MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWN OF ELLICOTT PLANNING BOARD HELD AT THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 215 SOUTH WORK ST., FALCONER, NY ON OCTOBER 12, 2005 AT 7:00 P.M.

PRESENT:  Chairman Dan Evans, Gary Swanson, Ron Calanni, Dave Carlberg, Phyllis Belin,

                   Paul Shanahan, Attorney William Wright, Code Enforcement Officer Randy

                   Woodbury and Acting Secretary Pam Vanstrom

 ABSENT: Mike Mogenhan

 

Chairman Dan Evans called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

 

Motion made by Dave Carlberg, seconded by Paul Shanahan to approve the minutes of the September 14, 2005 meeting.

 

Carried.                      Ayes-6                       Noes-0                   Absent-1

 

Attorney Dave Stapleton, representing Tanglewood Manor (Nicholas Ferreri), presented site plans to build a private park and walking paths for residents and a adult day care facility at 14 Merlin Ave., W.E., Jamestown, NY. 

 

Mr. Stapleton explained they have been before the Planning Board for sketch plan on several occasions and have been before the Zoning Board three times and at the last Zoning Board meeting they finalized the day care center portion of this proposal with three area variances which were an area variance for parking off the Saloon back property line, a variance on the north side for the building setback and the variance off the residential line in the back.

 

The daycare center is proposed between Gifford and Merlin Avenues on a site currently owned by James Kote and is being purchased by Mr. Ferreri.

 

Attorney Wright stopped Mr. Stapleton because there are two items on the agenda and the one that was read is for the senior housing and walking paths.  Mr. Stapleton said it is his understanding they are not here for anything to do with the 24 to 30 units senior housing but the private parking and walking paths will be in the presentation. 

 

Mr. Paul Potter stated the SEQR would cover the entire project for storm water because of State requirements. This is a two-phase project but they will cover the entire project in the SEQR.  If they ever build the senior housing apartment complex they would have to revisit the Board and even though it will be included in the SEQR they are not requesting approval for the senior housing.  They are not segmenting it and if they come back to the Board five years from now the storm water plan and SEQR will be done. They would have to come back for permission for the apartment complex, which is considered phase II.

 

Mr. Wright said in order for the SEQR to be approved for a phased project they have to know about the buildings, drainage, traffic patterns etc. Mr. Potter said they have all those things.

 

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Attorney Stapleton told the Board they are looking for approval on the 20-person day care center, a 40’ by 32’ maintenance building that is on the Tanglewood Manor property and the park and walking paths. Attorney Wright suggested they get though the site plan for the 20-person senior day care unit.

 

Mr. Stapleton explained this 20-person day care facility would be operated from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It will have one pick up and drop off of residents in the morning and one in the evening.  There will be little drop off of people by private automobiles.  There will be four parking spaces off Merlin Avenue and a turnaround drive off Gifford Avenue.  It will have a walking garden on the Fairmount Avenue side adjacent to the parking lots behind White Chiropractic and the Saloon.  There are currently some fences between the parking lot and some shrubbery all of which will stay. The have been granted three area variances by the Zoning Board of Appeals. A 20-foot area variance was granted off the parking lot on the Saloon side, a 10-foot variance for the building on the north side and a 5-foot variance for the vegetated buffer requirement between the building and the residential zone. Mr. Ferreri agreed to leave his residential lots as undeveloped green space. There is a walking path behind the Saloon and White Chiropractic parking lots.

 

They provided elevation drawings of the building that will look residential and have low lighting.  There will be no bright security lights throughout the evenings. It will be strictly day care with perhaps three or four staff members coming over from Tanglewood Manor to operate the facility.  There may be some transportation of individuals by golf carts back into the pavilion area behind Tanglewood in good weather to offer various outdoor activities for the day care residents.

 

Dan Evans asked them to show where the walking paths were going to be located.  Mr. Potter said the walking paths are on the other side of the street behind Tanglewood Manor. 

 

The Board reviewed the plans with Mr. Potter.  Dan asked if this was going to be treated as one property.  Mr. Wright said for environmental purposes you couldn’t consider pieces of a project at different times.  Mr. Potter explained the watershed and the drainage. Dan asked if there is a time frame on the project and if there are two separate projects.   Mr. Wright said for SEQR it is all one project. They are asking for site plan approval for all the walkways and drainage structures but not the senior housing unit.  Mr. Potter said they can’t do anything thing with phase II until they come back to both the Zoning and Planning Boards. 

