City of Auburn Planning Board
Tuesday, August 5, 2003, 7:30 p.m. Memorial City Hall
Present: Sam Giangreco, John Rogalski, John Breanick, Mark DiVietro, Nicki Wright, Sandra Craner, Laurie Michelman.
Staff: Nancy Hussey, Corporation Counsel; Steve Lynch, Director, OPED; Jim Galvin, CD Program Manager, OPED
The Chair called the meeting to order, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited and roll was called.
The Chair welcomes new member Sandy Craner.
Agenda Item 1: Approval of minutes from July 1, 2003
Chair asks for a motion to approve the minutes of July 1, 2003. Motion made by Mark DiVietro, seconded by Sam Giangreco. All members vote approval. Motion carried.
Agenda Item 2: Public Hearing for Subdivision and Site Plan Review for 153 – 163 Grant Ave and 149 Standart Ave – Eckerd Drug Store
Chair asks the owner or representative to speak.
Larry Roscini – engineer, also introduces Joe Kane of Westlake Development. Proposal is to build an Eckerd Drug store on the northwest corner of Grant and Standart. It will be a 14,690 sq ft building with 60 parking spaces, combining 4 parcels for about 2.28 acres. Accesses will be from Standart and Grant with full access both ways on Standart and full access in and right turn out only on Grant Ave. We will tie into the existing sewer lateral that is on-site. Water would come from Standart and electric and gas service from on-site facilities. Drainage is collected internally and goes to the northeast corner of the site and discharged into a riprap channel, then into Hunter Brook. We checked on the SPDES permit process and determined one was not needed. Because we are substantially reducing the hard
surface area we are not proposing any on-site detention. Grading and drainage has been approved, per the City Engineer. The proposal is for erosion facilities to be in place during construction and then removed. There would be a construction entrance, silt fencing on the downhill side of the development and filter fabric protection at the catch basins. These will be removed subsequent to complete vegetation of the site. A lighting plan has been submitted. The site plan has been revised to show the lighting. North, south and east poles will be 30’ high, west side will be 20’ high. The lighting intensity along the westerly property line is essentially zero. The building will also have mounted light fixtures and small fixtures under the canopy. Landscaping was discussed at the previous meeting. Substantial additions have been made to the west side including evergreens and bushes. The island at the southeast corner of the
building is curbed and landscaped. Handicap access was not possible due to the canopy column blocking access at the corner. A sidewalk/pathway has been provided from Grant Avenue into the site. There will be supplemental planting at the roadside – hedges (burning bush) and shade trees (Bradford pear). We met with DOT and they insisted on restricting the Grant Ave egress. Plans for a highway work permit have been submitted. They are not opposed to the City being the lead agency for SEQR and they are agreeable to granting preliminary approval for the driveway configuration. It was decided a drainage study was not needed as the site drains away from the highway. Status of the 3rd bypass lane – the lane has been reduced and increased plantings placed in the area of reduction. AFD has expressed concern about the geometrics of the curbs and we will have to decide how to modify those to meet concerns. Plans are to
begin construction in September.
Chair asks the public for any comments. There being none, asks the Board for any comments. There being none, asks staff for comments.
Steve Lynch – the plan is fundamentally the same as the last meeting with the exceptions reviewed. We need to discuss AFD concerns. It should be easy to implement without fundamentally changing the traffic patterns, landscaping, etc.
Jim Galvin - AFD commented on four different locations. The median at the Grant Ave egress, DOT wants defined for no left turn but AFD is concerned about the trucks rolling over the curb onto the grass at the back end of the median. Recommendation is to bring it back seven feet from the tail end where it is now up toward the road giving the trucks enough turning radius. The second site is the bump out of the parking lot southwest of the median just discussed, this is also similar with the bump out on the street side of the Standart entrance. The parking spaces are striped at 20 feet, requirement is for 18.6 feet. Proposal is to reconfigure those to remove 2 feet from each & that would define the parking spaces and give the trucks opportunity to maneuver safely. The corner planting island –
recommendation is to take 2 feet off the planting bed.
Larry Roscini – we have no problems with these recommendations.
Jim Galvin – Reviews SEQR. DOT has reviewed plans. ZBA has issued a variance for set backs and planting units.
