Signs and Parking

The September 3 Planning Board meeting began with a simple request by a home owner who owns two parcels to combine into one parcel on Gold Road. The Board approved the resolution enabling this.

Next up was a request by Hudson Valley Volkswagen to amend their site plan. The applicant is requesting to enclose the current drive-through and build a new service area. They would also like to use the retention basin for inventory parking. The Board chair asked that they get the DEC Wetland approvals before - no tree clearing is requested. The board pointed out that they will be required to get 2 variances from the ZBA before moving forward - one for the amount of greenspace required (will be 2% under) and an increase of 2% in impervious parking. The loading area can only be achieved by backing in from Route 9.

The Board voted that they will be the lead agency in a coordinated review with will include a SEQR review. A Public hearing will be required. The board decided that they want all the material before a public hearing is scheduled.

Village Pancake Factory at 1099 Route 9 is requesting an amended site plan. The Sign... the board were discussing that the proposed sign is too big, though they agree that what the code prescribes may be too small. A board member mentioned that the last meeting there were a number of questions about the sign, and felt that the submission for this meeting did not address the questions. He also said that the code was ok from this perspective and pointed to other free-standing signs on Route 9 that do comply.

The applicant tried to make the case that other businesses "failed" at that location because of the size of their sign, that people are driving faster than 55mph, that Lawrence Farm signs is overpowering and people will have passed the driveway by the time they notice it, that the road is 2 feet higher than the ground where the sign is planned to be installed. The applicant also claimed that they are putting a lot of resources into remodeling the restaurant (and that is relevant how?). The Board asked about the placement of the sign, perhaps more North. The "sign" expert said that the sign indicates where the entrance is. The planner agreed that a free standing monumment sign should be at the entrance. There are two sign waivers requested -- one the size of the sign and also the number of signs on a building. Another board member said he isn't convinced it is too big... wants to see a mock-up.. and the board will look at it. The board asked the applicant to do a mock-up of what they applicant for a freestanding sign. The sign designer said should could do that. Everyone agreed to a mock-up. A site visit was scheduled for September 13th. A board member also asked for the size of signs in the area.

Lighting plan - the planner asked that the existing lighting fixtures on the building will need to be included. Please be sure that the lighting plan is aligned with the zoning code. No new landscaping plan is needed because they are not doing any new landscaping.

An existing easement agreement is in place for the parking -- needs to be noted, submitted.

The Planner noted that some waivers on lighting may be needed with the current lighting plan - the illumination is not even.

There is an apartment in the building and there was a questions about the lighting required for the apartment (at the entrance).

The site plan needs to reference the source of some of the site plan details . ..utilities, septic, easements, seat count. The chair stopped the discussion and said that the Board of Health approvals, in writing is needed. That the engineers needs to document. That an "as built" drawings at the end of the project isn't good enough -- it has be documented ahead of time, prior to the site plan approval.

Conceptual Review - an amended site plan for Performance Auto at 1401 Route 9. The appplicant would like to expand some parking/storage and because the lack of rain, the plantings haven't done well. They are proposing a valet parking system... going from 53 parking spaces to 102 spaces. This is a 1.01 acre site.. and the code limits to 70 cars per acre. The engineer said this would be very difficult given the inventories - and the issue needs to be resolved. The Planner said that there are a number of variances that would be needed to accomodate the proposed plan. The proposed plan would eliminate the parking on the DOT right of way. It was pointed out they had space for 96 parking but then put in a building, reducing the space for parking. The board asked about emergency access and pointed to the ZBA for required variances. The board also asked that the plan indicate where the vehicles are loaded/unloaded. Apparently there is paving on a rock area that was not approved, with the chairman saying "well, it's been there" -- wowee .... I guess that is a way to get things done in the town. The engineer kept repeating that car dealers are having a problem with managing inventory of cars within the current town code. Really? The Planning Board wants the ZBA to work through this first.

The Comprehensive Plan updates - made by the Town Board - will be reviewed at the Planning Board workshop in October.