Meeting of the Charlton Environmental Conservation Commission – October 25, 2005

1.   The meeting was called to order with Marv Schorr, Lane Jastrebski, Midge Dube, Doug Ranaletto and Teddi Smith in attendance.

2.   Minutes of the September 27, 2005 meeting were reviewed. Doug’s name was left off the list of attendees. The minutes were accepted as revised by adding Doug’s name.

3.   Marv reported that it was announced at the Town Board meeting that County Waste will stop picking up brush/yard wastes after Dec. 1.

4.       New business: - A variance application for a carport on property on Cortland Drive was reviewed. The  concerns for the proposed variance (Cabrerra) relate to a)safety, i.e., whether emergency vehicles can get access to the back of the property, and b) that the carport not be used for bulk storage of wood, etc. Because there is possible access from Cornelia Dr. the safety concern is mitigated.

      An application for a special use permit for an existing business on Rt 67 (Dorvee) that doesn’t have a permit was reviewed. It is a fiberglass finishing business for boats, etc. The concern was for the storage and disposal of waste materials and that the site be kept clean and orderly.

5.   The issue of the need for a local ordinance controlling the use of outdoor wood burning furnaces was discussed. Parts of a report from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Environmental Protection were reviewed. It indicates a large increase in use of such units since 2003 throughout the state. State legislation has been proposed but not acted on yet. The primary concerns are the health issues related to smoke and the materials that are burned. Stack height is a key parameter. If the stack is too short down draft of the smoke occurs. Examples of local ordinances from the report and from other towns in the state were reviewed. It was agreed that the ECC would recommend a local ordinance that includes location (residential area), stack height, setbacks and material that can be burned. The furnaces should burn only untreated wood, have a stack higher than any nearby roof, be at least 200 feet from the nearest neighboring residence, be set back at least 25 feet, require a permit, be inspected by the zoning officer, comply with the manufacturer’s requirements, be used only for heating the primary residence to avoid year round use, and require a variance for any existing units that cannot comply within one year (as recommended by the Attorney General’s report).

Respectfully submitted,

M.M. Schorr, Chairman

cc: ECC members

      A. Grattidge