 

Dan asked if this was the plan that was presented originally when they notified the neighborhood because the Town does not notify the neighbors of something that is substance to the same plan that was presented.  Attorney Wright said because the old plan has not been approved and gets rescheduled until the next meeting the neighbors at that meeting have benefit of knowing that and they are entitled to come.  Once the Town has notified the neighbors there is no requirement to

 

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notify them each time an applicant comes back. Each time they come in the applicant is bound to change the plans or they would not be coming back. Mr. Lawson told the Board that they have modified the plan to what the Board had requested and taken out the controversial portion of the plan.

 

Mr. Stapleton said they are dealing with site plan approval for the facility the Zoning Board gave them the variances for.  There is no change in that other than the setbacks.  This is primarily the topographical storm water runoff for the SEQR.  Discussion followed on the drainage and the site plan that was presented. 

 

When asked by Mr. Evans, Mr. Ferreri said there would not be any tractor-trailers delivering to this facility. He told the Board there would be 20 people that will come into the day care and they will feed them two meals a day. The park will make it so they can utilize the property but there will be no big change in the operations. Memory Garden residents are active and this will allow them to do more such as fish and walk.  Mr. Potter said he has included the traffic issues in the SEQR. 

 

Mr. Ferreri said there would be two to three employees for this day care that will be from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM but if there is some reason they may be there until 6:00 PM. They will have golf carts and they will have certain things they will bring together in the park area but as far as transportation they will just be bringing them in and taking them home. Those vehicles will be parked inside at Tanglewood Manor in the garage area they have on site. 

 

Gary Swanson asked if the day care center would be targeted for Alzheimer patients.  Mr. Ferreri said it would and they are going to do home care for twenty patients, which will lead to the day care center.  They will have 20 residents at the day care center and they have 50 residents at Memory Garden.  The Memory Garden is currently full and they have not been able to take any day care people so they have a need for more room for dementia and Alzheimer patients.  Mr. Ferreri said the day care center will have alarms and they will have the same for the day care facility because the residents have a tendency to wander.  That is also why the walking paths will be enclosed. 

 

The Board went over the site plan checklist with Mr. Potter.  They discussed:

1)    the drainage and the watershed

2)    the storm water management plan was provided – Mr. Potter said they could send it to the State if the Board would like – he did sent the paper work in for the notice of intent – this does require a SPEDES permit

3)    the design and location for all the buildings were shown even though the Board is approving only phase I – the colors will match the colors (tans and natural colors)

 

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across the street – they will have a shingled roof

4)    there will be sidewalks around the building

5)    the existing driveway onto Merlin is wide enough

6)    there will be no outdoor storage

7)    there are fences shown on the plans and they will be the same kind as are at Memory Garden (6 foot white vinyl)

8)    sewage disposal hooks up to the existing sewer

9)    water, electric and gas come off Merlin Avenue – utilities will be underground

10) there are fire hydrants across the street

11) there will be no signs

12) buffer areas are shown – the Board reviewed the planting schedule

13) the only exterior lighting will be household style lighting for the entrance ways – there will be some foot lighting that is low level landscaping lighting – there is some security lighting in the parking lots – Mr. Potter provided a photo geometric plan to the zoning Board  - the poles are residential style lamps that are directional and will not go off the property

14) the landscaping and planting schedules are on the plans

15) estimated construction schedule – they will try to start the end of October to demolish the existing building and start construction of the new building in the spring

16) the only other permit needed is from NYS DEC for the storm water – the Zoning Board already approved the variances

 

Attorney Wright asked why they need the SPEDES permit.  Mr. Potter said anytime they have a project that affects over one acre of disturbed soil you need a SPEDES permit because you in essence create some soil runoff. You need an erosion and sentiment plan and when you do that under the commercial regulations you have to take into account water quality and all the pollutants.

They have to take 90% of the pollutants from the entire project out of the storm water. They are doing single point pipeline discharge onto neighboring property, which is owned by the applicant. They also have to address water quantity. There will be less water from the site after the construction than before.

 

Shawn Malay, Gifford Ave., W.E., Jamestown, NY, provided some pictures that were taken during high water time and also a Town map to give the Board a reference.  These pictures show where it is not sufficient to handle the water that currently comes down in that area.

 

Mr. Potter said he thought that would be the Town’s pipe and if it does not handle the water there could be something stuck in the pipe. Mr. Potter said the total overall outlet of water is a decrease.  Mr. Lawson said they would ask the highway superintendent to put in some sleuth pipes and ask them to clean the ditch. Lengthy discussion followed on the drainage and the ditches. 

