Zoning Board - Regular Meeting

I'd like to bring this meeting of the Bedford Planning Board to order. The first item on our agenda tonight is to consider a site plan application for the creation of 15 multi-unit units uh three AFH units with on-site parking and landscaping. Um, the owner is 150 Bedford Road LLC. The applicant is Steve Helms of the Helms Group. The address is 150 Bedford Road in Kona. Uh, this is not a public hearing tonight. Uh, there will be a public hearing, at least that is our intention to set the date for for a public hearing tonight. Uh, presumably in March. uh are actually at our next meeting in March would be mo which would be March 9th. Um so this is just to go over some information that that we've gotten from the applicants, some new information. Uh some of it still needs to be looked at by consultants beforehand. Uh and so there will be uh adequate time we hope for the public to be able to to to look at the materials which are really all in at this point and uh be ready for a public hearing on March 9th. Uh with that said, could you tell us what has changed since

any board? Uh Steven Helms with the Helms Group Architects. My client seemed to disappear. Mark Puchi was here and we have should have uh Ralph Mon I can't pronounce his master Monaco who is out of town but he should be on the zoom tonight if there's any engineering site engineering questions that may come up. Um this is we've been before your board I think a couple of times now and to the zoning board and I know the zoning board cannot vote on this until the planning board gives us a preliminary site plan approval the protocol. So, well, I think it's it's just the seeker. We have to

seek. Okay, fair enough. Um, we were before your board in December 8th and uh some of the members on the planning board uh raised some questions that we addressed and uh we submitted a package uh last month to your department and um couple things I'd like to go through. We updated the drawings incorporating those items that were requested. simply uh the total land disturbance was addressed. The phototric plan was addressed. I will have the engineer speak to that. The elevator uh was uh increased in size to accommodate a stretcher type elevator which is 24 by 84 in. So that was increased. One of the board members uh mentioned that. I think it's a great idea. Um so we adjusted our plan. We also designated the affordable units. There's going to be one on each floor level. It's a onebedroom on the south side depicted on our floor plan in green.

Uh so that was noted depicted and there'll be three three a total of three affordable units in this complex. It's one bedroom.

One bedroom. Yeah. Um uh the uh landscape plan was uh revised and updated with native type plants as recommended or requested. Air handlers were depicted on our south elevation drawing. We did prepare four elevations of the building facade and as well as an architectural rendering which is displayed there. This is a three-story gamrell style building, not a flat roof, a ra a pitched roof with some stone on the lower level and uh siding or shingles on the upper level. Um it's not going to be white. We thinking some other color. Uh there's too many white buildings there now. um soft yellow we're thinking but it's not set yet asphalt fiberglass roof shingles um and that's looking uh if you're leaving town going I guess south on 117 that's the perspective from the airway project which is at 140 this address is 150 so that sort of gives you the scale of the building most of the parking is in the back of the lot this is a long narrow lot deep lot we do have some parking spaces is up front which are handicap accessible. Um we also address the traffic impact. We did some research and a study on the traffic impact and uh this road is not a state road but it is uh Befford road there and uh we were uh based on our traffic and our research and so forth. During the weekday peak hours the project is anticipated to generate approximately 7 to eight trips during the AM peak time and approximately 9 to 10 trips during the PM peak hours. These volumes represent a nominal increase in traffic and are not expected to adversely affect roadway operations or level of service. Um there is one driveway entrance in and out

based on the speed of 30 m hour. We advise 115 ft uh site would be uh prudent or required. And uh if we go north that takes us to the left side of the airway building which is plenty of sight distance and we go south takes us to the middle of the building between the apartment building that was just built. So we do have good sight lines there for safety. Um uh based on the track traffic volumes gr gen generated the roadway context and the absence nearby of any constrained intersections. the proposed development is not anticipated to result in a significant adverse traffic impact. Um so we we mentioned that that was uh submitted um uh this morning actually uh to the director of planning. Um comments on the phototric plan. There was some spillage in the back of the lot on the I guess on the north and south side. Um I addressed that with my engineer. Uh we have a call into our lighting consultant on that if he can alter the light uh to decrease and not have any overflow in the property line or put a shield on it. One one of the things that have to be addressed. Um we did accommodate the floor plans. We revised them to give us accessibility and I think the new code that just came out the 2025 code uh requires a 67 inch diameter now for wheelchair accessibility in lie of the 60 in. I got to double check that, but that's in the building department uh when we get into the construction drawings, but we're mindful of that. Um I can just go through the drawings if I could. I know how to work this thing. Trying to might need Peter's assistant. Peter, are you back there?

