Planning Board - Regular Meeting

It's That's what I did. Awesome. All right. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the May 5th, 6th, 5th, May 5th uh meeting of the city of Rome Planning Board. We call the meeting to order. Uh Marcus Bazto, I'm your chair. Our vice chair is not here this evening. He probably got busy at work. He's a plumber. So, there's probably either water where there's not supposed to be water or there's not water where there's supposed to be water. And we're probably much better off here than than there. But uh we have Eric Gonzalez, board member, Britney Fumeola, David Smith over to the my left, all the way to the left, my left, your right, Danielle Salsbury, uh with the city of Rome, Jim Rizzo, Corporation Council, Garrett Woff, Community Economic Development.

Uh let's see, uh planning board agenda, review and approve the April 7th, 2026 meeting minutes. I make a motion to approve the meeting minutes from April 7th. Second the motion. All those in favor? I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Public service announcement. Upcoming meetings. June 2nd, July 14th. The meetings are set uh beginning of the year. Usually at the December meeting of the year prior. It's typically the first Tuesday of the month, but occasionally there's a holiday or something, we may move. So, looks like July, we probably moved to the 14th because of the the fourth of July holiday.

I'll also jump in here real quick just because I remembered it. Um, a few previous applicants that have come before the board have been contacted with a scam email claiming to have uh to require fees and invoices and things along those lines. Uh, please be aware that that is a scam. Any official communications from the city will come from the Rome New York uh romey.gov gov email address. Um, if you have any questions about any emails you ever get, please do not hesitate to reach out to our department so we can confirm the veracity. Um, it's happened a few times, so I just want to make sure people are on the lookout for it. All right. Um, agenda items three, four, and five uh are old business. They've been tabled. We've got a seeker review request by Indis Hospitality for a three lot minor subdivision construction of three commercial buildings. One of the buildings uh building one 91 room hotel, a 100 room hotel and a 9,900 square f foot multi-tenant office retail space on 5.9 acres at the intersection of Geer Road and Hill Road. Tax ID number 243.0000-1-1. 0000-1-1.2 with associated parking and site improvements. Um, so the item three is the seeker review. Item four is the subdivision review. Item five is the site plan review for that same described property. We got a motion. Can we We can do one to take all three off.

Yeah. I'll make a motion to remove items three, four, and five off the table. Second. Second. All those in favor? I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. All right. Petitioner, come forward. Microphone. State your name. It's probably turned off. I think you were here last month and coming back.

Oh, so yes. Good evening.

I think there's a button. Usually you can pull it off. Here we go. Yes. Oh, perfect. So, uh, good evening. My name is Peter Vars with BME Associates. We're the civil site engineer, uh, for Indis Hospitality Group, and I was here, uh, back on April 7th, uh, when we presented the application originally. With me also this evening is Jet Meta. He is the owner and CEO of Indis Hospitality Group. So, if you have any questions about operations, history, whatever, Jet would be more than happy to answer those for you. Uh I don't have much uh this evening uh given all of the information we provided to you last month, but I do want to just fill you in on what we have done since then and it was basically following direction we received from this board. Um first of all, we did um update our landscaping plan to be I'm going to say more in compliance because we were not able to completely comply with the street tree requirement and we explained that in our letter. Uh the street tree requirement would require 20 total trees. Uh but with the presence of existing utilities, sidewalk, DOT signage, there wasn't enough room. So what we did do, we did um went from six original street trees to 12, but then we added additional trees in the interior. So we have this project site's going to have about 60 trees uh planted. Um, also we did submit our storm water pollution prevention plan to the city, the the complete storm water management plan to show our compliance with the DEEC regulations and the fact that we will be attenuating all of our storm water runoff on site with no discharge above existing rates either offsite or to the New York State DOT um uh drainage system. We also had a

