West Carthage Planning Board
Regular Meeting
March 7, 2012
Board Members Present: Ronald Blinebry, Chairperson
David Rohr, Tom Valentine,
Paul Pierce, Joe Onyon.
Others Present: CCS Participation
in Government students, Adam Smith – Home Business applicant
Chairman Blinebry called the
meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Minutes
for February 1, 2012 reviewed motion to approve D. Rohr, second P. Pierce,
carried.
R.
Blinebry begins with a Zoning Permit application submitted by Adam Smith, 19
Lathrop St. Mr. Smith has applied for a Zoning Permit to operate a Sugar Maple
business from his property (19 Lathrop St.). Mr. Smith applied and received a
Zoning Permit last year to build a sugar house on his property and is now
operational to process maple syrup, therefore he is applying to open and sell
maple syrup from his sugar house. R. Blinebry reviews the requirements to
operate a home business. R. Blinebry asks if parking for customers will be in
the driveway and if it will only be Mr. Smith and one other family member that
will be operating the business. A. Smith responds yes. R. Blinebry asks if he
intends on having large groups visiting, Mr. Smith responds not this year,
except maybe a small group of Girl Scouts so they could view the process of
making maple syrup from beginning to end and he isn’t sure if he will have
educational tours in the future, if he decides to have tours it won’t be
anything that would cause traffic problems. Mr. Smith states that he would be
eligible for grants for his business but he first needs to get a DBA permit to
apply for any grants. R. Blinebry refers to Chapter 91-19 paragraph J and goes
over the requirements for having a home business in an R-2 District, including
codes for a sign. R. Blinebry asks Mr. Smith if he intends on placing a sign
and tells him what is acceptable. Mr. Smith responds that as of right now he hasn’t
decided but when he does he will contact him with his plan. R. Blinebry asks if
any board members have any questions, T. Valentine asks how the process is done
regarding boiling, A. Smith responds it is wood fired and explains all the
specs of his processing materials, he has contacted and received from
Adirondack Lightning a large fire extinguisher that is located inside the sugar
house. T. Valentine asks how close the sugar house is to any other structures;
A. Smith states about 10 feet from a small shed and approximately 30 feet from
his residence. J. Onyon asks what the difference is between his wood burning
process and an outdoor wood burning furnace. R. Blinebry compares the process
to the same as a home that heats with a wood stove, (which the village has no
restrictions on). Mr. Smith states that his heating process/materials are the
same as what is required for homes using a wood stove.
R.
Blinebry asks for a motion to approve the application to operate a home
business, motion by J. Onyon to approve, second by D. Rohr, carried. R.
Blinebry states to Mr. Smith he will have a permit ready within a couple of
days and to check with the Clerk’s office.
R.
Blinebry informs the board that a local contractor has made an option on the
Johnson property on Broad Street. The contractor’s plan is to develop the front
with business, but the immediate plan is to develop the back section with
housing and the property will fall under a Planned Development (PDD). D. Rohr
states he noticed some activity there today. T. Valentine asks if there will be
any confusion with the contractor on any Board approvals as has happened in the
past. R. Blinebry responds no, the contractor has agreed with all the infrastructure
that will be asked of him. R. Blinebry states that very soon there will be a
meeting with all the local entities and the contractor but because of the
meeting rules only 2 members from each Board will be allowed to attend and he
has asked P. Pierce to attend with him from the Planning Board. R. Blinebry
asks that the Board members review the PDD section of the codes for future
discussion and he will keep the members updated on any developments regarding
the property.
R.
Blinebry handed out samples of in home business applications for the board to
review and states that currently the packet that is handed out is lengthy and
some materials are not applicable for some businesses. These samples may be
more like what might be needed with some minor changes in wording, so if the
members would review them and make any changes they feel are needed they will
be discussed at the next meeting.
R.
Blinebry states he hasn’t been able to contact or meet with the village attorney
reference the Business District discussion from the February 1 meeting. He will
try to set up a meeting with the attorney to get some insight on how to
approach restrictions on certain types of businesses.
R.
Blinebry reminds the Board members of the upcoming Local Government Conference
at JCC on March 29, 2012.
R.
Blinebry asks if any members have any comments. R. Blinebry comments on how
well the Aubuchon expansion if coming, P. Pierce states he was told that a June
1 Grand Opening was being planned. No other comments.
Adam
Smith asks if it would be possible to hold an open house for his maple sugar
business on the 16th & 17th (Maple Weekend) and if he
would be allowed to place a temporary sign near the intersection of Rt 26 and
Champion Street. R. Blinebry states that he would have no problem with a
temporary stick sign as long as it isn’t overly large and none nailed to
telephone poles, but he would have to get permission from any property owners
before placing a sign. R. Blinebry also reminds Mr. Smith that the sign needs
to be 50 feet from the center of the road and the distance will probably be
more from a State highway and he would need to check on that. He would also
like to see what Mr. Smith would be placing and where before he does place any
signs. Mr. Smith agrees.
The
next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.
R.
Blinebry asks for a motion to close the meeting at 7:02 p.m., motion by D. Rohr,
second by P. Pierce to close, carried.
Respectfully
submitted,
Lou
Ann Smith
Recording
Secretary
