C.B. Mtg. #4             Reg. Mtg. #4                    April 3, 2007            7:00 PM           Page 1

 

 

 

 

 


Minutes of the April 3, 2007 meeting of the CONSERVATION BOARD of the TOWN OF ORCHARD PARK, Municipal Center, Basement Meeting Room 4295 South Buffalo Street, Orchard Park, New York at 7:00 PM.  Present were the following:

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:    Richard Schechter, Chairman

                                      James Loesch

Ann Bergantz

George Schichtel

Frank Newton

 

EXCUSED:                      Thomas Jaeger

David Ward

 

OTHERS PRESENT:        Nan Ackerman, Councilman

                                      Bryan Young, Young Development

                                      John Schenne, Schenne & Associates

                                      Nicholas J. Taneff, resident

                                      Gerry Buchheit, Developer

                                      Kelly Pronti, Harter Secrest Emery, LLP

                                      Elisa Tsang, APD Engineering

                                      Scott Hagaoorn, Bergmann Associates

                                      Frank Brzezinski, Registered Landscape Architect

 

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. by stating that in accordance with the provisions of the Ethics Law of the Town of Orchard Park it is incumbent upon any Conservation Board member with a financial or business relationship with any petitioner coming before this Board to disclose this relationship and, if warranted, to recuse him or herself from any matter involving the petitioner. Any petitioner coming before this Board who is a relative of, or has a financial or business relationship with, any officer or employee of the Town of Orchard Park, must disclose the nature and extent of such relationship in accordance with the provisions of the ethics law of the Town of Orchard Park.  

 

              APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

             

                MOTION made by Jim Loesch, seconded by George Schichtel, to accept the minutes of the February 13, 2007 and March 6, 2007 meetings.

 

          MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

 

          Board member George Schichtel recused himself from items 1, 2 and 3.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

1. C.B. File #68-06, proposed Young Development/Hilltowne Park Phase II Subdivision, +/- 15.4 acres vacant land east side of Murphy Road, Zoned R-2.  Requesting Pre-Application Findings review of an 11-lot Subdivision.

 

     APPEARANCE:  Bryan Young, Young Development

 

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     Mr. Young explained and presented the proposed plans for an 11-lot subdivision that is an extension of the existing Hilltowne Phase I.  Mr. Young told the members that the proposal incorporates comments from Town Engineer Wayne Bieler. He told the members that he owns and plans to develop a portion of the adjacent Murphy Road property (formerly a sanctuary) into a senior housing complex. Mrs. Bergantz discussed connecting the properties with a pathway. Mr. Loesch confirmed that drainage for the project will be based on comments from the Town Engineering Department.  

    

     Mrs. Bergantz discussed having a pathway at the back of the property along the creek bed. She noted that Lot #5 is located in this area and that the pathway will not be able to be placed on private property.  Mr. Young told the Board that he does not object to creating a 50-foot conservation easement along the creek bed area.

 

     Mrs. Bergantz made a MOTION, seconded by Chairman Schechter to ACCEPT the plan with the applicant agreeing to the addition of a 50-ft. conservation easement area along the creek bed, at the western side of the property.

             

              MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

 

     Planning Coordinator Remy Orffeo requests that prior to Planning Board review, Mr. Young delineate the pathway on site plan.  Mr. Young stated that he will do so.

 

2. C.B. File #13-07, 100 Hammocks Drive, “The Hammocks” east side of Orchard Park Road, south of Southwestern Blvd., Zoned R-3 Special Exception Use. Board approved plan on 8/4/03, C.B. File #20-00. Requesting review and approval of a revised site plan. 

 

     APPEARANCE:  Mr. Bryan Young, Young Development

 

     Mr. Young explained and presented a revised plan to the Board.  He noted that the plan has been revised to address his tenant’s desires for an attached garage. Mrs. Bergantz established that there will be less plant material at the site due to the revisions; however, Mr. Young told the Board that the bond amount that he established with the Town is greater than the amount in the modified plan. The revised Landscape estimation form amount is $8,795.00. The Board concluded that the initial approved bond amount will remain as is.

 

     The Chairman made a MOTION, seconded by Mrs. Bergantz to ACCEPT the revised landscaping plan.  The initial bond amount is to remain in effect.

 

3. C.B. File #04-07, Bryan Young, Seasonal Landscaping & Nursery, Inc., 2240      Southwestern Blvd, Zoned B-2. Requesting a Building Permit to construct a      1,500 sq. ft. addition on the west and a 1,400 sq. ft. addition on the east of        the existing building; parking and green space areas will be increased at the      site. Town Board referred to the Conservation Board on 2/7/07.

 

     APPEARANCE:  Mr. Bryan Young, Young Development

 

    

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     Mr. Young explained and presented his proposed plan for the members to      review, noting that the building and the number of parking spaces will be      increased at the site. Mrs. Bergantz questions if the 10% interior green space      requirement has been met; she would like this calculated and identified on      the plan.  In addition, Mr. Young will contact the Building Inspector and verify    if a variance must be sought for a parking space located partially in the front      of the site.

 

     The members expressed positive comments regarding the proposed plan. 

 

     Mrs. Bergantz made a MOTION, seconded by Chairman Schechter, to      CONDITIONALLY APPROVE the presented plan pending the applicant’s re-submittal of a plan specifically identifying and highlighting the interior         green space area and verifying that the 10% requirement has been met.

