City of Auburn Planning Board
Tuesday, November 1, 2005 6:30 PM, MEMORIAL City Hall
Present: John Breanick, Mark DiVietro, Nicki Wright, Laurie Michelman. Absent: John Rogalski, Sandra Craner, Sam Giangreco
Staff: Steve Lynch, OPED Director; Stephen Selvek, Planner; Brian Hicks, Sr. Code Enforcement Officer; Nancy Hussey, Assistant Corporation Counsel; Tom Weed, APD
The Chair called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and roll was called.
Agenda Item 1: Approval of minutes for October 12 and 18, 2005.
The Chair tables the minutes until the next meeting as there is not a quorum of members present.
Agenda Item 2: Public Hearing for Final Subdivision Review 30R Prospect St.
Item pulled by applicant for presentation at a later date.
Agenda Item 4: Public Hearing for Discussion to gather public input on the 2006 – 2007 Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
(This item heard out of sequence)
Jennifer Haines - (distributes a list of priorities from last year and the budget in place for the 2005 program year). We are looking for input as to whether this list of priorities~for the Community Development Block Grant Program~is still valid. Points out program areas on visual boards. The program stays true to the mix of funds within the budget, as defined by community needs. We have solicited comments from the public on community needs, and are also open to specific ideas for the program. ~We are currently waiting for the~estimate of Entitlement funding that will be available to the City of Auburn, and will then~work on developing the 2006-2007 budget.~ One new~program~idea~in the public improvements~section of the budget is to add a program that would offer assistance when a sidewalk
violation is issued~to income-eligible homeowners who live in areas that are not defined as low or moderate-income block groups.~ This~program would be a direct benefit activity, like the housing programs.~
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Nicki Wright - what is being done in the Washington/James St. area?
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Jennifer Haines -~Neighbors are~interested in targeting this area, and it would be good to prioritize some attention there with CDBG funds and other City resources.~ The CDBG Program has funded~sidewalks in the area, and staff is currently working with the neighborhood association on beautification projects, including flowerpots and marketing efforts.~
Chair – closes the Public Hearing. No other comments to be heard.
Agenda Item 3: Public Hearing for Preliminary Site Plan Review for 53 Columbus St. One story concrete building 240’ x 80’ and other site improvements. Carolina-Eastern Vail.
Chair invites owner or agent to speak.
Carmen Lupine – seeking preliminary plan approval for proposed storage facility building. It will be roughly in the same location as the previous building and used for the purpose of storing fertilizer material. There will be some processing and mixing inside the building. Nothing will be done outside. There are two existing catch basing draining to a storm water system in side the building that will connect to a swale and to a detention basin at the rear of the property to be slowly distributed out. There will be landscaping and screening along the back and south side.
George Judson, Wright Ave – questions the size of the pipes used for drainage and any run off from the buildings.
Carmen Lupine – 12-inch solid pipes leading into the drainage system to be released less to or equal to the current rate.
George Judson – asks if the detention pond will be fenced.
Carmen Lupine – the storm basin will not be continually filled with water, we don’t want to hold water there, it will be slowly released out and otherwise maintained.
George Judson – how far will the greenery extend?
Carmen Lupine – landscaping will be place where there currently isn’t any to use as a buffer. Where your property is there is already overgrowth and vegetation. No more will be added.
Peter Vail – the old fertilizer plant will be demolished once the new one is established. States there are other locations in NY; this will be the 5th one. The locations are spaced about 70 miles apart. We have leased for 2 years from Agway and purchased the property in February wit the object to tear down the feed mill for this project. We have been in business since 1970. All materials used are environmentally correct. It will be a nicer place to look at than it is currently.
George Judson – are the trucks loaded inside?
Peter Vail – No – outside. We will use a dust devil on the end of the conveyor to eliminate any dust when loading. People think there will be hazardous materials like Ammonia Nitrate or Anhydrous Ammonia, these will not be on the premises, there will be no hazardous materials on site. If any spills occur they will be negligible. The railroad is another draw to the site and have been wonderful to work with.
Tim Lattimore – questions the scope of investment
Peter Vail – 1.7 million
Tim Lattimore – we are pro-development and always interested in good plan development. Interested in helping the farm growth which is up 10%. We are the largest crop manufacturers in the state. Is there an operation where the Board can see it in action?
Peter Vail – Sangerfield.
Tim Lattimore – is there one time busier than another?
Peter Vail – it is getting to be our slower time now. I can provide pictures.
Tim Lattimore – would like the Board to actually see the business in operation. Questions any smells emitted.
Peter Vail – if left as it is it will continue to smell. In the new building it will not. The smell is caused by moisture. That will be eliminated.
Chair – closes the public hearing and asks the Board for questions.
Nicki Wright – asks the number of employees.
Peter Vail – 10
Nicki Wright – they all work in the building?
Peter Vail – no, some are truck drives, some administrative. We will require more people to meet the volume as it increases. Not sure how many at this time.
Nicki Wright – questions if there will be an increase in traffic.
Peter Vail – yes but I don’t think it will be noticeable.
Mark DiVietro – questions the hours of operations.
Peter Vail – the eastern plant is open 24/7 in the spring. May have some business during the night.
Mark DiVietro – questions the noise level
Peter Vail – it is not noisy
Laurie Michelman – fyi, we have limited hours of operations in this area before due to neighborhood concerns.
Peter Vail – it is estimated from 6AM to 9PM 6 days a week average with more extreme hours in the spring. Does not want to be limited.
Nicki Wright – is it staffed 24/7?
Peter Vail – no. There are no concerns at the other facilities. If anything it will be seasonal, about 3 weeks in May will be the heaviest time.
Laurie Michelman – are any of your other facilities in neighborhoods or are they in open areas?
Peter Vail – the original facility is in a village.
Laurie Michelman – any health concerns or studies done?
Peter Vail – we have done page 1 & 2 environmental studies on all the plants.
Chair asks for staff comments.
Steve Lynch – it is worth hearing again that the new facility will be an improvement over current operations with tighter control over the process. DRC has reviewed these plans twice, the initial and the revised. The Engineer is working with the designers on the water management plan. All information is not available at this time. Preliminary approval does not require SEQR. Additionally, the site is actually made up of three parcels, all owned by Caro-Vail, that will require subdivision action. At the next meeting we will consider SEQR for the whole project, a minor subdivision to merge all parcels and then site plan approval.
John Breanick – makes a motion for preliminary site plan approval, seconded by Nicki Wright. All members vote approval. Motion carried.
Peter Vail – one objective is to make it a nicer place to look at. Level of concern over the hours of operation. Elaborate what to expect.
Laurie Michelman – the Planning Office will review the issue of the last business in the area to be limited.
Peter Vail – at this time of year the hours are about 6AM to 3:30PM until April then 6AM to 6PM. In May and June are the crunch times.
Laurie Michelman – all that will be taken into consideration. It will be up to the Board members but we have been consistent to maintain a sense of quiet in the residential areas.
John Breanick – asks if loading will be on the north side.
Peter Vail – no they will load on the south side after being weighed on the north side, then go back to be weighed & then exit.
Chair – recognizes Nicki Wright’s last meeting tonight and thanks her for her service. Also states Sandra Craner has also resigned and recognizes here services also.
Other Matters
John Breanick – asks for a connector rd. update.
Nancy Hussey – we are going forward with the project. There has been no determination yet of the location of the railroad crossing.
Chair – next meeting is December 6, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. Asks for a motion to adjourn. Motion made by John Breanick, seconded by Mark DiVietro. All members vote approval. Motion Carried.
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