WEEDSPORT-The town of Brutus and village of Weedsport joint planning board had an active and informative meeting Wednesday night as they dealt with subdivision issues as well as learned about how alternative forms of energy might impact on zoning issues.
The joint planning board held a public hearing to consider a five-lot subdivision on the Nans property, situated on Jericho Road in an agriculturally zoned district. Because of the potential to add five new dwellings if the plan were approved, a number of neighbors voiced their concerns.
Bonnie Marvin, who lives across the street from the proposed subdivision, disapproved of the plan.
“The water in the area is terrible,” she said. “If we have four or five more wells in the area, it could effect other people's water.” She also called the board's attention to cars speeding down the road and the need for a decreased speed limit if more residences, which would increase the traffic, were built.
“I live at the top of the hill,” resident Cindy Bacon said. “My well is down 225 feet. You can't drink the water because of the rust, lime and sulfur. With five more homes, what's that going to do to my water vein?”
“Our water vein comes from that hill,” Jean Chase, resident, said. “We have excellent water in our well. I'm just concerned we won't have any.”
“The town board is receptive to look at all these issues,” Jim Sullivan, acting planning board chairman, said. “It's proactive to providing water.” Two new water districts were proposed this year, one already approved and the second pending. Sullivan indicated that the town would be willing to look into the possibility of another water district.
“One of the reasons that I moved into the country is for space,” Tony Amodoei said, “not a lot of houses.” He also objected to having more than one entry from the subdivision onto Jericho Road and asked the board to consider recommending deed restrictions on the minimum square footage of the homes to be built.
Sullivan reminded him that the zoning law as written couldn't be changed. The board agreed to advise the town board of everyone's concerns. Some, like the speeding issue, would have to be addressed by the county.
A second three-lot minor subdivision was brought before the board by Carolyn and Peter Kyle. They wanted to shorten the frontage on one of the lots in the village.
“A subdivision has been filed and construction has started,” Sullivan told them. “If this was in the town board, you would have to start from scratch. In the village, I can't find any similar law that is applicable.”
The Kyles have planned a cluster development to be built on 360 acres of farmland that stretches from Route 31 to Route 34 and from the Lehigh Valley Railroad to Bentley School House Road. The current name for this project is Five Drumlins Community. The theory behind the project is to develop a community with 600 units of housing for five generations. The project is expected to take 20-25 years to complete.
The mayor of Weedsport, Jean B. Saroodis, said engineer Paul Chatfield had no big issues with the subdivision. Some questions remained about 85-foot or 90-foot widths for lots.
“It was an approved subdivision and you should adhere to it,” Sullivan said. “It would be run through the village attorney and village board. We will make recommendations and write a letter to the village to proceed any way that they feel applicable.”
Paul Kyle indicated that they might shift the parameters of one lot to make more room.
“You've got water under motion and a lot of construction going on,” Sullivan said. “Originally we weren't going to discuss the 360 acres. If the village allows you to make one change, is it going to have to allow more?”
Kyle said the reason for the shift was that his project has seen substantial increases in costs and they were considering putting some smaller houses on smaller lots.
“No changes can be made in subdivisions after there is approval in writing,” Sullivan said. “I would strongly recommend that you have it all together so that no changes will have to be made.”
The planning board unanimously agreed to empower the chairman to write a letter to the village board with recommendations based on this conversation so that the village would have a record.
Tom Piasik came to ask about a minor subdivision on Clinton Road to allow his brother to assume ownership of a family-owned house so that he could repair the roof. He found out that he didn't need a subdivision but merely needed to transfer the title and record the deed.
In other news: The board explored the issue of wind power as Court Rutherford, renewable energy specialist from New York Wind and Sun, in Baldwinsville, supplied them with information about a variety of wind towers that could be installed in the town.
He installed a windmill on Pump Road in Jordan for John LaFluer and came to talk about the need for rules and how installation of renewable energy systems, including solar panels, might impact zoning.
New York Wind & Sun is a small company with 14 employees. Right now, Rutherford said, they are 220 windmills backlogged.
“We want to make sure that towns have a choice in making rules,” he said. They will have to abide by state criteria.
Windmills vary in size from 20 kilowatts to 400 watts, he noted, and displayed a number of styles and sizes of towers. State grant money is available. For example, if a $17,000 project is installed, it qualifies for a $7,200 grant from the state, or a net cost of $10,000 for that system.
Rutherford explained that if the windmill generates more electricity than is consumed, a multidirectional meter will go backwards and credit the electricity to the homeowner.
“The windspeed for this area is 12.8 mph. It makes your entire area viable,” he said.
