Town of Huron Planning Board Minutes - subject to approval.
Regular meeting - December 7, 2009
Call to Order: Larry Lockwood called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Members present: Larry Lockwood, Joe Snyder, Chris Kenyon and Charles Boogaard and Jack McGuire
Other Officials present: Laurie Crane - Town Supervisor, Dave Buisch - Councilmember, Amy Reichhart - Associate Attorney for the Town and Roger Gallant - Building Inspector
Correspondence
None was received this month.
Approval of Minutes: Joe Snyder moved, seconded by Chris Kenyon to approve the minutes of November 2, 2009 with the following addition: Joe Snyder voted No on the motion to recommend approval of the 195ft cell tower on Lummisville Rd. stating that the applicant had not met their obligations for a variance nor demonstrated why they needed to be above 150ft.
Old Business
1. AT&T Cell Tower
The following draft of the recommendation to the Zoning Board from the last meeting was reviewed.
Regarding #680-09-A by AT&T Mobility Corp of East Syracuse, NY for property at 10000 Lummisville Rd, Wolcott, NY to construct a 195ft self-supporting telecommunication tower, the Planning Board would not oppose this application if the following conditions are met. The tower should not at this time, nor anytime in the future, be lit. Any Federal, State, and/or Emergency Services agency and the Town shall be allowed to co-locate equipment on the tower at no cost, in compliance with all Town and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations, and the reasonable requirements of the Engineer for the Town. The tower location, and appropriate contact information, shall be registered with the FCC to facilitate such co-location by Federal, State, Town and/or Emergency Services agencies. Co-location by other carriers shall be permitted on the tower. Further, any such co-location shall be pursuant to a lease reasonably acceptable to the Attorney for the Town.
Discussion of placing a time limit in the recommendation took place. The attorney thought that enforcing a specific time limit would be difficult. Joe thought that a 90 day time limit, which would be in accordance with a new ruling of the FCC, would be appropriate. Amy reiterated that even with that ruling, she still thought that it would be difficult to enforce. It was decided that the board would vote on the draft as it was presented.
VOTE: AYES: 4 NAYS: 1
(Joe Snyder voted No and stated that his reasons were already in the minutes)
2. Master Plan
Charles and Chris met with Bret DeRoo from the County. Charles said that Bret thought that the Cornell project sounded good and shared that the Town of Butler had done something similar for about the same amount of money. Chris added that Bret had recommended that someone from the board be involved and Chris said that he and Charles would both take part in the project. Joe asked if the County would provide assistance. Chris said no specifics were discussed but that Bret would be readily available to help. Joe was concerned about knowing the scope of the project. Charles thought that another meeting should be held with Mr. Frantz to lay out the project. Laurie Crane said that she had spoken with Mr. Frantz and she had been provided with information about other projects completed by his students. Laurie said that the Town Board was having a workshop the following night and she was going to ask for a board member to work on the project. She said that Mr. Frantz was meeting with his board and would call her. Chris also stated that Bret had advised that the project only include the Town of Huron. Bret thought the cost was reasonable and the quality was comparable to someone who would charge $40,000.
A vote was taken to see if the Planning Board recommended moving forward with the project.
VOTE: AYES: 5 NAYS: 0
Charles said that Bret had also suggested a binding contract. Laurie said that was something Mr. Frantz was checking on with his board.
3. Recreational Trails - Chris Kenyon
Chris had nothing new to report.
4. D&L Disposal Property
Joe Snyder said that when he had spoken with Roger Gallant about the property, vegetation shielding had been discussed. Laurie Crane said that she had not spoken with the owner but she had been driving by to check the property and really hadn't seen any problems that she would approach him about. Joe said that the application had stated that all the trucks and dumpsters would either be inside at night or if dumpsters were left out, they would be tarped. Joe said that he drives by almost daily and this is not happening. Dave Buisch said that the Town Board had discussed the situation. The Town Board thought that it came under Roger's jurisdiction and they would leave it up to him but felt that considering current circumstances it should not be pressed too hard because they didn't want to discourage him from doing business in the town. The Town Board felt that Roger should intervene when he felt there was a violation that needed to be dealt with. Joe said that the business is in violation now. Dave reiterated that the Town Board had placed it in Roger's hands to deal with. Dave thought that in these economic times, the owner may have difficulty complying or even staying in business. Joe said that his suggestion of a vegetation barrier was a compromise which would not be too costly. Larry said that since the Town Board had taken action on the item, there wasn't anything more for the Planning Board to do. Joe said that the business does not reflect positively on the Town; it is located on a busy road and he feels it looks worse than when the auction house was there.
5. Outdoor Woodburning Furnace Law
Jack wondered what was happening with the law. Laurie stated that it would be an item for the workshop for the Town Board the following night.
Other
Jack also wondered if there could be a height limit for the footprint in the Coastal Erosion Law. Joe said that the law states that they can only expand up to 25% of the existing living space. The building in question is using the second floor for storage purposes, not living space.
Jack also asked how far out in the Lake the Town had jurisdiction and was told they have no jurisdiction. His concern was the talk of placing wind turbines off shore. Laurie said that NYPA is planning to place them in the Lake. Dave said that they are looking at placing about 106 units stretching from Sodus, across Huron to Wolcott. Laurie said that it was stated that they are looking for a place to manufacture the wind turbines which would be the only benefit that she saw. Dave said that the towers are 450ft tall and can't be placed deeper than 150ft, so that leaves 300ft above water. Charles said that it seems to him that people are more opposed to them in the water than on land. He feels that there needs to be another source of power besides foreign oil but he is against deforestation so does not want to see them on land. He said that there will always be undesirable effects whether it is done on land or water.
New Business
County Planning Board Monthly Report
The County Planning Board combines their November and December meetings because of the holidays so there was no meeting in November.
Other
Chris asked about meeting dates for 2010 and Roger said that he and the clerk would set them if the board had no objection. The meetings would continue to be held on the first Monday of the month when possible.
Joe asked whose terms were up. Letters need to be sent to the Town Board to indicate interest in remaining on the board.
The board wanted to wish Shirley Eygnor, the Town Clerk, a happy and long retirement.
Adjournment: Jack McGuire moved, seconded by Charles Boogaard to adjourn the meeting at 8:20PM
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Grandjean, clerk
Email communications
During the month of November, the following emails were received:
11/6/09 - from Charles Boogaard regarding he and Chris meeting with Bret DeRoo about the Master Plan