traffic study completed that has been submitted to the city also. The findings of that study were that there would be no degradation in levels of service in the surrounding highway network and um that there was capacity within the highway network to receive the additional trip generations um that would be uh generated by this project. Uh couple of other things that uh transpired in the last couple of days. Uh we are aware that staff met with our hope hope to be neighbor uh to the south and he had raised some concerns uh questions about buffering and and I guess neighborly stuff and I can attest to you and Jet could speak to it also if you need be that n indis does practice being a good neighbor. Uh there was three questions I believe he asked um and and we responded today to show that in this will work with this neighbor. They'll show they'll prepare a landscape plan here and review it with him. Part of it being to prohibit uh trespassing for lack of a better word. Uh Indis does not promote that or or support it and they understand uh what it means to be a good neighbor. Second of all, yes, Indis will give uh this neighbor and really anybody that wants it the con their contact information, not only during construction where they'll have um uh you know the contact information. Indis has an on-site full-time construction manager that is an Indis employee, but then also once the hotels are up and operating, they will be provided contact information for the management of the hotels. in disowns and operates all of their own properties. And then the third thing I'm trying to remember what it was.

I think it was just about maintaining like the the existing mature Oh yes, tall trees on site which I think you guys already is your base practice.

Exactly. He asked that uh any mature trees could be saved in this same way they would like to uh save them also. Why cut a tree down just to have to plant another one? So, we believe uh you know uh Jet and his team will reach out to him and we'll be sure we'll be able to work those things out. The other thing is we I believe the city received uh an email from New York State DOT as it relates to Seeker and then their initial review of the plans. Uh our review of those comments, we don't see anything in there that we cannot address. Uh it is very standard protocol. The permit requirements, we understand those. will work directly with DOT on applying for the right permits uh and addressing their comments. We will copy the city with all of that correspondence so that the city is aware of what we're doing. But I do think it's important to point out that the city or excuse me, the DOT did acknowledge that they don't see this project having any uh impact on um on their systems. So, we feel comfortable and confident we'll work out with them. And then the last thing I have is when we were here last April, we weren't sure who we would have to go see about the height variances and we have been able to confirm uh that it is the zoning board of appeals. So we will be submitting that application uh with the hopes of being placed on their June 3rd agenda to request height variances for the two proposed fourstory hotels. So with that, that's our update uh since April 7th and myself or or Jet could answer any questions that you have.

I have a question. I don't know if I can't remember if we talked about this. What is the lighting for the the properties? So um the lighting the parking lot lighting will be um 16T poles, LED dark sky compliant. Uh so they'll all be downcast and it'll be LED lighting uh throughout the parking lot. We did provide a lighting contour map to show that there'd be no spill off of the property. Yeah. Yeah. And we reviewed that. Then they they meet the the foot candle maximum at the at the property line.

All right. Any other questions? I got a qu I just uh the more I look at it, parking is going to be suffice, right? what what's your formula for parking?

So, um actually the code requirement is more stringent or more demanding than operationally of what what we'll see. The code requires one space per room and so that's what we've provided plus it requires one space per 200 square feet of commercial space I believe. Anyways, uh so we've calculated that and that came out to a total requirement of 215 spaces. However, within the code because of the mixeduse component in the fact for instance the demand for parking for this commercial building will be offset for the demand of parking for the hotels. The hotels see their demand 8:00 p.m. to 7 a.m. This will operate, you know, 8 am to 8:00 pm maybe. So that off the code recognizes that. So there's a shared parking credit that you apply. So the calculation showed that there should be 195 spaces provided. This plan provides 196 spaces.

Okay. One extra one extra. Where's including your employees workers there? Yes, that's all factored in. And it should be noted that the codes uh one per room requirement is pro also building in a buffer because you're going to have some percentage of guests that come in on a plane that take an Uber to their hotel room, things along those lines. Not every single guest is going to drive in, even if the majority of them are. All right. Um I think that's all we have. Um, thank you. Okay. Thank you.

Members of the community, any comments in favor or against this uh project? None heard. Community and economic development.

At this time, the 30-day window for comments uh under seeker and GML 239 have closed uh or has closed with comments received from DEC uh Department of Transportation, Onida County Health, and Onida County Planning. None of the agencies opposed the planning board serving as lead agency or raised substantial concerns about the project. Uh DOT noted they will require additional traffic analyses as part of issuing their permits for the project and asked for modifications to add additional ADA curb ramps, carry out carry the concrete sidewalk through the driveway um and remove the third lane from the Geiger Road curb cut. Uh the applicant is proposing two structures which exceed the maximum height allowed by code by approximately one story and will require a receipt of variant of an area variance from the ZBA. Uh at this time the department of community economic development recommends issuing a seeker negative declaration for the project uh approving the preliminary plat as presented and approve uh conditionally uh approving the proposed site plan subject to uh the following stipulations uh as the board deems necessary. uh modifications as required by DOT for permitting uh receipt of an area variance for building height for the from the zoning board of appeals. Addition of continuous shrubberies, hedges or other buffering in accordance with requirements set forth in section 80-15.8 uh of the zoning code to the southwestern property line shared with 63 Geer Road. uh uh uh avoiding uh cutting down elder or mature trees to the extent possible during scrub clearing and then um providing emergency contracts to the adjacent property owner during construction. Um since the applicant has mentioned that they're amendable to doing several of those anyway, you may not need to add those as conditions if the board doesn't feel it's necessary.

