City of Auburn Planning Board
Tuesday, October 1, 2002, 7:30 p.m. Memorial City Hall
Present: John Breanick, John Rogalski, Mark DiVietro, Joyce Cavanaugh, Laurie Michelman. Absent: Donna Bruno, Sam Giangreco
Staff: Vijay Mital, Director of OPED; Steve Lynch, Special Projects Coordinator; Nancy Hussey, Assistant Corporation Counsel; Jim Moore, Code Enforcement Officer
The Chair called the meeting to order, the Pledge of Allegiance recited and roll was called.
Agenda Item 1: Approval of minutes from August 6, 2002
Chair asks for a motion on the 8/6/02 minutes. Motion made by Mark DiVietro and seconded by John Breanick All members vote approval. Minutes approved and accepted.
Chair states that the agenda item will be rearranged with agenda item #4 to be reviewed first.
Agenda Item 4: Public Hearing Zoning change request 172 N. Division St.
Public Hearing is opened. Chair invites owner or agent to speak.
Craig Gallas – owner of parcel – wants parcel to be zoned I – Industrial. The business has been there since the 1950’s. The business has remained the same since then. He has been unaware how it was zoned. Welcomes anyone who wishes a tour of the premises.
Chair invites members of the public to speak.
Roger Hare – states that Mr. Gallas began work there in the yard & eventually became owner. Should be included in “I” district to be able to obtain same benefits.
Chair closes this part of the public hearing and asks the Board if they have any questions.
John Breanick – does business w/Kubis’. Agrees it should be an “I” district.
Vijay Mital – materials are not available at this time for a vote. All requirements will be included for next month’s meeting.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Nancy Hussey explains that since all materials on the Zoning Change are not complete it will be brought back to the Board during the November meeting.
Agenda Item 2: Public Hearing for Site Plan Review for 297 Grant Ave Sunoco Optima Station
Chair invites owner or agent to speak.
Skip Schneider of CEI Engineering representing Sunoco. An initial informal plan was presented in February. This configuration has since been changed to resolve internal issues identified by Sear Brown, traffic consultants for the Planning Board. The continuation of the traffic stripe from the site entrance to Wal-Mart parking lot has not been implemented yet but will be remedied.
Chair invites members of the public to speak.
Ed Daly – MD with Diagnostic Imaging Center adjacent to proposed site (281 Grant Ave.). Expresses concerns of access into Imaging Center especially with people coming from the City and attempting a left hand turn into site. This requires entering the yellow striped zone prior to Wal-Mart. Concern especially for the elderly who already have a difficult time. Access o.k. to my facility at 281 Grant Ave from the east but possibly needs to be rerouted for those coming from the west. Also questions the validity of another gas station being needed.
Joseph Steiger – traffic engineer – 90% of traffic will be from Wal-Mart shoppers already on the premises. Other 10% will be from exterior customers already on Grant Ave – it will not create new traffic. Traffic patterns will not change.
Steve Lynch – Connector Rd. is still under proposal and should not be considered. With regards to Dr. Daly’s comments, after the Connector Rd. is in we might be able to work with the Imaging Center for access. Encourages staff to speak with Dr. Daly for possibility.
Rama Godishala – MD – has practice at 281 Grant Ave. Thinks there will be an increase in traffic volume and that the placement is not good. Clients already have difficulty seeing when leaving the site and another building will make it worse. One thing to stand here and say everything is o.k. but something different in reality.
Dr. Daly – it is already a congested area w/o adding more to it.
Chair closes this part of the public hearing and asks the Board for comments.
John Breanick – asks Tom Weed his thoughts.
Tom Weed – APD presented its concerns at the 1st meeting. Loewe’s is not cooperating with any ideas to alleviate the internal traffic flow problem. All other matters have been addressed.
Laurie Michelman – what are your thought on the new plans?
Tom Weed – the problem with the internal traffic flow remains.
John Breanick – consults the engineer concerning the same problem
Joseph Steiger – Loewe’s flat out refuses to change or help. Another aspect of the plan being processed is the retiming of traffic signals on Grant Ave. The person at DOT who does these reviews has retired & needs to be replaced first. Sear Brown agrees with proposed re-timing.
Joyce Cavanaugh – understands the doctors’ concerns. Wants to know why a more internal station can’t be built (inside the Wal-Mart parking area).
Jos. Steiger – it would probably not change the traffic – there would also be a problem w/parking ratio.
John Rogalski – what is the benefit if Loewe’s cooperates?
