Town of Charlton

Town of Charlton

Planning Board Minutes

784 Charlton Road

Charlton, New York 12019

 

Minutes of Planning Board Meeting – September 19, 2006

 

Chairman Raymond Black called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the John W. Taylor Hall.

 

Present: Raymond Black, Chairman, Constance Wood, Mark Hodgkins, Jay Wilkinson, Susan York, Planning Board clerk and Kimberly Caron, recording secretary.   

 

AGENDA MEETING:

 

Mr. Black called the meeting to order. 

 

Mr. Black opened the meeting stating that there is a quorum and any vote would have to be unanimous.

 

Mr. Black acknowledged that he is very pleased with the work that Mrs. York and Mrs. Caron have been doing.

 

Minutes

 

Mr. Black stated that Mrs. York has already provided changes to the draft of the August minutes.  Mr. Black stated that he also had minor changes to the minutes for the Board to review.

 

Public Hearing

 

Mr. Black stated that there are no Public Hearing’s this evening.

 

Subdivision Applications

 

Mr. Black stated that since the ZBA has not reached any decision on Michele Cuchelo’s application for an aria variance, there would not be any action taken tonight on her subdivision application unless Ms. Cuchelo comes before the Board with a plan that meets all zoning requirements.

 

Mrs. York stated that she had spoken to Ms. Cuchelo and informed her that she was on the agenda and unless she had an alternate plan that meets all zoning ordinances there was nothing that the Planning Board could resolve.  Mrs. York stated that Ms. Cuchelo was not planning to come tonight.

 

 

ZBA Referral

 

Mr. Black stated that there is a ZBA referral from Mosier and Bernard on Charlton Road.  Mr. Black inquired if any of the Board members had looked at the property.

 

Mr. Black stated that it appears to him to be very straight forward.  Mr. Black stated that since the intention is to turn an existing deck into a room, he feels that, relative to the impact to the neighbors, it is actually going to be less obtrusive as a room than it is as an open deck.

 

Mr. Wilkinson stated that he drove by the property twice.  Mr. Wilkinson stated that the deck does not block anyone’s view.

 

Mr. Wilkinson stated that the side yard setback would be 22 feet.  Mr. Wilkinson stated that it looks like 30 feet on the other side but could not tell for sure.

 

Mr. Black stated that ideally the way it is supposed to be is 40 foot minimal setback on a side, 100 feet total.  Mr. Black stated that since it is roughly 50 feet of total setback, it is a substantial deviation.

 

Mr. Black inquired as to the lot width.

 

Mr. Wilkinson stated that it looks like 110 feet x 200 feet deep.

 

Zoning Report

 

Mr. Black stated that Mr. LaFountain would provide a report.

 

Comprehensive Plan

 

Mr. Hodgkins stated that there is a report.

 

Correspondence

 

Mr. Black stated that there are a number of training sessions coming up.  Mr. Black stated that one of the increases in the requested budget for next year was more associated with training than anything else. 

 

Mrs. Verola stated that the Town Board has not had any of the budget workshops yet.

 

Mrs. Wood stated that the State is now going to require a certain minimum number of hours of training to be completed annually.  Mrs. Wood stated that it did pass both the Senate and the Assembly.

 

Mr. Black stated that he would like to add to the agenda under the correspondence section the feedback he received from Michael Valentine and Jason Kemper.  Mr. Black stated that he has three dates that they are available in October.

 

Town Board Liaison

 

Mr. Black stated that the Board was hoping to have a discussion on Mrs. Verola’s plans on addressing the members of the Board and when that would be taking place.  Mr. Black stated that at the last meeting Mrs. Verola stated that she would like to have feedback by the end of October.  Mr. Black stated that the Board would need to discuss who is coming and going.

 

Mrs. Verola stated that the Town Board is looking for input from the Planning Board.

 

The meeting was closed at 7:10 p.m.

 

BUSINESS MEETING

 

Opened at 7:10 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Minutes

 

Mr. Black stated that Mrs. York has provided changes and comments.

 

Mr. Black stated that his comments have been passed around to the Board members to review.

 

Mrs. Wood made a motion to accept the draft of the August Planning Board minutes with the corrections added.  Mr. Wilkinson seconded the motion.   All were in favor.

 

ZBA Referrals

 

Mosier and Bernard (246-1-30)

 

Mr. Black stated that the request is for a 12 x 18 room addition in place of the existing wood patio.  Mr. Black stated that the applicants are looking for an area variance because they do not have enough side lot setback.  Mr. Black stated that there is an existing wood patio there.  Mr. Black stated that the implication based upon this application is that the existing patio is not as big.  Mr. Black stated that the room is going to be roughly the same width.  Mr. Black stated that it would extend closer to the house next door a little less than 2 feet and it will be a little bit wider along the side of the house.  Mr. Black stated that from his observation of the area there is a lot of vegetation around there. 

 

Mr. Black stated that the comment should be that the Planning Board sees no issues with the proposed plan.  Mr. Black stated that the Board notes that it does not appear to represent a significant change relative to the neighboring house on that side.

