Planning Board - Regular Meeting

Okay, we're ready to start. [Music] Yes. Okay, it is April 2nd. Welcome everyone. April 2nd, 2025. Town of Chester Planning Board is now in session. It's a 7 o'clock, so we're just going to get started. Thank you for coming. Um, we are just going to do a roll call to make sure we're all here in attendance. Mike, Mike Mound, Jackie Alers, Mark Robersonson, Jeppi Casara. Okay, we're all here. Um, the if we'd all like to rise and say the pledge again. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So, everybody received the minutes for the March meeting, right? Everybody had an opportunity to see the minutes for March. If anyone would like to make a motion to adopt the minutes, I'll make a motion to adopt the minutes. Second by All in favor? I Okay, so on tonight's agenda, we have a hearing for Oakwood subdivision. And we also have a minor change. The planning board checklists will be moved to the May meeting because we have interviews going on and we want there was a lot of time and effort put into the planning board checklist as well by Councilman Desert. So we want to give everything it's due. So they will be moved to the May 7th meeting. But tonight we have a public hearing on Oakwood subdivision. It is the 26.9 acre parcel in the AR3 zone. And we have um Ryan here that is going to make a presentation so everybody's up to speed

and we know uh what's going on and then we'll move from there. Good evening everyone. [Music] As we stated, private site is located on southwesterly side of [Music] campro. There it goes. Southwesterly side of Camp Monroe Road directly uh across from the intersection of Camp Monroe and Piper Road. It is 26 acres in size um and is located in the AR uh the AR3.3 zoning district. Uh the project proposes a four lot cluster subdivision uh with the um the lots all fronting on Camp Monroe Road and then a large conservation area approximately 50% of the parcel being conserved at the rear of of the subject parcel. Uh next sheet please. [Music] So this is the existing conditions plan. Um the areas in orange just show steeper slopes. Um and then the tree areas. Uh all these trees were located in the area of proposed development. Uh next sheet please. This is the uh westerly side of the site. So for uh parcels one and two um the all the improvements with the exception of the driveways have been located uh in excess of 100 ft from the existing wetlands. Um there lot two driveway will require a small uh wetland crossing uh which will require PCN from the Army Corps of Engineers uh prior to construction. Uh each of the dwellings will be served by individual wells and sewage disposal systems um and individual driveways. Uh next please.

Absolutely. Sorry, try to adjust this a little bit. This is for the easterly portion of the site consisting of uh lots three and four. Um the uh once again the improvements have been located away from the existing federal wetlands on site. Uh the will be served by individual driveways, wells and sewage disposal systems. Um, additionally, uh, the driveway locations have all been reviewed and approved by the highway superintendent. Uh, next sheet. Uh, this is a tree plan that shows the trees that are required, uh, to be removed as a result of this. Um, the removal of trees has been minimized to the greatest extent practicable. Um, in in order to preserve as much as possible. And I think uh the rest of the plans are are more um construction details. Um but that's a brief summary of of the plan itself. Okay. And the addition of the passage to the that was Oh, yes. My my apologies. Uh in in addition, the conservation area has been amended to uh include a 25- foot uh barway on the westerly side of uh lot one uh with the intent that if the Heritage Trail um and New Jersey Trail Conference uh deems it appropriate and uh neighboring parcels also um dedicate the same parcel, that the the trail could be modified to uh extend through the property and onto Camp Monroe Road rather than on uh Lakes Road um the the county road to the east. Um the town board has already uh reviewed and approved this the the conservation um area and plans to take it as a result of this subdivision. And I forgot to mention if anyone would

like to speak tonight, there is a signup sheet in the back if you would just put your name on it for us. And before we go to John's comments, if you'd like to do that, it's in the back. And Ryan, you're ready. So John, you want to go with your comments, your review? Sure. Um, essentially Ryan had updated the the maps to include that 25 foot wide access that that got converted from the easement to a dedicated access that goes to the back parcel. So that was that was one of the bigger issues that was still outstanding. And as as Ryan had mentioned, he went to the they went to the town board. town board did send a letter to to this board basically acknowledging that it would be required that the open space parcel would be essentially dedicated to the town as part of the subject. So notes to that effect um were placed essentially on the map. Um, we just list the outside agencies currently identified. Uh, as Ryan mentioned again, the USACOE, the Army Corps of Engineers, they'll need to file a PCN notice um through their disturbances. It's under the tenth of the major threshold, so therefore it doesn't trigger nationwide permit. Two was the the town board that has been that has been taken care of already. Three, prior construction, they'll have to file for a storm speed permit from the state. And then comment four that part of this that it'll have to be re-referred to county planning 239 and also to town of Monroe under the same general festival law. Um my first comment just basically summarizes the plan providing more than 50% of the open open space area as part of the cluster subdivision. Um, I just ask that the applicant should consider maybe a landscaping BM or fencing be installed along the access to lot so that you provide some sort of screening and buffering um in case if the trail went or if it ever gets established, there's

