Minutes of a regular meeting of the

Johnson City Planning Board held on

June 26, 2007 at 7:30pm at

243 Main St., Johnson City, NY

 

Present:            William Klish, Chairman

                        Pamela Hysell, Vice Chairperson

                        Joanne Drimak

                        Gerald Putman

                        Leonard Sas

                       

                        Beth Westfall, Village Attorney

                        Daria Golazeski, Planning Director

 

Absent: None
                       

A brief work session was held at 7:00pm.

 

Chairman Klish called the meeting to order at 7:30pm.

 

Chairman Klish noted the emergency exits.

 

Minutes – A motion to approve the minutes of the May 22, 2007 regular meeting was made by Mr. Sas and seconded by Mrs. Drimak. Motion carried by unanimous vote with all members present voting.

 

Privilege of the Floor

Chuck Hemmingway, Council Representative, Carpenter’s Union 281 Binghamton - spoke regarding the proposed Wal-Mart project and expressed interest in what can be done to keep the work local for the construction of the building. Chairman Klish stated that the Planning Board has no control over the issue of whether local or out of town contractors are used.

 

City of Binghamton Councilman Bob Wessler, representing the 2nd district – regarding the proposed Wal-Mart. Mr. Wessler asked about the plans for Market Street and access to Lake Avenue and what the traffic patterns will be. Attorney Westfall stated that the Traffic Study is being worked on and an overview of the project will be presented later during the meeting.

 

Barbara Thompson, 94 Miriam Street – asked the Planning Board to move the Wal-Mart project from the last spot on the agenda to the first spot. Chairman Klish stated that the agenda would remain as it is.

 

Communications – None

 

Contingencies - None

 

OLD BUSINESS - None

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Site Plan Review – Douglas Washburn, 174 Oakdale Road

 

The application is for a Vegetable/Fruit stand to be located in the rear building of the property. Hours will be 9am – 7pm. No alterations are required to the building.

 

Mr. Douglas Washburn was present.

 

Mr. Washburn stated that the original application had the stand in the back building, but they would like to have a small tent closer to the road.

 

Chairman Klish stated that they have a canopy at the road currently. Mr. Washburn explained that it is a small pop-up canopy that they take down every night. The goal is not to have a permanent fixture at the road. Visually people cannot see the stand in the back building from the road. They are using the building for storage.

 

Chairman Klish asked Mr. Washburn if his request is changing from a stand in the rear building to a stand near the road. Mr. Washburn stated that yes he was changing his request.

 

Chairman Klish asked about the size of the tent. Mr. Washburn stated that it would be approximately 20’ x 10’ because they need the parking lot for cars and cannot take up to much room. The tent will take up the second and third parking spaces in the parking lot. It would be seasonal.

 

Mr. Putman asked if having the tent near the road would lead to cars parking on Oakdale Road instead of pulling into the lot. Mr. Washburn stated that they have been watching the traffic over the past week ad they do not feel that this will be a problem. They have 18 spaces in the lot.

 

Mrs. Drimak asked if there was a handicapped space. Mr. Washburn stated that yes there was one handicapped space in the rear of the property. 

 

Mr. Sas asked what days of the week would the stand be open. Mr. Washburn stated that most likely will be Tuesday – Saturday.

 

Mr. Sas asked about signage. Mr. Washburn stated that they have a temporary sign that they take inside every night.

 

Chairman Klish asked about what they mean by seasonal. Mr. Washburn stated that they would be open from June – August.

 

Chairman Klish asked if the tent would be removed at the end of the season. Mr. Washburn stated that yes they would take it down at the end of the season.

 

Mr. Putman asked if the application would need to be reviewed by the department heads again since the application has changed from being located in a building to a tent.

 

Attorney Westfall stated that Planner Golazeski has no concerns with the application as long as the tent is no closer to the road than the second parking space and all the other comments can be applied to the revised request. If a building permit is required Mr. Washburn will need to apply for one.

 

Mrs. Drimak asked if they have had any problems with customers exiting the parking lot and turning left because of the heavy traffic at the intersection of Oakdale Road and Harry L. Drive. Mr. Washburn stated that they have not had any problems getting out or in of the lot because they are far enough from the intersection.