He's coming. Just want to try to move the drawings to the go through the drawings if I could. That's the other uh that's the other set. How about the set that I was on? This one here. Yeah. Can I go to the first one? Okay. That's the existing site plan on the left. Uh it's a vacant lot now, but uh to my uh surprise, about 40 years ago in the early 80s, late 70s, there was a concrete building on this project. They had a demolition permit

and that was closed out. Um but there was a one-story concrete building there on the lot. We did get soil borings for this project. Uh that was done a full completed report. Um and um site building is now on the south side of the property. We did get Katona Fire Department approval on the accessibility and uh uh so forth. Um we we do need to seek a variance for a uh deficiency of only two parking spots on this project and um and because of the building size this zone you're allowed 4,000 square feet. Our footprint is 4600 square ft. It's not significantly over you apartment building district context that was quite a bit larger footprint but we kept it as low as possible. We do comply with the building coverage of 20%.

The other thing I'll point out about that particular ordinance because I helped to write it. So I was there. It wasn't actually supposed to apply the way it ended up applying. We've we use the wrong language and it's not supposed to apply to residential uses. First of all, it was supposed to apply only to commercial uses. And what we were intending to say was that no one tenant use could be more than 4,000 square ft. So you could have an 8,000 square foot building with two stores on the first floor and that would be fine, but you couldn't put one store in that 8,000 square ft. Right. So,

all right. This is So, the variance you're seeking is is to my mind a technical variance. The the code was the code was designed to protect certain aspects of of Kona's development, but not to not to control the footprint of the building itself. It had to do with what went on inside the building. You wouldn't have a target department store, per se, set in that area. We we we're trying to figure out it it's not legal nor should it be to discriminate against um chain stores. Sure.

But we can it is legitimate to figure out what it is that bothers you about trains chain stores and zone for that and then if a chain store is willing to follow the dictates of the town they are welcome to be here. But we do again the building uh coverage for this zone district CB zone district is 20% with 19.8. Yes.

Um this is a permitted use multif family housing. We're taking advantage of the lot. Uh doing a full basement that will have some nice amenities. Uh maybe an exercise area, laundry facilities if they're not in the apartments. Um storage for uh for the tenants. And um I think it's a good use of that location. Mhm. And it and it does bear repeating that this is not a resoning of any way, shape, or form. This is what this property has been zoned for for years.

We did push the building back to line up with the front facade of the building on the right, which create a nice uh streetscape there. Originally was out closer to the front, but we pushed that back on the property. again when you're driving north south just so you have a nice uh streetscape and it will be landscaped. We have a landscape plan uh part of our package. Um can I ask two real question? Yes. One is have you thought about rooftop solar? Yeah we have to take into consideration um for the orientation we have an opportunity to capitalize on that

and uh I think the code beard code pushes that. So possibly an EV charger too on the site also to to um and a bicycle rack.

Yeah, bic absolutely. We haven't talked about compact cars. I don't know if your board would look favorably on that, but the deficiency of two spaces required 26, we have 24. Um we may have an opportunity to do compact, but we we didn't. We just seek the variance. Um the two bedrooms I don't know will have two cars but uh we'll the town is written where it's one bedroom requires one and a half cars. The two bedroom requires two cars. That's our parking count.

Super minor, but the windows on the side facing the driveway don't align with the actual plan on the third floor. You have doubles on the four plan there singles illustrated there. And um the window immediately to the right of the front door that looks like it's um above the kitchen sink. Yeah. That's going to be a panel a panel underneath the window. So it's a basically an uping window. Okay. So it'll look like it but half it'll look like a window. Yeah. It's like a a dummy window but uh you don't want someone looking at the dishes when they're walking in.

But otherwise I think objectively it's a nice looking project. Again, I believe there was a traffic study for 156, uh, a complete traffic stud. I don't know if it was a thorough traffic, but, uh, that had 13 units, correct? And that's been in operation now for at least over a year, and, uh, uh, I don't know if their rates are similar to what we came up with. Um, I tried to look for that on the agenda online to, uh, see what they ended up with.

Yeah. be because we just got your your traffic thing today. We haven't really had a time a chance to look at it, but we will look into it before before the beginning of March. You raise a a good issue that it's worth comparing it to the 156 uh traffic study as well. And again, compared we had this conversation with the other applicant, it's arguably the same or less than another use of the site could bring. So,

yes. So the the one thing it does seem to me are is that kind of covers the one thing I think we could do do tonight is begin to go through the the seeker documents to look over part one and also to look quickly at some of part two. I would want to avoid the issues that we know are going to be of interest to the public. traffic for example because I I want us to have the chance to hear the public on and their opinion about those things. But there are things in the part two like the question of wetlands is fairly easy to eliminate since there are none on the property. Uh so that we can talk talk about some of that to get it out of the way before next time with the Yes. Oh, Michael, I'm sorry. I have two things I wanted to comment though.

Then go ahead. I'm not quite sure I understand how you're mitigating any type of sheet flow on the south side between 152 and this building. And it seems to be that you're enhancing the sheet flow off onto their driveway. You probably should comment on that. Uh Ralph, if you're on the Zoom, uh feel free to chime in. Um there he is there. Um the south side will the retaining the foundation is essentially will be the retaining wall for the building but we have five feet at the closest point and 10 ft where the No, I know. I just don't want to increase the property next overflow on the neighbor.