kind of a screening that goes along that that uh lot. So they would have to essentially uh remove trees to put in a buffer at this point on something that that might not get constructed. So we the applicant when asked that that be left up to the owners of lot one should that trail ever get constructed, they could come into the building department and and propose um something along that side. Yes, there's there are some larger trees in that area, but there's also a lot of smaller trees in that area that aren't shown on that on that plan currently. I'll I'm going to go out and take a look at it, but I think as part of this plan there has to be some delineation of that 25 foot. I wouldn't just leave it because in the back you have markers, you know, delineating that. Correct. I think we're going to have to go with some combination of maybe screening and markers and markers, you know, even if it's just in the area of where the house and the driveway is just so that right. I I have uh take no objection to adding markers. Um the screening protects the privacy of the homeowner too because once that homeowner is there, if there's no border there, people could wander further than they should be allowed to. Absolutely. And and I I guess I would just say that if the if the construction were to happen, the owner of lot one we could show a potential fence um so that at least it's approved and the owner of lot one can decide to install it. Um but essentially we'd have to remove trees to add something at this point. Take yeah I think at the end I would recommend to the board that there be some sort of remediated boundary how we accomplish that whether it's landscaping fence or markers understood. Yeah markers have no no objection to whatsoever. Uh comment two just again summarizes the PCN notice and the amount of square foot disturbance. Comment three the applicant did provide a drainage analysis. Um the

analysis confirmed that the runoff will not exceed pre-e building conditions based on based on the swailes and the um the patterns established. Um comment four, you should provide first floor elevations for the for the dwellings uh so we can confirm the grading. No issue with that. Uh comment five, the driveway should be paved in their entirety due to the slope. Um is that for for all the driveways? All the driveways. Is there a specific slope requirement that that it's it's it's determined by myself and the highway superintendent. Understood. Based on most of these driveways are like 8 to 10%. Um what happens with gravel driveways with swells on the sides over time [Music] of understood. Um, based on the town board's letter, a note should be added to the plan that prior to the filing of the plat, the offer of dedication shall be provided to the town attorney for review and comment of the conservation parcel. Basically going over the soil testing for the septics. Um, looks like lot one and two require curtain drains modeling above 48 in. Um, comment a soil test results and the chart didn't correlate with Okay, I I will I will look at that. Okay, so just double check that. Um, comment nine, you might we need to consider some additional drainage controls possibly on the lot for boundary property owner. And the concern being um the concern being that the driveway comes 10 feet off the property line essentially. Understood. It it is a cut in that area. So all the drainage will come into our property. It's and and there is a there is a no

it's more it's more so I will say that we do have erosion sediment control with slope stabilization to make sure that that slope that slope stays for that it's something we we can talk about talk about we can pull the slope away a little bit so that we're not right on the line understood comment then there was line work on the plan that looked like a buffer did some sometime early on in the process. Um I think the board had asked to show the 100 foot separation. Um I I think that it was just for reference. I I can remove it. Um I know the 20 foot the 25 foot sure. Yeah, that's that's 100 foot off of that. Um it's not necessary. I think it was for reference. I can I can remove it. Either remove it or Yeah. Um comment 11. The limit of disturbance for lot two should just be adjusted that goes outside the line and widen the septic narrow downt. Yep. Um lot one provides some spot elevations at the rear of the dwelling so we ensure positive drainage. Not problem. Comet 13, there's a large tree in diameter tree which looks like we might be able to rework the septic area. It's lot one I think. Do you want me to go to the plan? Uh please if you could uh sheet three, please. Yeah. Okay. I I remember this lot specifically. Um so that's the tree. So that is in the reserve area, but because

of the the root ball and where of that tree and and the separation from that from that sewer, that tree is going to have to be removed or it's going to be inside that septic within a couple years of its of its installation. And I it's been on the plan since October as to be removed. So at this point, I'd have to move the house. I'd have to redesign the lot to get it far enough away from from that tree. Okay. I think John, you had said in the July uh review that if trees of like that substance are going to have to be removed, we might call for a one to one. Like if you need to take that tree out, maybe you put a tree of substance back in depending on how much of the disturbance tends to be removed. So that might be a thought, too. if that tree needs to come out, maybe there's a tree of substance that can be put in in another location because that's a a very aged tree. It is. It is. And and generally trees of that age are not much longer lived. Um and any installation of something closet, I'm sorry. Any disturbance is going to cause unfortunately. Um I can I can confer with the applicant. [Music] Sorry. Um, lot 14, lot four, there's looks like there's a catch basing pipe not noted. Noted. I can I can absolutely adjust adjust that. Uh, comment 15, just a minor the slope of the cover. It's probably a typo. Yeah. Uh, comment 16. Um, some rip wrap should be added between the culverts. Very important because they're so close together. Got it. And then just check the transition of the driveway swale coming into those.

