City of Auburn Planning Board
Tuesday, February 4, 2003, 7:30 p.m. Memorial City Hall
Present: John Breanick, John Rogalski, Sam Giangreco, Nicki Wright, Donna Bruno, Laurie Michelman. Absent: Mark DiVietro
Staff: Nancy Hussey, Corporation Counsel; Steve Lynch, Director of Planning; Tom Weed, APD; Jim Galvin, CD Program Manager; Brian Hicks, Code Enforcement Officer
The Chair called the meeting to order, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited and roll was called.
Agenda Item 1: Approval of minutes from January 7, 2003
Chair asks for any comments or corrections. States that since packages were late in arriving, no one has had time to review minutes and recommends tabling until next meeting. Motion to table made by John Breanick, seconded by Sam Giangreco. All members vote approval. Minutes tabled until March meeting.
Agenda Item 2: Subdivision and Site Plan Review at 290-298 Grant Ave. National Bank of Geneva.
Chair opens the public hearing and invites the owner or representative to speak.
Tom Redmond of Beardsley Design Associates representing the National Bank of Geneva, introduces Steve Rich, V.P. of Geneva Bank. BDA is the architect & engineer working on the branch on Grant Ave across from the Wal-Mart entrance. Design originally presented at the January 2003 meeting. There was one outstanding issue which was a review by DOT. We previously received a variance for the lot depth and rear set back. Key design features some land swapping with Prospect Pointe apartments to help align and clean up property lines. Key design issue is aligning access with Wal-Mart. Building design is about where the existing Gallinger’s is. There will be 13 employee and 16 customer parking places, more than required. The lot is about 1.2 acres with a building
coverage of 10%. Paving has been reduced to 29, 555 sq ft. Utilities are underground. Cutting into 30-inch storm sewer for run off. Landscape is to code. Business sign at entrance, refer to sketch, 7’ x 6’, double sided, external illumination. 11’ between bottom of sign to ground. Comments from DOT received late yesterday. Steve Lynch will brief you on those. This project was not approved last month due to DOT comments not being available.
Chair – although the public hearing has been held I will ask if any one from the public has any comments. (none) Any comments from the Board?
John Breanick – I understand there is supposed to be a wall in front?
Tom Redmond – there will be a retaining wall a couple feet off the sidewalk with the highest point being 2 ½ feet.
John Breanick – questions Brian Hicks if this is o.k.
Brian Hicks – due to the lay of the land it won’t change the contour at all and will not be a visibility problem.
Chair – asks members if they’ve had a chance to read the letter from DOT. Reads letter aloud. Asks for any other comments.
John Breanick – asks Steve Lynch about Wal-Mart having rights to the traffic signal.
Steve Lynch – the internal signal pole and infrastructure is owned by Wal-Mart. We will need written approval from Wal-Mart for Geneva Bank to change the signalization. Staff recommends approval contingent on this approval. Although they don’t have to, DOT can force the issue. Geneva bank will follow the guidelines of the letter.
John Breanick – what other geometrics were looked at?
Steve Lynch – DOT is making sure the alignments between Wal-Mart and Geneva line up with particular attention to Wal-Mart. DOT has developed drawings showing small mitigations.
John Breanick – is it within our authority to state no left turns?
Steve Lynch – which ones?
John Breanick – from the bank into town as was stipulated with KFC
Steve Lynch – this is governed by DOT; due to the fact this intersection will be signalized and controlled it’s a different scenario and will work better. The requirement is on Geneva bank to work it out. DOT is sure this is safe as it is controlled. They spent a lot of time with geometrics coming up with a design that worked and was safe.
Chair – why did Wal-Mart change their configuration, why not the bank?
Steve Lynch – DOT wanted to ensure that people had the choice of going straight across to the bank if desired. DOT has jurisdiction over the 1st 100’ from the intersection; Geneva will pay for the change.
John Rogalski – so the light controls the left turn?
Steve Lynch – yes, that’s what DOT looked at – all signalization.
John Breanick – looking at the next project on the agenda, what class of intersection does this make, what impact on tonite’s approval?