 

Chairman Klish read the Department Head comments.

 

DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS

 

Code Enforcement:                If approved, the structure requires a building permit and must comply with all NYS Building Codes and detailed drawings are required.

Fire:                                        Recommend approval.                                     

Planning Dept:                       For seasonal use. Recommend approval.

Police:                                     If a sign is going to be placed, it is to be placed so it does not obstruct view of motorists exiting driveway.

Public Works:                         NCI

Water:                                    NCI                            

B. C. Planning:                       N/A

 

A motion to approve the site plan for a vegetable/fruit stand located in the rear building of the property at 174 Oakdale Road and also a stand and tent at the front of the property out of the right of way, with the stand being open seasonally from June through August with the hours of operation being 9am – 7pm, including the department head comments and the submittal of a new site plan for the tent area was made by Mrs. Drimak and seconded by Mr. Putman.

 

Motion Carried Vote:    Yes – 5            No – 0             Absent – 0

 

Subdivision – Calvary Community Wesleyan Church, 373 Harry L. Drive

 

The application is for the subdivision of a 28.8-acre parcel into two parcels, one parcel being 10.669 acres and the other parcel being 18.131 acres.

 

Rev. Gary Sawyer, Pastor of Calvary Community Wesleyan Church, was present.

 

Rev. Sawyer explained that the church had purchased the land north of Fairview Avenue and following the sale discovered that the seller had not subdivided the property.

 

Chairman Klish read the Department Head Comments.

 

DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS

 

Code Enforcement:                If approved, any buildings on said property would require a building permit and will comply with all NYS Building Codes.

Fire:                                        None submitted.                      

Planning Dept:                       Declare minor subdivision. Future plans for property must go through the planning process.

Police:                                     NCI

Public Works:                         There are numerous concerns with locating a building on the northeast corner of Columbia Drive and Fairview Street. A detailed proposed site plan should be submitted with all the requirements of §274-96 Submission of Site Plan included on the plan.

Water:                                    Need more details for comments. Are there any plans available?                       

B. C. Planning:                       N/A

 

A motion to declare the application a minor subdivision and set a public hearing for Wednesday, July 18, 2007 was made by Mrs. Hysell and seconded by Mr. Putman.

 

Motion Carried Vote:    Yes – 5            No – 0             Absent – 0

 

Area Variance – Ivadeben Corporation, 97 & 101 Myrtle Avenue

 

The applicant is requesting two area variances for lot frontage and for lot area to construct two single-family dwellings, one on 97 Myrtle Avenue and the second one on 101 Myrtle Avenue.

 

A gentleman named Benny from Ivadeben Corporation was present. They have an offer to purchase the property.

 

Chairman Klish asked if the houses would have a garage. Benny stated that they would not have a garage.

 

Mrs. Hysell asked about the time frame for construction. Benny stated that they would start immediately after they receive permission.

 

Chairman Klish pointed out that most of the homes in that neighborhood are on lots that are the same size as the applicant’s lots, 40’ x 120’.

 

Chairman Klish asked if both of the houses would be the same style and layout. Benny stated that both houses would be the same.

 

Chairman Klish read the Department Head comments.

 

DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS

 

Code Enforcement:                I did go and look at the neighborhood. I feel that it is consistent with the other neighboring properties as far as building setbacks. I do not feel the area setback request is an issue. If approved, the buildings require a building permit and must comply with all NYS Building Codes. Detailed drawings are required.

Fire:                                        Recommend denial.                                                     

Planning Dept.:                      Common lot size for original subdivision.

Police:                                     NCI

Public Works:                         NCI for the variance. The developer must coordinate with DPW and Water Departments for the location of sewer, water and driveways and will be responsible for all costs associated with the associated installations of the aforementioned items.

Water:                                    New water line needs to be installed.                      

 

A motion to recommend to the Zoning Board of Appeals approval of the area variance application for 97 and 101 Myrtle Avenue to construct two one-family dwellings, with a completion date of May 2008, including the department head comments, was made by Mrs. Drimak and seconded by Mrs. Hysell.