Um, comment 17 should add check dams to the on-site swailes for lot one. The other lots have them, but lot one for a reason did not. Gotcha. Not a problem. And then final comment is the erosion control notes should be updated to include that a pre-construction meeting is required prior to the commencement of construction and that the limits of disturbance should be delineated prior to the commencement site. Not a problem. Um just a few that I have too. um the note that the town is the note that's going to go on for the town for the dedication at the proper time I think we should put in perpetuity there so that that dedicated space will stay dedicated there won't be a and I I agree with John wholeheartedly with the burm if it needs to be markers if it needs to be some even if it's a native habitat something that's going to tell people that you don't cross this over this belongs to a residential person understood understood um res the elev ations I think are important so you can see because a lot of the sloping you know what's visible with the contour and the trees being removed do you call them out or is it easier if you like change the color of the trees in the disturbed areas that are going to be removed they are um it's very it's kind of hard to see maybe it's just because it's it's I think it's on on this format but if if you zoom in on them they each have a symbol on them that's that's being removed being removed and the the tree color in itself is also um So, it's just correct. I think on this format it you don't get the color on the actual print. It's a lot more visible. And the only other thing I think is that yeah, pay attention to the driveway grades because two of them are up almost at the 10%. We like to exceed that 10%. So, I agree hope with the black top, but just make sure as they construct them that that 10% isn't isn't reached. Understood. Understood. Um, Mike, have any comments, questions?

Um, I just had a a procedural question. So, any of this work because of the um endangered species habitat really couldn't begin until until next late next autumn. That's correct. Without without a specific study being being completed, there is a permit that can be obtained. Correct. But it's not Yes, it's very difficult. possible technically possible yes it's very difficult to obtain you have to to prove absence in order to prove absence like you have to do an extensive amount of work uh in connection with that there are audio tests that can be done but all this takes time uh it's not something that just happens like on one night and then it's done it's it's over a range of of days during the peak season but then of course you also have to get the DEEC and the Fish and Wildlife Service to review and sign off on on that that process. It's virtually impossible to be quite honest and almost no one does it because they would just rather abide by the conditions and the date is November 1st. November the results are typically inconclusive. Yeah, correct. Because it's it's almost impossible to prove that something doesn't exist. Correct. So, yes. No question or comment. Thank you. Does that Yeah, I actually have a couple questions. So, the individual lot drainage, right? Specifically, the roof drainage, where does it drain to? So, the roof drains in general uh drain to the surface surface. So, there's uh roof and footing drains, so individual pipes and their their overland flow after at the outlets. Okay. Um and that's pretty much standard for for any house that's not near some sort of storm sewer

system. All right. Would it be wouldn't it be much better if uh the roof water was all contained on site with drywalls? Uh you're not technically allowed to do that uh without a specific um so there's there's a couple of things in there, but but essentially that's not that's not possible here. um you would need a specific design for it and in general DEDC wants the um drainage flows to cons to continue along the same um existing drainage paths. So we did we did analysis stating that all the addition things with with the grading that we performed that we're not going to be increasing the peak runoff on the site. it's um preferable to DEC for overland flow to continue the same direction um that it is um in the pre pre-development condition. I just think it would help with the uh surface runoff and the erosion on the properties. What do you think, John? It's possible and it's it's a typical method. Um when you have it this is pretty this is not dense, right? So typically when it's not a dense development like this, they would rather you sheet flow off into grass and then get it back to get it back to normal patterns essentially. Um I come to find with the drywalls they're they're good up to a certain point and then they're either going to start to fail over time or get clogged and then you end up with the sheet flow condition and what happens is then it hasn't designed the sheet flow and then that's when you end up having well just like catch basins they require maintenance. So correct for them to work catch basins are on the road or I know the town is meeting somebody's meeting dryw wells

get lost. One thing on this too with with this site in specific um the drywalls unlike septic systems are extending deeper into the ground. These lower soils are not going to support a drywall. So that's why specifically on this site they're it's not practical on this site. What are the soils? there. Um, so looms on the first 30 inches and then uh there's mling underneath that 30 inches. So all the sewer designs will be based on that. We've got some shallow absorption trench um some shallow gravelous um systems, but the deeper soils are not going to support a dry well like like you're talking about. So you're going to get the exact condition that that John said. It's gonna it's going to back up. All right. My leading to my second question, the purple line, what does it delineate? Is that the the limits of disturbance? Yes, sir. Okay. Now, what do we have in place that says after the construction is all said and done that those limits are not further disturbed? Do we have covenants in place for that? That is enforcement, right? No, there's no covenants. I mean, essentially, so lot one gets built, the builder will follow orders of disturbance and it gets sold to a homeowner. The only covenants that you have are the wetland markers and the wetland buffer. The rest of the property is now owned by a resident who and they could just go in there and chainsaw everything down if as they please. Yes. [Music] Go ahead. Yeah. No, I mean you can I've seen individual like conservation covenants on lots but nothing would stop someone who buys the property. Well, if you had a covenant that's an agreement, right, between the two parties and No, you'd have to file a covenant in the county that would restrict any development on

