HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin-12-15-10
1
CODES AND ORDINANCES COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
December 15, 2010
MEMBERS PRESENT: Bill Goodman, Pat Leary, Eric Levine, Eva Hoffmann.
OTHERS PRESENT: Susan Brock, Attorney for the Town; Bruce Bates, Director of Code
Enforcement; Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning; Chris Balestra, Planner; Sandy Polce,
Administrative Staff; Diane Conneman, Conservation Board.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Fred Wilcox, Kirk Sigel.
Chair Bill Goodman called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
Agenda Item No. 1 - Member Comments/Concerns:
Eric expressed concern that the COC lost a member, since Kirk Sigel was stepping down. Bruce asked
the committee what he needed to do to put another Zoning Board of Appeals member on the COC
committee. Bill explained that the Town Board must appoint members to the COC committee, so the
Town Board will consider another representative from the ZBA at a future Town Board meeting.
Agenda Item No. 2 – Approval of Minutes from the November 17, 2010 meeting:
Minor changes were made to the minutes that were unanimously approved as amended. Pat moved and
Eric seconded the motion to approve the amended minutes, all in favor of the changes.
Agenda Item No. 3 – Approval of the 2011 COC Meeting Schedule:
Bill suggested moving the COC meetings from 7:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for 2011. The earlier time would
suit some members, but not others (staff supported an earlier time). The Committee decided to leave the
meeting time at 7:00 p.m. for the January 2011 meeting, and revisit the idea then. The 2011 meeting
scheduled was otherwise approved.
Agenda Item No. 4 – Discussion of Draft Revised Conservation Zone Amendments:
The Committee went line by line through the redlined version of the new draft amendments.
Susan will add a new Purpose section under definitions to use Eva’s suggested wording of ‘minimal
negative environmental impact’.
Definitions:
Page 1; Section 1; Clear-Cutting: Committee agreed to keep the clear-cutting definition in, but to reduce
the threshold for allowing clear-cutting from two acres to one acre.
Page 1; Section 1; Timber Harvesting: Committee agreed to delete the line “for the purpose of selling or
milling such timber or trees, excluding the cutting of trees for the personal use of the landowner”.
Page 2; Section 2; “E”: ‘Timber harvesting, subject to the requirements in Section 270-22.L’. Committee
agreed this was okay.
2
Page 3; under Section 5; D (2) ‘The following shall not require a timber harvesting permit’:
- The Committee agreed to add or keep the following wording (additions are in quotes):
• (2)(a): Reasonable site clearing preparatory to construction of a building or other structure for
which a building permit has been issued ‘provided such site clearing does not exceed one acre’.
Bruce mentioned he spoke with Hank Vance, Code Enforcement Officer with the Town of Gardiner on
how they interpret the word “reasonable” in terms of site clearing and the Officer said that he determined
what was considered reasonable.
• (2)(b): Site clearing preparatory to construction of a building or other structure pursuant to a site
plan approved by the Planning Board ‘provided such site clearing does not exceed one acre’.
• (2)(c): Clearing of land for rights-of-way or utilities. Committee agreed this was okay.
• (2)(d): Clearing and maintenance of land for agricultural purposes ‘for land in Agricultural
Districts’.
• (2)(e): The harvesting of evergreens specifically planted for Christmas trees. Committee agreed
this was okay.
• (2)(f): A bona fide commercial landscaping operation. Committee agreed to delete this wording.
• (2)(g): Maintenance of trees or property through the pruning or topping of trees. Committee
agreed this was okay.
Page 4, under Section 5; D (2):
- The Committee agreed to add or keep the following wording (additions are in quotes):
• (2)(i): Any other removal of timber from a parcel in quantities less than 10 standard cords of
wood, or ‘5,000’ board feet, as measured by the international ¼ inch log rule, in any one year.
Bruce will verify the conversion from cords to board feet to confirm that 10 standard cords equals 5,000
board feet. Bruce also used the ¼” log rule to determine the cord to board feet conversion, which takes
into account waste material.
• The Committee agreed to leave out the yellow highlighted paragraph under (2)(i).
The Committee left off on page 4 of the redlined document, just before (3) ‘Submission requirements for
timber harvesting permit’; and will pick up there at the January COC meeting.
Agenda Item No. 5 – Continued Discussion of Revisions to “Garage” and Accessory Building”
Definitions and References in the Town Zoning Code:
The Committee moved this agenda item to the next COC meeting.
3
Agenda Item No. 6 – Other Business:
None
Agenda Item No. 7 – Next meeting date and agenda scheduled:
For the January 19, 2011 COC meeting:
- Continue Discussion of Revised Draft Conservation Zone Amendments.
- Continue Discussion of Revisions to “Garage” and “Accessory Building” Definitions
and References in the Town Zoning Code.
- Review COC Work Plan for 2011.
- Approval of Starting Time for the 2011 COC Meeting Schedule.
Bill moved and Eric seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:35pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sandy Polce, Administrative Staff