Steve Lynch – DOT analysis deemed a lower level service for Saturday peak hours. All three signals, Brookside, Wal-Mart and Mutton Hill, are coordinated in a loop. DOT can monitor the signal and traffic. Analysis from Sear Brown was looked at, using analysis from signals DOT will approve then tweak system to maximize through movements without a negative impact on side movements. There will be a minor degradation in services.
John Breanick – what is projected level of traffic
Steve Lynch – none stated, look back at Sear Brown comments. Passes out new site plan resolution. Reviews SEQR comments. Staff recommends negative declaration on SEQR.
Chair asks for a motion on SEQR. Motion made by John Rogalski, seconded by Nicki Wright. All members vote approval. Resolution passed.
Steve Lynch – reviews subdivision. Staff recommends approval.
Chair asks for a motion on subdivision. Motion made by Sam Giangreco, seconded by John Rogalski.
John Breanick – before voting states desire to have info sooner to review. Feels enthusiastic that it will work o.k. without problems.
Steve Lynch – personal comfort level is increased after conversation with DOT.
All members vote approval. Resolution passed.
John Breanick – asks about a time restraint.
Steve Lynch – in a way clearly stated. No permits, etc. will be given until conditions met. Geneva Bank is anxious to get started so there should be no problems with time.
John Breanick – asks for a time frame on beginning.
Steve Rich – would like to be started late spring, early summer.
Chair asks for a motion on site plan conditional approval. Motion made by John Breanick, seconded by Sam Giangreco. All members vote approval. Resolution passed.
Steve Lynch – plans will not be stamped tonite as revised plans need to be submitted by the applicant.
Agenda Item 3: Public Hearing for Site Plan Review 297 Grant Ave, Sunoco Optima Fueling Station.
Chair opens the public hearing and invites the owner or representative to speak.
Skip Schneider of CEI Engineering representing Sunoco. Proposal is in existing green space in front of Wal-Mart along Grant Ave. Main access will still be from Wal-Marts entrance. Points out location in relation to Brookside, Wal-Mart, Geneva Bank and Connector Rd. and is flanked by 2 medical centers. All comments received previously by the Board on traffic flow, the internal intersection discussed in a number of meetings to resolve issues. Majority of comments addressed. Awaiting confirmation from Lowe’s.
Chair – invites public to speak. There being no-one closes the Public Hearing and asks from comments from the Board. States she can’t see changes to access of station.
Skip Schneider – still has the same configuration, only change is left turn lane is lengthened.
Chair – middle lane end is marked?
Skip Schneider – yes, with striping. Delineates where Wal-Mart traffic is to go.
John Breanick – understood one option was traffic to go past Lowe’s and exit?
Skip Schneider – discussed with Lowe’s. Traffic going past Wal-Mart then doubling back into site would cause problems. This is the latest that all interested parties have agreed upon. The new intersection would resemble a four-way intersection on any street.
John Breanick – so an island is created to the west.
Skip Schneider – yes, traffic would be limited to one lane in, one out.
John Breanick – questions curbing
Skip Schneider – the front would be landscaped and the back striped, 6 inch curbing.
John Breanick – there used to be signs there
Skip Schneider – proposing stop signs and bars and ground signs to be maintained as seasons permit. Placards denoting traffic directions and r-o-w will be on stop signs.
Donna Bruno – traffic coming in from Grant Ave will not stop?
Skip Schneider – Traffic coming in has the r-o-w and will not stop.
Nicki Wright – so no back up?
Skip Schneider – yes, incoming traffic has the r-o-w, all other traffic yields to them.
Donna Bruno – how many stops when exiting.
Skip Schneider – just one at Grant Ave
Donna Bruno - will there be a curb cut on Grant Ave?
Skip Schneider – no – only access is existing Wal-Mart access.
Steve Lynch – DOT mention in letter that previously proposed exit removed. Not easy to see on plan changes on internal intersection. Points out revisions. This tightens up the pattern and makes very clear what is to be done.
Donna Bruno – questions who is to maintain signs, curbs, etc. as it has not been done previously.
Sam Giangreco – has witnessed total confusion with current traffic pattern. Has returned on several occasions to monitor. Concerning the left turn into the station sees nothing but back up and confusion developing. Always seems to be a waiting line on egress also.
Chair – asks for review of stop sign when exiting – seems stop line before drive.
Skip Schneider – this should be rotated. Stop bars will be aligned.