Skip Schneider – the internal traffic flow pattern would be reconfigured with a possible island to better control the traffic.
Laurie Michelman – still concerned about the internal configuration – thinks it is set up very poorly. The new design seems to cause more problems instead of eliminating any. Wants a more detailed list of the site plan changes.
Skip Schneider – explains the difference between the original and new plans. Stressing again that the majority of the business will be Wal-Mart shoppers who are already on the premises.
Joyce Cavanaugh – is the car wash still going in?
Jos. Steiger – yes – it will be a drive thru wash doing about 8 cars per hour. Again, servicing customers who will already be on-site.
Tim Harny – construction engineer w/Sunoco – other sites have been built in the state using right in and right out. Only connection with Wal-Mart will be a fiber optic cable for use of a gift card for lower gas prices. There will be no new curb cuts. A new design was done for internal pattern but Loewe’s would not concede – this is the best that can be done under the circumstances.
Laurie Michelman – what is the prototype?
Tim Harny – it is a modular building that has been done at other sites. All sites already in Wal-Mart for access.
Vijay Mital – expresses concern over an already bad traffic situation. Entry to Imaging Center is difficult.
Laurie Michelman – questions landscaping. Will it be used to separate the station & medical center?
Skip Schneider – it will mostly be along the front of the property. There are no requirements for separation & no concerns have been previously expressed.
Laurie Michelman – would it be considered? (yes) What about set backs & signage?
Skip Schneider – set backs will be far enough back not to impede vision. All signs are canopy mounted; no pole or freestanding signs will be installed.
John Rogalski – questions why another Sunoco when there is one already a few miles down the road.
Skip Schneider – this is not a Sunoco station, it is an Optima station made to resemble Wal-Mart – it is owned by Sunoco but that is the only tie-in.
Dr. Daly wants to know the owners of the property (Wal-Mart)
Laurie Michelman – is not comfortable making any decisions yet – wants to review info more.
John Rogalski – also wants to table for more review.
Vijay Mital – willing to call a special meeting if needed. There are other problems besides the internal traffic flow.
Chair suggests tabling until next meeting.
John Breanick – asks applicant if any changes made.
Skip Schneider – will come back next meeting.
Motion to table until next meeting made by Mark DiVietro, seconded by Joyce Cavanaugh. All members vote approval.
Agenda Item 3: Public Hearing for Site Plan Review for 45 Columbus St. – parking lot
Chair invites the owner or agent to speak.
John Tardibone – wishes to install parking lot on rear of property discussed at previous meeting. ZBA has made all necessary approvals. A solid fence will be installed to cover dismantling in rear.
Vijay Mital – staff recommends approval.
John Breanick – fence will be an improvement, good utilization of property.
Laurie Michelman – asks Mr. Tardibone if all previous conditions agreeable (yes)
Steve Lynch – DRC recommends temporary conditional approval similar to previous condition, good until April 2003 meeting. Conditions listed on resolution. Requires rear of storage facility to be fenced in also. Mr. Tardibone has agreed to this. Recommendation is for Negative Declaration on SEQR.
Chair asks for a motion to approve the SEQR. Motion made by John Breanick, seconded by Mark DiVietro. All members vote approval.
Chair asks for a motion to approve the resolution with conditions. Motion made by Joyce Cavanaugh, seconded by John Breanick. All members vote approval. Resolution passed.
Chair confirms next meeting for November 12, 2002 at 7:30 p.m., as November 5, 2002 is Election Day.
John Breanick – asks for an update on the Connector Rd.
Vijay Mital – an engineer has been hired. The legal aspects are being worked out. Costs of acquisition still required. Construction costs have been figured.
John Breanick – is there a proposed start date?
Steve Lynch – tentatively July 2003 depending on acquisition and the railroad crossing. Wanted clearing and grading done this fall but it isn’t going to happen. Proposed start date is July 2003 and finish July 2004.
John Rogalski – what about KFC?
Steve Lynch – there was some misunderstanding about when tenants were to move out. Some work with DOT still needs to be done.
John Rogalski – will the new venture at Rondina’s be before the Board?
Vijay Mital – possibly for parking.
John Breanick – questions the car lot at Dunning and Genesee.
Tom Weed – owned by Luksa – it is not a dealership; there are no sales on site. Only cars parked there w/phone numbers.
Chair asks if there are any other matters. Asks for a motion to adjourn. Motion by Joyce Cavanaugh, seconded by Mark DiVietro. All members vote approval.
Meeting adjourned.
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