So it's got to be that's got to be the rendering even though I like it I think it gives it's it sh it shows design intent. It's a little bit deceiving and it should be put on record because it's shown as a flat rendering, meaning flat sight. It's not. You're still pitching. Yeah, the as you're driving down, I guess, south on Woodsbridge. That's Woodsbridge, right? No, it's road.

Bedford. Jeez, I'm losing it. Um, you're going to see you're not going to see that vegetation whatsoever. It's it's deceiving in that manner which we just have to bring up to everybody in the room. You're going to see two other white buildings and potentially I guess the ambulance. Yeah. Might see it in a distance. You might see it in a distance, but that's it's too much of an in a natural environment which it's not going to be.

So, it's a good point. We might try to be able to take a photo of the site from that perspective and superimpose our rendering and see if you get a more contextual uh uh site. But the site does slope down. There is some steep slopes that's being addressed. The driver the fact that the perspective is tilted to the right of the page makes it deceiving because it should be tilting the opposite direction. The building should be in the same place but the entire grade should be tilting to the left hand side of the p of the perspective. Okay, take those down.

Those are in this particular case, those are important issues because they they help us to see it and help the public to see it in context, which is really one of the things we're interested in.

Any other comments from members of the board before we go through part one? Okay. Um, does anybody have any comments on page one of the part one? If nobody else does, I do. Anybody? The one thing on part on the first page that I noticed was in the question of whether uh you need per permits from any other government agency. You do need the variance from the zoning board which I think would be considered a a permit from another government agency. I had wondered if you needed health department approval, but no, because you because we have the sewers and the town water. So, that should be fixed. That's on item number two on page one.

That was We did have a deep DPW approval on this for the water usage. You're referring to the short form environmental number two. Uh, no. Um well the yeah number two on part one is uh does the proposed action require a permit approval or funding from any other government agency? Check no. ZBA. Yeah. The ZBA. Okay.

Okay. Um on page two I'll note it is a permitted use under the zoning regulations but that is checked. Yes. Um, oh, number eight. I'm not sure that, um, number eight does not seem to be what your traffic report is telling us. The question is, will the proposed action result in a substantial increase in traffic above present levels? And you checked yes. I don't think you mean that. Uh, 8A, uh, will the proposed action result in a substantial increase in that was a typo. I'm sorry about that.

I thought so. Yeah. Um that would be no public transportation is near the site. So that would be yes those two were fine.

Oh uh number 12. Does the project site contain or is it substantially contiguous to a building or archaeological site or district which is listed on the national or state register historic place or has been determined by the commissioner of New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, Historic Preservation to be eligible for listing. Um number 131, that's just one house away from it. Well, it's across the street. I don't know whether that counts as contiguous, but that was actually declared um the first house eligible for that on u to check that.

It's it's the one that used to belong to the Reeri family in Old Kona. Well, not in Old Kona, but the Reeri family owned it for years. It it turns out it was it was moved from Old Katona and when the addition was being added to it that was Sunrise is on the corner of Sunrise or Orchard I think it's on the corner of Orchard. That's quite a distance. Yeah, that's not I don't know if that's it may not be cons considered contiguous or not. Several tax lots over and that was but

change I'm not saying that's necessarily a reason to say no. I'm just trying to to give the context. In fact, that's why it was changed in the way it was. The original proposal had a very modern addition being put on it. And once the state historic preservation office said that it was eligible for listing, the design changed to accommodate that eligibility. Um, and I think was there one more thing?

Oh, I had a question. Does the CA for um the aquafer protection zone go that far? I'm not sure. I'm trying to find it for you. Much of Katona is in the CA. I didn't know if it went as far as as 150. It's the critical environmental area that that

be a reservoir. And well, it's part of the aquifer actually. It's a CA because of the aquifer, but I'm not sure exactly where the border is. It may actually end St. Luke's. We on 14. The next

um I think that's that's all I had. Does anybody have anything else on part one? Um 17 only because I pointed out that it appears as if storm water goes off to the site next door. Oh, that's correct. 17 uh a flow to adjacent property. The answer will be no. Um well, right, but now the documents show it does which document your site plan and then if you go the engineer site plan. Yeah. Okay. Ralph, are you there? Yes, I am.

Ralph, uh, one of the board members has a question with respect to, uh, site drainage going to the neighboring property on the south towards the 152 property to the 152, which is the uh, white two-story building on the south side of this project. You would

Well, it's always a confusing question because right now water does go there in the current plan um, over to that property. It does flow in that direction. The resulting, you know, after development, there would only be a tiny fraction that would go over there. But it can be controlled with extending the wall. If the few feet mattered to anybody, we could just extend the wall a bit and it wouldn't flow onto the neighbor property. But even if we didn't, there would be much less flowing as a result of the development because we're diverting it down to the detention system. any new roof runoff that's generated will all be taken with drains to

I mean the point is is you filled out the paperwork saying that you weren't going to have any storm water runoff going on to another site. No, it's pretty it's pretty straightforward once once you explain it. The the normal procedure would be to say exactly what you said to us verbally on paper and that then gives us something to consider in terms of determining whether there's an impact or not. But we can't say that because the impact is small we shouldn't talk about it. And we have to evaluate it on what we see. Exactly. Right. Exactly.