any other portion of the lot and that would be enforceable by the building department. I don't think that's a bad idea because then somebody goes in and clears 100% of the lot then you're affecting drainage on the property. Going back to my first question. Well, that the town has clearing filling grading. So, someone couldn't just go clear cut the lot and grade. They'd have to come get a permit or come to this board for approval. You would hope so. I You would think so. You would hope so. But no, that's that's what now the back parcel that is restricted conservation. Correct. Yeah. that I got. Okay. Good. Yep, I'm good. Okay. So, um please note that there is a negative declaration in place to move forward with the public hearing. Let the record reflect that the proper notices were sent by mail and the legal notice was published. The legal notice was delayed in being published. So, the public hearing will remain open until the May 7th meeting. So the public hearing is not a question and answer period. You can pose all of your questions and if a few are answered or if simple ones are easily answered, they will be. If not, they will all be addressed come the May meeting. And if you are watching on the live stream, you can chat your questions in and Michelle will let us know and they will also be written into record. And also we to note that we received two letters pertaining to the project that will be noted and record and recorded. And we received um a letter from the preservation collective and the CCAC which will also be read into record and then addressed for May 7th meeting. So the only thing we ask there's no time restraint on what you want to say and your comments. We just ask that if it becomes repetitive

that you kind of listen and then, you know, hold back on that question because it's already been asked for us. So, um, what we're going to do is we're going to move on to the, um, public hearing. If I could have a motion to open the public hearing. I'll make that motion. Motion by Jeppi, second by Mike. All in favor? I. Okay. So, what we're going to do is who would like to come and speak? And you come up one at a time and just uh just state your name, Larry, and your address and then we will move that way. Good evening. Larry Dyinger, Odyssey Drive in [Music] Chester. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to come up here and speak. John, you did a good job. Very thorough. Uh, and Jazeppi, I I agree with you with with the trees. Um, I think that uh hopefully we'll get the tree preservation local law implemented sometime this year. I'm still working on that, but uh that would address your concern. Okay. Um, on the drawing for the access path to the back, there's no measurement on there for the width. You need you need to put that on there. I know you say it's 25 ft, but I didn't I couldn't find any measurement on there saying it's 25 ft. So, I think that would you need to do that. Um, I notice you have a tree inventory. That's great. I know when uh the original uh application that came in for six lots uh you had there were two drawings. One is identifying all trees with a 6 inch uh diameter or greater at DBH. And then there was a second drawing identifying in red which trees are removed. Uh that second drawing is not

on here. It only has the tree inventory. So it would be nice uh if you had that second drawing identifying and at the last time it was done in red. So it clearly demarked uh what was being removed. Um Kim Monroe Road. It's pretty narrow. It's I I it's not even 24 feet. I know. I've measured it and it varies anywhere from 22 to 24 feet. Um, no shoulder at all. The swale is right up to the edge of the road. I think it would be a really good idea from a safety perspective to have a three or four foot shoulder. I think you we should consider that. You know, anyone walking on the street on that side is walking in a travel lane. So, that's a safety hazard. So, I ask that that that be considered. Uh there's nothing uh included in the drawings for the outdoor lighting for houses. We do have an outdoor lighting ordinance. So you need to identify um whatever outdoor lights are going to be on there uh that comply with the lighting ordinance. So if you do that, that'd be great. That's all I have. Thank you. Thank you. Yes, you can go. Eileen and Mark Delaney, 11 pipe clerk. [Music] Yeah. Um Eileen Delaney, 11 Pike Court in Monroe, New York. Um my h the house that I live in is not on this map, but I'm just wondering how is the traffic going to impact what Larry said like it's a very narrow road. How is the traffic? when can we get speed bumps in? Because if you know Camp Monroe during June, July and August, there is a camp going on there and um people do walk on that road. Um and you know it's very

very hard to like navigate especially at night. There's no lighting there and um what's the safety um um safety impact on that road? That's it. Yep. Thank you. All right. Yep. Thank you. Terry Knight Freedman, 27 Camp Road. [Music] Let me say that again. Terry Knight Friedman 27 Camp Road. Thank you. This is very interesting because I've never done this before and I've been I'm on, you know, Camp Monroe. So, I'm I'm my main concern is trees and drainage because I already have water coming over my driveway uh from when it rains a lot. So, I'm curious about uh since I've never done this before, forgive me for no anything that doesn't make sense, but uh just how are you know I'm concerned about what you're concerned about. So, if the builder doesn't cut down all the trees, what if the homeowner does and what protections could we have in place? So, I like to find out how that plays out. Um, and how the drainage issue, even with the homes and the roofs on the homes, affects Camp Monroe. And that's probably something I should talk to you about, John, because you've already done some homework on that, right? Mhm. Uh is there any where where are we in this process? In other words, how big are the homes going to be? Ryan, do you want or if it doesn't have to be answered tonight, we appreciate you coming with your questions because that's how things get resolved. But if there's something that Ryan can answer, he will. If not, we will take all of your questions and it will be compiled and you will get