Yeah. So there was five items as suggested conditions. You familiar with all of you you had talked about three, four and five which was the addition of continuous shrubberies, elder mature trees and contacts. Um the modifications required by DOT you mentioned in the uh additional traffic analysis they might want modifications ADA curb ramps carrying concrete sidewalk through the driveway etc.

So um yes to those. The only thing we did provide in our uh email response today is um the the the removal of the third exit lane. Uh that was requested during sketch plan review by the city uh fire chief. So we we'll we'll coordinate between the city fire chief and New York State DOT as to what it should be and we'll just comply with either or. Same thing with the if uh if the city wants the sidewalk continued through the entrance road, that's fine with us, too. Um and the only reason why I I I don't want to say question it, we bring it up is cuz Geiger Road is under jurisdiction of the city. So, um we just want to make sure everybody's getting what they want.

Sure. Okay. Yeah. Okay. And then, uh receipt of the area variance, you mentioned that as well. So, all right. Um, so let's see. Back to our agenda. Item three. Can I get a motion on the seeker review? Uh, I make a motion issuing a negative declaration for the seeker. Second the motion. All those in favor? I.

All those opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Uh subdivision review request uh seeker uh request by Indis Hospitality Group for a three lot minor subdivision intersection at Geiger Road tax ID 243.0000-1-1.2. I think we didn't talk about the subdivision request this month, but we talked about it in detail last month. Um motion on subdivision. Make a motion to approve the subdivision. Second motion.

All those in favor? I. All those opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Site plan review request uh Indis Hospitality Group. This is item five on our agenda. Construction of three commercial buildings. 91 room hotel. 100 room hotel 9,900T multi-use office tenant space on 5.9 acres. Geer road and hill road. Tax ID 243.0000-1-1.2 with associated parking site approvement uh improvements. Can I get a motion on the site plan review? I make a motion to approve the site plan with the stipulations as noted. Conditions. Um I second. All those in favor? I.

All those opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Good luck with your project. Uh looking forward to it. uh you know that last month they talked a little bit about the types of tenants you look to get in the commercial and sounds like you have uh you know really good thoughts and ideas and looking forward to it. You're welcome. Appreciate it. Yep.

All right. New business public hearing request. Uh James Aino for two lot minor subdivision 1309 Floyd Avenue. Um, so I'll call the public hearing request uh open. I got to make three calls. First call, any members of the community want to speak for or in in support of or against this proposed action? Second call, public hearing request by James Aino, two lot minor subdivision, 1309 Floyd Avenue. Third and final call. Public hearing request James Aino for two lot minor subdivision 1309 Floyd Avenue. None heard. Public hearing is closed. Item seven, seeker review request by James Aino to let minor subdivision. Uh also items eight and nine. Uh items seven and eight seeker and subdivision review. Petitioner come forward. Tell us. Okay. That's the plat site plan for the

turn on that's not Hi, Mike Waters, Waters Land Surveying. I'm the guy that did the the mapping and the request, everything else. So, questions um any do we have any questions? So uh you know we look this over two lot minor subdivision pretty straightforward. There is one area that uh meets the setback in the after um I have that right

correct. Yeah, there's sure about Yeah, the rear setback for the front parcel would technically be about 5 feet shorter than is the uh prescribed in code, but since this is the Wood Haven Revitalization District, the planning board has um the capability to apply leniency as long as it meets the other requirements for the area and everything else complies. Do we have to address that separately or if we approve this? That's I think as long as you're noting for the record that you're aware of it and you're right now the rear of that front building is 12.78 ft off the property line

and my understanding it was a garage. The garage I thought was 5t. Uh which district are we looking at? Well, it's a C2 district. This is a Wood Haven revitalization. Okay. I'm looking at the zoning map that that you guys put together and according to the colorization, it's a C2. I will go back and double check to confirm, but one way or the other, it either complies or at uh what is it at 15 in Wood Haven? Uh I think it's 20 in Wood Haven. It says 12 or something like that. Yeah. Is there any entrances in the back of that garage? No.