Yeah. I I appreciate it. This is Ralph again. You know, the the the question is comes up often. Water is always traveling off site. It it never is all built up on one site. So, at the end of the day, water does always travel to somebody else's property unless it's you're living on the ocean, I guess. But if if you need to adjust that, it would be easily easy to adjust with an explanation. Well, what this gives us is the opportunity to to discuss what the solution is if there is one. Thank you. Does it make sense for us to go through the part two or are we

or do do we wait to the public hearing to do the whole thing? I think it makes some sense to get presumably by the public hearing we'll have Hans comments. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. The steep slopes are obviously something we really can't talk about tonight because we don't have the Okay. We're doing the poll, right? Uh well, no, we've got a a short We're doing the Okay,

we we have a short part one, so we have to do a short part two. Yeah. apparently to the Oh, wait a minute. I'm on the the wrong Somebody else has it up. I got it. You got it up. You want me to read it out? Why don't you read it out? I will interrupt you a lot, though, because I I will read it and I'll defer to you. Okay. I have a good cadence. All right. Number one, will the proposed action create a material conflict with an adopted land use plan or zoning regulations? No.

Certainly not with the zoning regulations. Um, we'll be talking about the comprehensive plan. I think the answer is no. But it is one we'll we will discuss, but there's really nothing to discuss about the zoning code that is in compliance. All right. Number two. Will the proposed action result in a change in the use or intensity of use of land? Yes. Yes. Moderate to large. Number three, will the proposed action impair the character or quality of the existing community? I think that's something we should hold for the public hearing.

Okay. Number four, will the proposed action have an impact on the environmental characteristics that cause the establishment of the CA? The answer would be no. Even if it is in the CA because it won't impact the aquifer. I don't know. I don't know that it's in the CA, but even if it is, it's not. Okay. Number five. Will the proposed action result in an adverse change in the existing level of traffic or affect existing infrastructure for mass transit, biking, or walkway? Yes. Moderate to large? No.

Uh number six. Will the proposed action cause an increase in the use of energy and it fails to incorporate reasonably available energy conservation or renewable energy opportunities? No. In fact, I think it's slaves use quite a few, including possibly even considering solar. All right. Number 7 A. Will the proposed action impact existing public or private water supplies? No. No, we're smart. No, we're smart. 7B. Will the proposed action impact existing public or private wastewater treatment utilities? No or not. And I would add that it's already accounted for in the sewer aotment then. Correct.

Uh moving on. Number eight. Will the proposed action impair the character or quality of important historic, archaeological, architectural, or aesthetic resources? No. No. Number nine. Will the proposed action result in an adverse change to natural resources? Example, wetlands, water bodies, uh groundwater, air quality, flora, and fauna. No. No. No. Number 10. Will the proposed action result in an increase in the potential for erosion, flooding, or drainage problems? Should be no or small? Should be solvent. Number 11. Will the proposed action create a hazard to environmental resources or human health? No. No. No. All right. Are we going to hold part three then?

Oh, yeah. Okay. Yeah. So, at this point, I think that's all we can do tonight. Fair enough. Except we will uh I would like a motion that we will hold a public hearing on this application at our next meeting on March 9th. Second. Is there any further discussion? No. All in favor? I. All opposed. There will be a public hearing on this application on uh March 9th. Thank you.

That's a Monday. March 9th. Okay. And then technically we can't go back to the zoning board until after that meeting. I think that's the case. Yes. Okay. All right. Okay. Thank you.

All right. Take care. The next item on our agenda is to consider a site plan for the demolition of a vacant block bank, sorry, vacant bank, and direction of a drive-thru coffee facility with on-site landscaping, signage, parking, and related pedestrian facilities. Um, the owner applicant is DP21 LLC. The address is 777 Bedford Road, Bedford Hills. Is there someone here to speak for the applicant?

Yes. Hi, good evening. I'm uh Jay Black. I'm with Diamond Properties, uh the owner of 777 North Bedford Road. Um tonight, we wanted to come before you and I uh joining me via Zoom is uh Pete Katzone, our uh civil engineer for the project. The the intent for tonight is to provide a brief update on what has been developing relative to this project since we last had an opportunity to present before you. Um Peter tonight will take you through some of the technical elements with the drawings. But just as a leadin to that, uh we are scheduled um to be on the ZBA uh meeting or the intent for the ZBA meeting uh in March um to go forward into with the um the signed varants uh that we're looking to um uh be granted. Uh and we also just had recently received the uh traffic report from the town's consultant which uh we are now incorporating that feedback into our drawings. Um now we I I don't believe we necessarily have that uh to discuss tonight because we only just recently received it and we're working on um finessing that information. But we also wanted to share some additional information based on questions that had come up during the last uh presentation relative um to landscaping which Peter will be able to share the uh the updated landscaping plan trying to incorporate the natives that we we had talked about and which I know was highlighted. uh as well as um wanted to uh share the um the hours of the facility at which right now it's anticipated to be 5:00 am to 10 p.m. at night which aligns with the other stores uh the other facilities in the neighboring area. Um so maybe we can just cut over to the plans which uh Peter are you available to do that?

