TOWN OF MACEDON

PLANNING BOARD

November 12, 2007

 

 

PRESENT:  Chairman Doug Allen, members Suzanne Airy, Brian Gagne, Mark McEwen, Tom Morrison and Kevin Rooney.  Also present were Councilman Ken Nawrocki, Town Engineer Scott Allen and Board Clerk Susan Bush.  Absent was Mert Bartels.

 

Chairman Allen called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.  A motion to waive reading the legal notice as it appeared in the Times was made by Kevin Rooney, seconded by Mark McEwen.  All in favor; motion carried.

 

 

PUBLIC HEARING:

 

PB-17-07 – Prime Time Convenience Store – 1241 Route 31 – Commercial site plan – Convenience store/fast food/gas retail – A motion to open the public hearing was made by Kevin Rooney, seconded by Mark McEwen.  All in favor; motion carried.  Phil Silvestri of Silvestri Architects, Kevin Hartson of Prime Time and Jim Denniston were present on behalf of the applicant.  There was no one else present to speak for or against this application.  A motion to close the public hearing was made by Kevin Rooney, seconded by Mark McEwen.  All in favor; motion carried.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

PB-17-07 – Prime Time Convenience Store – 1241 Route 31 – Commercial site plan – Convenience store/fast food/gas retail – Preliminary & final – Phil Silvestri, Silvestri Architects, reviewed this project to date.  Variances have been received for setbacks & signs.  Changes made to date include:  Improved circulation with 30 ft. drive aisles; additional by-pass lane in the back; employee parking in rear; storm water retention in rear; increased landscaping (buffering along sides & plantings around building); brick front, split-face block sides & rear; pitched roof with asphalt shingles; improved turning radius on rear corner of building; building moved back 12 ft. to improve drive lanes.  A Route 31 neighbor had expressed concern over noise generated from the vacuum units located in front of the store.  Board members asked if these units could be placed on timers to eliminate use during late night/early morning hours.  Tom Morrison suggested moving the vacuums to the west side of the building.  The applicant agreed that would be a satisfactory solution, and it will be incorporated in the plan.   Buffering/fence on the east side was again discussed.  In general, Board members felt the increased plantings (evergreens) would provide sufficient buffering on that side.   The pylon sign was then discussed with recommendations to include a brick base (to match building) and upgraded materials.  The sign package must come back to the Planning Board for approval prior to installation.

 

A motion for negative SEQR declaration was made by Kevin Rooney, seconded by Brian Gagne.  All in favor; motion carried.  A motion to grant preliminary/final site plan approval subject to moving the vacuum units to the west side and future sign review was made by Kevin Rooney, seconded by Brian Gagne.  All in favor; motion carried.

 

PB-14-07 – Spectra Group – Route 31/North Wilson Road – Realty subdivision & commercial site plan – Brad Hill of the Spectra Group, Andy Hart of Bergmann Associates, and John Rhodes of ABVI/Goodwill were present to discuss this application.  Mr. Hill provided the Board with a synopsis of Spectra’s background and their proposal for this site – a 34,700 sq. ft. shopping center, 25,000 sq. ft. Goodwill store and four (4) potential outparcels.  Factors influencing the site design are:  53 ft. of fall from northeast to southwest corners, wetland areas, Wal-Mart detention pond, sewer force main and a drainage easement.  Revised plans show the shopping center parking has been turned as requested, however, the ABVI building has not.

 

John Rhodes, Vice President of ABVI, then presented background information on ABVI and the proposed Goodwill store.  This organization derives its funding from five (5) major businesses, Goodwill being one.  The proposed building will be 25,000 sq. ft. with 15,000 sq. ft. retail, 9,000 sq. ft. work center and 1,000 sq. ft. community room.  A similar store has just been completed in Sweden, NY, with another pending in Webster. It will employ approximately 40 people, 25% of those being blind or visually impaired, and will bring ABVI services to this area. Hours of operation will be 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; goods will be 80% donated & 20% new, no food items; expect 350± customers and 50± donors on a good day.  ABVI is a tax-exempt organization and will be requesting tax exemption on the property.  Mr. Rhodes emphasized their operations are “destination” stores, preferably located near Wal-Marts.  They feel the building works on the site as originally presented and do not want to turn the building 90Ί as requested.  Board members felt it was important to re-orient the building to face North Wilson Road instead of Route 31 with all parking in front of the building instead of on three sides as now proposed.  North Wilson Road will be a town-dedicated road eventually looping to Wayneport Road behind Wal-Mart.  Road will be completed in segments as part of future projects.  Turning the Goodwill building to face this road will lead to future conformity and make better use of the existing site.  Applicants will return at the 11-26-07 meeting.

 

TOWN BOARD REFERRAL:

 

Prime Time Convenience Store – 1241 Route 31 – Special Use Permit – Retail gas – Board gave a positive referral for this operation.

 

 

MINUTES:

 

A motion to approve the 10-22-07 minutes was made by Mark McEwen, seconded by Suzanne Airy.  All in favor; minutes approved.  The 10-08-07 minutes could not be approved due to lack of correct quorum.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

Motion to adjourn was made by Suzanne Airy, seconded by Mark McEwen.  All in favor; meeting adjourned at 9:08 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Susan Bush

Clerk to the Board