West
Carthage Planning Board
Regular Meeting
November
21, 2011
Board Members Present: Ronald Blinebry, Chairperson
David Rohr, Tom Valentine,
Paul Pierce, Joe Onyon.
Recording Secretary: Lou Ann Smith
Others Present: Gary
Carter, Erik and Dawn Newhouse – new business at 47 Bridge St.
Chairman Blinebry called the
meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
R. Blinebry introduces Gary
Carter; Antique, Jewelry and Coin Shop, and Erik and Dawn Newhouse; Paint Your Own
Pottery Shop to the board members as the applicants who are proposing to
operate these businesses at 47 Bridge St. Mr. Carter is the owner of the
building and both parties had applied for Zoning Permits, which were denied
because neither business was an allowed business for the R-2 Zoning District
where the property is located. R. Blinebry explains that the applicants applied
to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a Use Variance which was granted to Mr.
Carter on November 16th at a ZBA Public Hearing for both businesses
because he is the sole owner of the property.
R. Blinebry states that a formal site plan is not required since the ZBA
approved the Use Variance, but a Special Use Zoning Permit will be needed. R.
Blinebry would like to know if the applicants will be using signage and what
type. R. Blinebry explains that there are specific codes for the R-2 District,
one being that no flashing light is allowed. Mr. Carter states he plans on using the
lighted sign (which is moveable) that is presently placed in front of the
building advertising his part of the business, which will only be lit during
business hours. R. Blinebry asks if there will be signage placed on the
building, E. Newhouse states and presents a photo of his plan for a sign which
will be placed on the building. R.
Blinebry explains that only an 8 foot square or smaller is allowed in the R-2
District, E. Newhouse agrees. R. Blinebry reviews the remainder of the sign
codes for the R-2 District. T. Valentine states he has no problem with either
of the applicant’s sign plans, remainder of board members agree as long as the
lighted sign is only on during business hours. R. Blinebry asks about outside
lighting, Mr. Carter states there are 2 exterior lights, one at the front of
the building and one located at the rear near the garage, both point towards
the ground and will not affect the neighbors. T. Valentine asks if there will
be a kiln in the Pottery Shop, Mr. Newhouse states yes, Mrs. Newhouse explains
it will be a medium sized electric kiln. Mr. Newhouse states the kiln will have
a standard outside venting system and will not emit any toxic fumes. R.
Blinebry asks when they plan on opening, Mr. Carter states he has a little more
renovating to do but plans on being open by the first of the year. Mr. Newhouse
states there are a few issues that need to be worked out with Mr. Carter and there
is still work that would need to be done inside the building, so he can’t give
a specific date to open.
R. Blinebry asks for a motion
to issue a Special Use /Zoning Permit for the proposed businesses, motion by J.
Onyon, second by P. Pierce, carried. R. Blinebry signs the Special Use/Zoning Permit
to Gary Carter, board members wish Mr. Carter and the Newhouse’s good luck with
their new businesses.
Next, is a request from Billy
Hadley, TAL Properties to extend his Special Use/Zoning Permit issued to
renovate the former West Carthage School building into a climate controlled
storage facility, dated May 3, 2011. R. Blinebry states that Mr. Hadley is
behind on plans due to various issues and after speaking with Mayor Burto they
both would like to offer Mr. Hadley a 6 month extension to give him the
opportunity to get his purposed plans going. R. Blinebry asks for a motion to
grant Mr. Hadley a 6 month extension, motion by D. Rohr, second by T.
Valentine, carried. R. Blinebry signs the revised original Special Use/Zoning
Permit granting a 6 month extension to expire May 21, 2012. R. Blinebry will
write a letter to Mr. Hadley to be included with the new permit explaining that
this will be the only extension that can be granted.
Next is the Certificate of
Compliance review. All the board members received a copy of a sample “Certificate
of Compliance” (COC) form taken from “ New York Zoning Law and Practice” book
kept in the Clerk’s Office. R. Blinebry would like to issue a “ COC” form with a Zoning Permit Application and before a Final Site Plan is approved. The applicant must return the form completed
and signed stating all the requested conditions have been met. These forms will
only apply to site plans that Jefferson County reviews and eventually issues a
“Certificate of Occupancy” to an applicant. R. Blinebry reminds the board members that if
Jefferson County issues a “Certificate of Occupancy” (COO) there is nothing the
village can do to prevent an applicant from opening regardless of whether or
not they have met all the approved conditions required in the Final Site Plan
approval. R. Blinebry has spoken to Jefferson County Planning and they have
agreed that if a letter is sent from the Village Board and Mayor requesting
that before a
“COO” is issued from
Jefferson County they will need to have a signed “COC” from the Village
Planning Board. The Board members review the wording and R. Blinebry states he
will revamp the sample “COC” form and send it out to all the members for input
and they will discuss the changes at the next Planning Board meeting.
R. Blinebry comments on the
letter from Aubertine & Currier that the board members received. He has
been told the West Carthage Planning Board has always sent the proper documents
needed that Jefferson County Planning requires for review purposes.
R. Blinebry comments on the
Aubuchon Hardware project. He received a call from Galaxy, (Price Chopper Plaza
owner) asking where the Planning Board is at on approving the addition for
Aubuchon and if there is a problem. R. Blinebry explained to the plaza owner
that the Planning Board is waiting on Aubuchon for the requested conditions
given to them for the Final Site Plans. R. Blinebry states after speaking to
the plaza owner he received a call a few days before this Planning meeting from
the local Aubuchon store manager, Scott Sullivan. S. Sullivan had received a
packet with 6 site plans and when was the next Planning Board meeting
scheduled. R. Blinebry informed S. Sullivan that the Planning Board meeting was
tonight. Because of the short notice of the meeting Aubuchon was unable to
attend and S. Sullivan asked if there was any way R. Blinebry could meet with
him to go over the site plans he received before the next Planning Board
meeting next month to be sure everything is in order. R. Blinebry states he
would like to meet with S. Sullivan and possibly one other member of the Board
to go over the plans before the next Board meeting. R. Blinebry will review
what has already been presented to the board and the conditions the Planning
Board requested and contact S. Sullivan to set up a meeting before the next
Planning meeting.
There
are no other comments from the Board members.
The next regular Planning Board meeting will
be scheduled for December 7, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
P.
Pierce motions to adjourn, seconded by J. Onyon; the meeting is closed at 7:22
p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Lou
Ann Smith
Recording
Secretary