He noted that the system installed at LaFluer's home provides 50 percent of his power needs.
“It's coming big time,” Rutherford said. He recommended two Web sites to the board: www.powernaturally.org and www.conversions.com
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Bonnie Marvin, who lives across the street from the proposed subdivision, disapproved of the plan.
“The water in the area is terrible,” she said. “If we have four or five more wells in the area, it could effect other people's water.” She also called the board's attention to cars speeding down the road and the need for a decreased speed limit if more residences, which would increase the traffic, were built.
“I live at the top of the hill,” resident Cindy Bacon said. “My well is down 225 feet. You can't drink the water because of the rust, lime and sulfur. With five more homes, what's that going to do to my water vein?”
“Our water vein comes from that hill,” Jean Chase, resident, said. “We have excellent water in our well. I'm just concerned we won't have any.”
“The town board is receptive to look at all these issues,” Jim Sullivan, acting planning board chairman, said. “It's proactive to providing water.” Two new water districts were proposed this year, one already approved and the second pending. Sullivan indicated that the town would be willing to look into the possibility of another water district.
“One of the reasons that I moved into the country is for space,” Tony Amodoei said, “not a lot of houses.” He also objected to having more than one entry from the subdivision onto Jericho Road and asked the board to consider recommending deed restrictions on the minimum square footage of the homes to be built.
Sullivan reminded him that the zoning law as written couldn't be changed. The board agreed to advise the town board of everyone's concerns. Some, like the speeding issue, would have to be addressed by the county.
A second three-lot minor subdivision was brought before the board by Carolyn and Peter Kyle. They wanted to shorten the frontage on one of the lots in the village.
“A subdivision has been filed and construction has started,” Sullivan told them. “If this was in the town board, you would have to start from scratch. In the village, I can't find any similar law that is applicable.”
The Kyles have planned a cluster development to be built on 360 acres of farmland that stretches from Route 31 to Route 34 and from the Lehigh Valley Railroad to Bentley School House Road. The current name for this project is Five Drumlins Community. The theory behind the project is to develop a community with 600 units of housing for five generations. The project is expected to take 20-25 years to complete.
The mayor of Weedsport, Jean B. Saroodis, said engineer Paul Chatfield had no big issues with the subdivision. Some questions remained about 85-foot or 90-foot widths for lots.
“It was an approved subdivision and you should adhere to it,” Sullivan said. “It would be run through the village attorney and village board. We will make recommendations and write a letter to the village to proceed any way that they feel applicable.”
Paul Kyle indicated that they might shift the parameters of one lot to make more room.
“You've got water under motion and a lot of construction going on,” Sullivan said. “Originally we weren't going to discuss the 360 acres. If the village allows you to make one change, is it going to have to allow more?”
Kyle said the reason for the shift was that his project has seen substantial increases in costs and they were considering putting some smaller houses on smaller lots.
“No changes can be made in subdivisions after there is approval in writing,” Sullivan said. “I would strongly recommend that you have it all together so that no changes will have to be made.”
The planning board unanimously agreed to empower the chairman to write a letter to the village board with recommendations based on this conversation so that the village would have a record.
Tom Piasik came to ask about a minor subdivision on Clinton Road to allow his brother to assume ownership of a family-owned house so that he could repair the roof. He found out that he didn't need a subdivision but merely needed to transfer the title and record the deed.
In other news: The board explored the issue of wind power as Court Rutherford, renewable energy specialist from New York Wind and Sun, in Baldwinsville, supplied them with information about a variety of wind towers that could be installed in the town.
He installed a windmill on Pump Road in Jordan for John LaFluer and came to talk about the need for rules and how installation of renewable energy systems, including solar panels, might impact zoning.
New York Wind & Sun is a small company with 14 employees. Right now, Rutherford said, they are 220 windmills backlogged.
“We want to make sure that towns have a choice in making rules,” he said. They will have to abide by state criteria.
Windmills vary in size from 20 kilowatts to 400 watts, he noted, and displayed a number of styles and sizes of towers. State grant money is available. For example, if a $17,000 project is installed, it qualifies for a $7,200 grant from the state, or a net cost of $10,000 for that system.
Rutherford explained that if the windmill generates more electricity than is consumed, a multidirectional meter will go backwards and credit the electricity to the homeowner.
“The windspeed for this area is 12.8 mph. It makes your entire area viable,” he said.
He noted that the system installed at LaFluer's home provides 50 percent of his power needs.
“It's coming big time,” Rutherford said. He recommended two Web sites to the board: www.powernaturally.org and www.conversions.com
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
