PB Minutes December 16, 2004

Town of Dryden Planning Board

December 16, 2004

Agenda: (1) Gary L. Wood
(2) Matrix Energy Subdivision
(3) Future Events

Mem. Present: Barbara Caldwell, Tom Hatfield, David Weinstein, Jim Crawford, Joseph Laquatra, Russell Beck

Also Present: Stephen Bell, Henry Slater, Debbie Gross, Gary Wood

(1) Gary L. Wood

7:10 B. Caldwell called the public meeting to order.

B. Caldwell Asked the board if they would like to change anything on the November 18th minutes. Then asked if there was a motion to be approved as noted which J. Crawford moved and was seconded by Joseph Laquatra and approved by all.

Mr. Wood Introduced his 63-acre parcel between on Etna Road. Then told the board that he was looking to divide up this area into 10 or 11 lots, which are each in access of 3 acres with all having a 185 feet of frontage. Went on to introduce both ideas of division

B. Caldwell Asked Mr. Wood if the water table was high in this area and if the soil was not very good as it was on a project in close vicinity to this one.

Mr. Wood Responded by saying that he was aware of those problems and that was the reason the lots were divided the way they were. Continued by pointing out that the soil close to the road is good.

D. Weinstein Stated his concern for the soil and pointed out that building closer to the road is the best idea. Farther more he stated that the seconded plan that was introduced was the best because of the power lines, which would limit people’s power to closer to the road and subsequently build farther away from the road.

R. Beck Asked Mr. Wood if there would be enough room on the lot most effected by the power lines to build a houses and all necessary components of a house.

Mr. Wood Answered measurements proving that there would be enough room and distance from the road to fit a home and its components. Then told the board that he would prepare a map with everything prepared on it such as septic tanks and everything else.

T. Hatfield Asked if it would be possible for there to be shared drive ways since there would be a lot of road cuts if otherwise.

Mr. Wood Stated he thought it wasn’t necessary since the drive ways would not be close together because of the size of the lots and that Etna Rd. doesn’t get as much traffic as roads that have had problems with road cuts like West Dryden Rd.

T. Hatfield Then offered shared road cuts not shared driveways, as a solution to is inquiry.

B. Caldwell Asked if any of the board members had and comments, questions, or concerns for Mr. Wood.

(2) Matrix Energy Subdivision

T. Lolve Introduced a 162 acre parcel which he would like to be divided in to around 40 depending on how investigations go. Continued with describing a 1.25-mile road that would loop around and come back into its self-creating a circle. Also stated that the road would only have one access point it being Wood Rd.

B. Caldwell Asked about the ownership of both the wetlands that are located on some lots and also the two drainage ponds that are located on the lots.

T. Lolve Answered by saying that the ponds and wetlands would be apart of the purchase of the particular lot. Maintenance of the ponds would be up to the owner of the lot.

T. Hatfield Stated that there has to be something to shelter the protected stream that was down the middle of the whole land.

T. Lolve Stated that the road would be dedicated to the town at some point and would be 1-2 feet above grade due to the dampness.

D. Weinstein Asked if they were going to be building the homes and selling them or to just sell the property.

T. Lolve Stated that the land owner wasn’t interested in building the houses but only the road and utilities.

D. Weinstein Asked how they were planning on building the road with out disrupting the natural drainage of the land.

T. Lolve Responded that drainage ditches would be in place and that the land would help the flow of water to the ponds.

T. Hatfield Asked if this project was going to be put in as phases or as a whole thing.

T. Lolve Responded by stating it would go in all together as one.

J. Crawford Asked if they think there should be a community location for kids.

R. Beck Stated that with the average size lot being 3 acres it wouldn’t be necessary for the location.

T. Hatfield Continued with the suggestion that there could be a running or biking path around the middle of the circle the road creates.

R. Beck Asked about the avarge price for the houses on the circle incase of a three hundred thousand dollar house being built by an eighty thousand dollar house.

T. Lolve Answered by stating that it is up to the real-estate agent and the owner how the property to designate a range.

D. Weinstein Stated his concern for the lots around the wetland and the flooding problem.

B. Caldwell Asked if Mr. Lolve had any questions for the board.

T. Lolve Responded by with a no but included that he would be working with both Henry Slater and Debbie Gross.

B. Caldwell Then asked the board if they had any other questions.

D. Weinstein Asked if Mr. Lolve was submitting these documents then which was not the case.

B. Caldwell Then thanked Mr. Lolve for coming and talking to the board and also projected the submission on the next meeting.

(3) Future Events

B. Caldwell Continued the hearing by making note of the Lucente’s appeal to the Zoning Board. Understanding that the case would be brought to the Planning Board for sub division approval.

H. Slater Explained to the Planning Board the Lucente’s appeal and situation.

B. Caldwell Asked Debbie Gross, Russell Beck, and Tom Hatfield about what happened at the Agricultural Group meeting.

R. Beck Stated htat he thought the meeting went very well and if accomplished what was set out to be and set aside my any fears.

T. Hatfield Projected his optimism that there could be a public hearing by February.

D. Gross Explained what happened and displayed her draft minutes of the meeting.

9:20 PM B. Caldwell closed the public hearing