by Kieron Kramer
The Grafton Planning Board meeting on Monday, February 24, was short and uneventful. A public hearing was held at 6:50 pm on the two-lot simple subdivision at 15 Brock Road at the intersection with Babcock Lake Road which was applied for by Marion Jeffries last month. An approximately 60 acre parcel, formerly owned by Mr. Aumond, will have a parcel of 9.8 acres separated for Marion Jeffries’ sister, leaving 49.9 acres. The sister said, “I grew up with that property, and I want to keep it.” She may build a home on her lot at a future date. Jeffries said that the family may log the larger parcel.
During the meeting last month Marion Jeffries said that the family may subdivide the 49.9 acre parcel in the future. Perhaps from reading this in the Eastwick Press last month or hearing something in the rumor mill, a neighbor, curious about the subdivision, had an informal discussion before the hearing with Planning Board Chairman Tom Withcuskey, who assured her that there were no plans at present for developing the larger parcel. If they subdivide the property more it becomes a major subdivision which has a more complicated application process, he said. The family will have to apply for a major subdivision, and a public hearing would be held on that issue. The neighbor said that she had the impression that Mr. Aumond wanted the property held forever wild. Since Jeffries said that she was the executor of the estate and has power of attorney from the heirs, this is a moot point. But, with her worst fears allayed, the neighbor left before the hearing. No interested party attended the hearing.
During the regular meeting Withcuskey said he had reviewed the Environmental Impact Statement, and he declared that there was no negative impact to the environment from the Jeffries subdivision. The Planning Board approved the negative declaration 3-0; Board Members Pete Gundrum and Jim Goyer were absent, as they announced last month that they would be. The Board then voted 3-0 to approve the two-lot subdivision on Brock Road. Jeffries must submit five copies of the plot map to be stamped by Withcuskey. Four will go to the County, and one will be filed in Grafton, Withcuskey said.
Yet To Come
At this meeting AT&T was to apply for a site plan review for modifications to its cell tower at 38 Radio Tower Way. Radio Tower Way runs off of Snyder Road. They want to place three new antennas on the tower to upgrade the signal to 4G LTE. AT&T is doing this upgrade throughout its nationwide system. Withcuskey announced that AT&T had withdrawn its application before the meeting because the lawyers for AT&T had not completed the paperwork. It will be on the agenda at the March 17 meeting if they have their paperwork done. The Town of Grafton Cell Tower ordinance requires that the change of use application must include the Long Environmental Assessment Form, Withcuskey said.
Hearing Nothing
Withcuskey also said that he had “heard nothing” about the site plan review required for the change of use at the R.J. Valente mine. The site plan review is required by Town law when there is a change of use. In this case the R.J. Valente Company, which has an approved site plan for mining to a depth of 850 feet, wants to mine its quarry on Route 2 near the Brunswick Town line to a depth of 950 feet and to increase its hours of operation. Last month the Planning Board passed a resolution requiring that a site plan review be filed. The Board also resolved to send a letter to the NYS DEC declaring itself the lead agency in the NYS Environmental Quality Review process (SEQR).
Grafton’s request to be lead agency was supposed to be given to the DEC Commissioner to adjudicate, and Withcuskey had expected a ruling before this meeting. He believes that Valente will not proceed with the application until the Commissioner decides whether the DEC or the Town of Grafton will be lead agency. Ever optimistic, Withcuskey hopes that the Commissioner will decide before the next Planning Board meeting on March 17.