I am. I just need to be made a panelist to share Thank you. Um, my name is Peter Katzone with Katazone Engineering and um, as Jay alluded to, just trying to share screen here. I'd like to just take you through real quickly the um uh the plan set and uh the changes that were made and where we are. Um am I sharing right now? Not yet. Not yet.

No,

not yet. Let me share. Here we go. Okay. Um so, uh yeah. So, since our last meeting, we made a new submitt. Uh, it includes the hours of operation. Um, we've, um, updated the plant list, which we can, uh, kind of hit that one right away. And um I don't have my note right here, but you had some Japanese um evergreen

the uh 66 of them uh species that we had have been um you know replaced uh with native species. wax myrtle, ink berry, uh there's cyprress, but the one of the um I can't see it from here. Um one of the there were 66 of a Japanese um plant. Crepe was great. A lot of it was What's the last thing? Um a swamp milkweed. Nope, that's great. There was cypress.

Yeah. Yeah. There the northern prairie drop seed. All of it was great except the Japanese cypress. That may be just accidental oversight. We'll make that adjustment if you can just Yeah. Easy to change out. Everything else was wonderful. Great. And it's not like there was one. There were like 66 of them. So, understood. It was not intentional. No, I appreciate it. Thank you. It it also it winds up being I mean not only is it habitat and are we building that all over but if people are really using the Starbucks presumably they'll learn from seeing these plants there and it'll be good for the community in that sense.

So thank you.

We'll swap that out. I I think on my notes I had a different plant for that. I didn't realize that that wasn't swapped out. Uh what's my other um so the other thing we we've done is we've included and I'll just go to the overall for this. We've included the uh sign in this location and some way finding. Um so there's uh and I'll zoom in on this, but there are two ways uh to get to the drive-thru. One is through norm. You come in um at the uh I guess the southernmost entrance or western most eastern most entrance depending on um how you're looking at this. Uh, so you come in here and then you would you could turn up this aisle and through the drive-thru or you could continue on uh Bedford Road and you could come in through here and to the drive-thru. We did have some um traffic comments. Um they asked for additional wayinding which we will incorporate. So, they want to make sure, for example, that someone's not cutting up this aisle to get to the drive-thru. Not to say they wouldn't do it anyway, but just to make this path a little bit more clear, some pavement markings and and things of that nature. Um, uh, we're going to show actual vehicles, um, instead of these.

Pete, I'm sorry to interrupt, but if you wouldn't mind just zooming in to Thank you. It's a little hard to see from our end.

Yeah. So, um we're going to show actual vehicles here. Um again, this would be the drive-thru, uh path coming in from Norm. Uh so, we want to just uh add some additional pavement markings here uh uh to make sure you know the people are coming up this way and not not uh in the adjacent drive aisle. Um we will show maximum queuing of uh 10 um and also some um uh like peak hour overflow queuing. So there could be a queue here and there could be a queue here. The advantage of this site is that there's plenty of queuing area where it doesn't wouldn't affect the neighbor. Um uh and then we're going to um um better define um like some of the maneuvers uh in and out. Uh there was a comment about if there's three vehicles trying to exit that that limits the vehicle coming out of the drive-thru. But uh the understanding is that this vehicle does have the option to turn right and exit via 333 or exit via norm. So we think there's a lot of flexibility. Uh and then the other two things I just wanted to mention is again as Jay mentioned we are anticipated to be on the VBA schedule for uh May 5th

March

and um you know that is for the um uh variance and for the sign and then um you know we did detail the sign uh I think this is a little bit outdated the sign application We really went through and uh detailed. No, this is correct. Let me just zoom in on it. So, this is uh what the sign would look like just as a comparison. Again, we're trying to establish kind of a campus feel here. And I just um wanted to bring uh this sign up which is the sign at 333. Uh it'll be pretty much identical to this other than uh the tenants on here. Uh now you'll note that um there are some common tenants uh shop rights on here um K1 speed. Uh so there are some uh tenants that will be listed that are on 333 and uh that's our update. We will respond to the traffic comments. Uh we reviewed them with our client earlier today and uh we're here to answer any questions

as as you think about this in terms of a campus development. Uh, are you taking into consideration the the importance of this piece of property as to to the the town of of Bedford and to Bedford Hills in particular and trying to combine the campus feeling with a campus that somehow reflects Bedford Hills or Bedford in general? Well, we are taking this into account as a Bedford property because it is a Bedford property and uh you know, particularly with the signs, we we've reviewed the signs that are on uh Bedford Road now, uh the Honda dealership and other signs that were um you know, larger than what the zoning code allows. um you know so we we were trying to strike a balance of um you know be being as consistent as we can with the zoning. Uh but this is a large site and the sign is is um you know uh is a larger sign than the zoning permits which is why we need the variance.

