Agenda
Comments from residents 5 min each

Approve minutes (5 min)

Committee reports: none

Information items: none

Discussion items: none

Old business

Substantial improvement definition, Raise to $10,000--MacMillan (5 min)
New Business
Special Use Permit application: Nextel cell antenna for KidsPeace water tower (45 min)
New subdivision proposals: none
Set next meeting time: Currently scheduled for May 22, 2003 (2 min)
Adjourn

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Minutes (Draft)
March 27 2003, to be approved at next meeting

Varick Fire Hall

The Chairman, Thomas Bjorkman, called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM.
Present: Chairman, Thomas Bjorkman, Board Members, Bill Larzelere, Annie Bachman, David McMillan, Larry Peterson, Kevin Swartley, and Richard Foxx.

Absent: none

Guest Presenter: Colleen Bisceglia from Nextel Partners, Inc.

Minutes from January 23, 2003 meeting were approved unanimously.

Comments from Residents: None were present.

Committee Reports:

Old Business:

Resolution of the Varick Planning Board, March 27, 2003.

Action itemmsAmend the Varick Zoning Code, Section 107, to change the definition of "substantial improvement" to increase the dollar amount from $2,000 to $10,000. The new definition reads,
"Substantial Improvement: Any repair, alteration, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds $10,000 or 50% of the actual cash value of the structure before improvement, whichever is less. Substantial improvement is started when the first alteration of any structural part of the building commences."
David McMillan made a motion that this amendment be made a part of the Varick Zoning Code. Kevin Swartley seconded it and it was carried unanimously.

New Business:

Colleen Bisceglia was introduced as a representative of Nextel Partners, Inc. She presented an "Application to the Town of Varick for an antenna co-location on a Seneca County Water District # 1 Water Tank located at 4881 McGrane Road, Romulus, New York (at the Kids Peace Complex). (Copies of the report were made available to all Board members several days before the meeting) There was considerable discussion on her presentation. Richard Foxx, also the town of Varick Code Enforcement Officer, wondered if we could take any action on this proposal without it first going through the proper Seneca County channels.

Topics discussed included: special use permits, setbacks, taxable property, nonconforming lot, emissions report, new building structure at the base of the water tower, etc.

Colleen said that we could go to www.fcc.org to see more detail on emissions information.

Estimate of cost of removing this planned antenna and building would be $10,000. Therefore, a bond of $15,000 (150%) will be required before the permit will be issued.

The board decided that Thomas Bjorkman could, on the board's behalf, fill out the SEQR Environmental Assessment Form in the Nextel application.

It was noted that Jim Cool is chairman of the town of Varick Appeals Board and this board will have to give approval to this project at the appropriate time.

Thomas Bjorkman made a motion that the Varick Planning Board pass this Nextel application to the Seneca County Planning Board for their action and approval as appropriate. David McMillan seconded the motion and it was carried.

Note: It was noted that there will be state-sponsored SEQR training at the Seneca County Office Building, April 9, 6:30-9 PM. Everyone is encouraged to attend.

The next planning board meeting will be May 22, 2003 7 PM at the Varick Fire House.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM.

Respectfully,
Larry Peterson, Acting Secretary.

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Notes added 6 June 2003.

The May Planning Board meeting was cancelled for lack of business.

Member Richard Foxx tendered his resignation to the Town Board on May 6, 2003. Frankie Long of East Lake Road was appoined by the town board to fill his remaining term.

The Town Board, at its April 1 meeting, amended to Town Zoning Code to change the definition of Substantial Improvement, as well as earlier resolutions to change 501.2 to limit the grandfathering of destoyed non-conforming structures, and 405.1A to provide notification of structures to be covered under DEC's SPDS permit when applying for a building perimt.