So, it's I think it's all paved, right? Everything's paved. garage. That first building is the entrance is on the right hand side of the east side of the building. Yeah. Does anybody have any concern with that? I was just going to ask that you'll be able to decision. Yeah. I It sounds like if It sounds like if we just approve this as submitted, we've discussed it and Yeah. No, the the language is fairly broad in the zoning code for the Wood Haven Revitalization District and it it says as long as it meets the the general purposes and intent, the board can approve applications that do not strictly adhere.

Okay, I think that was the kind of the only thing we needed to talk about. Pretty straightforward otherwise. Well, Jim, Mr. Kino owns both buildings right now and he wants to keep one building for himself and then sell the other one down the road and eventually he may sell that one also. Yeah, that's Thank you.

Yeah, that's fine. Um um I guess uh do we do a way Yeah. Members of any members of the community? We did a public hearing. Give members of the public another opportunity to speak. Yep. And I basically already previewed our comments. We recommend a seeker negative declaration and approving the proposed subdivision flat as presented. Okay. So, we're on item seven, which is the seeker. Can I get a motion on the seeker? Make a motion to uh find a ne a negative deck on seeker. Second.

All those in favor? I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Subdivision review request. Uh, same property minor lot subdivision 1309 Floyd A. I make a motion to approve the site plan. Second. All those in favor? I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Good luck. Thank you very much. Damn. Enjoy. Thanks, Dave. Kind of retiring. Easing off. Good luck to you. Sure.

Yeah, of course. All right. Um item nine, public hearing request by Michelle Corrianiano, two lot minor subdivision at 8221 Rome Western Road. Call the public hearing request to order. Anyone want to speak in support of or against the project. Second call, public hearing request, minor lot sub two lot minor subdivision 8221 Rome Western Road. Third and final call. Two lot minor subdivision 8221 Rome Western Bill Road. Uh none heard, none seen. Public hearing is closed. Items 10 and 11 our agenda are the seeker and subdivision review. You like to come forward just give a quick summary of what's going on, what you're looking to do. I'm just looking to separate the property at 8221 Roma Stormville Road into two smaller parcels to separate my business from my home.

That's basically it. Yeah, I think well the only concern here was the five acres which it's not and we can approve that or

no that will need to go to the ZBA for a variance. the the par the the parcel in question is uh on the airport approach um district which is a 5 acre minimum. Um obviously the even pre-subdivision this parcel is less than 5 acres. Um so that will need to go to the DBA for approval. Um but beyond that everything else complies. So this could be issued as a conditional approval subject to receipt of that variance. Um the the intent with the the large lot size in the airport approach district is to discourage high density development in the path of of airplanes approaching since this is already developed and wouldn't really facilitate further development. I would be surprised if the ZBA had an issue with it. It's just that's obviously their perview real.

All right. Um, anything else you think we might questions? With the intention of separation just literally.

Yeah. Liability. I'd like to retire someday then if you want to sell. Yeah. Okay. All right. Um, uh, members of the community, give them another opportunity. None heard. Community economic development, you already gave. Okay. So, we have, uh, I think we'd probably review with the, uh, condition that, uh, get the variance from ZBA. So, you still have to go to the zoning board of appeals because less than five acres. Yep. Okay. We had a motion on the seeker. Uh I make a motion to issue a negative deck on the seeker.

I second the motion. All those in favor? I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. 11th and final item. Uh subdivision review request to let minor subdivision 8221 Rome Western Road. I approve of the condition um that the applicant has to receive the variance from the zoning board of appeals. Second the motion. All those in favor? I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Good luck to you. Yeah, thank you. Good luck at the ZBA. I I'll send you an email with followup, next steps, everything. Um everything you need to go from here. We got a motion to adjurnn. I make a motion to adjurnn. Second. Second that.

All those in favor? I. All those opposed. We are adjourned. Motion carries a nap.