Yeah. No, that's that's understandable. And I really wasn't aiming the question just at the sign, although it it raised it, but more at the whole campus idea, which is a fine idea, but um a campus a campus design that set its side apart from Bedford as being something different might get a different reaction than a campus design that says you're clear you're in Bedford. you're you're in a different part of Bedford, but you're still in Bedford. And I just hope that that's something that's being considered.

Yeah, we've just we've been starting to really think about what does a campus mean. So, I think this is great feedback that we can start to incorporate. And actually the conversations that we were having um about landscaping was really kind of a precursor to this broader discussion because the landscaping is something that can help bind the different aspects of the site together and also connect it with the rest of Bedford. I think landscape might be one of the important things since landscape is something that's taken rather seriously in this town as you know.

Oh, trust me, my own yard is kind of the same way. Um so absolutely and in fact I think you know that's something we're just to back up and we're just kind of kicking off this process um from a more holistic sense we have engaged to support Pete and I and the rest of this um as part of the 77733 look a uh design team to help us contemplate like what does it all mean? So, it's actually a great point of, you know, being able to share imagery and things that are going on in Bedford to help them, you know, craft what the campus can be. And we're we're considering it from a couple different ways. What can it mean from landscaping, artwork, um, you know, possibly even like the wayfinding signage that helps guide people within the site

um throughout, you know, we even have a a giant water tower that sits right essentially at the the border of uh that that could potentially be a canvas at some point. We're looking at a couple different ways that, you know, will start to make the the the different sites feel like they're together, but also help energize it with all the different activities that are going on. I think that's great. And I think, as you said, the landscaping is going to matter quite a bit. Yeah. Selfishly, some of it's walkable within the site. It'll instead of people driving from one store, four stores down to the next store and stuff, it makes it more of a community feel. So yes,

if there are paths or sitting areas where people can actually function. I don't know about sitting areas down there, but at least paths and ways that people can interact with each other and and get from one place to another without the cars. And the other thing is to the solar again either again I think the plants are more important than solar where they are affecting the community and sense of community and the but where it fits in and there aren't plants um either solar solaries or rooftop solar is also very Bford. Thank you. I appreciate the feedback.

On that note I'm still confused. Is there outdoor seating or not? Because I I see two plans in the package. I believe last meeting we confirmed it was the espresso, the one that's in the espresso. Take you through that. Uh here um because there's no plant what I think is the outdoor seat.

Yeah, the espresso bar variant is the building that we're showing. There is a little seating outside. It's very minimal. Um and uh you know the seating inside may vary uh you know the the purpose to this plan is is the dimensions um

of of the overall building but uh you know I could see a little bit of seating in these two corners a couple tables here but by and large most of the seating will be um interior. So, those coolers that are shown in plan are actually on the inside of the building and then the seating's going to be on the outside. I'm sorry. Uh,

what you're seeing is walk-in coolers, refrigeration, and freezer. Um, we'll have to get you an answer on that. I I thought that there would be some uh seating exterior, which is um why we showed it. Uh just go to a sheet that shows it. Um yeah, this is as good as any I'm surprised that there's there's so little just because it's so popular these days for people to want to sit outside whenever the weather is permits it.

And I'm not sure, you know, it depends on, you know, how much space they actually need, whether that could be interior. uh you know, one of the the comments in traffic in the traffic um comment was what the deliveries look like. So, we'll we'll get a an answer um on the outdoor seating. We'll get some clarification on that. Yeah, I know that the the base design that we were pulling from was really intended to be more of a drive-thru based model. So, we'll talk and see if there's intent to also have uh, you know, modest ex seating area. So, it's a little bit of a

tight site next to the parking, but we'll see what what exists.

No, that's always been always hasn't been before us that long, but it's been something that I've had a hard time catching on to is that it seems like there's an awful lot of parking for something that's intended to be primarily a drive-thru. And and it's not that I think we should have strong feelings one way or another about that issue. You know, we're not saying there are some things where I think we may know better what's needed in Bedford than Starbucks does. There are other things that Starbucks knows a lot better than we do. And what its customers prefer in terms of where to drink their coffee is probably falls into the latter category. Um but but I keep getting different messages. The parking sends me one message about whether people are going to be in the building stopping and chatting for an hour with with friends or whether it's going to be drive-thru. I'm on my way someplace else.

Understood. We'll we'll get clarity around that. If the intent is to have more outdoor seeing, we'll definitely explore it. I don't know. Any other questions or comments? Just curious if you've um started engaging with New York State DOT on the highway permit.

Uh glad you mentioned that. Yes, we are. Well, we're we're we're planning to start preparing and getting our applications if we wanted to receive the traffic report and see what the feedback was and if we needed to make any adjustments before we started engaging with the DOT. that the the answer is yes because I am very aware of the process. Thank you.

