The regular meeting of the Planning Board, Town of Moreau, County of Saratoga and State of New York was held at the Town Office Building, 61 Hudson Street, South Glens Falls, NY 12803 at 7:00 p.m. on February 25, 2008.

Planning Board members in attendance were Chairman Peter Jensen, Ronald Zimmerman, James Edwards, Tom Field, John Arnold and Gary Dickinson.

Others present: Joseph Patricke, Building Inspector and Martin Auffredou, Attorney for the Town.

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jensen at 7 p.m.

A motion was made to approve the January 28, 2008 Planning Board minutes with one correction to change Dr. Zimmerman to Mr. Zimmerman.

Travis Mitchell: I work with Rick Schermerhorn. This is a 40 acre parcel of land located on the northeast quadrant of Bluebird and Fort Edward Roads. They will be multi unit dwellings, one and two unit residential. The zoning requires 1 unit for every 5000 square feet of land area. We are proposing 244 units. The western portion of the area is primarily open grass fields with some scrub brush. The remainder of the site consists of sandy soils. Proposed layout consists of two primary access points; one on Bluebird Road and one on Fort Edward Road with secondary access to a unit to the north of Fort Edward Road. We have proposed two different building styles. There is an 8 unit garden style apartment building and a 4 unit townhouse style with attached garage. They have parking spots adjacent. There are 42 building total. 19 of the 8 unit apartment building north of the National Grid right-a-way and 23 of the 4 unit buildings south of the right-a-way. Two bedroom units in the 8 unit buildings and 3 bedroom units in the 4 unit townhouse style. There are 524 total parking spaces; 220 for the townhouse units and 304 for the garden style units. We will fully comply with the New York State guideline for storm water management. We performed soil tests in July 2007 and at that time installed a series of monitoring wells to keep track of the seasonal ground water conditions. All storm water infrastructure will be privately owned and maintained. For water service to the site, there is a 12-inch water main part of water district #4 on Fort Edward Road. There is also a 12-inch water main that is part of district #3 on Bluebird Road. We propose two conditions. Sanitary sewer service, we will have an on site gravity collection system. They will all drain to a pump station in the southeast corner of the site. The pump site will discharge to either the Moreau sewer district #1 near the intersection of Bluebird and Sisson Road or to the Village of South Glens Falls on Fort Edward Road. We were asked a sidewalk that connects Bluebird Road through the main loop road to Fort Edward Road entrance. A traffic study was performed. He expects a peak morning trip volume of 123 trips and a peak evening volume of 152 trips. The study concluded that the intersections will continue to operate at a good level of service with no improvements recommended. There was good sight distance on Bluebird Road. On Fort Edward Road the sight distance is currently limited due to some existing vegetation that we will remove during construction. We received a letter from New York State National Heritage Program regarding possible presence of an orchid plant. It is not present on the site. Butterfly study found none. There is no evidence of any archeological issues. We are currently seeking a sign off from New York State Parks and Recreation and Historic Preservation. There are approximately 5-1/4 acres of Army Corps wetlands. We are pursing a permit with National Grid for the right-a-away crossing and easement crossing. They now have the updated plan. It appears that a permit is likely.

Chairman Jensen: Board, any comments for Mr. Mitchell.

Mr. Field: In the traffic study did you take into consideration the industrial park?

Mr. Mitchell: That is correct.

Mr. Field: There are 35 employees at that plant, is that accurate?

Mr. Mitchell: I don't know that it's accurate, I can confirm that.

Mr. Patricke: I think the projection we have been given so far is 30.

Mr. Field: That pellet plant is going to occupy the bulk of the industrial plant, correct?

Mr. Patricke: A sizable portion. There are 9 lots, but the exact acreage I don't know.

Mr. Field: It is important in evaluating the impact of the intersection.

Mr. Patricke: There are going to be 50 trucks a day round trip, 100 trips.

Mr. Field: They're going to bringing in lumber.

Mr. Patricke: They're bringing in logs and shipping out finished product.

Mr. Field: I would like to know the number of lots they're occupying?

Mr. Patricke: 9.

