TOWN OF MACEDON

PLANNING BOARD

March 6, 2017

 

 

PRESENT:  Chairman Doug Allen, members Suzanne Airy, Mert Bartels, Mark McEwen, Tom Morrison, Kevin Rooney and Greg Whitney.  Also present were Town Councilman David McEwen (via Skype), Town Engineer Scott Allen and Board Clerk Susan Bush.

 

Chairman Allen called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.  A motion to waive reading the Legal Notice was made by Kevin Rooney, seconded by Tom Morrison.  All in favor; motion carried.

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

 

PB-08-16 – Hemes & Stanton – 2538 Daansen Road – One-lot realty subdivision – A motion to open the public hearing was made by Kevin Rooney, seconded by Greg Whitney.  All in favor; motion carried.  Applicant Andrew Stanton was present to address the Board.  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 Mert Bartels.  All in favor; motion carried.

 

PB-01-17 – Cocola (Cataldo & Trachtenberg) – 2734 Hance Road – Modification of Additional Use Permit – A motion to open the public hearing was made by Kevin Rooney, seconded by Suzanne Airy.  All in favor; motion carried.  Applicant Melissa Cocola was present to address the Board.  An e-mail supporting this request was received from the current owner (Trachtenberg).  Two people were present in support of the application; there was no one to speak in opposition.  A motion to close the public hearing was made by Kevin Rooney, seconded by Greg Whitney.  All in favor; motion carried.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

PB-08-16 – Hemes & Stanton – 2538 Daansen Road – One-lot realty subdivision – Preliminary & final – This proposal would allow the transfer of property (approx. Ό acre) between neighbors (Hemes to Stanton).  A motion for negative SEQR declaration was made by Kevin Rooney, seconded by Mert Bartels.  All in favor; motion carried.  A motion was made by Kevin Rooney, seconded by Mark McEwen, to grant preliminary/final approval for a one-lot realty subdivision as proposed.  All in favor; motion carried.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

PB-01-17 – Cocola (Cataldo & Trachtenberg) – 2734 Hance Road – Modification of Additional Use Permit – Applicant Melissa Cocola addressed the Board regarding her proposal.  She currently owns Positive K9 training, Creekside Resort in Walworth and Creekside Lodge on O’Neill Road in Macedon.  She has a purchase agreement for the Hance Road property and would like to use it for her Creekside Lodge operation.  The Hance Road property was approved for a kennel in 2002, with a maximum of 25 dogs, 6 months or older.  Ms. Cocola would like to expand the number of dogs allowed to 40 with 80 possible in the future. The facility would be used for training, boarding and day care.  The property is 47+ acres with the house & outbuildings located at the rear of the property.  None of the buildings are visible from the road due to a large farm field along the front of the property and a section of woods. Two Board members indicated they had personal experience with Ms. Cocola’s current facilities and commended her on their operation.  Town Engineer/CEO Scott Allen indicated no complaints have been received regarding the O’Neill Road facility, which handles 80 dogs.  Tom Morrison suggested that improvements would be needed for the entrance/driveway to handle the increased traffic.  Ms. Cocola acknowledged that work was part of her plan to upgrade the property.  A motion was made by Kevin Rooney, seconded by Mert Bartels, to modify the existing Additional Use Permit to allow a maximum of 80 dogs, 6 months or older.  All in favor; motion carried.

 

ZBA REFERRAL:

 

Z-02-17 – Laker Development Group, LLC – Route 31 – Use Variance – Section 135-86 – Community solar power generation system - Town Engineer Scott Allen explained the background regarding this application.  The Town has recently received several requests for commercial solar arrays.  However, when the Town Code was written, solar was not contemplated and was not addressed.  The solar arrays currently seen in the Town are considered accessory to the house or business on a given property.  Commercial arrays are new.  They are considered an essential service and would require a Special Use Permit, but the Town Code for essential services excludes power generation.  The Town Board is now working on a local law to cover this use in GC, ORM, AR-40/R-30 zoning under a Special Use Permit with some restrictions such as setbacks.  Mr. Allen expected to have a draft of the law very shortly and explained the Laker proposal would probably fit within the parameters being proposed.  He also noted that the Appeals Board meeting will be on March 15th and they have 62 days to make their decision.

 

The Board members then discussed the future connection of the two segments of North Wilson Road, visibility of the array and the possible uses of the parcel.  It was noted that the proposed site is between two (2) sets of high power electric transmission lines and could have limited development use.

 

A motion was made by Greg Whitney, seconded by Tom Morrison to recommend:  (A) Applicant compliance with the local law if passed within 62 days; or (B) Granting the use variance with conditions consistent with the draft local law.  All in favor; motion carried.

 

MINUTES:

 

A motion to approve the 01-16-17 minutes was made by Suzanne Airy, seconded by Mark McEwen.  All in favor; minutes approved.

 

A motion to approve the 02-06-17 minutes was made by Mert Bartels, seconded by Greg Whitney.  All in favor; minutes approved.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Suzanne Airy, seconded by Kevin Rooney.  All in favor; meeting adjourned at 8:21 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Susan Bush

Clerk to the Board