TOWN OF ESSEX PLANNING BOARD
PUBLIC HEARINGS
AUGUST 2, 2012
6:00 p.m.
Public Hearing
Call to Order
Chairman James Van Hoven called the Public Hearing to Order at 6:00 p.m. and led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attendance
James Van Hoven, Pat Tivnan, Derrick Wrisley, David Hislop, Mark Walker, Olive Alexander, H. Nicholas Muller III
Also in Attendance: Catherine DeWolff, Town Clerk and Lauren Murphy, Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer
Guests: Barbara Kunzi, Anita Shapiro, Karen Dalton, Rick Dalton, John Durant, and Tom Duca
Tax Map #40.73-5-14.000 – Barbara Kunzi – Site Plan Review
Application for a new house at 2245 Lake Shore Road, Historic and Shoreline Overlay Districts, Town of Essex. The application was deemed complete and a motion to hold the public hearing was unanimously voted at the July 5, 2012 regular meeting of the Town of Essex Planning Board.
Ms. Kunzi described her project to the public in attendance and gave a quick overview to the Board. The house will not be stick built but will be what is basically a modular house using structurally insulated panels. It will be a small, 1,000 s.f. house with a Greek Revival look that will blend in with the historic nature of the surrounding homes.
With the public having no comment, the Public Hearing on the application is closed on a motion by Derrick Wrisley and seconded by Mark Walker, all members voting aye to close the public hearing at 6:05 p.m.
Tax Map #40.65-3-7.000 – Kevin Shaw – Special Use Permit
Application for a stand up paddleboard rental business to be located at the Essex Ice Cream Cafe beach area. The applicant was not present, however, John Durant and Barbara Kunzi spoke in favor of the application.
Chairman Van Hoven read a letter from Jack Halpin, owner of the Old Dock House, stating that while he applauded the business aspect of the application, Mr. Halpin would not permit access, ingress or egress, across the property owned by the Old Dock House.
With no further public comment, a motion to close the Shaw public hearing was made by David Hislop and seconded by Olive Alexander with all members voting aye to close. The public hearing was closed at 6:10 p.m.
By: Catherine DeWolff, Town Clerk
TOWN OF ESSEX PLANNING BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
AUGUST 2, 2012
6:11 p.m.
Regular Meeting
Call to Order
Chairman Van Hoven called the regular meeting of the Town of Essex Planning Board to order at 6:11 p.m.
Attendance
James Van Hoven, Pat Tivnan, Derrick Wrisley, David Hislop, Mark Walker, Olive Alexander, H. Nicholas Muller III
Also in Attendance: Catherine DeWolff, Town Clerk and Lauren Murphy, Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer
Guests: Barbara Kunzi, Anita Shapiro, Karen Dalton, Rick Dalton, John Durant, and Tom Duca
Review and Acceptance of the Minutes of July 5, 2012 Regular Meeting and the July 16, 2012 Special Meeting
On a motion to accept the minutes of the July 5, 2012 meeting by Derrick Wrisley and seconded by Mark Walker and with all members voting aye except David Hislop voting abstain because of his absence from the meeting.
On a motion to accept the minutes of the July 16, 2012 Special Meeting by David Hislop and seconded by Olive Alexander and with all members voting aye except Pat Tivnan and Nick Muller voting abstain as they were absent from the meeting.
Old Business
New Business
Draft Permit – Kunzi – Tax Map #40.73-5-14.000
Chairman Van Hoven read the EAF in conformance with the State of New York SEQRA law regarding environmental impacts. The Board voted unanimously a negative declaration on a motion by Mark Walker, seconded by H. Nicholas Muller III – Aye-7
No-0
The Draft Permit was reviewed with minor changes as presented by the Town Clerk and approved on a motion by Olive Alexander, seconded by Derrick Wrisley, the resolution to adopt the Kunzi Permit 2012-9 is ADOPTED by roll call vote: Aye-5 Hislop, Wrisley, Walker, Alexander, Van Hoven, Tivnan, Muller
The Permit is approved by the Town of Essex Planning Board.
Draft Permit – Shaw – Tax Map #40.65-3-7.000
It was suggested by Mr. Muller that the Board move to the next item on the Agenda, while we wait to see if the applicant would show up.
Chairman Van Hoven advised the Board that Rick and Karen Dalton were purchasing the Post Office building and were here to describe a renovation project for that building that would be coming to Planning next month. The Dalton’s described their project to the Board. There was a discussion of parking in the Hamlet and mixed use of the building needing a change of use permit.
The Chairman said that his concern was that the building would come off the tax rolls. Mr. Muller responded that the Van Ornum building will benefit from the Dalton’s improvement of it. John Durant asked if the entire building would go off the tax roll or just a portion of it. There was a discussion of the taxes on the building.
Lauren Murphy asked about the storefront and Mrs. Dalton said that they don’t know what will happen yet with that space.
Mr. Muller said that for the record when the Dalton’s own the building that Planning would expect an application at our September meeting and then a public hearing on the first Thursday in October. He further advised that the Planning Board has no jurisdiction with regard to the interior of the building. Mr. Muller said that this project is a very good thing for the Town of Essex and the Chairman concurred.
The Chairman thanked the Dalton’s for coming tonight.
Report of the Chairman
Chairman Van Hoven gave a brief overview of the Zoning Law Revision advising the Planning Board that it is now in the hands of the Town Board and that the public hearing was scheduled for August 23, 2012, at 6:00 p.m.
It was agreed by the Board to table the Shaw application as the applicant had not come to the meeting
It was at this point in the meeting that Councilwoman Claire LaPine arrived (7:00 p.m.). Councilwoman asked about the Shaw application. The Chairman described the Shaw action to the Councilwoman advising her that Planning has an incomplete application at this point and that we heard two public comments in favor of it. Mr. Muller brought up that we could have another meeting. There was a discussion of how to handle the Shaw action. On a motion by H. Nicholas Muller III, seconded by Olive Alexander and approved by unanimous vote, it is agreed that meeting be suspended for a 10 day period or until such time as the application is complete, and if there is nothing resolved until our next meeting, the suspended meeting will be closed.
Report of the Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer
Public Comment
The Regular Meeting of the Town of Essex Planning Board is suspended at 7:15 p.m. without objection.
Catherine DeWolff, Town Clerk
