Nursery operator proposes 10,000 sq ft barn; board reviews county referrals, use limits and placement

The Planning Board reviewed a proposal for a 10,000‑square‑foot barn at Guards Country Tree Farm (Major’s Path) to support nursery stock operations. The applicant, represented by Bill Kelly, said the building is intended to house equipment, bare‑root plants and maintenance areas and that the county — which holds development‑rights interests in the parcel — approved the building location based on soils and operational flow.

Board members sought to ensure the use remains an agricultural wholesale nursery rather than converting into a landscaping contractor operation. Staff proposed a set of conditions limiting on‑site retail, prohibiting dispatching heavy contractor equipment for off‑site jobs, and requiring enclosed storage of soils and bulk materials. Fire‑safety recommendations from the fire district (sprinklering, alarms and a Knox box) will be evaluated by the building department at permit stage; the board noted sprinklers are determined under New York State building code at the building permit review stage. The applicant and staff also discussed temporary stockpiles during construction, existing metal containers used for equipment storage, and the need to show whether containers conform to setback requirements or will be relocated.

The board did not vote final approval at this meeting; staff will produce a revised conditional approval and return the application for formal action at a future meeting (scheduled discussion targeted for July 9).