Malone board discusses adding SEQR-based language to site plan review, schedules budget hearings

Supervisor Andrea Stewart asked staff on Oct. 18 to add language to the town’s site plan review law to explicitly account for large projects as defined by the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process, saying such language would clarify review triggers and attorney-fee coverage for substantial developments.

Budget Officer Denice Hudson said she reviewed the site plan review law and noted that applicant fees currently help cover attorney costs, which is why the town could keep attorney-fee budgets stable this season. Hudson also raised longer-term utility planning concerns, saying the town may need to focus on Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs) for sewage planning for 2026.

The board agreed to schedule public hearings on water, emergency medical services (EMS) and the town’s preliminary budget at its next regular meeting. Supervisor Stewart said salary decisions should be discussed in private, and the board adopted RESOLUTION 267-2024 to enter executive session at 10:17 a.m. to discuss personnel. The board exited executive session at 10:58 a.m. under RESOLUTION 268-2024; the clerk’s minutes state no action was taken during the executive session. The board then adopted RESOLUTION 269-2024 to adjourn at 11:00 a.m.; the next regular meeting was scheduled for Oct. 23, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

The board’s directions on site plan review and scheduling of hearings set staff follow-up tasks on zoning/land-use wording and public-notice procedures; any change to the site plan review law would return to the board for formal consideration.