Planning Board - Regular Meeting

Nice. All right, everyone. Good evening and welcome to the January 6th, 2026. Hard to believe it's a new year. Meeting of the City of Rome Planning Board. I'm your chair, Mark Espazito. I'd like to call the meeting to order. meeting is called to order. We have uh all complete board members here this evening. We have Joe Kandra, Eric Gonzalez, Britney Formola, David Smith. We also have Garrett Woff, Jim Rizzo, and Danielle Salsbury, all from the city of Rome. We are your all volunteer board members uh over this way. And uh our agenda, first item is review and approval of the two December 2025 meeting minutes. Make a motion to approve.

Second. All those in favor? I. All those opposed? Motion carries unanimously.

Uh upcoming uh public service announcement. We have uh upcoming meetings. Uh the next two meetings are 3 of February and the 3rd of March. Um we set the dates uh for the year in uh at the December meeting December 25. We set the dates. We just make public service announcement. Um the the next two dates uh old business. Um get a a motion to take items three and four uh off the table. Environmental seeker review and site plan review by Hangar Road LLC for the construction of approximately 100,000 square foot office building. Hangar Road Tax ID 224.0000-1- 0000-1-3.1. We got a motion take those off the table.

I make a motion to move items three and four off the table. Second the motion. All those in favor? I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Our petitioner come forward. Please state your name. The mic speaking of the microphone too because we're broadcasting on Yeah. YouTube to certainly leaving. Um Matt Robson, Matt Robson with the LA group. I'm here representing the um the applicant um for the Hangar Road project. Um and I'm just going to give a brief kind of overview and then if there's any questions we can go from there. Um you're representing Bach.

Yes. Sorry. Represent Bacho Construction. Yep. And development. [clears throat] Yeah. So I'm sorry. I'm with the LA group. I'm with the engineering firm. Yep. Um [clears throat] so the project proposes uh to develop approximately 6.7 acres um of land on the hangar road uh near the Hill Road roundabout. Um the project proposes to utilize an existing curb cut um for the buildings that were there as well as um add an additional curb cut um to the to the east um to kind of across the street from an existing um already curb cut onto the road. area. Curb cuts around Hangar Road, not on 825.

Yes. Yep. Um the project uh proposes 102,000 square foot um building. Um and over over three floors, threetory structure. Um there's 407 parking spaces for the facility. Um well within the range um that's required. Um 48 bicycle parking spaces, which is um what's uh one more than what's required u for the code. Um and uh those are kind of shown on the southern side of the building um kind of on the back side. What we're see what we're thinking is that majority of the people that are working there will be parking kind of behind on the south side use utilizing those southern entrance to gain access to the building and any visitors might come in on the north side um between Hangar Road and the and and the building kind of park in that area and then enter in through the um the northern entrance.

How many employees are they anticipating? I don't know that answer. Do you have an idea? Um I think roughly around 400, but it's also a train facility. [clears throat] So it's 400 in some parking spaces. 407 parking spaces. Yep. And then 48 bicycles. Yes.

Yep. Um, we tried to design the the parking lot so that there's a spine, a parking a drive spine that kind of goes through the site, kind of making it easy to drive into the site quickly and then divert either to the west or the east to get to the parking spaces. Um, so you'll come to the stop when you go into that spine and then exit it that way as well. Um, you can see on this plan that's up in up on up on the TVs, there's the the um fire apparatus vehicles um tracking on that as well. Uh we did confirm today with what was provided with to us to make sure that that would still work with the uh current truck that is here and it does work fine. Um like I was saying the visitors would mostly park between Hangar Road and the other

circles right out here. Um there's a a western entrance to the to the buildings that kind of has a patio on that side. It looks out onto kind of where the the roundabout is. It might be an area for gathering for employees out that west side. Not really a main entrance for the public, but might be a spot for gathering. Um, then is there So, you can exit the parking lot to the north and get to Hangar Road. I think you can also go out the south, too. So, yeah, I was going to mention that too. The the spine of the parking does connect to an existing parking lot and and um parking lot to the south as well. You could exit out that way. Um

that it's connected to that's already owned by St. Paul. Yes. To North Point the fence is there. But that's not

I just wonder if they're building something else.