Mr. Field: Out of 11?

Mr. Patricke: 9 out of 27. I can get acreage.

Mr. Field: Number of lots. When we did the generic study for that park in 1991 we anticipated 2500 employees using that site and half of an acre is now going into a plant that has only 30 employees. Ultimately the impact on that intersection is going to be a great deal different. There is certainly no way we can ask this applicant to anticipate what is going on with the rest of the acreage in the park, but looking down the road, if we end up with an intersection at Bluebird and Fort Edward Road that is a level of C or D, pedestrian crossing in an area that is supposed to be school is going to be out of the question. I think we should look at that. Look at the new density of use in the industrial park.

Mr. Patricke: Tom, I didn't quite understand. The pedestrian crossing at the school?

Mr. Field: There at Fort Edward Road and Bluebird Road.

Mr. Edwards: This is a site plan review, not subdivision, so what bearing does the land holdings on review?

Rich Schermerhorn: I'm under contract with Mr. Caccavo and Charles Moffitt. The property is secured.

Mr. Patricke: We have a form signed by the owner authorizing him to proceed with this project.

Mr. Edwards: Are there steep slopes?

Mr. Mitchell: No.

Mr. Patricke: The steepest we saw was over by the wetlands, so it is already out because of the wetlands.

Mr. Field: I like the addition of the sidewalk. I think it will be an asset.

Mr. Schermerhorn: We added street lights, as well.

Mr. Edwards: I don't like the northern driveway. It serves basically that one unit.

Mr. Schermerhorn: You're saying just eliminate the curb cut?

Mr. Edwards: Well the curb cut and the building sits there by itself, maybe eliminate the building. '

Mr. Mitchell: Curb cuts are determined by emergency service access. How would you feel if National Grid was agreeable to moving that through the back or do you not favor that building there at all?

Mr. Edwards: It just doesn't fit well with the rest of the buildings.

Mr. Field: Another thought would be to make that a one-way entrance.

Mr. Mitchell: An emergency entrance only, we could take a look at that.

Mr. Edwards: How do the driveways connect?

Mr. Mitchell: I can take some photographs so you can get a feeling for it.

Mr. Edwards: Have you gotten any feedback from the existing home?

Mr. Patricke: I have.

Mr. Edwards: In terms of how they're going to feel about this driveway and buffering, I think we ought to consider that.

Mr. Mitchell: Okay.

Mr. Field: Joe, you said you had feedback?

Mr. Patricke: They've been waiting for something to see. They are concerned and interested. When we were doing test pits they called, they were interested in finding out what is going on. They understand apartments; they were looking for some shelter around them. If we're to that point, I will make it available to her and let them view it, it just hasn't been done yet.

Mr. Edwards: Maybe some type of buffer? How far is that back from the back of their house?

Mr. Mitchell: 60 feet.

Mr. Schermerhorn: What are the people's name?

Mr. Patricke: Saunders. I can get the name.

Mr. Edwards: Is a lot of fill required?

Mr. Mitchell: I don't think so.

Mr. Schermerhorn: It's possible I could eliminate that building all together. We could do possible fencing. I'm not opposed to talking with the Saunders and seeing what would work best for them.

Chairman Jensen: Any further questions or comments?

Mr. Edwards: I want to comment on the sidewalk, I do like the sidewalk.

Mr. Arnold: Would it be an issue to put in a curb cut for bus pick up?

Mr. Schermerhorn: Nope.

Mr. Zimmerman: Who does waste and snow removal?

Mr. Schermerhorn: We do all maintenance.

Mr. Zimmerman: Mailboxes?

Mr. Schermerhorn: The post office likes us to build a house. There is one designated, secure area for mailboxes.

Mr. Zimmerman: Sewer?

Mr. Mitchell: Our next step is to send to Tim Burley.

Mr. Patricke: We talked earlier. The previous Town Board told the applicant to go through planning process prior to asking town for water or sewer. However, the applicant has plunged forward with engineering and legal review. I see no reason why they can't be conducting that information with Tim Burley now, do you?

Mr. Auffredou: I see no reason why they can't.

