PLANNING BOARD

WORKSHOP MEETING

TOWN OF BERNE

P.O. Box 57

Berne, NY   12023

 

Date:  January 20, 2011

 

Present:  Gerard Chartier, Chairman; Tim Lippert; Katherine Hill-Brown; Mike Vincent; Wayne Emory, Town Board Liaison.  Alan Rockmore was not in attendance.

 

Guests:  Dawn Jordan; M. Lenkiewicz.

 

Mr. Chartier called the workshop meeting to order at 7:05 pm.  He reminded the members that the Open Government training session will be held on 1/26/11 at the Senior Citizen Center beginning at 7:30pm.

 

A copy of the memo regarding the Argiris Variance was sent to all the board members and they had reviewed it making no changes.

 

The secretary reported that the new fee calculation sheet will be submitted to the Town Board at their February meeting.

 

The Stempel lot line adjustment was discussed with the surveyor due to a discrepancy with the map; the lands to be conveyed were not previously subdivided.  The secretary reported that the matter had been resolved, and the Public Hearing is scheduled for February 3rd.

 

A joint planning meeting at the April 21st workshop was discussed.

 

Mr. Lippert stated that he would like the members to be familiar with and recognize the comprehensive plan as they review each section of the draft residential wind ordinance.  He stated there is a lot of pertinent data as to the goals and objectives relating to the scenic vistas. Mr. Lippert was referring to the comprehensive plan dated 4/1992 which has some powerful statements on protecting the town’s natural resources, and really specific guidelines for the Escarpment on page 45 which Mr. Lippert read from.  The Comprehensive Plan states there are no towers of any kind on the escarpment.

 

Mr. Vincent asked if there should be an environmental review for residential wind turbines.  It was agreed that a SEQR review would be performed for each application.

 

Each section of the draft document was reviewed one by one. Following are notes of that discussion.

 

§ 6 Waivers. There was a great deal of discussion and reservations regarding this section.  It was agreed that this would be kept open and would be discussed further.  Three members had concerns regarding waiver language.

 

§7 Enforcement and Penalties – beginning sentence shall read “The Town Board of Berne.”

 

§ 10 Definitions – “Accessory” shall be changed to “Ancillary” and “towers” shall be changed to “turbine.”

 

§ 10 Definitions – Transmission Owner – Remove “Con Edison” and add “Central Hudson.”

 

§ 10 Definitions – Wind Energy Facility – “Accessory” shall be changed to “Ancillary.”

 

§11 Application Requirements:

 

-         Subparagraph A shall read, “A copy of an executed interconnection agreement with the transmission owner, if applicable.”

 

-         Subparagraph C1 shall read, “Property lines and physical dimensions of the site, including 20 foot contour elevations of the site including adjacent parcels.”

 

-         Subparagraph C5 take out “buffers” and put in “setbacks.”

 

-         Subparagraph C7 shall read, “Location of the nearest residential structure(s) on the site and located on adjacent parcels and the distance of each from the proposed wind turbine.”

 

-         Subparagraph I - change 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet.

 

-         Subparagraph J - Add after the first sentence, “The Planning Board may require a further environmental assessment at their discretion.”

 

-         Subparagraph J 3 - add “and scenic vistas” at the end of the sentence.

 

§12 Application Review Process

 

-         Subparagraph D – change 500 feet to 1,000 feet.

 

The next workshop will start with review of §13.

 

Ms. Hill-Brown made a motion, seconded by Mr. Vincent to adjourn. All were in favor and the workshop meeting was adjourned at 9 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Anita C. Clayton

Secretary

 

Approved 2-17-11