Nope. Yep. Um, as far as storm water for the for for the site, we'll be gathering and um doing infiltration um in chambers under some of the parking lot just to the west of the main drive aisle where the parking is. It would be under a section of that parking. Um, and then utility connections for sanitary and water would be reusing some of the existing connections that go out to hang a road as well as extending a water line into the site on the south side of the building um to have a hydrant there inside um for a connection if there was a was a need for that on the on the within the site. [clears throat] Um there's an extensive landscaping plan. you kind of see uh there's a lot of standards and we've tried to adhere to as much as we can. I haven't heard any comments that we need to add more. There was a comment about the height of some of them. So, we've adjusted some of our our language on that um for the future. Um but it's an extensive landscaping plan well planted. Um good mix of trees all all native. There was a um a parking lot light layout plan as well included as well as photometrics on LED fixtures that would light the light the facility at night. Um that was included as well. Um we recently as well yesterday submitted a traffic study. Um that was one of the comments that um was was requested. So that's been provided. Um if there's any other questions about the site, I can address it. The architect for the project is also here, John Primo. He's in the audience. He can talk to any sort of architecture questions as well.

Thank you, Matt. Thank you. Uh any questions from board members? Looks like the uh sewer is all gravity. No pumps needed, anything. Yeah, at this point it's all gravity. water study. So the bike propert what is it just like behind you? Yeah, they're like the U in concrete. Yep. Yeah.

Trash bins are located down in here off to the side down here. You can they can get gain access here. fenced around enclosure. Yeah. Yeah. What type of detail? I think it's a Oh, no. No. It's going to be a a um like a vinyl fence with like vinyl slats in it. So, like a chain link with vinyl slats. Chain link with privacy slats. Privacy slats. Any electric charging station? There are none shown. No, I don't believe that was part of the generator.

Generators are yet to be located as well as the electrical transformers for the site. We're have to work with the electrical company to figure out where that's going to go. That will be on the final plans. I don't know exactly where that's going to be landing. I think there's a meeting next week about that. Anything else inside of the plate? No, I don't think so.

All right. Thank you. community. Any comments from members of the community? Thank you. On items uh what are we three and four? Back to my agenda. Yeah, items three and four. Okay, no comments from members of the community, community and economic development. [clears throat] So, uh just to summarize the applicant seeking to construct an approximately 102,000 uh square foot threetory office building. Um the only things that came through were that during the seeker process uh the New York State Department of Transportation identified the need for a traffic impact study uh that should include perimeter road development as a background as background traffic. Uh we recommend Department of Community Development recommends approving the proposed site plan with the condition that the applicant coordinates with uh NISTO to uh make any adjustments to the traffic impact study or uh further analysis as requested. Okay. And then that's just we don't need to include anything on the approval.

Uh it could be an approval condition or it could just be recommendations. It's up to you guys. What was the I didn't catch the last part. What did you say? Sorry. Say that again. The last part you said was what was the last part of the condition? Uh essentially DOT basically since we got the traffic impact study yesterday um and it got sent off to DOT their review times like two to three weeks and whatever. So if they come back with further comments basically just saying keep coordinating with them if they say we need this or that then this gets submitted with that window already and they're sorry the 30 days has passed right

the 30-day window has not passed for this or no the 30-day window has passed excuse me it was a request that came in from DOT for the traffic impact study um it did come in um but since the DOT requested did that as part of the comments. We can issue the secret egg deck, but essentially as they go down the process, they should coordinate with DOT because they're going to need to pull, I think, a right-of-way permit from DOT anyway. Um, and they're going to ask about the traffic impact study. So, this is kind of

Yeah, I think we could make a condition or just a recommendation that they continue to follow up with New York State DOT regarding the traffic study and permits. It's not going to change any entrances or nothing to do with this building. Yeah, I think we're okay with that. Just making a recommendation. Okay. Uh, do we get a motion on the seeker? I'll make a recommendation that we issue a negative declaration. Second the motion.

All those in favor? I. All those opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Item four, site plan review request, Hangar Road LLC for the construction 102,000 square foot office building on Hangar Road, tax ID 224.0000-1-3.1. I make a motion to approve with the conditions as outlined by community and economic development. Second. All those in favor? I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Good luck with your project. Uh I think you have to submit copies my I'll reach out tomorrow with details on next steps. Good luck with your project. Looks looks great.

Are you able to cop who's taking space yet? Hopefully yet soon. Yeah.