Mr. Patricke: This board will refer to that engineer for review purposes. Secondly is the review of the water and sewer through the Town Board.

Chairman Jensen: By all means send to the town engineer for our portion.

Mr. Patricke: We are waiting on some things. How do you want to handle the traffic?

Chairman Jensen: At our last meeting we recommended we go with an independent.

Mr. Patricke: Okay.

Mr. Edwards: Regarding storm management, I want to make sure our consultant has the extra piece. I want to make sure it is done properly. I wasn't overly thrilled with the last review. I want to make sure it is done thoroughly.

Mr. Auffredou: We will forward your concern and say the Planning Board wants to make sure the engineer has no concerns about their ability to review given the current standards and storm management rules.

Chairman Jensen: Anything further Board?

Mr. Patricke: We will have traffic looked at and engineer regarding storm water and you need to get the fire department and emergency services and the school district involved. Do we want school buses stopping on Bluebird Road picking up children?

Mr. Mitchell: We could develop a pull off or they could mailbox turn around.

Mr. Patricke: I think you need some of this digested before you give to Tim. We can give him the preliminary and let him look at it.

Chairman Jensen: Anything further?

Mr. Patricke: I have not yet submitted this to the county because I don't submit until you have a complete application. We will wait on that.

Mr. Auffredou: The same is true for SEQR. Nothing wrong with sending it to your engineer. You could establish SEQR lead agency tonight if you want to or you can say you're going to wait until you get other items in. The Board cannot conduct a SEQR review until all the emergency services and school information is in. Is March 17th the next meeting?

Mr. Patricke: Yes.

Chairman Jensen: We will not have 30 days between now and the next meeting.

Mr. Patricke: Travis, have you talked with the county about access?

Mr. Mitchell: Not yet.

Mr. Auffredou: You plan on using the same EAF for both projects?

Mr. Mitchell: Yes.

Mr. Patricke: Are you planning a phase construction project?

Mr. Schermerhorn: I would probably start one half and complete it then the next.

Mr. Mitchell: We understand what needs to be done. Is it appropriate to proceed with a public hearing or do we hold until next month?

Chairman Jensen: We'll have to. I do not have 30 days for notification.

Mr. Mitchell: So at the next meeting we could potentially initiate SEQR and then 30 days from them.

Chairman Jensen: If everything goes accordingly. At the next meeting if you could have available 7 additional copies of your layout so we can include with EAF.

Mr. Mitchell: For the next meeting you are looking for possibly feed back from Mr. Burley curb cuts, school district and emergency services?

Mr. Patricke: Corp of engineers and fish and wildlife.

Mr. Auffredou: A suggestion, with a project of this magnitude and scope, it may be worthwhile, as we're getting closer to spring and closer to SEQR, as a Board for a whole to make a site visit and walk the property, etc. It may be of value to the Board as whole to do that. If you think it's a good idea, you schedule it around your public hearing date.

Mr. Patricke: Typically when we've done it in the past it has been official.

Mr. Auffredou: Potentially at the April or May meeting.

Mr. Edwards: That's a good idea.

Chairman Jensen: Careful we don't discuss the project, just look.

Mr. Auffredou: We can if you announce and post that you're going to be doing this. It is a meeting of the board and any member of the public can go with you. I would recommend you announce it anyway.

Chairman Jensen: We will schedule that at our next meeting.

Mr. Patricke: I would like to meet with you on lighting. We're looking for something on Bluebird and Fort Edward Road. Are you planning signs?

Mr. Schermerhorn: Yes.

Chairman Jensen: Anything further?

Mr. Patricke: I handed you letters. I'd like you to read and if you have any input, get back to us and let us know. Speed limit is 55.

Mr. Edward: Do you have to petition someone to change that speed limit?

Mr. Patricke: County.

Mr. Zimmerman motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8 p.m. and Mr. Arnold seconded.

The motion was passed unanimously. Next meeting March 17, 2008 at 7 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Missy Norton

Recording Secretary

cc: Zoning Board, Town Board, Town Clerk, Supt. of Highways, Building Inspector, Assessor, Saratoga County Planning Board.