Chair – asks APD for input
Tom Weed – all previous concerns have been met. There is a dedicated center turn lane for left turns into the site to eliminate back up. Right turn into site shouldn’t be a problem. This is the best solution so far.
Donna Bruno – you don’t see the site being congested?
Tom Weed – right now everything is missing and the site is wide open. The new plan would eliminate this.
Chair – you don’t think the left into the site will conflict with a left out of the site?
Tom Weed – not at all
Chair – is it beneficial or not to put an island at the end of the center turn lane?
Tom Weed – no, especially with large fuel trucks trying to access the site.
Chair – concerned with traffic not being able to delineate pattern to follow
John Rogalski – so a left is being allowed into the station
Skip Schnieder – yes – points out on map
John Rogalski – what about back up
Skip Schneider – a queue has been placed to eliminate – sufficient for amount of traffic
John Breanick – how many cars will the queue hold?
Skip Schneider – it’s 130’ with about 20’ per car so 6 – 7 cars
Chair asks for staff comments
Steve Lynch – DOT comments previously read. Applicant had requested meeting with Sunoco, Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, APD and staff to look at ways to correct the intersection. Lowe’s, in reality, has no reason to agree except to improve safety of their customers. Testament that it will be an improvement. Staff recommends approval. Design Review Committee spent time working with all interested parties to make this a safe, viable project. Currently tough traffic circulation. Any members who wish to vote against should do so at the SEQR level. Since traffic is the primary issue, if anyone not comfortable with the issue, vote no on SEQR. Staff recommends approval on SEQR and conditional approval on site plan. Lowe’s corporate offices needs to send
approval in writing.
John Breanick – the gas station is separate from Wal-Mart?
Skip Schneider – it is not owned by Wal-Mart but we use complementary colors to look like part of Wal-Mart. We have a 20-year lease for the property.
John Breanick – is there need for a copy of this lease in writing?
Steve Lynch – we don’t do it with other leaseholders but it can be provided.
Chair – are there any other issues needing to be addressed about the internal intersection?
Donna Bruno – who will maintain the striping?
Skip Schneider – doesn’t know – believes Wal-Mart and Sunoco have re-striping programs – someone will be taking care of it
Chair – applicant should take lead
Rep from Sunoco – it is in the agreement with Wal-Mart that Wal-Mart is responsible for common ground and Sunoco maintains the leased part as tenant and landlord would. Lowe’s is responsible for their own.
Chair – asks how to handle to ensure maintenance.
Nancy Hussey – would have to review lease to be sure language is clear and ask for a maintenance agreement
Chair – with whom?
Nancy Hussey – between the three involved
Chair – who is responsible is still a concern to make sure it get done
Nancy Hussey – yes, but how do we enforce it? Codes has some jurisdiction as well as APD due to safety issues.
Tom Weed – it is a public access road and we have called Lowe’s and Wal-Mart in the past for corrections
Donna Bruno – maintenance should be routine before becoming a safety issue
Nancy Hussey – nothing clearly delineates responsibility, there are 3 parties each responsible for their own portion
Tom Weed – in the past there were problems due to absence of curbing, installing the island will eliminate them.
Sam Giangreco – there are lanes and spaces unavailable currently because of the snow
John Breanick – noted the same problem and brought to the attention of the assistant manager who stated the contractor has be contacted and this should be remedied
Chair – recommends as another condition to require adequate maintenance control agreement to be implemented and maintained.
Nancy Hussey – doesn’t know how effective it will be in the long run. Once the decision is made to approve business has to be allowed to run. City departments will be relied upon to control.
Sunoco Rep – the tenant (i.e. Sunoco) must maintain a level of safety. We will make demands on the landlord to maintain the common ground. This is where the enforcement will come from.
Nancy Hussey – also part of Codes responsibility to make sure the plan approved is followed.
Steve Lynch – theoretically landscaping is governed by Codes.
Chair asks for motion on SEQR. Motion made by John Breanick, seconded by Nicki Wright. All members vote approval except John Rogalski and Sam Giangreco, who vote against. Resolution passed.
Revised site plan resolution passed out.
Steve Lynch – review revised site plan. Adds maintenance agreement.
