Planning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD ON APRIL 12, 2010 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 Mr. Mark DeFruscio Mr. Jake Dumesnil ALSO PRESENT: Ms. Melissa Ashline-Heil, City Planner CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 8, 2010 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 March 8th, 2010 meeting. Member Carboni made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 8th meeting. 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 Sharon Gariepy ABSTAIN Mark DeFruscio ABSTAIN CONSIDERATION OF A POOL AT 219 MANOR AVENUE Bryan Pierre owns property at 219 Manor Avenue. He proposes installing an 18’ above ground pool. The plans submitted indicated at least 10’ setbacks, but did not add up to the lot dimensions. Therefore, Board members asked for a correction on the drawing and a condition on any approvals requiring at least 10’ side and rear setbacks and 50’ front setbacks. Chairman Moloughney asked if the applicant owns a shed on the property and where it is in relation to the proposed pool. The Pierres indicated that a shed is located near the house. Chairman Moloughney then inquired about the slope of the land. The neighbors’ land is higher than the applicants’ and stormwater drains on to the applicants’ property. In addition, the property slopes toward the street. Therefore, water would discharge along the side property line into the street. Member DeFruscio moved to approve the special use permit. Member Gariepy seconded the motion which passed. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio X CONSIDERATION OF SIGNAGE AT 94 ONTARIO STREET Member Carboni indicated that the City’s Zoning Code Historic District Overlay section 285-98 prohibits two signs. Chairman Moloughney pointed out that the applicant was approved by the historic board at its March 16th meeting. In addition, the applicant can obtain a zoning variance if needed from the Zoning Board of Appeals. The issue would not prevent the Planning Board from making a decision on the issue, as any resolution could be conditioned on obtaining a variance. Chairman Moloughney asked the width of the shop’s façade since the code permits 2 square feet for every linear foot. The applicant indicated that his shop is 40’ wide. His signs total 28 square feet. Therefore his application meets zoning requirements on size. Member Gariepy moved to approve the signage as conditioned on obtaining a variance. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio X CONSIDERATION OF A PARKING LOT AT 3 MCELWAIN AVE Nicholas Walster resubmitted plans for a parking lot to serve his former warehouse at 3 McElwain Avenue. At the last meeting Planning Board members requested a review by County DPW and the City Engineer. Both had concerns about the drainage ditch and requested calculations on water volume. The engineer provided calculations of projected water volumes given clearing a portion of the land. Based on these calculations the engineer determined that the ditch can handle the de minimis increase in water volume. Member Carboni indicated that the existing ditch holds water now. Chairman Moloughney pointed out that is a maintenance issue. Board members questioned ownership of the ditch. Mr. Walster explained that he does not own the 2’ wide ditch. His property line is shown on the plans as his proposed fence line. Member Gariepy asked about the swale touching the bike path. Ms. Ashline-Heil replied that the County DPW and City Engineer required that the applicant either apply for permission to touch the path or move the swale back away from the bike path. The applicant resubmitted plans showing the swale pulled back from the bike path. Chairman Moloughney suggested conditioning the resolution on final approval of specifications for the swale from the City Engineer and DPW. Chairman Moloughney then asked about the proposed fence. The plans show a 6’ privacy stockade fence and the applicant stated at the meeting that he would prefer to install a chain link fence. Chairman Moloughney explained that the Planning Board’s issue is car stops to prevent vehicles from driving into the ditch or running into pedestrians on the bike path. Mr. Walster decided to place car stops in the parking lot and omit the fence. Member Carboni moved to approve the site plan. Member DeFruscio seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO Joseph Moloughney X Leo Badgley X Edward Carboni X Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio X CONSIDERATION OF A SITE PLAN STORAGE UNITS AT 169 ONTARIO STREET Mark Zoller submitted an application and related materials to install van storage units on his property at 169 Ontario Street. The property houses a U-Haul moving truck rental facility with indoor storage units and retail sale of moving materials. Mr. Zoller proposes placing 116’X40’ of van storage units – 30 units total – on crushed stone. The doors, the logo orange color, would face the store and Clark Street. Member Dumesnil asked if the photos provided were typical of van boxes and how customers respond to the units. Mr. Zoller confirmed that the photos illustrate the typical van storage units. He described customer reactions as positive. Member Carboni asked if the units would be lit. Mr. Zoller plans to install spotlights on the side of the building. Member Dumesnil asked if customers would have limited or full access. Mr. Zoller explained the units would be accessible 24 hours a day seven days a week. Member Carboni asked about security. Mr. Zoller described the units as having individual padlocks for which the lessee would have the key. Chairman Moloughney explained that the Planning Board must ensure that proposals meet the City’s vision for the neighborhood. The City conducted a study of Ontario Street and Van Schaick Island. The study involved several workshops held at the Van Schaick Elementary School to ensure public participation. The final recommendation included improvements to the streetscape to create a vibrant, walkable community with retail, restaurants and services. Chairman Moloughney expressed concerns that the proposal for storage units does not meet the City’s vision for the area. Chairman Moloughney emphasized that the vision does not preclude storage units, but would necessitate screening or landscaping measures to ensure a more inviting façade. At this time, given the size of the proposal, the Planning Board must complete a SEQR review for the unlisted action. During that 30 day wait period, the applicant agreed to create and submit a landscaping plan. Vice Chairman Badgley moved to approve an intent to declare lead agency. 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 Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio X CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A POOL AT 45 YORK AVENUE Although the applicant did not appear for the meeting, the plans submitted illustrate a 4 acre lot with an existing above ground pool. The proposed inground pool would not negatively impact neighboring properties. Therefore, 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 Sharon Gariepy X Mark DeFruscio X Member Carboni made a motion to adjourn at 7:30pm. Vice Chairman Badgley seconded the motion. Roll of call was taken and the motion passed unanimously.