Town of North Harmony
Planning Board
Tuesday, 11/8/2016, 7:00 PM
Members Present: Pat Rice Dick Johnson
Walter Geist John Warner
Louis Rieg Phil Strand
Brad Lawson, Zoning C.E.O
Others Present: Dick Sena
Mr. Rice opened the hearing at 7:05 PM.
Mr. Lawson, Zoning C.E.O. gave report.
Proposed local law to adopt Subdivision law
Brad Lawson said that there had been two developers and a real estate person talk to him about subdivision locations in the town and Dave Stapleton has had phone calls about locations as well.
Mr. Lawson advised the planning board to review the subdivision law that was created due to the fact it has not been looked at in quite some time.
Mr. Lawson said he believes Mr. Stapleton has reviewed it, but the board has not even seen the law to review it.
Mr. Lawson stated there is no definite plan for these locations, just discussion.
There was discussion that the existing law allows people to develop up to 5 parcels within 5 years. The law the town has developed only allows 2-4 lots.
Mr. Rice discussed the utilities going to the houses and driveways coming off of Route 394.
Mr. Sena questioned if 6 months is appropriate to put the law in place. He said 6 months brings you into May which is not good for building.
Mr. Sena said the law was tabled when it was presented to the board 3 years ago.
Mr. Rice said that at this point he feels it to be appropriate to pass this along to the town to look over and if there is any problem with it to let the planning board know and they could come back together and address it.
Mr. Sena said in the past the only discussion that comes to mind was the length of the law.
Mr. Lawson said they could set the moratorium for 4 months and if they needed more time they could extend it to 6 months.
Mr. Warner motioned that the planning board submit the proposed provisions for subdivisions to the Town Board.
Mr. Rice seconded and the motion was carried unanimously
Mr. Lawson discussed the new accessory structure law that states storage sheds can’t be placed in the front yard. The question came up that a shed was placed in the front yard and it was questioned what do you consider the front yard? There was discussion if we need to create a definition of a front yard. Mr. Lawson said right now it is still in discussion.
Mr. Lawson said that the Town of Chautauqua, the Town of Busti and the Town of Ellery do not have a definition and the Town of Ellicott’s says the front of the lot line shall be the line of the lot corresponding with or approximately nearest to or parallel to the street or the lake in which the lot front deemed by the assessment law.
Brad said we have 4 new houses going in right now.
Dick Sena gave Town Report (see October 2016 minutes)
The hearing was adjourned at 8:00 PM.
Stephanie Gibbs
Deputy Town Clerk
