TOWN OF PENDLETON
MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE - MEETING #11
Thursday, March 17, 2005
MEMBERS PRESENT: James Sacco, Ed Harman, Carol Bair and Jon Olsted
SPECIAL GUEST: Stanley Biernat
(1) The meeting began at 7:00 P.M. as scheduled in the Town Hall meeting room. A sign up sheet was distributed and a copy attached to these meeting summary notes.
(2) Meeting summary notes from February meeting: The meeting summary notes from our meeting on February 17 regarding the committee review of Chapters 6: Utilities of the Town Master Plan were accepted with minor changes. These meeting notes are available for review (without attachment) on the Pendleton Town Website http://www.pendletonny.us/. A copy of the final approved meeting notes and all attachments are available for review in the Town Clerk's office.
NOTE: The Pendleton website has been updated to list the Master Plan Committee information for this year on a separate page entitled 'Master Plan'. This page can be accessed from ‘Highlights’ box of the main menu and the Planning Board page. A link to information developed during the year 2004 is available on the Master Plan page.
(3) Overview of Master Plan Update Status (to date): In addition to the latest update to the revised Chapter 6- Utilities, the Master Plan Committee has also reviewed and made recommendations to revise Chapters 3-Natural Development Constraints; Chapter 4- Land Use; Chapter 5- Traffic; and Appendix C-Zoning. Copies of these Chapters have been provided to the Town Clerk's office to be made available for public review.
The Committee has also reviewed Chapters 7-Recreation; and Chapter 8-Open Space in the Town Master Plan- 2010, but have not yet scheduled a meeting to update the text versions of those two chapters. It was agreed that revisions to these two chapters will be discussed at the next meeting to be held in April.
The only outstanding Chapters of the Town Master Plan - 2010 that have not been reviewed yet are Chapters 1,2 and 9 along with Appendices A and B and the enclosed maps. The committee will look to make the proposed future zoning map available to the public for review and discussion of future growth of the Town and zoning compatibility with the new multi-use trails and other future growth.
The Town Master Plan Committee should also look at creating new chapters for Implementation of the Town Master Plan, and possibly another Chapter to address/outline SEQR Issues.
The Master Plan Committee plans to update the existing Chapters and develop an initial draft of the proposed additional Chapters during the Spring, as the Committee attempts to put a draft plan together for public review.
(4) Implementation Plan - new Chapter: An initial draft copy of a new Chapter entitled, “Implementation Plan” was provided to committee members. This chapter was developed to establish a process to ensure the Master Plan document remains relevant and is updated on a regular basis. This Chapter was initially developed after review of Master Plans for neighboring Towns, and those referenced at the first meeting of the Master Plan Committee.
The Implementation Plan chapter is divided into sections to prioritize the potential actions as a part of this Master Plan to be either high, medium or moderate. As a part of developing this Implementation Chapter, an estimated cost to the Town for each action should be included.
The Committee recommended amending the potential actions in this chapter as follows:
HIGH PRIORITY ISSUES:
* The Town Master Plan Committee should meet on a regular basis to review issues and make recommendations for implementation. Members believe that the Town Planning Board should review the Master Plan, or call for the Master Plan Committee to review the Master Plan, on an annual or bi-annual basis.
* In order to promote the Town’s Identity, the Town should consider seeking out a separate post office zip code as a high priority.
* Industrial/Commercial development should be a high priority in Town. The need to identify changes necessary to encourage such development should be reviewed.
* Seeking grants for sewer/water extensions (and possible IDA funding) in these industrial areas should be a high priority in this plan.
* Encouraging and seeking grants for Multi-use Trails should be a high priority.
* Low-density development and seeking grants to encourage open space should be a high priority.
MEDIUM PRIORITY ISSUES:
* Implementation of a Stormwater Quality Program (MS4) should be a medium priority issue.
* Cumulative impacts of issues such as increased traffic are issues of concerned. This issue may be better addressed in a Chapter addressing SEQR issues.
(5) OTHER ISSUES:
* The committee talked briefly about adding a Chapter to address State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) issues. This Chapter should address issues such as requirements, in addition to requirements of the State SEQR law to define Type 1 actions which would need environmental impact statements prepared. This would be to help ensure that the town is not harmed environmentally due to increased development.
As a part of this, cumulative impacts of new developments on issues such as increased traffic could be addressed.
* Discussion ensured with regards to linking the Light Industrial area near Killian Rd to a similar area on the Wheatfield side of Town Line Road. This issue would require sewer and water service lines, and could better be addressed as an issue under Land Use (Chapter 4) and Utilities Chapter 6) of the Town Master Plan.
* There will be a seminar at Niagara County Community College on Thursday, April
21 regarding the Comprehensive Plan. This seminar will be presented by an Attorney from the NYS Dept. Of State and sponsored by the Niagara County Planning Department. The committee was notified of this seminar to attend if desired.
(6) NEXT MEETING DATE/TOPIC: The next scheduled meeting of the Town Master Plan Committee is Thursday, April 28. At the April 28 meeting, the Committee will recommend updating the language in Chapters 7: RECREATION, and Chapter 8: OPEN SPACE which had been previously covered.
Respectfully Submitted,
James A. Sacco Jr. - Chairman
Master Plan Committee
Town of Pendleton
cc Master Plan Committee Members (via e-mail)
Town Supervisor
Town Board
Town Planning Board
Town Clerk