Minutes of the January 6, 2009 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

                                       Thomas Jaeger

                                      James Loesch

                                      Frank Newton

George Schichtel

David Ward

EXCUSED:                      Anne Bergantz

OTHERS PRESENT:        Remy C. Orffeo, Planning Coordinator

Councilwoman Nan Ackerman

                                       Rose Seivert, Conservation Board Secretary                          ________________________________________________________________________________

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:00 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:

A MOTION was made by Mr. Loesch, seconded by Mr. Jaeger, to accept the minutes of the September 2, September 30 and November 4, 2008 meetings.

              MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

OLD BUSINESS:

                                1.  C.B. File #33-99 Harvest Hill Golf Course, 3052 Old Transit Road, located on the west side of Old Transit Road, Zoned R-2. (SBL#153.08-2-6.11) Board to                 review revised landscaping plan.

APPEARANCE:  Paul Gardner, HB Cornerstone

                        Mr. Gardner presented and explained a revised landscaping plan to the    members. He noted that the applicant’s intent is to eliminate the long “snake-         like” appearance of the originally proposed berm and to strategically place      sections of the berm to screen the parking lot adding character to the site. He          told the Board that the proposed plan includes more trees than what had   been originally agreed upon.

                        The members established that the site will not be irrigated and they discussed   their disappointment with not having an irrigation system at this site to benefit         the plantings.

                        Mr. Gardner noted that due to economics, irrigation is not feasible.  It was                    further established that the parking lot will be paved during the spring of 2009 and that this should alleviate dust issues raised by area residents.

                        Mr. Gardner verified the location of tents on the site map, noting that they will be                    placed in the future club house area.

                        In addition, the following was discussed at length;

•  The height of the berms is not clearly indicated on the plan.

     Mr. Gardner reviewed the height of the various berms with the members.  The Board suggested that evergreen trees, such as “White Pine” or “White Spruce” be substituted for the proposed deciduous trees. The planting of “Jack Pine” as indicated on the plan should not be used. Councilwoman Ackerman suggested that “Larch” would do well at the site.

                        •  The dumpster location, if any, must be shown on the plan.

                        •  More definition needs to be provided regarding the island areas that will be                         put in after the parking lot paving has been completed. The applicant must          keep in mind the Town Code when proposing plantings to be used in the                  island areas. 

•   The Board questioned if the Engineering Department review of the project will change the design of the site and effect what has been presented to the           Board.

•   Mr. Gardner verified that the necessary County permits and approvals have been acquired for the site.

                        •  The landscape valuation estimation form total is $61,815.00; the interior                              green space is 10.5%.

                        The Chairman tabled the review of this case pending receipt of a revised plan    based on the comments from the Board.           

OTHER BUSINESS:

The Board members reviewed the “landscape completion bond” tracking form.

Mr. Loesch presented language to amend the present Town Code that he and Mr. Schichtel worked on, with regard to accepting cash rather than a bond to guarantee plantings. The Board reviewed this submission at length. The Chairman agreed to review the members’ comments and report to the Board at the next meeting.

     DATED:               January 7, 2009                                               Respectfully submitted,

     REVIEWED:             January 7, 2009                                            Rosemary M. Seivert

                                                                                      Conservation Board Secretary

     Richard Schechter,

     Conservation Board Chairman