Little Action At Planning Board Meeting
by Doug La Rocque
With only one of the four applicants on the agenda for the Thursday, September 3 meeting in attendance, the Brunswick Planning Board had little to act upon. A waiver of a subdivision requested by Lynne and Richard Patton was approved, and planners had another visit from Borrego Solar, concerning the previously approved solar project on Dusenberry Lane.
A representative of the company said they were close to selling the project to another firm and were requesting an extension on the time limit to file building plans without having to apply for a new special use permit. The board granted a 12 month extension. Borrego explained some of the delay was caused by complications in the storm water management maintenance agreement.
Normally, the property owner is held responsible if the system is not maintained, but since this is a lease of the property, some contingencies still needed to be worked out.
Residents But No Representative
AC Property and Development LLC was on the agenda to discuss its request for a site plan and special use permit on plans to construct a mixed use development at the corner of Brunswick and Brick Church Roads (NYS Routes 2 and 278). The company would like to erect two buildings for use as retail and apartments. Several area residents were in attendance expecting the Planning Board to begin consideration of the proposal, but no one from the company attended the meeting. A phone call later determined they were not yet ready to proceed.
Verizon Cell Tower
The same could be said for plans to erect a new cell tower at the corner of Creek Road and Menemsha Lane. The board determined at its previous meeting it would concentrate on the proposed 80 foot site, but Verizon Wireless still has some work to do, and plans to be back on the agenda in October.
Determining which of Verizon’s four proposed sites to use was just the first step in what will be a drawn out approval process between two town boards. The planners must first decide if they wish to be lead agency on the long form State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The decision may come as soon as the next meeting. Until that happens, and the SEQRA is approved, the Zoning Board of Appeals cannot act on a Verizon variance request, which must be approved before the Planning Board can act on the proposal.
Relocating A Public Hearing
A public hearing is scheduled for the board’s September 17 meeting on the Brunswick Acres Planned Development District (PDD) located along the north side of Brunswick Road (NYS Route 2) just west of Heather Ridge Road, consisting of 26 single-family home buildings lots and one stormwater management lot on a 44.1±-acre parcel. A concern was expressed by Chairman Russ Oster that the meeting room at the town hall might not be big enough to accommodate a large turnout because of the COVID-19 spacing requirements. There was discussion about moving it across the road to the Center Brunswick Fire Station’s banquet room, but board attorney Andy Gilchrist indicated it had already been publicly noticed as being at the town hall, and it was too late to move it. He indicated if too many people did show, they would have to adjourn and reschedule to secure the use of a large facility. He added, however, that given the small turnout for the PDD public hearing, he really was not too concerned. Of more concern was a yet unscheduled public hearing on the AC Property and Development proposal, which Mr. Oster indicated, they may well schedule for the fire station.