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Section 59.07 Block 1 Lots 7, 8 Location: Hanover Street, Croton Heights Contact: Ralph Mastromonaco, P.E., P.C., Dan Ciarcia, engineer Description: Application for a 3-lot subdivision on 13.857 acres in a R1-80 zone to be served by a common driveway. November 10, 2008, work session Discussion This property has a stream running along the bottom of a steep ravine. Two smaller streams join to form this main channel. The subdivision has been configured so that the ravine will not have to be crossed, although two, box culvert stream crossings will be necessary. The stream crossings will be mitigated by the construction of additional wetlands along a bend in the stream. Mr. Klaus pointed out that doing wetland mitigation along the stream channel, an already protected area, doesn't replace the buffer area lost by the original wetland. Conservation easements might be necessary to make up for this loss. Mr. Klaus also asked about the feasibility of connecting the subdivision to some neighboring town road in order to minimize disturbance, but Mr. Ciarcia said there was no feasible alternative. There was some discussion about re-siting one of the house to move it away from the ravine. Mr. Ciarcia said the house's current position would actually lessen potential incursion into protected area because it gave a maximum usable yard. Mr. Tegeder pointed out that there was potential for incursion in the front yard and suggested a stone wall or other physical barrier to keep future residents from moving into the protected area. The applicant will get input from the Conservation Advisory Board before a Public Informational Hearing can be scheduled. November 24, 2008, work session Since the last meeting, the Conservation Board did a site visit although its report on the visit has not yet been received. Based on the visit, the applicant relocated one of the proposed houses so that it is outside the wetlands buffer. He explained to the board that as the site's onsite septic system and wells have already been approved, certain elements of the site plan have already been locked in. The applicant advised the board that he had reviewed the town's pending tree ordinance and explained that he had done a tree survey a few years ago. He said that during the Conservation Board's site visit, he had been asked if he could avoid a large white oak. To do so, however, would require shifting the driveway which would mean encroaching on the wetlands buffer. Mr. Klaus said he understood the trade-offs between saving a specific tree versus wetlands protection. He also raised the issue of the condition of the tree and its likely longevity. As the request of the Conservation Board, the applicant will fix some erosion along the stream. The applicant said that the group did not appear to have any problems with the proposed mitigation plans. The applicant told the board that Bruce Barber, the town's environmental consultant, had delineated the site's wetlands a few years ago and asked is this would have to be redone. In response, Mr. Klaus explained that the town law requires that this be done if the previous plan was more than a year old. However, he suggested that the applicant get a letter from Mr. Barber indicating that there had been no change on the site, or alternately, do a walk through the critical areas on the site to see if there had been any changes. Because the Conservation Board's comments are of “paramount importance,” Mr. Klaus said that the public hearing would not be scheduled until the report had been received. He advised the applicant to check with the planning department to see if the hearing could be scheduled for January. January 12, 2009 Public Informational Hearing Al Capellini, the applicant's attorney advised the board that since two property owners had not received the required notice of the hearing, the notices would have to be resent and the hearing rescheduled for a future date. However, because one of the adjacent property owners was present at the meeting, the applicant made a presentation which he will repeat at the next hearing date. The homeowner looked at the site plan map but did not make any comments. The hearing was adjourned.
February 9, 2009 Public Informational Hearing This was a continuation of the hearing that was opened last month. As only one person in the audience was interested in the application and he had been at the previous meeting, the applicant's engineer, Dan Ciarcia gave only a brief overview of the plan. The homeowner, Tim Glass, who lives in the area, had no objections to or concerns with the subdivision plan but expressed his concern that the beauty of the area not be compromised by the construction of “garish mansions in the middle of the woods.” Empathizing with him about the beauty of the area, Mr. Klaus explained that if and when the property owner came in with development plans, the board would carefully delineate the “limit of disturbance” area. He added that in addition to clearing land for the septic fields, the health department required that any plan show the area that could accommodate a 100% expansion of the fields if that became necessary in the future. He wasn't sure if that area just had to be noted on the map but didn't have to be cleared in advance. Mr. Klaus also explained that if and when a subdivision plan was submitted, there would be several additional reviews and discussions and he encouraged Mr. Glass to stay informed on the progress of the application. The applicant's attorney, Al Capellini indicated that given the board's anticipated support for the subdivision, he would proceed with plans to file a request for a variance from the zoning board for the site's private road. March 23, 2009, work session At Mr. Capellini's request, the Planning Board will recommend to the ZBA that it grant the variance necessary for a common driveway on this site. The Board again expressed its concern that, although the lots are of adequate legal size, their usable space is heavily constrained by wetlands. Mr. Flynn pointed out Lot #4 especially in this regard. There is little useful space on this lot without wetland encroachment. Mr. Tegeder suggested rotating the house 90o , but Mr. Cicarcia said this would interfere with the septic system. Mr. Klaus observed that the entire lay out of lot #4 is “very tight”—the house, septic fields, well and wetlands buffer. July 13, 2009, work session Mr. Capellini advised the board that the zoning board had granted the variance for the common driveway and asked the board to set the application up for a public hearing in August - which the planning department will do if everything is in order. August 10, 2009 Public Hearing Mr. Cicaria and Mr. Capellini summarized the project. The ZBA granted a variance for three lots with no frontage on a town road. The three lots will be accessed by a private road. According to Mr. Cicarcia, this access option will have the least impact on the neighborhood because it is in keeping with the rural nature of the area and requires fewer wetland crossings. Mr. Cicarcia described the storm water management system, which still needs review by the Town Engineer and DEP. The access road will be lined with permeable pavers. The Fire Marshall has okayed this, even though generally preferring paved access roads for emergency vehicles. The site will have a conservation easement, protected in perpetuity. Neighbors from Colonel Greene Rd spoke at the public hearing: Peter and Christina Fairweather pointed out the large wetland just adjacent to the Sandvoss site and expressed concern that this development will cause more flooding from this wetland. They said they already experience a lot of flooding, and it has gotten worse after development on Croton Ave. Sheila Schrayer also cited flooding on her property and septic system. Diane Glass was concerned about the frequency at which the bridge on Colonel Greene Rd. washes out, leaving the neighborhood stranded and the likelihood this will increase after the Sandvoss site is built. She was also concerned that the houses proposed for the subdivision be in keeping with the others in the neighborhood, not overly large houses that would make existing houses look like tear downs. She was also concerned that there be an adequate marketing plan in place so the new houses are actually finished and sold, referring to houses on Hanover Rd. that remain unfinished and their lots still disturbed. Mr. Klaus referred Ms. Glass to ABACA for information about the house designs. Mr. Cicarcia said it was unlikely that the Sandvoss development would add to the flooding problems on Colonel Greene Rd because the property is in its own little basin, separated from the adjacent wetlands and Colonel Greene Rd by a ridge. The Planning Board directed the applicant to get comments from the Town Engineer about the flooding issues raised by the neighbors. The public hearing was adjourned. |