 

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Mr. Malay also had concerns with the size of the parking area for the facility.  Their plan is to pick up everyone but there could be some drop-offs.  They can accommodate six to eight cars in the circle that is a standing area not a parking area. 

 

Mr. Malay said when the soil analysis is done he would like to get a copy to see that it will not affect his ground water since he has a well. They have done a phase I environmental on the property and Mr. Woodbury has a copy of that. 

 

Mr. Malay also asked if they could do anything about the hours of construction.  Mr. Ferreri said they would be done with construction by dark or approximately 6:00 or 7:00 PM.

 

Mr. Potter gave the Board an explanation of everything on the other side of the street that they are asking approval for.  He told the Board they would be putting a maintenance facility building in and six additional parking spaces with a driveway that will come off the existing parking lot.  There will be a pavilion for the residents with a walkway. 

 

Mr. Lawson showed the elevations for the 32’ by 40’ maintenance building that is a pole barn style and siding that would match the existing Tanglewood Manor buildings.  The other structure will be a 24’ by 32’ open-air pavilion with a shingled roof and a cement floor.  There is another 6’ by 6’ concrete building that will be a restroom.  The walkways are open but the ponds are fenced in.  The people that will walk the pathways will be from Tanglewood Manor and not Memory Garden. This will keep the residents off Fairmount Avenue and they will have senior stations where there will be a bench, a water station, birdhouses and flowers that will attract hummingbirds.  The fence around the ponds is rated for swimming pools.  The gating will be of the same style and will be locked at night when not in use. The regulations for the gate is that it is self-closing and self-latching. 

 

Mr. Potter explained the storm water facilities are based on a hundred year storm.  The water quality has to be at least a one-hour detention in each of the pools to settle out pollutants, there is some marsh type material that will go around there, the ponds will maintain 2’ to 4’ of water in them at all times, they will have to add clay to maintain the ponds and will have to add water to them.  It is designed to pick up all the water from the whole project and will reduce the flows to the outlet by about 10%.  The existing water has nothing to stop it. 

 

Mr. Evans asked if it would be a drainage pond or a fishing pond.  Mr. Potter said it would operate in both capacities and it is OK for the fish but the fish can’t be eaten because there are too many pollutants.

 

Mr. Lawson said there would be little paving that will be from the Tanglewood site to the pavilion. The rest will be grassed and maintained. 

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The walkways, the pavilion, the maintenance building, and the day care building will be phase I. The senior housing would be phase II.

 

Attorney Wright said in order to avoid the SEQR segmentation issue the Board needs to review the entire project.  Mr. Potter said the drainage is designed for the entire project.  Dan asked if there is anything on phase II that would change topols or drainage.  Mr. Potter said they have already been revised in the SEQR.  Attorney Wright said they do have to talk about disturbing the property, traffic, SEQR issues and construction issues concerning phase II.  Mr. Potter said the SEQR would have to be amended if Mr. Ferreri does phase II.  Dan asked if there would be any regulation of the time frame for phase II.  Mr. Potter said that in the permit Mr. Ferreri would not be able to build phase II until he revisits the Town.  The only property that will be touched will be what has been discussed for phase I.  Mr. Ferreri said he might never do the senior housing. 

 

Mr. Potter explained phase II will have a 24-unit building that would be approximately 28 foot high, 65 foot long and 40 foot wide. 

 

Attorney Stapleton said the phase II application was tabled at the Zoning Board level and not withdrawn.  He asked if they withdraw the entire application even though there are some references to it in the SEQR could they forget about phase II all together for purposes of SEQR and could Mr. Ferreri reapply at some time in the future?  Attorney Wright said they do not want anyone to say the withdrawal was just a farce in order to do the SEQR on a piecemeal bases knowing full well they were going to come back.  Mr. Ferreri said if he withdraws this and down the road there is a demand he may consider it.  Attorney Stapleton said anyone would have to show that they were trying to hide something that was a detriment to the public or they intentionally tried to avoid.  They are going to be covering the same material anyway.  Mr. Ferreri stated he will do the day care facility and the park and phase II is not being considered at this time. 

