Minutes of a special meeting of the

Johnson City Planning Board held on

July 18, 2007 at 7:30pm at

243 Main St., Johnson City, NY

 

Present:            William Klish, Chairman

                        Joanne Drimak

                        Gerald Putman

                        Leonard Sas

                       

                        Jeff Jacobs, Village Attorney

                        Daria Golazeski, Planning Director

 

Absent: Pamela Hysell, Vice Chairperson

                       

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.

 

Privilege of the Floor - None

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Public Hearing - 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.

 

Chairman Klish opened the Public Hearing.

 

No one wished to speak.

 

Planner Golazeski advised the board that the Planning Department had received approximately six calls regarding the project.

 

Chairman Klish closed the Public Hearing.

 

Mrs. Drimak asked about the location on the property where the church will be built. Pastor Sawyer advised that the church is not that far ahead in the planning process.

 

Mr. Sas asked about an exit and entrance. Pastor Sawyer stated that they will try to get access rights on the northern part of 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 approve the minor subdivision including the Department Head Comments was made by Mrs. Drimak and seconded by Mr. Putman.

 

Motion Carried Vote:    Yes – 4            No – 0             Absent – 1

 

Area Variance - Citibank, N.A., 191 Harrison Street

 

Chairman Klish advised that Planning Board Clerk, Diane Salva received a phone call from Laura Knoblach with the applicant’s attorneys, Davidson, Fink, Cook, Kelly & Galbraith, LLP advising that a closing was held on the property on July 17th and the new owner intends to use the house as a single family dwelling. A variance is no longer required.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Site Plan Review - Gery Hart, 432 Harry L. Drive

 

The application is a site plan review for 1,000 sq. ft. of office space in an existing building.

 

The applicant, Mr. Gery Hart and his architect, Mr. Paul Deeley were present.

 

The property is a single-family residence that will have the first floor converted to a business office.

 

Chairman Klish asked about the type of business. Mr. Hart stated that it would be a State Farm Insurance office.

 

Chairman Klish asked about the number of clientele that the business would have. Mr. Deeley explained that generally in this type of business there is very little walk in traffic. The majority of the business is by appointment only.    

 

Chairman Klish asked about the hours of operation. Mr. Hart stated that the insurance office would be open from 9am – 5pm on Monday through Friday. The hair salon, which is located in the rear of the property, is open from 9am – 6pm on Monday through Friday and 8am – 4pm on Saturday.

 

Chairman Klish asked about moving the handicapped space closer. Mr. Deeley said that the space would be moved to where the ramp, which has not yet been designed, discharges.

 

Mr. Putman asked if there would any changes to the landscaping. Mr. Deeley stated that no there would not be. Signage would be ADA compliant.

 

Mrs. Drimak asked if the board needed to see a site plan for the interior of the business. Planner Golazeski stated that a site plan would need to be submitted with the building permit application and a copy of it will be placed in the file.

 

Mrs. Drimak asked about the tenant in the residential part of the house. Mr. Deeley stated that the second floor of the house will be a separate apartment.

 

Chairman Klish read the Department Head comments.

 

DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS

 

Code Enforcement:                The building must meet NYS Building and Fire Codes. All existing violations will be corrected before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.  

Fire:                                        Recommend approval.                         

Planning Dept:                       Approve conversion of former house. Must meet NYSUFPBC.

Police:                                     None submitted.

Public Works:                         The driveway in the rear of the property needs to be removed.

Water:                                    NCI                

B. C. Planning:                       N/A

 

A motion to approve the site plan for 432 Harry L. Drive with a completion date of August 1, 2008 and including the department head comments was made by Mr. Putman and seconded by Mr. Sas.

 

Motion Carried Vote:    Yes – 4            No – 0             Absent – 1

 

Subdivision – Edward Suer, Deyo Hill Road

 

No one was present for the application.

 

A motion to table the application was made by Mr. Putman and seconded by Mrs. Drimak.

 

Motion Carried Vote:    Yes – 4            No – 0             Absent – 1

 

Special Permit – Neva D. Korell, 106 Main Street

 

The application is for a special permit for a rooming house. The applicant, Neva Korell, was present.

 

Chairman Klish asked about accessibility. Ms. Korell explained that the unit on the right of building has 7 bedrooms, one on the first floor, three on the second floor and three on the third floor. She has been working with the Village Building Inspector, Ken Jennison, in regards to adding egress and adding two more windows.

 

Mr. Putman asked how elderly and handicapped tenants, since that is who Ms. Korell stated she would be renting to, would get to the second and third floors. Ms. Korell stated that her tenants are able to walk up the stairs she does not believe this issue will be a problem.

