Varick
Planning Board

October 22, 2020

Present: Linda Mastellar (chair), Rich Olsen
(via Zoom), Hershey Sensenig, Michele Hermann (via Zoom), Frankie Long, Thomas
Björkman (Secretary, via Zoom), one vacancy.
Guests:  Gene Pierce, Richard D. Keyser,
representing Knapp Farms, Tyler Franzen, Jennifer Persoon.

Minutes of September 24,
2020 accepted: moved by Olsen, second by Long, passed 6-0.

 

Knapp Farms Public
Hearing

Public hearing opened on Knapp Farms subdivision
and SEQR at 7:14. Hearing no comments, the public hearing was closed at 7:15.

 

The county planning board recommended leaving
the decision to local jurisdiction.

Resolution:

The Varick planning board issues Final Approval of the Knapp
Farms subdivision. This action is a minor subdivision to subdivide Lot 15-1-6.1
(43.8 ac) into two pieces. The new parcel will be 2.5 acres on Rt. 89 and a
small field. We accepted an Agricultural Data Statement and SEQR EAF. The application
was favorably reviewed by the County planning board. The board received the
Short Environmental Assessment Form and declared itself the lead agency for
State Environmental Quality Review. Upon review of the EAF, the board found no
impact because the action will lead to no change in land use, nor creates a
condition that would encourage one. The board therefore makes a negative
declaration of environmental impact.

An agricultural data statement was provided. It showed that
the action will preserve agricultural land.

 

Moved by Björkman second
by Hermann. Passed 6-0.

Bachman subdivision

Resolution: The
condition for the Bachman subdivision Final Approval, namely concurrence by the
Seneca County Planning Board, has been met.

Moved by Björkman,
second by Hermann. Passed 6-0

Cider
house rules

Tyler Franzen, Rt. 89,
inquired whether a cidery follows the same rules as a winery. He planted apples
next to Knapp Winery and is interested in developing a cidery and tasting room.

Following discussion,
the board noted that we should propose an amendment to the Zoning code to allow
all site-made beverages that have similar impact to a winery fall under the
same rule.

To clarify the immediate
situation, we make the following resolution:

It is the sense of the Varick Planning Board
that this proposed cidery has identical impact on the community as a winery,
and it is appropriate to treat it that way for zoning purposes, as allowed under
section 311.10. 

Moved by Björkman. Second by Sensenig. Passed 6-0 

Other topics

Jennifer
Persoon, listing agent for Varick Winery, came with questions from a potential
buyer regarding development possibilities and restrictions on lakefront development.

The board checked whether recent subdivision
approvals were ultimately filed correctly, and reflected in the county tax map.