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TOWN OF STERLING PLANNING BOARD MEETING September 7, 2017 A regular meeting of the Town of Sterling Planning Board was held on Thursday September 7, 2017 at the Sterling Town Hall at 7:00 pm with the following members present: June Ouellette ~ Chairman Sue Allen ~ Member Vernon Bishop ~ Member Scott Crawford ~ Member Paul Kelley ~ Member Also Present: Joan Kelley, Virginia Fichera, Attorney Richard Reilly, Joy and Shamus Waldron. The meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm although no one was in attendance to discuss agenda items. A member of the Zoning Commission, Joan Kelley, asked if she could update the Planning Board of their current activities. She stated that the draft for an additional zoning section regarding ‘Solar Photovoltaic Systems’ will be presented to the Town Board at their September 19th meeting. The zoning section is modeled after the Unified Solar Permit which many Towns, including Sterling, have already adopted. She also stated that the Commissioner, Lezli Parsons, had resigned from her position and that Joan Kelley had been selected as the new commissioner. Resident Virginia Fichera asked the Board what the current status of the Pit Stop project was. The application had been before the ZBA and was tabled to allow the Town Attorney and the applicant time to investigate what had occurred on the two properties involved and determine if the pre-existing status of the business was affected by merging the new parcel for installation of new aboveground tanks. The Planning Board and ZBA are currently waiting for the applicant’s attorney to present revised paperwork and an argument supporting the application filed by his client. BUSINESS Slobe Farms Real Estate, LLC - Preliminary Meeting - Minor Subdivision – 1389 Curtis Co-Op Road, Sterling; Tax map #13.00-1-10.11 Attorney Richard Reilly presented surveyed maps of a property that his client has been trying to subdivide unsuccessfully over the past two years. Town Attorney, Kevin Cox, had been consulted regarding the existing 300’ radio tower and its effect on the proposed property line located 10’ from the tower. The attorney determined that the tower was pre-existing to the LUR of the Town and therefore not subject to compliance with the dimensional requirements regarding setback. The Planning Board reviewed the map against the required elements checklist and found it to be complete and ready for a Public Hearing. The Board members reviewed the SEQR documents and found the following corrections were needed. The corrections were made and initialed by the applicant: #5 – The applicant marked not applicable for both a and b, which should be yes – the proposed action is a permitted use under the zoning regulations, and is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. #12b – The DEC’s EAF mapper triggered a yes response where the applicant had written no – corrected and initialed by the applicant. Upon further investigation ---PAGE BREAK--- the resource mapper produced a study that had been conducted in the area in connection to a recent water district formation which had no significant results. #13a – The DEC’s EAF Mapper triggered a yes response for wetlands in the area. The resource mapper had some regulated waterways in the area but none were found to be on the project site property. A Public Hearing was scheduled for October 5th, but will be rescheduled for another date if the Planning Board holds a special meeting in September. Betty Morrell – Sketch Plan Conference – Minor Subdivision – 1711 Maroney Road, Sterling; Tax Map #7.00-2-34 Joy daughter of Betty Morrell, approached the Board to present a proposal for subdivision of a 2 acre parcel from her mother’s land to be purchased by Mrs. Morrell’s brother. The parcel is 5.1 acres with ample road frontage along State Route 104A to allow subdividing a parcel to merge with the adjacent parcel owned by the owner’s brother. The reason for the project is to allow the brother’s property to have a buffer zone between himself and any future owner. His current property line runs right along the existing barn and additional property would give him mobility around the structure for any future usage. The Board members explained the dimensional requirements that they needed to abide by and directed them to obtain a single copy of a surveyed map and return for a preliminary review when ready. Waldron – Sketch Plan Conference – Minor Subdivision – 14466 State Route 38, Sterling Shamus Waldron, grandson of the property owner, approached the Board to explain that he was subdividing his grandmother’s house from a 25.4 acre parcel along State Route 38 where he and she reside in separate residences. The parcel has frontage along Route 38 and additional frontage along Onionville Road where the new property line will be established. The acreage is currently farmed and has been for many years; Mr. Waldron would like to reserve a place for the farmers access, via an easement, along Onionville Road to ensure that the farming operation will not be interrupted. The Board explained the dimensional requirements he needs to comply with and instructed him to have a survey map drawn and bring a single copy for the Board to review when he was ready. MINUTES A motion to approve meeting minutes for July 6, 2017 was moved by Member Bishop and seconded by Member Crawford. All were in favor without further discussion and the motion passed. A motion to approve meeting minutes, with minor corrections, for August 3, 2017 was moved by Member Bishop and seconded by Member Kelley. All were in favor without further discussion and the motion passed. ADJOURN On a motion by Member Kelley and seconded by Member Allen, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm. Approved Minutes, Respectfully submitted, Lisa Somers, Planning Board Clerk