Grafton Planning Board Action – Graftonondack Approved

by Kieron Kramer
The Grafton Planning Board met on Monday, April 18, with only one item on its agenda, the site plan review of Graftonondack Outfitters and Boat Livery. The required public hearing on the project was held at 6:45 before the regular meeting.
The public hearing lasted two minutes during which time Graftonondack’s owner, David Buckley, described his vision for the new business located at 2978 Route 2, on property owned by Ray Darling. Besides Buckley the others attending the public hearing were the Darlings and Rick Ungaro, owner of the Rubbish Man. Buckley said that he plans to have his business become “the premiere location in Rensselaer County and the Capital District for outdoor rental and equipment.” He hopes to partner with NYS and County parks to make the area a magnet for tourism, he said. He will promote special events, like a “paddlefest,” at the parks. “For my neighbors, I encourage your input and suggestions to lessen this project’s influence on your life.” I am looking to be a good neighbor, he added. There were no other comments during the  public hearing.
At 7 pm the regular Planning Board meeting was called to order. Planning Board Chairman Tom Withcusky said he had reviewed everything and had met with Ray Darling and Buckley at the site on Saturday. “Everything is in good order,” he said. The DOT has no problems with access or signage and the DEC has no problems with the project, Withcusky said, so he made the motion to approve Buckley’s application for the Graftonondack project, and the Board voted unanimously to do so. “I’d like to welcome you to Town with your new business,” Withcusky said.
Buckley thanked the Board, the Planning Board Secretary, Jessica Crandall, and Ray Darling for his commitment to the project.
With nothing else on the agenda the floor was opened for informal discussion during which time preliminary plans are presented and questions asked by people who hope to bring applications for subdivisions or change of use or any other process under the purview of the Planning Board.
At this meeting Bill Darling,  representing Wayne and Heidi Crandall, presented a survey map of two parcels on Bailey Road, totaling 89 acres, that the Crandalls want to subdivide into four parcels. One lot of about three acres has health department approval already as the Crandalls had hoped to subdivide it a few years ago. One parcel would be where Wayne and Heidi’s parents live. One parcel of about five acres would be where Wayne and Heidi will live, and one very large parcel would be left vacant. The number of lots and the fact that these lots have not been subdivided before mean that this will be considered a simple subdivision, the Board decided. Withcusky said that the lots need to be inspected to see if they meet setback, health department and other requirements. He is familiar with the property and said that the bridge and the road are small and the Crandalls should meet with the Highway Supervisor for a traffic study and have the Town Engineer look at the road, even though, at present, the traffic on the road will not be changed by the subdivision. What might be done on the big lot at a later date should be part of the road  plan, he suggested. Withcusky informed Bill Darling that if the Crandalls want to go ahead with the project at the next meeting, he will need to be informed ten days before that meeting so he can put it on the agenda.
Trouble On Clickner Road
At the end of the meeting, Lisa Judd addressed the Board. After complimenting them on “keeping Grafton such a beautiful place,” she asked about the Board’s policy on shared driveways. She said that she and her husband have been paying for maintenance and gravel for twelve years and “we’ve never been given a cent.” Not that the Judds are complaining that much. “Our neighbor now is good,” Lisa Judd said. The Board’s policy is not to recommend shared driveways, said Board Member Jim Goyer.
Then Judd got to the crux of her concern. A parcel behind the Judd property, which she referred to as a “30 acre hunting parcel” and  which, she claimed, has been accessed from the other side, through the Halloran property, has been recently purchased, and the new owner’s deed includes a right of way over the Judd property. According to Judd, this is because back when the hunting parcel was sold to Mr. Potts the seller included a right of way over the Judd property in the Potts deed. Lisa Judd maintains that her deed, which predates the Potts deed, has no such right of way. The new owner of the parcel in question is Planning Board Member Scott Newell’s mother, so he recused himself from the discussion. The Judds said they wanted the Board to know that there was an ongoing lawsuit and no permits should be issued regarding the development of the “hunting parcel” until the case is settled. Lisa Judd also said, “We are receiving threatening behavior.”
Newell said that he had threatened to bring in a bulldozer, presumably to begin work on the road to the parcel. He said he has title insurance and a survey map and he wants to move forward on his mother’s project. “They should get a Court order to stop my mother from moving forward,” he said.
Chairman Withcusky said, “It’s for your attorneys to settle; the Town is not involved.” To the Judds he added, “With shared driveways this is what happens; we usually suggest a contract about maintenance to protect a person like you so you don’t have to go to trial.” With this the meeting ended. The next meeting of the Grafton Planning Board is Monday, May 16, at 7 pm.