 

Mr. Putman asked about off street parking. Ms. Korell stated that when prospective tenants call, she tells them that there are no parking spaces for tenants. She stated that in her experience, people who are renting a room in a rooming house such as this do not usually have a car.

 

Chairman Klish asked if Ms. Korell is the owner of the property. Ms. Korell stated that she is buying it under a land contract.

 

Mr. Putman asked about transients. Ms. Korell stated that she has not had a problem with that yet. She wants long term tenants.

 

Chairman Klish asked about the unit on the left side of the building. Ms. Korell stated that her daughter and two grandchildren live in that unit.

 

Mr. Sas stated that according to the Village Code, a special permit cannot be issued if there are existing code violations. Ms. Korell stated that the only thing she needs to finish are the new fire escape and installing the two new windows.

 

Mr. Putman stated that he feels the use is out of character for the neighborhood.

 

Chairman Klish read the Department Head comments.

 

DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS

 

Code Enforcement:                Article XXI Off-street parking. (F) Required Spaces. The property does not meet the required spaces. The building needs to meet NYS Building Codes. Ms. Korell has taken the steps to provide proper egress from the third floor. She has also expressed the willingness to comply with any and all requirements.

Fire:                                        Recommend denial. 3rd floor egress needs to be changed.                                                         

Planning Dept:                       Nine off-street parking spaces required for both uses. There is insufficient parking. Recommend denial.

Police:                                     None submitted.

Public Works:                         NCI

Water:                                    Is the existing water line to the property adequate for the proposed housing?

B. C. Planning:                       None yet received.

 

Attorney Jacobs advised the board that there are two potential areas of non-compliance. One being the code related issues, which the applicant is in the process of addressing. The other being that the use is currently on-going. There is also an issue with the lack of required parking spaces, which will require an area variance from the Zoning Board.

 

A motion to deny the application based on the fact that according to the Village Code, the presence of existing violations preclude the board from issuing a special permit at this time and including the             Department Head comments was made by Mr. Sas and seconded by Mrs. Drimak.

 

Motion Carried Vote:    Yes – 4            No – 0             Absent – 1

 

Site Plan Review – United Health Services Hospitals – 117 St. Charles Street

 

The application is a site plan review for the conversion of an existing parcel into a temporary valet parking lot to serve the hospital’s patient population.

 

Karen McElwee from United Heath Services Hospitals was present to represent the applicant.

 

Ms. McElwee explained that the hospital provides valet parking services from three locations on the hospital campus for approximately 200 – 250 cars per day. They are currently using the Park Place lot for parking which is the site of the new Med Site building and due to construction of this new building beginning soon they need an alternate location for the valet lot. They would like to convert the green space at the west end of the parking lot at the Eckelberger Tower building into a valet parking lot. They will skim 6 inches off and put in gravel.

 

Chairman Klish asked what they mean by temporary. Ms. McElwee explained that UHS is looking at reconfiguring that whole parking area. They have acquired the property at 168 Corliss Avenue and there are drainage concerns at the Eckelberger Tower parking lot. This lot is temporary while they go through the design process for the entire parking area.

 

Chairman Klish expressed concern over the on street parking being a hindrance to visibility near the entrance to the lot.

 

Mr. Sas expressed concern that the extreme angle of the entrance and exit relative to Corliss Avenue makes it harder for visibility.

 

Mr. Putman asked about access through the Eckelberger Tower lot. Ms. McElwee stated that the Eckelberger lot has a separate entrance/exit and the intent of the valet lot is with it’s own entrance/exit is so that it will not interfere with the Eckelberger lot.

 

Chairman Klish asked about a barrier between the lots. Ms. McEwee stated that that has not been considered.

 

Mr. Sas asked about a start date. Ms. McElwee stated that they are ready to start as soon as they get approval. 

 

Chairman Klish read the Department Head comments.

 

Code Enforcement:                The owner of said property shall keep the sidewalk and street clean of the stone at all times.

Fire:                                        Recommend approval.                                     

Planning Dept.:                      Date for paving in spring – storm water plan needed when paved.

Police:                                     Recommend approval.

Public Works:                         Need to see a drainage plan to insure that the street and adjoining properties will not be affected. The plan should show silt fencing around the perimeter of the lot to prevent sediment from leaving the site in the case of a high intensity rainfall event.

Water:                                    Contact Water Dept. for location and termination of any existing water services existing in area of proposed parking area.                                

 

A motion to approve the site plan for a temporary valet parking lot at 117 St. Charles Street with a temporary time frame of July 31, 2008 and including the Department Head Comments was made by Mr. Putman and seconded by Mrs. Drimak.

 

Motion Carried Vote:    Yes – 4            No – 0             Absent – 1

 

A motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:15pm was made by Mr. Putman and seconded by Mrs. Drimak.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Diane Salva

Planning Board Clerk