City of Auburn Planning Board
Tuesday, May 31, 2005 6:30 PM, MEMORIAL City Hall
Present: Sam Giangreco, John Rogalski, Mark DiVietro, John Breanick, Laurie Michelman, Sandra Craner, Nicki Wright
Staff: Steve Lynch, OPED Director; Tom Leone, Corporation Counsel; Stephen Selvek, Planner; Tom Weed, APD; Brian Hicks, Sr. Code Enforcement Officer.
The Chair called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and roll was called.
Agenda Item 1: Public Hearing for Final Site Plan Review for 282 North St. 25,000 sq ft light manufacturing facility
Chair invites the owner or agent to speak.
John Wejko, Burtis Pt. – the plan is to build a 25,000 sq ft commercial facility with site plan improvements, parking, drainage and anything required in regards to the property. We plan on opening a wood working shop there, we have one other tenant coming in, otherwise we have about 15000 sq ft of leaseable space left. Our parking entails about 19 spaces, there is green space, landscaping as proposed by plan, dumpster area and open to suggestion on any comments made.
Chair asks for comments from the public. There are none so the Public Hearing is closed. Chair asks for comments from the Board.
Nicki Wright – questions what other tenants will be there.
John Wejko – depends. It’s all open leaseable space. If I have 15000 sq ft of remaining space & I’ve got one tenant that wants that space it will be one, if I have 4 tenants that want 4000 sq ft it will be 4 more. It’s a little difficult to plan out, we have power usages that have to be worked out but that’s one of the things about building it & hoping someone will lease it.
Nicki Wright – questions parking spaces.
John Wejko – we will have 6 for our business & the other tenant requested 13.
John Rogalski – questions if there are any problems with the neighbor.
John Wejko – that would be Mrs. Whiting and I visited her this afternoon – there are no problems.
John Breanick – asks what size vehicles will be accessing the property.
John Wejko – the car spaces are for regular sized vehicles. As a wood working shop we may have a tractor-trailer once in a while.
John Breanick – is there a large enough turn radius there?
John Wejko – we will accommodate that when the time occurs. It is more set up for a larger van type arrangement. Initially loading docks were proposed for a more industrial use but it is no longer geared for that. The only business going in requiring delivery is the wood working shop.
John Breanick – asks about any encroachment.
John Wejko – it’s a composite between Blair construction and myself (speaking of the shared existing driveway access and egress points to North Street and the site).
John Breanick – will there be any curbing put it?
John Wejko – no curbing is proposed. There will be a guardrail around the detention pond.
John Breanick – foresee any problems?
John Wejko – no, Blair (Construction, opposite the site) gets about 3 tractor-trailers a week.
John Breanick - will this impede any other access?
John Wejko – no, the road actually used to have about 200 18-wheelers traveling it when the quarry was there.
Chair asks for staff comments.
Steve Lynch – this came before the Board for preliminary approval 2/10/05 and received approval. Then went to ZBA for variance for side & rear yard area variances. That letter (ZBA approval) is in the packet. DRC has reviewed the final plans and sees no real issues with the proposal except site access and egress. A letter from Mr. Thurston to Mr. Wejko has been distributed to staff and Planning Board members this evening indicating an agreement between Blair and Wejko for shared easements over the shared driveway has been worked out and will be entered by both parties. The letter is signed by both parties so that takes care of that issue.
There is no change in the existing curb cuts at North Street, so that takes out DOT involvement in the review. There is a memo from the City Engineer concerning storm water management. The City Engineer, working with the applicant and the project engineer, has reviewed the storm water management plan in detail and has provided his approval in the enclosed memo. The Storm Water Plan proposes to channel water from around the building to a small detention basin at the front of the building where it will settle sediment prior to releasing it into the City’s storm water system. There is adequate parking and they’ve provided the required landscape buffers at the front and are retaining grass areas at the side and rear.
Recommendation of the DRC is for a negative declaration on SEQR and approval of the site plan as presented unless there are any other concerns by the Planning Board this evening. There are 2 resolutions, one for the negative dec & one for site plan approval included in your packets for your consideration.
John Breanick – at one time we were discussing the connector road going through here as requested by the State.
Steve Lynch – that will be determined once the DOT completes their review. If the DOT determines that the only viable route across the FLRR involves relocating the Connector Road through this site, then it will be up to the City Council to decide to go through with the project at that point or reconsider the project. There are impacts on this property, neighboring properties, properties on York St. and with NUCOR. If the DOT decides this is the only feasible way for the connector road to go in. DOT’s decisions alone will not mean there will be a road here; it’s ultimately up to City Council.
John Breanick – this is a private road then?
Steve Lynch – this is currently private property, it includes a driveway across private property, which now will also include an easement agreement for access to both properties.
Chair – any issues with APD or AFD?
Steve Lynch – no, they were at the design review meeting and they have no issues with the project.
Chair – then we will move on to SEQR action. Any review?
Steve Lynch – SEQR packet is in the information given to you. Part 2 prepared by Staff. Will entertain any specific questions.
Chair – if there are no questions I will take a motion for a negative declaration on SEQR. Motion made by Mark DiVietro, seconded by Nicki Wright. All members vote approval. Motion carried.
Chair – will move to site plan resolution. Is there a motion to approve the final site plan? Motion made by Sandra Craner, seconded by Sam Giangreco. All members vote approval. Motion carried.
John Breanick – the paper reported the City signed contracts regarding proceeding with the connector road. Are there any updates?
Steve Lynch - the City is proceeding with Phase 1 of the project. The bids came in significantly below what the Engineering estimates were. With the addition of Wal-Mart paying their share for the side connection it is still further below what we anticipated the cost to be. The City is going ahead with the 1st phase from Brookside Dr. at Grant Ave at the light to the sewage treatment storage facility behind Wal-Mart.
John Breanick – status of Phase 2?
Steve Lynch – still in discussion with DOT. They are waiting on status of federal funding, which may impact project decisions and review requirements.
Chair – the next meeting is June 14, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. Is there a motion to adjourn? Motion made by Sam Giangreco, seconded by Mark DiVietro. All members vote approva l. Meeting adjourned.
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