Okay, that's items three and four. Items uh five, six, and seven, we have a public hearing request by James Donigan for a three lot minor subdivision 1814 Black River Boulevard. That's item five. Item six is seeker review. Item seven is the subdivision review for the same item. So, we'll make open the uh public hearing. Opening the public hearing. Item five, request by James Dunigan for a three lot minor subdivision, 1814 Black River Boulevard. Any members of the community like to come forward uh speak for against comment on the project? That's the first of three calls. Second of three three calls. Public hearing request by James Donigan for a three lot minor subdivision, 1814 Black River Boulevard. Third and final call. is on the surveyor. There's that.

Yeah. We'll you'll kind of do items six and seven, I think. Yeah. Uh third and final call for the public hearing request. Any members of the community speak for against or any other comments regarding item five on our agenda for a three lot minor subdivision at 1814 Black River Boulevard? None seen, none heard. Public hearing is closed. Now, environmental seeker review and subdivision review request by James Donigan, three lot minor subdivision, 1814 Black River Boulevard. Petitioner would like to come forward, state your name, and tell us a little bit about the project. My name is Andrew Bailey. I'm a surveyor with Lefay White at Arongo. these three parcels that consist there's three businesses there now. Don Davidson has a car wash on one parcel. uh Advanced Auto has one on a second parcel and in the most more recently in the back they've constructed a cell tower and amidst all this time frame probably three years ago the rear parcel was conveyed to the city of Rome for your paved walkway along the Mohawk River um

trail. Yep. Yep. And it's it's there shown on our map. But all these parcels exist either with a lease agreement. James Donigan's an older gentleman. I think he's just doing estate planning. He's trying to move these parcels off his ownership. So, and they all access there's one driveway entrance off Black River Boulevard. That's where they all enter now. So, right now it's one deated parcel and they're splitting it into three. That's leased there. There's three individual leases in effect currently, right? And that's what will be conveyed. So now you're gonna convey the

you're going to subdivide and then convey ownership of each individual parcel to each place. Okay. Okay. Um all the storm water, utilities, water, sewer, they all exist. There's no new construction plan. The newest is the cell tower. Right. Okay. And the city own is going to own the parcel with the cell tower. No, this they own the walkway to the rear. Just the own. Just the walkway. They already own it. And then the whoever owns or manages the cell tower is going to take that parcel. As far as I know, it'll probably be a lease company for the cell towers. Cell towers generally don't, right,

own them.

Okay. Um, any questions? Seems pretty straightforward. Um, okay. Members of the community, any comments, questions? CED, [clears throat] just that. So, we since this is within 500 square uh 500 feet of a state or county rightway, we had to send this to the United Department of Planning uh per 239 review, which we have unfortunately not gotten back yet. Um, which is required for action by the uh by the planning board. Okay. Um, other than that, compliant with city code, spaces, sizes,

correct? Okay. So, we're going to have to table this and next month. And I thought I heard you say February 3rd. Yes, sir. I just got one question before we should now that road that's defined auto parts and um Davidson's car wash precision car wash. What's exactly going to go with that rope? Like how's that? Right now the road is you the road that comes in the middle there is actually on the car wash lease part.

Yep. But the auto advanced auto has an easement all the way to the full length of their property. So where that rear piece is that sticks up kind of an island that runs up the middle there. Their easement goes all the way from the highway to that point. The cell tower has the same easement but continues all the way around their perimeter. You can see that shaded area that goes across the north of the cell tower and to the south. That was just some condition I think they had in there when they were constructing and they wanted to maintain that easement. So that's why that wraps around there. There's no there's no physical road. The pavement ends in front of the cell tower. Yep.

So there's um that the width of that driveway from the car wash and you're saying there's there's pretty much room for two separate there's two lanes there in and out. So if somebody was to put a wall up, they could still they still get. You mean a wall? A wall? Well, to divide them divide the two driveways. Oh, no. It's a two lane. It's a 24 foot wide, right? Paved driveway. Yeah. Two lanes. One one in, one out. But one side owns No. No. The car wash owns all of that. And but there's an easement to write abuse

the other two parties. I see. Okay, I get you. So that's written in the deeds. Yes, it's the way it is currently on the lease agreement, too. No, but is it in the deed? No, there there is no deed. The the whole ownership is in James Donigan's name. Y he has deeds in a form of a lease to each party and there's easements for each of those to each party. So then the owner's responsible for clearing the the snow maintenance and all that. I just don't know like if it's in a lease form what happens you know these if it's the deed then I can the plan is going to be this lease agreement will transfer to a deed. There'll be a conveyance.