Nancy Hussey – agreement to be to the satisfaction of Corporation Counsel
Chair asks for motion for conditional site plan approval. Motion made by John Breanick, seconded by Nicki Wright.
John Breanick – with all conditions implemented and a review to be done by the Board feels better about voting for.
Chair – agrees, had been on the fence until input by APD, et al.
All members vote approval except John Rogalski and Sam Giangreco, who vote against. Resolution passed.
Chair – Steve will present discussion concerning KFC.
Steve Lynch – Included in the packet are the minutes from 6/11/02, special meeting for final approval action for KFC/A&W. Agenda 2, 1st paragraph center, Mike O’Neil states there will be a right out only onto Grant Ave from the proposed site and two accesses from Brookside Dr. and the changes to be done there. Vijay’s comments are below – important as looking at an exit only onto Grant Ave with regards to the 3 lanes from Brookside. Mike O’Neil accepted these conditions, APD concurred with the plans presented at that time. Reads from minutes. Going thru emphasizes what was talked over. Other issues were subsequently worked on and other plans submitted. Comments from DOT denote approval. Seems applicant pressure DOT for Grant
Ave access. Plans provided with access included not caught as no one was looking for them, only changes were supposed to be for the Brookside Dr. revisions. Highway permit was not received by applicant until work had been done. DOT not happy with this and had to issue a 2 part permit. Since applicant did work and snow was about to fall they were required to “make safe” work that had been done. Par B permit for spring was to provide evidence that work would be done properly. We called DOT to let them know that this had not been approved by the local Planning Board and we wanted to be more restrictive that DOT. DOT had not originally wanted any curb cut onto Grant Ave. Before KFC opened DOT was called and offered support reserving right to keep as is to make safe just in case. APD monitored restaurant after opening and notified DOT of unsafe conditions, along with work done that wasn’t approved, and proper
permits not being obtained, DOT erected “Do Not Enter” signs at Grant Ave access. Work must be properly completed in spring.
Nancy Hussey – questions effectiveness. In event DOT does not take action, City can exercise power to enforce.
Tom Weed – recalls near accident as vehicle made left turn out of KFC and another right turn from Brookside.
Chair – can the sign be covered?
Tom Weed – questions authority and legality
Nancy Hussey – thinks yes as DOT has jurisdiction and they prohibited access. Will confirm.
Tom Weed – suggests asking manager to order covered.
Chair – people may not see DOT sign
Tom Weed – there is a sign for no left turn on exit
Steve Lynch – but physical design allows for access
Tom Weed – DOT sign not originally there, people may not notice now. Also understood extra lane at drive thru was there for people to bypass drive thru traffic. Now being used for employee parking.
Chair – doesn’t’ think parking should be allowed there
Tom Weed – thinks they should be told not to
Nancy Hussey – if current design not true to approved plan, approved plan can be enforced
Tom Weed – right not they are just parking wherever – applicant did not have time to finish parking area before weather changed.
Steve Lynch – but they have a snow storage plan they should be following
Tom Weed – drive thru has been backed up onto Brookside.
Steve Lynch – continue to monitor and follow thru with KFC
John Breanick – has management been contacted re: snow removal agreement?
Nancy Hussey – not aware
Steve Lynch – will work with Codes for this
Tom Weed – was CO issued for building only or entire site?
Brian Hicks – building only
Nancy Hussey – should encompass entire site, signs, lighting, etc.
Tom Weed – pushed this thru at last minute. Not time to get everything done
Brian Hicks – should have had condition to issue for building only. Exterior not done due to weather. CO issued mid-December so contractor could leave site.
Chair – how can business be allowed to operate with only ½ parking plan implemented.
Tom Weed – thought stacking would go around building not onto Brookside Dr.
Nancy Hussey – we had anticipated this and incorporated it but they don’t seem to be following it.
Tom Weed – hard to tell what’s going on with all the snow.
John Rogalski – questions whether Zoning and Planning will be meeting together.
Nancy Hussey – notice to public must be done first.
Steve Lynch – meeting to discuss common issues on procedures.
John Rogalski – in paper that ZBA approved Bel-Aire apts.
Laurie Michelman – next meeting is, February 4, 2003. Asks for motion to adjourn. Motion made by Sam Giangreco, seconded by John Breanick.
Meeting adjourned.
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