 

Motion Carried Vote:    Yes – 5            No – 0             Absent – 0

 

Area Variance – John David Dudack, 62 Albany Avenue

 

The applicant is requesting an area variance to increase the maximum allowable lot coverage from 30% to 41% or 589.58 sq. ft. more than the code allows for the construction of a 3-car garage.

 

The applicant, Mr. John David Dudack, was present.

 

Chairman Klish asked why a 3-car garage was necessary. Mr. Dudack explained that there is a lack of available parking on the street. He has 2 cars and a motorcycle and has been renting a garage for 10 years. He plans on renting out the apartment at his home and wants to provide an off-street parking space for a tenant. He has spoken to his neighbors and no one expressed any concerns.

 

Chairman Klish stated that most of the garages in the area are single car garages. There are a few 2-car garages and several homes have no garages.

 

Mr. Dudack stated that based on the code he could barely construct a one-car garage without needing a variance.

 

Chairman Klish asked about the possibility of a 2-car garage with a paved parking space.  Mr. Dudack stated that that would not be acceptable to him. He would like to keep all the vehicles covered. He considered putting a lift in so he could raise one car in the area and park a car under it but Planner Golazeski advised him that in this case the garage would violation the height restrictions.

 

Mrs. Hysell asked if drainage would be an issue. Mr. Dudack stated that he does believe it will be a problem.

 

Chairman Klish read the Department Head comments.

 

DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS

 

Code Enforcement:                I did go and look at the property.  I feel that it is consistent with the other neighboring properties as far as garage or out building setbacks. I do not feel the area setback request is an issue. If approved, the building must comply with all NYS Building Codes.

Fire:                                        NCI    

Planning Dept.:                      Is this the minimum required to accomplish objective? Seems size permitted without variance is 12ft. x 20 ft.

Police:                                     NCI

Public Works:                         More information is required regarding storm water runoff that will be added with the addition of the roof and driveway. There could be an impact to the adjoining properties during large intensity rainfall events.

Water:                                    NCI                            

                                               

A motion to recommend approval to the Zoning Board of Appeals for the area variance application for a 24’ x 24’ garage with an uncovered paved parking space was made by Chairman Klish and seconded by Mr. Sas.

 

Motion Carried Vote:    Yes – 5            No – 0             Absent – 0

 

Area Variance – Citibank, N.A., by Davidson, Fink, Cook, Kelly & Galbraith, LLP,

191 Harrison Street

 

No one appeared on behalf of the applicant.

 

A motion to hold the application over to the July 18, 2007 Special Planning Board Meeting was made by Mr. Putman and seconded by Mrs. Drimak.

 

Motion Carried Vote:    Yes – 5            No – 0             Absent – 0

 

Project Overview – Stella Ireland Road Associates, LLC, 90 Lester Avenue

 

Mr. Robert Switala, with Bergman Associates was present on behalf of the applicant. Mr. Switala presented a brief overview of the proposed project to the board.

 

The site is the former Ranger Paracord industrial site. All the buildings on the site were demolished. The site is approximately 15 acres, which will be subdivided into 2 lots, one large lot of approximately 14 acres and one small lot of approximately 1.2 acres. They are proposing a 132,000 sq. ft. retail building on the large lot and a 14,000 sq. ft. building on the small lot. The site is zoned industrial. With the proposed layout no variances are needed.  The Pagoda Pumphouse building will be relocated by the Village. Access to the site will primarily be via CFJ Blvd. to Gannett Drive.  There will be no access to the site from Market Street and Lake Avenue. The site can also be accessed via Lester Avenue to Pavilion Road. All the light fixtures will be located on the site and it has been designed so that there is almost no light spillage onto the residential area. They have begun a traffic study, received comments from the City of Binghamton and have met with the NYS DOT and BMTS and are doing a revised report based on the feedback they received. The loading will occur in the rear. They do not anticipate noise levels to be a concern to the residences. They are proposing a 6 ft. high black chain link fence around the perimeter of the property.

 

Chairman Klish asked about a time frame. Mr. Switala stated that they anticipate completion of the approval process in the fall with construction beginning soon after. Construction may take 12 months.

 

A motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:30pm was made by Mr. Putman and seconded by Mr. Sas.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Diane Salva

Planning Board Clerk