answers for them in the May 7th meeting. Perfect. And we can attend that as well. Or is that if there's not a public hearing, you're still welcome to the meeting because you can hear what's going on and how it updates and how it progresses along. Okay. Thank you. Uh so it's really just a matter of for the drainage, the trees, and what Larry said about how wide the road is because I've got a lot of traffic. It's not a lot of traffic, but the one the people that do go down the road speed down the road. It's it and one he who shall not be named, shall we say, uh crashed into a tree in between my neighbor's property and mine in the in the winter in the on the the ice which I have on camera. So, I suppose I'm a little early with my questions about construction and when and because I've never done this before. No, you're not early because it's all in the planning stage that everything gets figured out. So, no, you're not early. Okay. And the only thing I would want to understand is how long the process takes. And somebody mentioned um endangered species. Is is that already on in on the property somewhere that we know of? Sorry, I don't want to answer uh I don't want to answer partial questions regarding the house size. Um they're they're fourbedroom dwellings. Uh I don't want to uh give an answer that's incorrect on the actual square footage because I don't have it on here. Regarding the um endangered species, we do have a note on there regarding potential for uh one of the one of the endangered and protected bat species. Um and to avoid any impact to them, the clearing is restricted to a certain time of year that they are not there. Um, so then they don't have anywhere to go back to they're so specifically this is not this is not saying that though they're on this site is that they are in prox proximity to and I believe that it's

within five miles of an existing hibernaculum or or um or area that is known they're not there's no evidence of them on this site. I see. Okay. Thank you. Uh, and just that oak tree. Um, I know it's already been mentioned. So, again, that would be another concern of mine. Just taking down trees that are valuable in to the environment, to the drainage, to the whole landscape. That's just something else that I just want to voice my concern about in in terms of aesthetic and drainage. That's all I have for now. Thank you. Thank you. James Donovan, CCAC, 37 Doug Road. Hi, my name is James Donovan. I live at 37 Doug Road and I'm here to represent the Conservation Advisory Council. Uh, thank you for um accepting and recognizing our report. Uh our hope is that everything in that report will be addressed and we'll have an opportunity to work with the planning board on that. Uh we meet once a month, but we're certainly available for any other discussions, meetings. Uh it's an important issue for us and we'd like to be kept in the loop. Please. Thank you. [Music] Tracy show girl. [Music] Can you hear me? Good. Okay. Tracy Shu. I live uh 94 pickrol right up the street from here. I'm going to speak as a resident. Um not I wear a lot of hats here, but right now this is someone who lives here. Um, so you know, I I'd like public hearings because you get to hear from the people that live in these areas when u the planning board members uh may

not be so familiar with the with the lots um and issues, traffic, flooding, and what have you. Um, so, you know, I'm going to tell you some things that I know. Um, I also think that there's opportunities to learn from previous subdivisions that um, things that may not have gone as they thought they were going to go. and um try to improve upon that outcomes. So I have to take you back just a little bit and I won't spend a lot of time on it. I know this board many members remember me um being very upset when the project across the street at Camp Monroe Road in Pickerol right there. I don't have a pointer but does this work? How does it work? Oh, I see it. This one. So my issue was when this subdivision happened, I complained and said that all the water from here, well actually all the way over here comes all the way down here and it goes into here and there was a wetland delineation by the um Army Corps. Um and at that time that engineer convinced the board to remove that. So this homeowner does not know that this was a mapped uh delineation of a wetland here. So, at the time I said I would not put the house here because all the water is going to do what water does and it's going to go into this house or on the well pretty much on the side of their property. I wish they were here tonight to maybe they could speak um you know to this because the whole side of this property right where it was delineated is wet. Now, at the time I also said that they didn't this developer was going to have um was going to make a swale here but the covert goes this way. So, um, as I predicted, this all roded. Um, the highway had to come out multiple times and try to fix it. Um, trying to get the water not because the developers plan was rocks and dirt to keep the water at a right angle to go the way they wanted it to go. It doesn't work that way. So, anyway, I guess last year the highways ripped this up and they put in a new direction. Not sure that they really, you know, could have done that

with being that this is I believe this is a channelized, you know, stream way um that the Army Corps regulates, but nonetheless, it was an emergency. This was all eroding all the stop. This is where it was at the stop sign and there was sea poles. It was and all the side of Pickerol was gone, was eroding. So the highways fixed it now and that made it go, you know, I can't tell here now. This is if this is the new one. So now it does not come out right here at the person's house. But water does what water wants to do. And this has not been tested yet. So, I don't know if the town's engineer helped the highway fix do this new plan, but I got to say that water is still going, you know, this way under underground. You don't see it, but it's all wet. So, even when we're in droughts, this this is all still wet. So, I mean, majority of the water is going to go this way. It's coming down the road. They meet it meets here and and and majority of it is going to go this way. But, I just feel that adding these houses, what this driveway concerns me a lot. So I I'm I'm glad to hear that the town I mean the planning engineer is going to go out there and look at all this because go out after it rains and you can really see what existing conditions are. And I don't know um you know there's the highway kind of changed it a little bit. So I don't know when you add the driveway when you start grading out the swale. I do think the same thing's going to happen along Camp Monroe Road and we're going to have erosion with a new swale um and take the little shoulder that we have that's not really a shoulder but the little space that's there is not going to be there. So, I'm just I'm I'm glad to hear that, you know, and I'm and encourage the rest of the planning board to go out there after it rains and really take a look because I'm already seeing the ground really all wet. Um what do you call it? Um right here where the planning the the uh highway department changed the direction. Um it's all kind of mushy there. The ground I'm afraid it's going to do the same thing again where it's just going to seep in. So, it's just there's a lot of water and I think it I said it the last time it's underestimated because we you haven't seen a really big storm event, but a lot of water travels off this site. So, the thoughts of the driveways, I'm glad to hear that they're going to be paved because that was a problem with

