May 4, 2005
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
Stormwater Management Study – Area of
Highway Superintendent Cleveland reviewed stormwater
issues in the Tibbitts-Oxford-Kellogg Road area that
had been identified in November 2004 and his request at that time that the Town
Board authorize about $25,000-$26,000 for a study of that area going down to
Sauquoit Creek, and the reasons why – future and right now. At that time, the
Town Board asked for the Town Planning Board’s opinion, which was affirmative.
In the meantime, questions were raised, additional research done, and
additional information was received from
Planning Board member Gerald Green said he’s spent time with consultant Curt
Nichols of Shumaker Engineering this week and he’s outlined and the Planning
Board will make available the findings for the study. The Planning Board has
had the proposed Longworth Acres project before them for nearly a year and
they’re trying hard not to mirror the mistake made with the Jubilee Estates
development and thus are relying on and support, together with the Highway
Superintendent and Town Planner, the recommendations of Curt Nicols for what needs to be done. Of concern is the source
of water above the Longworth Acres project and which water continues its flow
to the Sauquoit Creek along
Planning Board member Hans G. Arnold had chaired a couple meetings during the past winter at the request of Chairman Yagey and after reviewing the Longworth Acres project, that Board could see this area being the next significant area of development in the Town – "…. commercial where we’re sitting and the area of Oxford Road." This study is a necessity and required planning on the part of the Town – preparing for stormwater management. The Planning Board looks to the future and tries to project. He said that the Planning Board could deal with development on a "case-by-case" basis, OR, by a more comprehensive way thus making it more efficient. Instead of having several stormwater basins, there could be a smaller number and easier to maintain. It must be figured how the Longworth Acres project fits into the area watershed. "As Jubilee [Estates development] goes forward, Longworth goes forward; public drinking water will come forth in the future, but we need to address stormwater management now," said Member Arnold.
Planning Board Chairman N. Joseph Yagey said that Board has looked at the Longworth Acres project for over a year and needs to move forward. Before this, he noted the town’s two GEIS studies for future planning of highway, police, sewer, stormwater, etc.
[NOTE: Attorney Rossi joined the meeting at 7:20 P.M.]
Discussion ensued among the Planning Board members and the Town Supervisor
about the amount of water run-off depending on crop rotation at the top of
Thereafter, the following Resolution was introduced for adoption by Councilman Butler and seconded by Councilman Waszkiewicz:
(RESOLUTION NO. 115 OF 2005)
RESOLVED that the New Hartford Town Board does hereby authorize and direct a stormwater study to be conducted by Shumaker Engineering for the area encompassing the Oxford-Snowden Hill-Tibbitts-Kellogg Road area at a cost not to exceed Twenty-eight Thousand Dollars ($28,000) contingent upon the Town having sufficient monies in the stormwater bonding account to perform the study.
Whereupon, the Town Clerk polled the Board members who voted as follows:
Councilman Waszkiewicz - Aye
Councilman Butler - Aye
Councilman Woodland - Aye
Councilman Backman - Aye
Supervisor Humphreys - Nay.
The Resolution was declared carried and duly ADOPTED.