Varick Planning board minutes
February 24, 2022
Present: Linda Mastellar (chair), April Freier, Cindy Lont, Lauren Burling, Frankie Long, Thomas Björkman (Secty) One vacancy.
Guests: Jason McCormick and Mark Lin; Scott Siganowich of First Light; Jim Foggo.
Call to order 7:02 pm
Introduced new practice of general public comment of three minutes in order to work more efficiently.
No general comments at the beginning of the meeting.
Minutes for January
Approval moved by Freier, Second by Lont. Approved 6-0.
Martin Subdivision
Open public hearing for Jason Martin subdivision. 7:08
Foggo commented that every subdivision of agricultural land reduces the value of the land for agriculture.
Close public hearing.7:12
Moved by Björkman, second by Lont. Approved 6-0
Resolution of final approval
The Varick Planning Board issues final approval of the subdivision of parcel 15-1-46 into three parts. A house lot of 1.18 ac will have 176 ft of frontage on Rt. 89. A residential lot will be 16.6 acres with frontage on Rt. 89 and Town Line Rd. The farm field parcel will be approximately 85 acres with frontage on S Town Line Rd.
The applicant supplied an Agricultural Data Statement. The board finds that there will be no impact on adjoining agricultural uses because the land use will remain agriculture.
The board received the Short Environmental Assessment Form and declares itself the lead agency for State Environmental Quality Review. Upon review of the EAF, the board found no impact because the action will lead to no change in land use, nor creates a condition that would encourage one. The board makes a negative declaration of environmental impact.
The application was reviewed by the county planning board which recommended approval.
Moved by Freier Second by Long. Approved 6-0
Chair Mastellar will stamp and sign the maps once the applicant brings them to her.
Lin project
McCormack and Lin presented the latest plan for discussion with the board. The plan is now a condominium of 15 duplexes on 43 acres. They feel that this configuration will be a better fit with providing lake view and projected sales. The development would have municipal water but individual septic systems. McCormack is using an advanced septic design that has had good success with recent lake-adjacent clients and regulators.
The property would have Community areas at top (woods) and bottom (lake).
The overall property would use infiltration basins to manage newly generated stormwater and thereby minimize flooding risk for the duplexes and for the highway and lakeshore.
A driveway design at Rt 89 has been approved by NYS DOT.
Common land will be managed by a homeowners association.
Road built to town-road standard, allowing two-way traffic and fire truck access.
Board members were able to ask questions and get clarifications. T
The development is unique, and once submitted will be subject to site plan review and a special use permit. That process provides more flexibility in what can be developed.
First Light project.
A company is intending to place an antenna array in the former FLTG property. Scott Siganowich asked for clarification on how to determine how large the bond is needed in case of abandonment.
The applicant requested that the Planning Board provide the amount of the required bond.
Siganowich noted First Light’s estimated cost, but does not have the client’s cost of disposing of the antennas themselves. The planning board will obtain guidance from the Town Attorney, and will seek other guidance as well. The cost of obtaining such information will be borne by the applicant.
Short Term Rentals.
Zoning Officer Dorn reported that he has had numerous inquiries from out of towners regarding short-term rentals.
The board discussed the subcommittees recommendation for an interim code change that would make short-term rental a Special Use in all Zoning Districts except SBI and WITE, where it would not be permitted. Currently, the high demand is in the Lakeshore Residential District, but there is interest in the Agriculture and Rural Residential District as well.
One concern is how to limit the number of short-term rentals effectively so that they do not have a negative impact on the principal quality-of-life conditions current residents value. One option is to issue permits in an expedited way to people who have been paying the occupancy tax to date.
· Sufficient parking for the number of guests on the rental property must be available on site. Parking by renters and guests on the street, private roads, neighboring driveways and yards is strictly prohibited.
· Certification of a working septic system, if applicable, shall be provided by the applicant.
· Seneca County safety requirements must be met.
· Short-term rental owners must provide their neighbors, in writing, with contact information so that the owner or manager can be notified of, and remedy, problems with the property or renters. Property owners are responsible for renter compliance.
· Any use that is obnoxious or offensive or creates a nuisance to the occupants and visitors of adjacent buildings or premises by reason of noise, odor, or smoke is prohibited.
· Noise at the property line needs to comply with the Noise Ordinance.
· Pet owners must comply with the Dog Ordinance, as well as the following:
Dogs must not leave the property of the STR; they should be leashed if being walked in the community.
Domestic pets, including dogs, should not be left alone for extended periods of time, especially if they bark or are destructive.
Dogs that bark more than a minimum amount are not a good fit to leave in a short-term rental.
· There shall be no open fires between 11 pm and 7 am. All fires must be attended, and should not be smoky or smoldering.
· Renters may not use the property for any commercial uses, monetary gain, or any large event.
· These renter expectations must be posted in each short-term rental property.
· A property owner may not have more than two short-term rental permits, directly or indirectly.
Resolution:
The Planning board asks Chair Mastellar to attend the next Town Board meeting and present the subcommittees proposal as a recommended interim code change.
Moved by Björkman, Second by Burling. Approved 6-0
Adjournment
Moved by Björkman, Second by Burling. Approved 6-0
Adjourned at 9:07 pm