I guess the next question in mind is are we at a point where we can begin to talk about preliminary or is there likely to be significant change and I'm not too sure about whether the traffic report issues are going to produce more change than we'd be comfortable with doing preliminary now. What do what does everybody else think? Madam chair, if I if I may, I think because the applicant um really hasn't had the opportunity to look at and respond, therefore the board really hasn't had the opportunity to look at and respond, um it may be prudent to to wait to wait even on preliminary. I think I lean towards the same.

Yeah. And it may be also helpful if the um towns consultants present at the next meeting as well in case there can be a better dialogue and try to help wrap up any loose ends. Yeah. No, absolutely. and and some of the questions that were brought up tonight about, you know, outdoor seating and other factors. I I think it gives us a chance also to finalize those so we aren't I don't want to keep having every meeting answering a few questions here and there. Good. I don't think we do either. I can appreciate that. So, that being said, I don't know that there's anything else that we can do tonight. Is there anything else that you would like from us? No, not at this point. Thank you. Well, thank you very much and we look forward to seeing the next iteration.

Thank you and I will stand right here for the next application.

In that case, I'll stop trying to gently dismiss you. The next item on our agenda is um to consider an application for a site plan amendment to be uh to for the installation of a gate uh at 519 North Bedford Road, Bedford Hills. The owner applicant is DP72 LLC. And as I understand it, it's it's a gate to control the delivery of cars and potential safety issues. Yes. And um I actually have a drone. Oh, it's already up on the screen. Um okay. Uh yeah, my for the record, my name is Jay Black. I am with Diamond Properties, owner for 519 North Bedford Road. And uh tonight, I am here to present uh a request to install an entrance gate at the front of the property. Um you may be familiar with this site as you're coming down North Bedford Road, which is a former car dealership. um just as you're coming into more of the commercialized section of uh of um this area adjacent to like the car wash uh spot which I need to use. Um but uh so with this property Tesla has been using it to receive um its inventory uh to which on a weekly basis they receive about 14 uh trucks approximately um two a day. Now the what has been happening is that given the fact that they work with independent trucking companies and that they do instruct the trucks to go down to um alternate locations during the night. Unfortunately, because there are there is not a gate at this location. Some of these trucks have shown, you know, shown up and they're either idling or unloading, which is a disruptive for Tesla's operations because they are not

staffed to do that, but more importantly, it's also created disruption for the neighborhood. So, what the intent is to have a manually operated gate at at the front entrance, which I'll zoom up on the plan to be able to talk about uh that more specifically with a sign reminding that they're supposed to go down to the alternate location as opposed to stopping here at 519 to drop off their inventory. So, that is the quick backdrop on all of this.

Um, I am uh having discussions with the uh with the fire department about this. Um I have uh I apologize I don't have it I have not been able to um uh you know present just yet to them so that I can get their feedback to ensure that the the way that we're approaching the gate meets their expectations. I mean obviously we plan to have a knockox box and other factors that allows uh access to the site if there ever was an emergency. Presently the building itself is not being utilized. It's just uh it's Tesla using the site itself for receipt of its uh of its cars. And there's no plan to change the building to more of a use. Correct.

Not at this point. No, this is uh really to help deal with the operational and just the disruption that it creates. And where are the cars delivered? Where's the alternative site? Uh 333 North Bedford. Stop the truck. Correct. Yeah. Because there are more than one occasion where well right in the middle of um 117 they'll stop. I know that's what they're trying to prevent but they're still supposed to go to the alternative and not do that now at night. No. Well, at the daytime they still they still deliver to 519. But they're are they allowed to stop in the middle of 117 to offload? They're not supposed to.

They're not supposed to. Usually every time they my understanding is they're pull they may have to back into the site, but the you know like I saw I actually happen to be driving down North Bedford Road today and and they one was actually just finishing backing in to unload. So if someone did inadvertently park in North Bedford Road, you're right. That's not supposed to be happening. The whole purpose of having a site to pull into by the Honda dealership though that they're in that meeting. Yeah. Well, and that's my my question is, are you sure it's this dealership's cars? I'm just seeing the Teslas coming off.

Okay, they are. Well, no, that's that's that's good evidence that they're bound for Tesla. They happen to be Teslas. Um, so I I know that the the the difficulty of trying to get car dealer car dealership drivers to to to do what's asked of them is a perennial problem and I think we all appreciate the fact that Tesla's trying to do something about it in this case. Um, but since I still seem to remember we went through a whole thing of demonstrating that the card carriers could in fact get off Bedford Road into that property. So maybe we could get across to the drivers that if they can't do it, that would indicate they are incompetent drivers and maybe they'd like to demonstrate to us that they can do this.

I am happy to reiterate that again. I know I I I know that Tesla I know that's not the nice way to do it, but I know this is not your sure job to supervise. It's Tesla's job to I can't take on any more different roles. Right. Well, that but 117 is just tough. So then every little bit that works helps and it's dangerous. What it it does I mean there have been accidents over the years. It's not a lot, but even one is too many and it uh it just causes major traffic back.