the previous own the subdivision across the street. Again, I realize there's all new players, new engineer, new attorney, new applicant, but so many things went wrong with the the development across across the way. They did leave a lot of dead trees. I mean, right out the out the backyard, you know, a lot of ash trees are going going down here and it just just was not the best um project, I think, for the homeowners that they're still suffering from water and um and dead trees so close to the home and and that particular drainage issue. So, I would say the lot across the street is an unofficial storm water management facility. um the water all goes onto their lawn and then it seeps into, you know, naturally through their property to get to the larger stream which ultimately gets to Trout Brook. Um ideally that house probably should have been a storm water detention area for all of this. Um so it is a concern. I get it for anybody um in that that lives on that street. The water does flow that whole street from the top. And that was one thing I wanted to mention. staying in touch with the town of Monroe because um there's a big project at the at the end of this road at Camp Monroe and Lakes Road called Henry Farms. Um it's been going on for 20 years. Um I know because that's how um you know I got involved in all this. Um and that will impact traffic and water and everything. Camp Monroe also has erosion at the top of the up the top of the road on the other side where water comes in. So, if you look at the bigger map, there's so much water that's coming up from uphill um down to get to Troutbrook. So, I'm just glad that you guys are looking closer at that and going out to the site and see what's actually happening when you're going to make these new driveways and swailes because I don't want to see what happened the last time happen again and I'm, you know, I'm confident that you guys will will have learned from that and and we will not do that again. Um and then I just wanted to mention about the 100 foot buffer around the wetlands. this project um whether it's this new owner previous the previous owner owned both lots this one and the other one and

there's a project in Monroe and they have a 100 foot buffer around their wetland so I think they were looking at it probably the same way they were doing Monroes with 100 foot buff I can only imagine because that's the way um they do theirs um but remember the town of Chester's code for federal wetlands is a minimum of 25 ft so I'm not going to tell you to redo this whole map project but in the future just realize when it says minimum does that not mean you guys could go beyond that if you feel necessary that it needs a bigger buffer from for what whatever the site conditions may be. Um I haven't been on the the property so I wouldn't know what the wetlands look I can just see from the road um the water coming you know coming off so um I don't know how wet it is um beyond the the boundaries um and and its function to handle these new homes and all the tree clearing that's going to happen. I don't I kind of don't know I'm not an engineer so I don't really understand how it is that it's not going to happen move faster when there's all these driveways. How the water's not I I guess I'm just not getting that because it's in my brain saying taking more trees off the off the ground adding a house and driveways and that's means it's going to go faster. But I I guess it's all going to go into the wetlands which you know draining out of the wetlands it it will be faster at the end. But anyway, I'm rambling. I'm sorry. Um, I just do agree about um covenant as as far as, you know, not being able to come back for more lots. You know, that that was something that you were mentioning maybe just the trees, but I'm thinking just the fact that um they could do that later, come back for a a flag lot or something. I don't know. So, this is the project. This is all it could be kind of a thing. That was it. Thank you. Thank you, John. Is it white? We signed the wrong day. I just have really one question. John White

40. Don't ever get old. I can't hear anybody. I just got a quick question. Um I don't think I have any dog or anything in this fight. There's four lots and that's for four homes or is it four lots and 30 condos on each lot? Four homes. So, it's four lots for four homes. That's all. Single family. Thank you very much. Michael Brennan. [Music] Question. Absolutely. Sorry, I didn't come prepared. This is what happens when I don't have a planned speech. Um the um you usually have a 10-day comment period after like a So, as I stated that the this public hearing is going to stay open until May 7th, May 7th meeting. So, yes, usually there's a 10-day period, but it's going to remain open. Okay? So any further comments or questions that you have, you can send off to the planning board and we'll make sure they get to Ryan, they get to John, so everybody can because I know I I since I said I live in the neighborhood, I got the notice to come to the, you know, I was looking for the notice and then um it's just interesting um how it works differently by post office. So I talked to my mail carrier. So he had 140 to deliver. So he didn't deliver. He delivered slips. He went to his supervisor and they had a slip. It made it sound like he stopped by, but he didn't really. and if we signed it, then he would bring it. But we didn't know that. I had to ask him because I was gonna I didn't want to have to go all the way to the post office. So, I'm just But then when a public hearing here in in Chester or the Chester post office, they took off the registered thing and left the note and left the letter. So, it just seems like depending on the post office, they're handling it differently. And and I can see that was a problem because I'm I'm connected with our neighborhood Facebook page and the next neighborhood Facebook page and everyone was like, "What is going on? What are we supposed to do with this?" and you know not knowing that it's time sensitive people probably like oh it's probably

