Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2009 AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Edward Carboni Vice-Chairman Clarence Badgley Chairman Joseph Moloughney Ms. Sharon Gariepy ABSENT: Mr. Mark DeFruscio Mr. Jake Dumesnil ALSO PRESENT: Ms. Melissa Ashline-Heil, Planner CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 13, and AUGUST 10, 2009 MEETING Chairman Moloughney called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Chairman asked the planner to take attendance call. Chairman asked the Board to decide whether to approve the minutes from the July 13th, and August 10th, 2009 meeting. Vice Chairman Badgley made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 13th and August 10th, 2009 meetings. Member Carboni seconded the motion. Roll of call was taken and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT Sharon Gariepy ABSENT Jake Dumesnil ABSENT CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A POOL AT 63 MELVILLE AVENUE Eltereze Franz lives at 63 Melville Avenue. She requests approval for an above ground swimming pool in her back yard. The 24’ round pool would lie 13’ from the side property line, 50’ from the front and 10’ from the rear. Since the setbacks meet City Code requirements, the Board did not ask any other questions. Vice Chairman Badgley made a motion to approve the special use permit. Member Carboni seconded the motion. Roll of call was taken and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT Sharon Gariepy ABSENT Jake Dumesnil ABSENT CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A POOL AT 179 VLIET STREET Keith and Kilt Merkley of 179 Vliet Street requested approval for an 18’ round above ground pool in their back yard. The pool would rest 20’ from the side and rear and 20’ from the house. Since the setbacks meet City Code requirements, the Board did not ask any other questions. Member Carboni made a motion to approve the special use permit. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion. Roll of call was taken and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT Sharon Gariepy ABSENT Jake Dumesnil ABSENT CONSIDERATION OF A SITE PLAN REVIEW for PARKING LOT AT 77 MOHAWK STREET Engineer Matt Hoffman presented the final site plan for a proposed parking lot at 77 Mohawk Street. He indicated that the parking lot would feature green space landscaping along the border on Oneida Street. A catch basin placed in the center of the lot would collect stormwater and discharge to the corner of Oneida and Mohawk Streets. Chairman Moloughney asked about fencing, which was a condition of the preliminary approval. Matt indicated that fencing had been taking off the list of requirements. Chairman Moloughney conceded that it may have been taken off the list of requirements, since the project approvals have been delayed by the developer for over a year. Chairman Moloughney then asked whether the catch basin discharge point handles sewer or rain, as it cannot be both. He also asked whether the developer’s engineers confirmed the discharge point with dye testing. Matt indicated that the City engineer and DPW Commissioner opened the hydrants. Then Schafer Engineering professionals poured ink into the basin to determine where it would discharge. Chairman Moloughney asked if the catch basin would dump to a CSO. Matt indicated it would not once the project was done. As part of 55 Mohawk approvals the developer had been required to separate the storm and sewer lines. The storm line would need to cross Oneida. Chairman Moloughney then asked whether the developer had a cleaning and maintenance schedule. Matt replied that the owner would remove the manhole cover and pump the sumps. Chairman Moloughney commented that the City needs and enforceable maintenance plan. Matt agreed to add an annual cleaning of the catch basins. Chairman Moloughney asked if the sump would be 4’ below. Matt agreed that the invert and pipes are all included in the area to be cleaned. Member Carboni asked about lighting, which was also a condition of the preliminary approval. Matt argued that the City lighting would suffice. He also wondered what specific foot candle the City required for a parking lot. He avers that the ambient lighting prevents total pitch darkness. He pointed out that the lighting would either require a line run from 55 Mohawk, a line run to the neighbors’ or a solar light. To gain access to electricity at 55 Mohawk would require tearing up the road. Using the neighbor’s power would be a problem if the neighbor sells the property. Solar lights do not work in the back corner of the parking lot where it is most needed. In addition, the developer would need to install a large solar panel. The developer worries about vandalism of the solar panel. Therefore, he asserts that there are no good options. Member Carboni asked whether he could hook into the National Grid lights. Matt asked where the meter would be located. He also added that the offices would only use the lot during daylight hours. Chairman Moloughney replied that a meter would be placed on an unattractive wooden pole. Therefore, the Board decided against lighting. Chairman Moloughney asked about grading of the parking lot. Matt indicated that the lot would grade toward the catch basin in the center of the lot in order to avoid the need for a retaining wall. Chairman Moloughney then asked about rebuilding the bus stop and providing an escrow for doing that. Matt confirmed that Mike Schafer had discussed the possibility with the developer. The developer is not averse to providing the funding. Chairman Moloughney explained that the CDTA is an interested party for SEQR purposes. When given the plans for review, CDTA realized that the increased traffic from the parking lot would interfere with an existing bus stop on Mohawk Street across from the exit. As a result, they want to move the bus stop to Cayuga, a side street. CDTA estimates it will cost $14,000 for the bus shelter, pad, etc. Chairman Moloughney questioned the construction schedule. Matt indicated that the developer would bid the work over the winter and begin the parking lot in the spring. Daniele Cherniak, a member of the Historic Preservation and Review Board, asked about the status of the project and when the Historic Board would review. Melissa Ashline-Heil, Director of Building and Planning, replied that it had been determined that the HPARB would not review the parking lot since it did not have lighting, fencing or other elements of review. Chairman Moloughney recapped that there would be sidewalk improvements; a relocated parking lot entrance; green landscaping; snow storage; an escrow for relocation of the CDTA bus stop; no fence; and no lighting. Member Gariepy asked about the safety of the parking lot without a fence. Chairman Moloughney replied that there would be curb stops. Vice Chairman Badgley made a motion to approve the conditioned site plan. Member Carboni seconded the motion. Roll of call was taken and the motion passed with three votes and one abstention. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT Sharon Gariepy ABSTAIN Jake Dumesnil ABSENT Member Carbomi made a motion to adjourn at 7:45pm. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion. Roll of call was taken and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Mark DeFruscio ABSENT Sharon Gariepy X Jake Dumesnil ABSENT