Okay. James Donigan wants to extinguish his ownership. Yeah. Um just for estate planning. He's an older gentleman. He's just trying to liquidate some of the stuff he owns. Yeah. And um this is just one of the sites, but each of those will get individual ownership. So that'll get broken in part of the I don't think any of that has anything to do with the subdivision, right? We're just Well, you can't sub property if it's not guaranteed to have entrance. It does. They do. No, I'm saying, but right right now it's all one parcel. They're splitting it into three. Yeah. And who's going to own and maintain the driveway isn't really part of the subdivision request. That's all kind of subsequent. You're you're allowing subdivision, three parcels,

right? And part of that is to make sure that the parcels are usable there. I have the I have the No, you don't need to explain it to me. I I get what you're saying, but who's going to own and clear and all this? I didn't ask clear. I just was trying to figure out how who's going to be put. That's all I was asking. comes clear of the snow. Yeah, they never come they never said that. I have I have the lease agreements which actually dictate those easements, right? And the it'll actually just graduate to a deed. Probably James Down instead of a lease document, they'll just take the same language and put it in a deed form. That's all I'm asking. Go to a deed from lease. Yep. That's all I

And I don't know that I'm sure there's other time frames on their leases. So, some may get conveyed immediately. Yeah. Some others may have to wait depending on the condition of the lease unless they resend it, whatever. Okay. All right. So, I think we're motion to table item. I make a motion to table item six and seven. Second. All those in favor? I. All those opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Hopefully, we'll see you next month. Okay. All right. So item the application fee

item eight is uh historic district opinion uh request uh by department community and economic development for an opinion on a project located at 210 West Liberty Street. Petitioner [clears throat] project manager wellness and my structural engineer Jake Smith. Um, so it was the old directory and on the back side the fire structure.

You want to grab the microphone there. It'll come off. Okay. Because I'm a DJ. So there's a I guess you would call it a porch.

Yeah. porch off the second floor on the back of the structure. It's a the property itself's colonial revival was probably built around 1900. This porch added on by the dascese and probably the ' 60s7s. Um we don't have any real documentation on it. It's not original to the building. Anyhow, um so they've the storm obviously battered this with everything else on that property over there. Um this is kind of the next piece. They've got the funds to take it down. Um, so they applied for the permit just to demo that back portion. Um, since this was just deemed a historic district, they it had to go for review. Um, so that's I mean that's the extent of it. It's give or take an 8 by12 porch that's just at the end of its useful life.

You're just going to rip that off. There's brick behind it. Yeah, just take that down. Restore the brick. Any damage? Yeah. Make it. Yep. Yep. Is there a door now that was out there that'll be closed off? Correct. Yeah. Yeah. You're going to brick that in or or something? Well, it wouldn't be usable where you could go out. Yeah. It'll be a wall. Yeah. You're not going to be able to get Yeah. Yeah. It'll be closed off. It's not going to be any means of egress or secondary egress out. Is there a window within that currently like inside the house looking into [clears throat] that porch? Like there's a door. I believe it's just it's just a door. Yeah, they just put make that window maybe or something

or the cheapest route. Yeah, a wall. Okay, it's the back side. So, any additional questions? Thank you. Uh comments members of the community see Oh, we don't do that. Um I don't know. looks added on. I don't see any. Yeah, I just recommend uh Yeah, yeah, it's not going to look any You're going to remove those little footers there under the Yeah. Make sure nobody It won't stay, right? The brick should be

Yeah. Looks a million times better as it's so Yeah. Okay. I make a motion to approve uh item number eight. A second. Okay. Recommend the city approve. Uh all those in favor? Sorry, which one was the second? Because I heard two seconds at the same time. All right. All those in favor? I. All those opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Thank you. Good luck. Good luck. Next.

All right. Ninth and final item. Uh request by uh community and economic development for a historic opinion for project at 812 North George Street.

Did you want to 215? 215. Yeah. Don't

I'm losing it. 215 North George. Sorry about that. There's another plan. I think I was thinking about signing. I don't know how 812 came out. I can't wait for the tornado.

Oh, it was damaged during tornado. That's the section I want to serve any purpose. There used to be a door a long time ago that was a window there and underneath that part of the seal line.

So you're pulling the whole thing down. You're going to rebuild new. Yeah. Yeah.

Any other questions? Um, so comments? Yeah. Members of the community and Okay. I make a motion to approve item nine. Second the motion. All those in favor? I. All those opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Recommend approval. Yep. Motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Second a motion. All those in favor? I. All those opposed? Motion carries unanimously. We are adjourned.