something important I don't want to go get it you know so you know the you know it's just I'm seeing some maybe there's some improvement there and I was so happy to hear at the town board meeting town in uh the town attorney had mentioned about in other areas they have applicants put up a sign on the property you know public hearing you know or you know coming soon or whatever the subdivision is or something that goes on the property so people are passing by it and they can say oh there's a public hearing coming up so um I'm happy to hear that that might something because you may may not remember but the last time there was a public hearing in my neighborhood 40 people didn't even get the notice. That's how messed up that they didn't know about it at all. They never even got the slip. So, at least this year, this time around, we we got a slip and and we just tried to figure it out ourselves. But just letting you know, it seems like different post offices handle it differently. There might be a better way so that people actually get noticed timely because if they didn't go get to the post office yet, they wouldn't have known about this happening and they only got the notice, you know, a few days before. So that's cool. Just putting that out there as a something to look into. It is difficult because people get that notice and they don't want to go get it. Yep. So then if your hands are tied if they're not picking it up the next day. Yeah. Yeah. So he just like I said he didn't know what to do and he had a and I just think it's handled differently in different places. Maybe there's a way we can make it easier for the public not to have to not to know what to do because a lot of elderly people didn't know what to do with it and didn't do anything with it. So maybe through the town board if that is something with the planning board notice or a notice on the property that we come through in the future for in the future that might be something that's going to work out really well and you might get more input and that's what I think this whole process is about is trying to get the people here to tell you what they know about a particular area. Um so um looking forward to maybe some ways to improve that in the future. Thanks. Okay. Is that everyone? That's everybody on the list. There's no other people. Yes.

Just state your name and accurate. Yeah, it's Tim Rendle and it's nine Rainbow Lane. So I'm off um Camp Monroe Road. Uh first question is where you've got the two is it the first two lots at the bottom is that lot one and two I think you come out or three and four I think that comes out right where we are we got our mailboxes there what would happen to that we will look into [Music] that solve exc uh yep we will we will look into that um would you would you in in um our respondent writing. Uh I'll check out exactly. Yeah, check it. I'm only guessing because all we see is tape and we see some tracks going in but we have no idea exactly where they are but it looks roughly where about where we are. Okay. Uh the second question is sorry I missed I was a little late so I missed it. Why are we coming out on Camp Monroe? Why aren't the first the two, three and four coming out on uh Lake Tro? Sorry. So the um the project actually doesn't have um a frontage on Lakes Road and the entire rear portion of the parcel is being conserved. So uh from that weren't they originally though when they originally they they made one they cleared one area that's a that's a separate subdivision uh separate ownership for you guys in a different town. So you don't own So so let me get this straight on Lakes Road. You have no you don't own the front. So I don't own anything. Yeah. Uh but uh but no, that is under separate ownership from from this owner. Uh completely different project, completely different um township. No, I'm I'm talking like on your our side of the road on the Chester side. It's Monroe. It's all Monroe. This This is This is the line for Monroe. Right. Right here. So, where's Lakes Road?

Lakes Road is way down right way down here. If you go to sheet one. Oh, okay. Sorry, I just saw that thing and I thought that was what it No, AB. Absolutely. So, the um the subdivision that you're talking about is over here. Lakes Road if if you follow that is is probably down down this section. Um Camp Monroe, this is north is is actually in this direction right now. So, um you'd have to follow this road all the way down um to get to Lakes Road. Oh, I thought there was just one more house and then you're on Lake. No, it's it's there there is a there's one house there. There is one house, but it's a it's a very long parcel. Yeah. Um but it's you you can't get on the other way. Correct. Correct. And and that that house is actually in the town of Monro. Oh, okay. Yeah, that one house. Okay, that's good to know. Uh the second question I got for you then is are and again I'm sorry I missed this. The uh what's it zoned for? Like what are you having to get like the zoning? Is it three acres? Is it It meets It meets all of the zoning requirements for a cluster subdivision. uh because they're because they're conserving such a large portion of the parcel, the development is a little bit more concentrated in the front of the parcel in order to save all of that other and and prevent a lot of these other trees from being removed by having to make these these lots larger and and further. Okay. So, by the town um giving this your subdivision, so you can you've got the amount because you've got it you're giving it away essentially. Will someone else be able to do the same thing if they wanted to start building somewhere else in in the township, not on this parcel? Yeah. Let's say down the end of the road. Let's say if they someone came to the town and they said, "Well, you've let you know, you guys have done it. This is what we're going to do. Can we do it?" Abs. Absolutely. Um in general, I think

