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Auburn planning board approves 9,240-square-foot addition at 284 North Street
Summary
The Auburn Planning Board on April 1 adopted a SEQR negative declaration and approved a site plan for a 9,240-square-foot addition at 284 North Street. The applicant submitted a drainage report finding no additional runoff; a small portion of the lot touches wetlands tied to an old quarry. The board approved the measures by unanimous votes.
The Auburn Planning Board voted unanimously April 1 to adopt a State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) negative declaration and to approve a site plan for a proposed roughly 9,240-square-foot addition at 284 North Street, an existing gravel lot operated by Blair Construction and Fabrication.
The decision follows a staff review of a drainage report submitted by the applicant that concluded the project would not increase stormwater runoff. Ashley, planning department staff, told the board that city engineers reviewed the drainage report and “agreed with its findings that there would be no further storm runoff.”
The applicant’s representative described the site’s relationship to an old quarry and a small wetland area adjacent to the parcel. “Basically, the way we have it set up to where that sits up on top of the quarry, where the storm water from the parking lot goes off, it’s all graded into a light loose fill, and that’s like our filtration system,” said Joe Duran, an engineer with TK Engineering, who was at the meeting for the applicant.
The board heard that landscaping along the parking area would be difficult because the lot is gravel; the applicant offered to plant three trees along North Street instead. The project’s environmental assessment form (EAF) and the board’s drafted SEQR determination concluded the expansion would be consistent with surrounding structures and would result in no or small environmental impacts. The EAF notes one potential issue: a small corner of the lot abuts wetlands that developed from the old quarry.
Board members asked whether additional consultation with the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was required; staff said no directive to consult DEC had been given at this time. The applicant said they did not anticipate further impact to the wetland and did not plan separate consultation before the board’s action.
The board also noted a procedural point raised earlier in the packet: a previously scheduled public hearing was canceled because the applicant needs a use variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Ashley said that if the applicant obtains the variance, the project will return to the Planning Board and the board will resume the public hearing process.
Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes from March 4, 2025: motion by Theresa Walsh, second by Fran Deloia; voice vote, motion carried. - SEQR: motion to adopt seeker resolution issuing a negative declaration for 284 North Street (EAF conclusion: no or small impact): motion by Theresa Walsh, second by Fran Deloia; roll-call vote — Fran Deloia: yes; Theresa Walsh: yes; Crystal Cosentino: yes. Outcome: approved (3–0). - Site plan approval for 284 North Street (construct ~9,240 sq ft addition and site improvements on existing gravel lot; applicant: Blair Construction and Fabrication): motion by Fran Deloia, second by Theresa Walsh; roll-call vote — Fran Deloia: yes; Theresa Walsh: yes; Crystal Cosentino: yes. Outcome: approved (3–0).
The board closed the meeting shortly afterward and set its next meeting for Tuesday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Ending: The board’s approvals carry standard conditions and local permitting requirements; staff noted that further action by the Zoning Board of Appeals (a use-variance decision) remains an outstanding procedural step before the project could proceed to any resumed public hearing or construction.
