Planning Board Minutes May 19, 2015

The following minutes are a summary of the Planning Board meeting of May 19, 2015. Interested parties may request an audio recording of the meeting from the Board Secretary for a fee.

Call to Order & Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act: Chairman Nalbantian called the meeting to order at 7:36 p.m. The following members were present: Mayor Aronsohn, Ms. Bigos, Chairman Nalbantian, Councilwoman Knudsen, Mr. Joel, Ms. Altano, Mr. Thurston, Mr. Abdalla, Ms. Dockray, and Ms. Peters. Also present were: Gail Price, Esq., Board Attorney; Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer; Blais Brancheau, Village Planner, and Michael Cafarelli, Board Secretary. Mr. Reilly was absent.

Public Comments on Topics not Pending Before the Board – No one came forward.

Committee Reports – Ms. Dockray said the Open Space Committee will be taking a survey of residents and their needs and asked that it be included in the reexamination of the Master Plan.

Correspondence received by the Board – Mr. Cafarelli said there were two emails from Michele and Michael Lenhart.

World Mission Society, Church of God, Preliminary and Final Site Plan Application, 305 Godwin Avenue, Block 2403, Lot 23 – Mr. Costas described the revised plans, said they can adjust the light post construction and that they are willing to work with the Planning Board to make changes needed to be in compliance.

Board Members had questions regarding the lights, length of time they are on, removal of the solar lights, church activities after 11:00 pm, lights to be on timers with a manual override, and a buffer zone between the church and residents. Mr. Liebman responded in detail to the Boards questions.

Mr. Rutishauser asked about the irrigation for the new tree plantings, the height of the lights, and the proposed lighting. Mr. Costas said they did not plan on any irrigation and he said they would put the lights on a timer.

Mr. Brancheau said he would request a condition in the resolution that requires revised plans and that there be further investigation that allows for field adjustment of the plants.

Mr. Brancheau discussed one-way versus two-way traffic in rear of parking area and angled versus ninety-degree parking spaces. He also suggested a supplemental sign indicating one-way traffic flow.

Mr. Rutishauser said the fire department report recommended that the movable flowerpots be removed and fire lanes be restriped as per the changes to the revised plans for fire department's access.

Opened to Public Comment:

Ms. Michele Lenhart asked the church to clarify the light distribution pattern, the light shielding, buffer screen, and clarification on the church's schedule. Mr. Costas said they are willing to work with the Village to remedy the lighting situation. Mr. Liebman said the church has occasional late night meetings.

8:58 p.m. Mr. Nalbantian moved for a five minute break, the meeting resumed at 9:05 p.m.

Mr. Brancheau recommended a two part condition indicating that the lighting complies with the Village ordinance, point one foot candle at the property line, shielded fixtures so the light source is not visible to adjacent residential property, a maximum twenty feet height. Second, that there be a post construction initially and after three to six months to determine that everything is in acceptable condition.

Paul Mularz, 28 South Hillside Place, asked about the time services are conducted, if the pole mounted light at the northeast corner of the building would be removed, if the buffer could be larger, and he said the applicant did not contact him. Mr. Leibman declined to respond to any questions about the times of service, he said any light impacting neighbors would be shielded, and there is not enough room to increase the buffer size.

Ms. Michele Lenhart, South Hillside Place, was sworn and mentioned photographs she sent to Mr. Cafarelli. Ms. Razin said he Board received correspondence and the photographs that were marked as exhibits ML2. Ms. Lenhard read a statement regarding the rear buffer; lighting plan, the removal of parking spots, and the duration light are on.

The meeting was closed to the public.

Mr. Brancheau summarized the changes the applicant agreed to and conditions he and Mr. Rutishauser suggested.

The Board deliberated, discussed the application, and commented about the status of the revised plans. Most were in favor of the application as long as there were conditions included in the resolution.

Mr. Joel motioned to approve, Ms. Knudsen seconded all voted in favor of the motion except Mayor Aronsohn.

Proposed Amendment of Article XIV of Land Use Ordinance – Procedure to Request Amendment of Village Master Plan or Development Regulations – Discussion/Response to Village Council – Mr. Brancheau discussed the background and summarized the amendment to the Master Plan and what it entails. He talked about the process and said the key function is to strengthen the current concept when someone asks for rezoning or an amendment in the Master Pan neither the Planning Board nor the Council are under obligation to take action.

Mr. Brancheau said the plan is to clarify the process in the initial part of an application to avoid confusion with the site plan procedure where there is a process and deadlines. He said this is a more fluid process and the revisions in the ordinance specify a two-part process. One is an informal review in cases of an ordinance change; there will not be a need for a formal hearing, unless the Board reviews an application and determines it has enough merit to be considered. If the Board decides there is not enough to continue, then the matter is closed. If the Council or the Board decides the issue has merit then they could decide to go to a formal hearing. However, the applicant is not obligated to go to a formal hearing. The only time it goes to a formal public hearing is when the Council or Board decides to do so. The process is designed to give the Board and Council the flexibility in considering a request to change an ordinance.

Board members said it is a policy document discussion and not an application and there are no substantive changes to the ordinance it gives the PB an additional tool and it clarifies the process before an applicant goes before a public hearing.    

After further discussion, the Board voted to recommend introduction of the document to the Council as written.

Reexamination of Master Plan and Development Regulations – Discussion of Historic Preservation and Environmental Protection - Mr. Brancheau explained the delay in getting the document to the Board. He discussed his comments and the Historic Preservation Chairman's comments in the documents. Mr. Brancheau asked to discuss the document at the June 16th meeting.

Approval of Minutes – The minutes from March 30, 2014 and May 6, 2014 were adopted as drafted.      

The meeting adjourned at 10:44 P.M.

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                                Michael Cafarelli

                                                                                                Board Secretary

Date approved: April 19, 2016