Town of St Johnsville N.Y. Planning Board - October 13, 2020

Present: Chairman Louise Robusto, Secretary Mariah Decker, Member Michael Mancini; Member Julie Erno

Public: Martha Mancini, Jerry Leone of Cypress Creek Renewables (CCR), Attorney Doug Warden, Steven & Barb Damin, Jarrod Walrath

Meeting called to order at 7:00pm - Motion by Member Decker, 2 nd by Member Mancini

Salute to the Flag Roll call of members

Meeting minutes: The September 8, 2020 meeting minutes were reviewed. Member Mancini motioned to accept the minutes. Motion seconded by Chairman Robusto. Motion carried: 4 aye, 0 nay.

Public Comment: None Old Business:

Damin Subdivision: Steven & Barb Damin present to provide previously requested documents. All Planning Board requirements have been satisfied. Member Decker motions to approve the subdivision of Damin's property on State Highway 5 in the Town of St. Johnsville. Member Mancini seconds this motion. Motion carried: 4 aye, 0 nay. The Planning Board advises the Damin's to complete the required next steps at the Real Property office. We will provide them a formal approval document.

New business:

Walrath subdivision: Jarrod Wairath presents to provide required documents for his subdivision application for a property on Crum Creek Rd in the Town of St. Johnsville. All Planning Board requirements have been satisfied. Member Decker motions to approve the subdivision of the Walrath's property on Crum Creek Rd in the Town of St. Johnsville. Member Mancini seconds this motion. Motion carried: 4 aye, 0 nay. The Planning Board advises Walrath to complete the required next steps at the Real Property office. We will provide him a formal approval document.

Drinkwater Solar project: Jerry Leone of CCR, along with attorney Doug Warden, present to request permission for changes to their site plan and, accordingly, any required changes to the special use permit. The site plan now includes fixed tilt solar panels rather than the single axis trackers, as well as the removal of the battery, which would have been used for the tracker assembly. These changes would result in a 10-acre reduction of the overall project size, as well as a 2-foot reduction of the panel assembly height. Furthermore, National Grid plans to add two more utility poles for ease of use.

Town Attorney Mastromoro confirms the negative declaration was sent to the Environmental Notice Bulletin, as was requested by CCR at the July planning board meeting.

All required documents and actions are currently up to date with this project. New business:

Regarding the incomplete subdivision application from Steven Damin, Secretary Decker submitted a letter to Lynn Stever to be sent to him, requesting further information and supporting documentation to add to his file. As of this meeting we have not heard from him, nor received further correspondence. This will be revisited if and when the planning board receives the required information and supporting documentation.

The next regular meeting will be held September 8, 2020 at 6:30 pm.

Motion to adjourn made by Member Decker, seconded by Member Mancini. Motion carried: 3 aye, 0 nay. Meeting adjourned at 7:15pm.

Respectfully submitted by Mariah Decker, Planning Board Secretary

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Member Mancini motions to table the decision on special permit reissuance for the Drinkwater project until we have better clarification of CCR's intent to begin construction. Member Erno seconds this motion. Motion carried: 4 aye, 0 nay. The planning board reminds Leone of the option for a special meeting to be held before the regular meeting in August if he were to put in a request with ample time provided for public notification.

Tayandenaga Solar Project Updates:

As requested by the planning board at the October, November, and December meetings, CCR submits a letter from the Army Corp of Engineers confirming they hold a current Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination on file for the Tayandenaga project. The planning board is satisfied with their fulfillment of this requirement at this time.

Town Attorney Mastromoro presents his draft of the Special Permit for the Tayandenaga project. The planning board requests a change of language regarding road bonding as well as the correction of Chairman Robusto's name. Member Decker motions to approve the Special Permit, given the corrections are made. Member Mancini seconds this motion. Motion carried: 4 aye, 0 nay.

Warden requests the Negative Declaration be sent to NYS DEC to be placed on the Environmental Notice Bulletin, as required by SEQRA regulations. This was supposed to be done in the fall but the previous chairman of the planning board had not fulfilled this requirement.

New business:

The planning board received a subdivision application from Steven Damin for his property on State Highway 5; however a sketch plan was not submitted with his application. Member Decker is to write a letter to Damin requesting a sketch plan and to inform him of initial requirements for a subdivision to be considered by the planning board.

The next regular meeting will be held August 11, 2020 at 6:30 pm.

Motion to adjourn made by Member Mancini, seconded by Member Decker. Motion carried: 4 aye, 0 nay. Meeting adjourned at 7:55PM.

Respectfully submitted by Mariah Decker, Planning Board Secretary

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Town of St Johnsville N.Y. Planning Board - March 10, 2020

Town of St Johnsville N.Y. Planning Board - March 10, 2020 Organizational Meeting:

Marcel Falcon was not reappointed as Chairman. Member George Haines has moved up to the Town Board. Member Les Larsen resigned from the Planning Board.

Louise Robusto has been appointed Chairman of the Planning Board. Mariah Decker has been designated Secretary of the Planning Board. Michael Mancini has been appointed as member of the Planning Board. Julie Erno has been appointed as member of the Planning Board.

One vacancy remains. The Town Board is actively seeking a new member to fill the remaining vacancy.

Planning Board Regular Meeting:

Present: Chairman Louise Robusto, Secretary Mariah Decker, Member Michael Mancini; Absent: Member Julie Erno

Public: Martha Mancini

Meeting called to order at 6:30PM  Salute to the Flag

Roll call of members

Meeting minutes: A regular meeting was not held in February due to vacancies, therefore there are no new minutes in need of review.

Public Comment: None Old Business:

Drinkwater Solar Project Updates: Chairman Robusto states the Decommission Bond and the Road Bond were received for the Drinkwater project on Crum Creek Rd; however they failed to renew their special use permit which expired January 2020. The special use permit had been granted with the stipulation they would break ground and begin construction within one year, which did not occur. They stated they were seeking a better logging contract as the pricing was too high with the logging company they had been working with initially. They also stated they were looking into new, better solar arrays. Still, this was to be done and ground was to be broken within the year timeframe - none of which took place in said timeframe. Next month, they will be in attendance at the regular Planning Board meeting to provide justification for their lack of action on the project. Town Attorney Norman Mastromoro will be in attendance to oversee the discussion. The Planning Board will then decide if there is just cause for the delays, and either approve or deny a renewal of their application based on the findings.