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Moore family land‑disturbance and watercourse permit drawn out by neighbors’ wetland and stormwater concerns; applicant to resubmit
Summary
The planning board heard detailed technical presentations and extensive public comment on a proposed land‑disturbance and watercourse permit for a Moore family parcel on Washington/West Avenue. The board and neighbors raised concerns about wetlands jurisdiction, a high groundwater table, drainage to an existing culvert and the lack of a development plan; the applicant agreed to withdraw/adjourn the application to provide additional stormwater and grading materials.
The Planning Board spent several hours reviewing a land‑disturbance and watercourse protection overlay permit application for a Moore family parcel on Washington/West Avenue and received extended public comment from neighbors who cited flooding, high groundwater and neighborhood character concerns.
Counsel Steph Ferradino introduced the Moore family team and a technical support group from LaBella (including wetland scientist Barbara Beal and stormwater engineer Sarah Jones). The applicant said the family seeks a land‑disturbance permit under the current UDO to grade the parcel and create a shovel‑ready site; the team presented historical jurisdictional determinations from the Army Corps and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) — including prior determinations (2014 and 2024) that, on the applicant’s evidence, found the on‑site wetlands were not regulated under federal or state programs. The consultants proposed reshaping the low wetland area into a retention/retention basin sized to reduce peak flows to the existing culvert that drains to Outlook/Overlook Avenue, and offered to oversize basin capacity to provide a conservative buffer for potential future development.
Neighbors disputed the characterization and raised multiple concerns: the wetland had historically been connected to other wetlands before a culvert was removed, the water table is shallow (residents reported basement pumping and documented ponding), clearing now without an associated development plan could expose neighbors to long‑term erosion, and existing downstream pipes and inlet conditions may be silted or functionally reduced. Homeowners living adjacent to a city easement said the easement has not been maintained and that, in storm events, the easement has surcharged and flooded basements in the past. Staff suggested DPW inspection of the city inlet/pipe and recommended the applicant provide a clearing and grading plan, a fire‑apparatus routing plan, and a stormwater management concept sufficient for SEQRA purposes.
After extended discussion and public comment, the applicant agreed to withdraw the watercourse/land‑disturbance application from final consideration and to resubmit with supplemental information. The board listed the materials it needs for its SEQRA and watercourse review: a clearing & grading plan, a fire‑apparatus routing analysis (including dead‑end distance checks), a conceptual stormwater design (showing peak‑flow control and water‑quality treatment approach and modeled water‑surface elevations), and any supporting agency correspondence clarifying jurisdiction. The board did not make a final permit decision and closed the item for the evening.