 

Mrs. York will prepare the letter to reply to the ZBA.

 

Comprehensive Plan Report

 

Mr. Hodgkins stated that the consultant has sent a draft for the members to review and provide feedback.  Mr. Hodgkins stated that this was the precursor to a meeting to present the draft to the Planning Board and then to the Town Board.

 

Zoning Report

 

Mr. Dave LaFountain, Zoning Administrator, provided a copy of the August 2006 activities to the Board.  The Board reviewed the report with Mr. LaFountain.

 

Correspondence

 

Mr. Black stated that there is training available on minute taking on September 28, 2006.  It is a two hour session from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  The location is the Solar Building on West High Street.  Mr. Black stated that Mrs. York, Mrs. Caron and he would be attending.

 

Mr. Black stated that the County Farm Bureau is holding a tour of area farms on October 14, 2006.  It is for informational purposes not training.

 

Mr. Black stated that the Saratoga County Planning Board Conference is on January 24, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. at City Center.  Mr. Black stated that more information would follow in future months.

 

Mr. Black stated that Saratoga County Soil & Water Conservation District has sent an informational packet for the Board to review.

 

Mr. Black stated that there is a status update on Capital Real Estate, Inc. and Bordeau Builders.  Mr. Black stated that Capital Real Estate Inc. has been asked to fund an escrow for water district extension.

 

Mr. Black stated that this was a subdivision on Crooked Street.  It went through site plan review and the subdivision process and was approved.  Mr. Black stated that the request for an extension on the water district resulted in final approval of the water district to be

permitted.  Mr. Black stated that they are now in the water district design and review process.

 

Mr. Black stated that the position the Board is at is that whatever is being done has been through Planning Board and approved from the subdivision process.  Mr. Black stated that the Planning Board is not involved unless requested by the Town Board. Mr. Black stated that at this point the Planning Board does not have jurisdiction.

 

Mr. LaFountain inquired if there was a signed mylar.

 

Mr. Black responded that he was not sure.

 

Mr. LaFountain found the mylar and provided it to the Board to review.

 

Mr. Black stated that there are 25 lots on the mylar.

 

Mrs. [Undetermined] stated that only Phase 1 has been approved.

 

Mr. Black stated that October 9-11, 2006 is the New York Planning Federation Conference.  Mrs. York stated that five Board members have signed up.

 

Mr. Black stated that he has received dates from Mr. Valentine for the meeting.  The proposed dates are October 10th, 12th, or 26th..

 

The Board discussed the dates and agreed on October 26th at 6 PM.  Mr. Black stated that he would contact Mr. Valentine and Mr. Kemper with the Board’s preference.

 

Town Board Liaison

 

Mrs. Sandy Verola stated that the Town Board is looking for written or verbal input from the Planning Board on the size of the Board and how things are working, written or verbal.

 

Mr. Black stated that his sense is that he does not feel there is a difference between a five or seven member board.  Mr. Black stated that on occasion with six members, there is a situation where you have to have a quorum of 4 to pass a motion.

 

Mr. Black stated that with more members there are more comments and discussions.  Mr. Black stated that there are also more ideas with more members.

 

Mrs. Wood stated that she likes the seven member board.  Mrs. Wood stated that the Planning Board is not like the ZBA where you are dealing with a specific issue.  Mrs. Wood stated that Planning Board requires gray, it is not totally black and white.  Mrs. Wood stated that in her opinion, seven members gives you a chance to have a wider view of the town and their viewpoints.  Mrs. Wood also stated that you get a broader base for knowing some of the properties that come before the board.  Mrs. Wood stated that when the board was busier, the work was divided which was very valuable and helpful.  With only five members, it is harder to spread the work out.  Mrs. Wood stated that more members relieves the chairperson from all of the responsibility for research.

 

Mr. Black stated that Mr. Wilkinson’s term would expire at the end of the year if it goes to five members. Mr. Black stated that he would oppose loosing Mr. Wilkinson to go to fewer members. 

 

Mrs. Wood stated that she has a concern regarding the alternate.  Mrs. Wood stated that she thinks it is difficult to have an alternate step in in the middle of the process.

 

Mr. Black stated that the board only has one alternate.  Mr. Black stated that in instances like tonight where the board is short of members present, there is only one alternate to call in and he was unavailable.

 

Mrs. Verola inquired if the board would like more than one alternate.

 

Mr. Black stated that it would be better for the Planning Board.

 

Mr. Wilkinson stated that he might be willing to stay on as an alternate if the board goes to five members.

 

Mr. Black stated that the Board has expressed some points of view.  Mr. Black stated that the Board will think about it as individuals and at the October meeting can decide.

 

Mrs. Verola asked that the members write down their thoughts.

 

Mr. Black asked the board members to have their comments for the October or November meeting.

 

Mrs. Wood made a motion to adjourn.  Mr. Hodgkins seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

Kimberly A. Caron

Recording Secretary

 
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