still haven't
seen an application though.
MR. WEST-Okay.
MR. PALING-All right. Now what would the Board think of, Saturday
morning, adding Indian Ridge to the site visit?
MR. STARK-When Saturday morning? After the site visit, so you're
saying noon time have Indian Ridge?
MR. PALING-No, no, I'm saying visit Indian Ridge.
MR. STARK-Okay.
MR. PALING-Yes. Visit Indian Ridge Saturday morning, along with
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(Queensbury Planning Board Meeting 10/22/96)
all of our other site visits.
MRS. LABOMBARD-I'd like to do Indian Ridge at another time.
MR. STARK-Indian Ridge should be Indian Ridge, period.
MRS. LABOMBARD-Yes, because my daughter's swimming sectionals is
that day, and I have got to leave. Well, I suppose it doesn't
matter. Whatever everybody wants.
MR. PALING-We'll know by then.
MR. BREWER-If they put an application in, fine, we'll go do it at
a different time, but if not, then we'll wait until the next month,
but closer to the application is better with me, I would think.
MR. PALING-All right.
Meeting adjourned.
We'll leave it open, then.
All right.
On motion meeting was adjourned.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Robert Paling, Chairman
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