Chair asks for a motion on SEQR. Motion for a negative declaration made by John Breanick, seconded by Sam Giangreco. All members vote approval. Motion carried.
Chair asks if staff wants to address the subdivision.
Jim Galvin – it’s as Mr. Roscini explained. There are four parcels that are being combined into one. Under State law we are required to do a subdivision for these purposes.
Chair asks for a motion on the subdivision. Motion for approval made by John Breanick, seconded by Mark DiVietro. All members vote approval. Motion carried.
Laurie Michelman – asks for address of any issues before a motion on the site plan.
Steve Lynch – perhaps we could address by stating in the resolution that AFD will review and approve revised final site plans prior to execution by the Chair.
John Breanick makes a motion to approve the site plan with the amendments.
Laurie Michelman – do we need to add anything else, take that as the site plan resolution?
Jim Galvin – I would suggest in the resolution under the 1st therefore an item C be added that says the Fire Dept. will review and approve final site plans before final approval by the Chair.
Larry Roscini – once AFD has reviewed then you will sign off on the plans?
Laurie Michelman – that is correct.
Steve Lynch – the revised plans you submit to us will be reviewed by the Chair and then those ones will be executed.
Jim Galvin – as soon as the revised plans are received the turn around time will be minimal.
Joe Kane – asks for documentation that the plan is approved.
Laurie Michelman – a signed copy of the plans and the resolutions will be sent.
Joe Kane – will there be something in writing that AFD approves the plans?
Jim Galvin – once the plan is signed by the Chair it is approved and final.
Laurie Michelman asks for a second. Seconded by Sam Giangreco. All members vote approval. Motion carried.
Other Business
John Breanick – questions talks about fencing around Auburn Correctional Facility.
Steve Lynch – that came about by a news reporter concerning an article on the Elmira prison. We just had the neighborhood plans going and they asked about any connection. There are no intentions of fencing in the prison.
Laurie Michelman – asks about the Dunkin’ Donuts and why it was not brought before Planning.
John Breanick – the one on Grant Ave had been brought before Planning for approval. Questions the one on Genesee St.
Steve Lynch – will remain a donut shop as far as we know.
Nancy Hussey – it did go before ZBA for a front set back variance, which was granted.
Laurie Michelman – asks the status of Optima gas station.
Steve Lynch – spoke with a representative about 8 weeks ago. We left it up to Lowe’s to approve the changes in the internal traffic pattern by providing permission for alterations to Lowe’s property. The project needed this permission so all of the changes could be completed. Lowe’s has essentially not delivered on that. The approval stands for now.
Laurie Michelman – it is good for 6 months.
Steve Lynch – if they decide to go ahead they will have to come back before the Board.
Laurie Michelman – the next meeting is scheduled for 9/2/03 – the day after Labor Day and the day before school starts. Would propose September 9.
John Rogalski – that is primary day.
Steve Lynch – there is nothing on the agenda at this time.
Laurie Michelman – (after some discussion & polling of the Board) the next meeting will be Monday, September 8, 2003.
John Rogalski – asks for update on Connector Rd.
Steve Lynch – continuing with acquisition. Plan is to start “scrub & grub” in the fall and begin construction next spring.
John Rogalski – asks about the status of KFC.
Steve Lynch – curb line still needs to be moved.
Laurie Michelman – asks about the Grant Ave access
Steve Lynch – an island will be installed with a right in from Grant Ave coming from the City but no left out onto Grant.
Laurie Michelman – this is without Planning Board approval. We voted on no access from Grant into the site.
Steve Lynch – this was presented as a safety issue between DOT and APD at a meeting with the developer at the DOT offices in Syracuse. At that meeting, the APD and the DOT agreed to the ingress changes and it was decided a right in would be allowed.
Laurie Michelman – any changes should have been brought back before the Board for review.
Sam Giangreco – We came to a decision on this at a previous meeting, regardless of DOT’s decision, this is not a good idea. It is very poorly positioned. With the potential of any further development there it is a bad situation.
Laurie Michelman – I would ask that any final determinations by DOT be brought before the Board for review.
John Breanick – questions the absence of Tom Weed.
Brian Hicks – believes he has been ill.
Steve Lynch – will check into it.
Chair – asks for a motion to adjourn. Motion made by Sam Giangreco, seconded by John Breanick. All members vote approval. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned.
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