 

Attorney Wright said they could put on record they are withdrawing the application for phase II from all consideration (both Zoning and Planning).  Mr. Potter said they still have to include the storm water even if they never do phase II.  Attorney Wright said if phase II is never built the storm water is way over designed and Mr. Potter said the State has no problem with that as long as it is not under designed.  The applicant is not asking to downsize the project for the storm water. They do understand the potential vulnerability from saying they are now withdrawing phase II and trying to come back with it.  Mr. Stapleton suggested that everyone has an opportunity and the right to come back in and make application.  If someone from the public objects and wants to get some court order to prevent them from doing that let them do it. At this point, Mr. Ferreri is saying he is not going to do the project and it is something for the future. 

 

The Board continued with the SEQR.  Attorney Wright asked them to remove the senior housing from the SEQR form. Mr. Potter had a SEQR with the projects actual improvements for phase I described.

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The Board went through Part 2 of the SEQR noting:

1)    the proposed action will result in a small to moderate impact because the construction

                may continue more than 1 year

2)    the proposed action will have a small or moderate impact that will affect surface or

               groundwater quality or quantity and will require a discharge permit 

3)    the proposed action will alter drainage flow or patterns, or surface water runoff

4)    the proposed action will have a small or moderate effect to the existing transportation system 

5)    there will be no public controversy related to phase I

 

Motion made by Paul Shanahan, seconded by Gary Swanson determining the proposed project will not result in any large and important impact(s) and, therefore, is one that will not have a significant impact on the environmental and authorizing Chairman Evans to sign the EAF on behalf of the Planning Board.

 

Carried.                       Ayes-6                           Noes-0                        Absent-1

 

Motion made by Ron Calanni, seconded by Paul Shanahan to approve the site plan for Tanglewood Manor (Nicholas Ferreri), 560 Fairmount Ave., W.E., Jamestown, NY, for the modified plans presented contingent upon returning to the Zoning Board of Appeals for approval of all buildings presented in the plan or the determination by the Code Enforcement Officer that the Zoning Board approval is not necessary. 

 

Carried.                        Ayes-6                          Noes-0                          Absent-1

 

Attorney Wright said he had spoke with Randy Woodbury and B & L Wholesale have withdrawn their request for the placement of an above ground fuel storage dispenser at 2887 Struck Rd., Jamestown, NY. 

 

Mr. Marc Turner, C P Plastics, presented plans for an addition to their existing building at 1890 Lyndon Blvd., Falconer, NY. 

 

The addition will be 60’ by 150’ and they now meet the setback requirement for the building so they do not need a variance.  Mr. Turner provided the site plan of the building that was built in 1996 and explained his plans to the Board members. They will have a loading dock.  The drainage system is the one that was put in when the Town of Ellicott upgraded Lyndon Boulevard a couple years ago. Frances Jenkins and Steve Carlson have looked at the plans. The runoff from the roof falls off and goes into the existing system.  There will be a new parking area. 

 

Mr. Turner said one neighbor came in and asked where the addition would be and was satisfied.

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Mr. Turner said they would relocate the sign on the side of the building. They will add one light to the side of the building to light the parking area and some lighting in the parking lot There is currently some gravel parking area.

 

Attorney Wright said they have to send the plans to the Chautauqua County Planning Board because the site is within 500 feet of the municipal boundary of the Village of Falconer and possibility the Town of Poland. The Board told Mr. Turner he needed more detailed plans. Mr. Wright said if Mr. Turner would have come in within two years of the original site plan he could have just modified the site plan but now it has to be a new site plan review.

 

The Board went over the site plan checklist noting:

1)    the Board will accept only the portion of the property to be impacted by the modification plotted to scale provided a copy of the existing survey is with these plans

2)    the Board needs a storm water management plan that has been certified by his engineer

3)    the building sign and light will be relocated

4)    they will maintain the existing green space required by the last site plan

5)    they anticipate they will build within the next six months

6)    they need to provide a building elevation

7)    they need show the location of the electrical source

 

Motion made by Gary Swanson, seconded by Dave Carlberg to refer this plan to the Chautauqua County Planning Board for review.

 

Carried.                  Ayes-6                               Noes-0                           Absent-1

 

Chairman Evans provided a list to Mr. Turner of the items he needed to provide for the next meeting:

1)    a copy of the 1996 survey

2)    a storm water management plan

3)    the exterior dimensions of the building which include an elevation drawing

4)    the location of the electrical source

 

Motion made by Phyllis Belin, seconded by Paul Shanahan to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 PM.

 

Carried.                     Ayes-6                            Noes-0                           Absent-1

 

 

____________________________

Valerie Pierce, Secretary