Yeah. And and the last thing we need on 117 on that part of 117 is major traffic backups either. So they they really have to learn to we we are trying have tried hard to learn to make sure in site plan evaluations that the trucks can maneuver on site. Now, we need the partnership of the drivers to to say they will maneuver on site. But again, we appreciate uh the effort to take care of the nighttime issue. It does seem an a reasonable approach. Um I think that this is one that we can approve tonight, isn't it?

Can I just ask the applicant two questions for clarification? I think for the public and the board. Um, but can you just confirm that 34 ft is enough distance if the gate is locked and if a driver happens to take a turn into it seems a little short that they may potentially stick back out into Bedford Road. I mean, it definitely is not I it's I don't believe it's not going to be deep enough to be able to take on an entire delivery truck, but again, if there is someone car

a regular car, yes. So that was the intent is we were trying to have it enough so when one of the the team members from Tesla shows up in the morning to unlock the gate, they're not sitting on North Bedford Road having to run and then quickly run back to the car. We're giving enough room for a car, a vehicle to be able to pull in but not a truck. So in that way clearly it's right there tells with with signage say keep going. And then with respect to the signage, was there any thought to put the hours that the relocation services should be done on there as well? because I don't think they were included on the site plan, but you made it very clear in your in your memo. So, just wanted to have it be consistent. Can definitely do that. Great. Thank you.

And can you confirm that if I'm looking from Pedford Road in the right hand leaf of the gate swings inward, but the left hand side swings outward? Correct. Yes. But we set it back enough so that it wouldn't be impeding into the sidewalk areas. And what do you what do you imagine a the gate to look like? Is it just your a rod a bar? Well, I'm going to say that we are still finalizing the exact participated we had just

utility based gate to provide you know security and saying not here. I have to admit there's a part of me that wants to say, "I wish you wouldn't paint it yellow." But I think I understand why you want to paint it yellow. We get something prettier. Maybe white is something that would I mean I assume it's you want it to stand out, but Well, yes, that was you know, we don't want the trucks to drive through it. Not not an unreasonable thing, but so really if a if a truck pulls up to this area and he's got to wait for someone to come unlock the gate, he's still got to back out to open the one leaf,

right? So that Well, he shouldn't be waiting for someone to open the gate. I'm I'm just trying to Well, no. Because if the gate is Yeah. The well even the regular cars the regular car need it appears as if there's enough room on one side for the gate side that swings in that the car could park right in front of it. Yeah. I mean because if you pull in on the right side someone can get out unlock swing open the other side swings and get in the car and then drive and the gates can be open during the day. Correct. The truck is coming. It's pulling straight in. Yes. Right. Just intended for after hours. Yes. So, so there shouldn't be a situation where the truck driver would be sitting there waiting for someone to open the gate because if he's there with the gate closed, he's in the wrong place.

Wrong place. And that kind of falls in line with your conversation earlier. We need to we need to course correct that. Um, so do would you like to further also a response from the fire marshall fire department as well? I know the applicant did make the attempt to reach out. So it may be yes and also wait for that response. In their defense there are and I know we talked about this earlier. He had previously reached out. It actually went into my spam. So I am following up to try to get that meeting scheduled so he and I could talk through it.

Well maybe we should wait then until you've had that conversation and maybe thought a little bit about whether you can still achieve the safety concerns with some with a bright color that isn't bright yellow. You could go white, too, with a reflector on it. I don't know. I might be the only one who feels that way. I I I'm just asking Mike if he has any suggestions aesthetically, like maybe wood or stone posts on the side, like make it look a little bit more res. No. Well, this is commercial, but Bedford commercial as opposed to Scarsdale. Well, Scarsdale isn't the right word, but I

I appreciate what you're saying. My only problem is the rest of the architecture on the site. It's not going to necessarily I mean, no, there's that. But this is just I mean I right for commercial use for commercial use and you know there's going to be snow plows going between between these two. You need something more substantial, which is what Oh, no. I'm saying this exactly just with a little like on the side a little bit of thing and then paint this white so that it looks like finials or something. No, not finals. Like if this post was adjacent to like a small

Oh, like a stone a stone post or something. Is that tacky in the end? as it making more of what of something that should be less. Right. Okay. I don't have a problem with it being what it is. But but white but white. Yeah. I would think white would be nice even I would even go to a gray but that's me. Gray would be fine too. But would that accomplish the same wouldn't be cautionary as white or orange or yellow would be? Well, this will give you some more time to think about payments, which I'm sure has been the most. I will chat GPT this to see what it COMES UP WITH TO SUPPORT aid my process.

Oh, I'm a college professor. That really hit me in the heart. Okay. As a tool. Yeah, we won't discuss that. This is a planning board meeting. Anyway, thank you very much um for your feedback tonight. I appreciate it. And uh as soon as I'm able to sit down and uh you know get the fire department, fire marshall's feedback on that, we'll come back to present and hopefully uh wrap up this nice white fence. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Uh that is the final item on our agenda. Uh is there any other business to come before the board? In that case, could I have a motion to adjurnn? So moved.

Is there a second? Second. All in favor? I I All oppose. The meeting is closed.