 

              MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

 

4. C.B. File#09-07, Wal-Mart Superstore, vacant land south side of Milestrip      Road, Zoned B-1. Requesting a Building Permit to develop a 134,088 square      feet +/- store with a retail department, grocery department, pharmacy and a      partially enclosed garden center. Town Board referred to Conservation Board    on 3/7/07.

 

     APPEARANCE:   Mr. Gerry Buchheit, Developer

                             Kelly Pronti, Harter Secrest Emery, LLP

                             Elisa Tsang, APD Engineering

                             Scott Hagaoorn, Bergmann Associates

                            

Ms. Tsang noted that she had previously presented plans to the Board for a proposed “Sam’s Club”; however, the plan was revised to construct a “Super Wal-Mart”.  She explained the proposed plan to the Board, noting that the plant material remains the same and that comments from the Engineering Department were taken into consideration. She noted that trees were removed from the utility easement area.

 

The Board discussed the following:

 

     •  Control pedestrian traffic with the island areas.

 

     •  Have a pedestrian walkway, i.e. Panera’s in the Village Plaza; be creative                   and utilize what is there.

 

     •  All revisions should be “color-highlighted” with a narrative.

 

     •  The Board prefers “Red Sunset” species; as the variety indicated on the plan              does not survive well in our area.

    

• The Planning Coordinator told the Board that the revised plan was received today and that the Engineering Department had not had a chance to review the plan. He also noted that there have been discussions between the Town Engineering Department and NYSEG regarding the proposed landscaping

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  (trees) to be located in the R.O.W.  He suggests that the applicants contact Ms. Rachel Buchhan of NYSEG and discuss their recommended plant list. 

 

• Mr. Schichtel discussed maintenance of the site.

 

  Councilwoman Ackerman noted that she had met with Bergman & Associates and discussed maintenance issues for the proposed Super Wal-Mart.  She suggested they visit the nearby Wal-Mart site located on Route 20A in the Town of Hamburg.  She further suggested that they clean-up the site.  She stated that if the project is approved, the Town Board will stipulate that the site be maintained by the same contractor that Mr. Buchheit uses at the existing Quaker Crossing site.  She requests that if the Conservation Board makes a motion for approval that they stipulate that an underground sprinkler system be installed in the large areas of the site.

 

  The Planning Coordinator noted that the Building Inspector is seeking a legal opinion (from the Town Attorney Leonard Berkowitz or Deputy Town Attorney Michael Wolf) to advise if this project meets the definition of a “plaza”, as described in the Town Code. 

 

  The Chairman tabled the review of the proposal pending the receipt of a revised plan based on the Board’s comments.

 

5. C.B. File #14-07, Quaker Crossing East, bordered by Amelia Drive, Amanda      Lane, North Benzing and Milestrip Road, Zoned B-1.  Board approved plan on      9/06/05, C.B. File #19-05.  Requesting review and approval of a revised site      plan. 

 

APPEARANCE:   Mr. Gerry Buchheit, Developer

                        Frank Brzezinski, Registered Landscape Architect

                       

The Chairman recused himself from this case.

 

Mr. Brzezinski explained the revised site plan to the Board.

 

The members discussed the selection of plantings for the site, noting that all      four sides of the building will be viewed. They request that the applicant use a      taller plant material (growth that will be higher than 5-feet).

 

The Planning Coordinator discussed a discrepancy in the letter of intent and the presented site plan with regard to the size of the building being          proposed. Mr. Buchheit verified that the site plan indicates the   correct size of        the proposed building, which is 11,440 sq. ft. The letter of intent incorrectly states the building will be 10,000 +/- sq. ft. The Chairman asked that the     applicant initial the plan to verify that 11,440 sq. ft. is the correct size of the   proposed building.

 

Mr. Orffeo also discussed the utility R.O.W. with Mr. Buchheit.  Mr. Buchheit  told the Board that NYSEG does not own the property; they have an easement     to the property and that he is currently discussing the project with Rachel   Buchhan of NYSEG. 

 

    

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     Mr. Orffeo discussed the size of the new building and established that the           number of parking spaces at the site remains code compliant. 

 

     Mr. Loesch made a MOTION, seconded by Mr. Schichtel to ACCEPT the revised plan as presented.  The landscape estimation form received on 4/2/07    indicates the value of the landscaping is $116,989.00.

 

              MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

Mr. Loesch discussed Mr. Stadelmaier’s request voiced at the February 13, 2007      Conservation Board meeting regarding the protection of the water shed/stream      corridors. Mr. Loesch concluded his discussion stating that he feels the Board      should not take a position in this matter at this time.

 

Councilwoman Ackerman asked Mr. Loesch to provide comments in written       form to assist the Town Board with the Comprehensive Plan.

 

OTHER BUSINESS:

 

     Board discussed Conservation Easement issues.

 

With no other business to be presented to the Board at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 8:12 P.M. by UNANIMOUS APPROVAL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     DATED:             April 30, 2007                                              Respectfully submitted,

     REVIEWED:      May 8, 2007                                           Rosemary M. Seivert

                                                                                  Conservation Board Secretary

 

 

 

 

     Richard Schechter

     Conservation Board Chairman