Planning Board, July 15, 2024

Nantucket Sound, Kear Street Although the applicant explained, in detail, how he has screened the illegally placed HVAC units, there was no unanimity or majority on the Board as to how to proceed, i.e., whether to legalize the current placement or require the applicant to move them to the roof. Instead, the Board asked for more information:

1. Can the applicant modify his original plan for the restaurant’s rooftop HVAC units in order to accommodate the residential units? The applicant’s HVAC consultant appeared to indicate that this could be done.
2. Will the already installed residentail HVAC units function properly given their constricted space?

What is clear is that the applicant didn’t place the HVAC units as required in the approved site plan because he wanted to make the roof available for a restaurant tenant.

Recycling/transfer station  The Board rejected the applicant’s request that it send a memo to the Zoning Board in support of its application for a variance to allow a 100’ setback where 200’ is required. Instead, the Board asked the applicant to provide alternative layouts that meet the law’s setbacks and won’t encroach on the wetlands.

While the applicant showed an alternate layout that has the building approximately 100’ from Route 6 and closer to homes on Gay Ridge Road, there was a disagreement as to how to calculate the required setback, i.e., was it from the zoning district boundary line which is the center of Route 6 or the lot line of the properties on Gay Ridge.

The applicant explained how the facility would be operated, especially that all the sorting and baling operations would be done inside the building that would have five bays for incoming and existing vehicles. He said there would be no grinding type of activity. The Board was concerned about noise, especially frm trucks beeping as they backed up, and also light. Although the applicant said the DEC would regular hours, tentatively set at 6-6, Monday-Saturday, there was some discussion as to whether the town could impose its own time restrictions.

The applicant is still working on a traffic plan that should identify how many trucks will enter and leave the facility each day. He explained that most of the trucks would come from northern Westchester and Putnam County.  (While the applicant explained that the facility could process 600 tons of residential recycling and 200 tons of contractor recycling each day, Board members wanted to know how many trucks that meant.)

The applicant suggested that the Board do a site visit to a relatively new facility in Elmsford.

The Board will ask to the Zoning Board to postpone its hearing until the Planning Board has reviewed the additional information it has requested.

(Note: see comments about the facility in the July 16 Town Board summary.)

Underhill Farm  Without any discussion, the Board approved the amended site plan that had been discussed at the previous meeting.

401 East Main Street, Jefferson Valley The Board reviewed a preliminary plan for a 24’x30’ office building on a vacant 0.38 acre site that was the former location of Wet Willie’s bar. The applicant said he has Health Department approval for a septic system. What makes the application of interest is that it is in the Lake Osceola Overlay District and abuts the former Osceola Beach property.