the town um likes when applicants come for this. So, so originally when this project was first um proposed, we had to do a lot development plan to show a potential build out for a conventional subdivision. And I believe that um with a conventional subdivision and a proposed road conserving no land, there was a potential for six or seven lots to be constructed. So, yeah, but they're all further down. Correct. They're not right outside my house. Abs. No. Oh, no. I mean, they they would be right in front of your house and and all of this. Yeah, but they What's the minimum? What was the minimum size lot they had to have if you just if you don't give the land away? What was the minimum three acres? So what the applicants do is they basically prepare conventional layout three acre lots. Yeah. Establishes the maximum number of lots they can get. So in this case this property I think was six lots and then essentially the applicant and the board work together to determine whether they can be clustered but you can't exceed the number of lots you would get intentionally. Okay. So no one can come afterwards and use this as a way not this property but somewhere else in the town. Well somewhere else yeah I mean depending on what zone they're in and you know but it couldn't be used against the town. This this decision couldn't be used against the town for someone to be able to push it through. Correct. Now, this is fully zoning compliant. There's no variances and Okay. Okay. Okay. Uh that's good. Um there is a water problem down there. They've tried many times. I'm just going to re reiterate that um going down there. Uh my neighbor walks his dog all the time and he keeps a track of it and says they still haven't got it right. So, there is a problem. And you're putting the driveways there. All the water's going to want to go down that way. Understood. Cuz you're you're higher than we are. So you're going to push it down that way. So I assume you'd have to work with the county, would it?

I would assume. So they would do it, but they they've been doing up until now. Well, no. Came on road is a town on the road in this portion. So any improvements along road have to be high. Okay. Okay. Okay. It doesn't seem to be working yet, but just an observation from some, you know, we we live there. So, um, and the only other thing is you're obviously not going to be putting headlights because people are going to come down the driveway. They're going to be shining right through our thing. I know it's nothing much you can do about that, but have you guys ever thought of just everyone loves trees, putting some trees along maybe in front of where we are on the wrong side of the road? It's just a thought. I think that's it. Okay, thank you very much. Thank you. So, the plans are online. If you go to the town of Chester website, you you can have full access to all the documents and the plans themselves. So, you send them to the planning board. You're welcome. So, everyone here covered? Um, yeah. I have a question. I haven't signed up. Okay. You just need to come to the podium and state your name and [Music] address. Ann Stribbling 11 Kennedy Lane in Chester. Um my question is about the historic marker that's there, the Salem community, the old Salem community. What's going to happen to that marker? Is that going to be retained? Is it part of the design for the houses? Where is the historic? Um, it's just below that. We drove down there. Um, it's on the same side of the road and it says it's the Salem community, the first Methodist church, first schoolhouse. I think it was seven

different neighborhoods. Um, I have a picture of it if you want to see it. [Music] Yeah. [Music] Okay. I believe that it might be past our site because I don't see it on our on our Okay. So, um if it's not on or in front of our site, then it should be uh not affected whatsoever. But I will I will confirm and I will uh respond right. Okay. Thank you. Can you see it? That's okay. Thank you. [Music] Okay. Uh Michelle, any No. No comments. No comment. Okay. So, as we stated before that we appreciate everybody coming out and sharing with us your experiences and what you're seeing going on. It is your community. We are going to keep the public hearing open till May 7th meeting. So, feel free to send any other comments that you may have to the planning board and we'll direct them where they need to go as well as us. So, I guess a motion to keep the public hearing open. Um, someone want to make that motion? I'll make that motion to keep it open. Mark second by second. All in favor? I I Okay. So, two other motions if you would. One would be to refer it to county planning. Okay. For Monroe and County. Okay. So, a make um a motion to refer the project to county planning and the Monroe planning.

Someone want to make a motion to refer? I'll make that motion. Mike, second by Mark. Second. All in favor? I I Okay. So, they will be forwarded. Yes. Real quick question. Uh regarding the county planning, I I had notes um I I saw the the comment on on John's comment letter and I had notes and I went back to the to the videos of the November 6th meeting. I saw that there was discussion. they uh the former chairman had said that there was new regulations and for minor subdivisions that they they thought that this didn't need to go to the county at the time and that they were going to look into it. I had followed up in November twice and then when we got to the November meeting they they didn't have um uh any comment on it and then we we voted on the neg back back in that November meeting. So I I thought that we were past that. Is there is there a specific requirement for this being a minor that uh subdivision that it is required to go to 239? I think because of the proximity right to the to the town boundary. Yes. Okay. Yeah. So that's kind of driving the I don't think it hurts the county's input again and it'll fall within the time frame of next month. Okay. Okay. Thank you very much. Um just I I'll follow up with the highway superintendent and we go out and take a look at that that drainage and swale be a major major concern. So we'll handle that. Um I wasn't involved with that with the pipe or anything. So we'll take a look and see. And I think that was just last year. It was it was relatively new that that pipe went in. Correct. So Okay. Yeah. I'll meet I'll meet with him and take Okay, great. Thank you. Okay. So, uh, we're good. Great. So, I want to thank you all for coming. We're going to go into an executive session, a motion to

go into exe executive session, and then we'll see you all back in May 7th if you want to come back for the conclusion of the public hearing. Thanks, [Music]

You need a motion to go back to public session. We go to the meeting and Okay. Yep. Motion to come out. Make a motion. Second out of the executive session. Second. All in favor? I I. Motion to close the meeting. Motion to close the meeting. I second. Mark. All in favor? I I Okay, that's it.